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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2013

Registration No. 333-189148

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



NRG Yield, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  4911
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  46-1777204
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

211 Carnegie Center
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
(609) 524-9500
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)



David R. Hill
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
211 Carnegie Center
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
(609) 524-9500
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)



Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:

Gerald T. Nowak, P.C.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle
Chicago, Illinois 60654
(312) 862-2000

 

Kirk A. Davenport II
Patrick H. Shannon
Latham & Watkins LLP
885 Third Avenue, Suite 1000
New York, New York 10022
(212) 906-1200



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

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

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

                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. o

                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. o

                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 Exchange Act. (Check one):

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

                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 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

   



Explanatory Note

              This Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Commission File No. 333-189148) is being filed solely for the purpose of filing Exhibits 3.1, 4.1, 10.1, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.18 and 21.1 thereto, and no changes or additions are being made hereby to the prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement. Accordingly, the prospectus is being omitted from this filing.



PART II

Item 13.    Other expenses of issuance and distribution

              The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be paid by us in connection with the sale of the shares of Class A common stock being registered hereby. All amounts are estimates except for the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and the New York Stock Exchange listing fee.

SEC registration fee

  $ 54,560  

FINRA filing fee

    60,500  

New York Stock Exchange listing fee

    *  

Accounting fees and expenses

    *  

Printing and engraving expenses

    *  

Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses

    *  

Other expenses

    *  
       

Total

  $ *  
       

*
To be provided by amendment.

Item 14.    Indemnification of directors and officers

              Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL allows a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide for this limitation of liability.

              Section 145 of the DGCL, or Section 145, provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation's best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, were or are a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation's best interests, provided that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer, director, employee or agent is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.

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              Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.

              Our second amended and restated bylaws will provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and must also pay expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon delivery of an undertaking, by or on behalf of an indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified.

              We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with certain of our executive officers and directors pursuant to which we will agree to indemnify such persons against all expenses and liabilities incurred or paid by such person in connection with any proceeding arising from the fact that such person is or was an officer or director of our company, and to advance expenses as incurred by or on behalf of such person in connection therewith.

              The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our second amended and restated bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

              We expect to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to us with respect to indemnification payments that we may make to such directors and officers.

              The proposed form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement will provide for indemnification of our directors and officers by the underwriters party thereto against certain liabilities. See "Item 17. Undertakings" for a description of the Commission's position regarding such indemnification provisions.

Item 15.    Recent sales of unregistered securities

              None.

Item 16.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

              The exhibit index attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.

              All schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth in the schedules is either not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

Item 17.    Undertakings

              For the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned

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registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

              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.

              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 provisions referenced in Item 14 of this registration statement or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC 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 hereunder, 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.

              The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

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SIGNATURES

              Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, NRG Yield, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Princeton, State of New Jersey, on July 1, 2013.

    NRG YIELD, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ BRIAN E. CURCI

Name:  Brian E. Curci
Title:    Secretary

              Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July 1, 2013.

Signature
 
Title

 

 

 

 

 
*

David W. Crane
  President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Director

*

Kirkland B. Andrews

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) and Director

*

Ronald B. Stark

 

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer)

*

Mauricio Gutierrez

 

Director

*

Christopher S. Sotos

 

Director

*    The undersigned by signing his name hereto, signs and executes this Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement pursuant to the Powers of Attorney executed by the above named signatories and previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6, 2013.


By:

 

/s/ BRIAN E. CURCI

Brian E. Curci

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
  Exhibit Description
  1.1 * Form of Underwriting Agreement
        
  3.1   Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
        
  3.2 ** Form of Second Amended and Restated Bylaws
        
  4.1   Form of Specimen Stock Certificate
        
  5.1 ** Form of Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP
        
  10.1   Form of Management Services Agreement by and between NRG Yield, Inc. and NRG Energy, Inc.
        
  10.2 ** Form of Right of First Offer Agreement by and between NRG Yield, Inc. and NRG Energy, Inc.
        
  10.3   Form of Exchange Agreement by and among NRG Yield, Inc., NRG Yield LLC and NRG Energy, Inc.
        
  10.4   Form of Registration Rights Agreement by and between NRG Yield, Inc. and NRG Energy, Inc.
        
  10.5   Form of Licensing Agreement by and between NRG Yield, Inc. and NRG Energy, Inc.
        
  10.6 * Credit Agreement by and among NRG Yield, Inc. and the lenders party thereto
        
  10.7 *** Credit Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2010, by and among NRG Marsh Landing LLC (formerly Mirant Marsh Landing, LLC), the Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, as administrative agent and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Agent and Depository Bank
        
  10.8 ** Loan Guarantee Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2011, by and among High Plains Ranch II, LLC, as borrower, the U.S. Department of Energy, as guarantor, and the U.S. Department of Energy, as loan servicer
        
  10.9 ** Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2011, by and among Avenal Solar Holdings LLC and NRG Energy Services LLC
        
  10.10 ** Asset Management Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2012, by and among NRG Solar Avra Valley LLC and NRG Solar Asset Management LLC
        
  10.11 ** Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2012, by and among NRG Energy Services LLC and NRG Solar Borrego I LLC
        
  10.12 ** Asset Management Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2012, by and among NRG Solar Alpine LLC and NRG Solar Asset Management LLC
        
  10.13 ** Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2011, by and among NRG Energy Services LLC and High Plains Ranch II, LLC
        
  10.14 ** Project Administration Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2010, by and among South Trent Wind LLC and NRG Texas Power LLC
        
  10.15 ** Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2009, by and among GenConn Devon LLC and Devon Power LLC
 
   

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Exhibit
Number
  Exhibit Description
  10.16 ** Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2009, by and among GenConn Middletown LLC and Middletown Power LLC
        
  10.17 ** Administrative Services Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2009, by and among GenOn Energy Services, LLC (formerly Mirant Services, LLC) and NRG Marsh Landing, LLC (formerly Mirant Marsh Landing,  LLC)
        
  10.18   Form of Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NRG Yield LLC
        
  10.19 †** Form of NRG Yield, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
        
  10.20 †** Form of Indemnification Agreement (between NRG Yield, Inc. and its directors and executive officers)
        
  21.1   List of subsidiaries of NRG Yield, Inc.
        
  23.1 ** Consent of KPMG, LLP, independent public registered accounting firm with respect to the audited financials of NRG Yield, Inc.
        
  23.2 ** Consent of KPMG, LLP, independent public registered accounting firm with respect to the audited financials of the predecessor of NRG Yield LLC
        
  23.3 ** Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent auditors with respect to the audited financials of GCE Holding LLC
        
  23.4 ** Consent of KPMG, LLP, independent public registered accounting firm with respect to the audited financials of NRG Marsh Landing LLC, formerly GenOn Marsh Landing, LLC
        
  23.5 ** Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
        
  24.1 ** Powers of Attorney (included on signature page)
        
  99.1 * Consent of Director Nominees

Indicates exhibits that constitute compensatory plans or arrangements.

*
To be filed by amendment.

**
Indicates exhibits previously filed by the registrant.

***
Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1.48 to GenOn Energy, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2011.

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Explanatory Note
PART II
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

NRG YIELD, INC.

 

NRG Yield, Inc. (the “Corporation”) was incorporated under the name NRG Yieldco, Inc. by filing its original certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 20, 2012.  The original certificate of incorporation was amended on May 17, 2013 to change the name of the Corporation to NRG Yield, Inc.  This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Certificate”) was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”). The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

The name of the Corporation is NRG Yield, Inc.

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

Section 1.                                           Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation has authority to issue is                      shares, consisting of:

 

(a)                                                shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”);

 

(b)                                                shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A Common Stock”); and

 

(c)                                                 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”).

 

Section 2.                                           Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time and in one or more series. By resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of directors then in office, the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of

 



 

Directors”) is authorized to determine or alter the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and within the limitations or restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of directors then in office, originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series of Preferred Stock to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series of Preferred Stock, then outstanding) the number of shares of any such series of Preferred Stock and to fix the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock. In the event that the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which such shares had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series of Preferred Stock subject to the requirements of applicable law. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions granted to or imposed upon, any such series of Preferred Stock may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside the resolutions or resolutions providing for the issue of such Preferred Stock, adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of directors then in office, provided that the manner in which such facts shall operate upon the powers, preferences and rights of, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Any of the powers, preferences and rights of, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions granted to or imposed upon, such series of Preferred Stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series of Preferred Stock adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of directors then in office.

 

Section 3.                                           Common Stock.

 

(a)                                 Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or this Certificate, and subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, all of the voting power of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be vested in the holders of the Common Stock. Holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters presented to the stockholders of the Corporation for their approval or vote, and each holder of Common Stock shall have one vote for each share held by such holder on all matters voted upon by the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(b)                                 Dividends and Other Distributions.

 

(i)                                     Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the holders of Class A Common Stock shall share ratably in all dividends as may from time to time be declared by the Board of Directors in respect of the Class A Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation legally available for the payment thereof at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine.

 

(ii)                                  Except as provided in clause (b)(iii) below with respect to stock dividends, dividends and other distributions of cash or property may not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock.

 

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(iii)                               In no event will any stock dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, combinations of stock, reclassifications or recapitalizations be declared or made on any Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as the case may be, unless contemporaneously therewith, the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, respectively, at the time outstanding are treated in the same proportion and the same manner. Stock dividends with respect to Class B Common Stock may only be paid with Class B Common Stock.

 

(c)                                  Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder.  Except as otherwise provided in this Article FOUR and except for their right to receive payment for the par value of their shares of Class B Common Stock, the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

(d)                                 Retirement of Class B Common Stock. In the event that, pursuant to that certain Exchange Agreement, dated as of             , 2013 (the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among NRG Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NRG”), NRG Yield LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Yield LLC”) and the Corporation, NRG or its permitted transferees or assignees exchange a Class B unit of Yield LLC for a share of Class A Common Stock, an equivalent number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall be subject to mandatory redemption at a price per share equal to its per share par value and thereupon shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock or other series of stock of the Corporation be cancelled and retired.

 

(e)                                  Preemptive Rights. Except as otherwise provided in this Article FOUR, no holder of Common Stock shall have any preemptive, conversion or other rights to subscribe for additional shares with respect to the Common Stock or any other securities of the Corporation, or to any obligations convertible (directly or indirectly) into securities of the Corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized.

 

Section 4.                                           Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(a)                                 Restricted Transfers. Except through a Secondary Market Transaction, no person shall purchase or otherwise acquire (whether through the conversion or exchange of securities convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock or otherwise), and no stockholder of the Corporation shall transfer to any person, shares of Class A Common Stock such that, after giving effect to such purchase, acquisition or other transfer (a “Restricted Transfer”), the transferee, together with its PUHCA Affiliates, would beneficially own, control and/or hold with power to vote sufficient Class A Common Stock to convey Utility Control without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors.

 

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(b)                                 Purported Transfer in Violation of Restrictions. Unless the approval of the Board of Directors is obtained with respect to a Restricted Transfer, such purported Restricted Transfer shall not be effective to transfer record, beneficial, legal or any other ownership of such Common Stock, and the transferee shall not be entitled to any rights as a stockholder of the Corporation with respect to the Class A Common Stock purported to be purchased, acquired or transferred in the Restricted Transfer (including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends with respect thereto).

 

(c)                                  Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Section 4 of Article FOUR:

 

PUHCA Affiliate” means any person that is an “affiliate” or “associate company” (as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 or regulations thereunder) of another person.

 

Secondary Market Transaction” means a purchase or sale of Class A Common Stock by a third-party investor (i) occurring while the Class A Common Stock is publicly-traded, (ii) to which neither the Corporation nor any of its subsidiaries is a party, (iii) over which neither the Corporation nor any of its subsidiaries has control, and (iv) of which neither the Corporation nor any of its subsidiaries would, in the ordinary course, have prior notice.  A Secondary Market Transaction does not include, among other things, any purchase or sale of the Class A Common Stock in connection with the initial issuance or offering of Class A Common Stock in the Corporation’s initial public offering (including the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares) or any reacquisition of Class A Common Stock by the Corporation.

 

Utility Control” means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Yield Public Utility and shall be deemed to exist if a person and its PUHCA Affiliates directly and/or indirectly own, control and/or hold with power to vote 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such Yield Public Utility.  The percentage of voting securities of a Yield Public Utility directly and/or indirectly owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by a person and its PUHCA Affiliates shall be equal to the sum of: (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by such person and its PUHCA Affiliates divided by the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock then outstanding multiplied by the percentage interest in the Yield Public Utility directly and/or indirectly owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by the Corporation, plus (ii) the aggregate percentage of outstanding NRG voting securities owned, controlled or held with power to vote by such person and its PUHCA Affiliates multiplied by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by NRG divided by the total number of voting shares of NRG then outstanding multiplied by the percentage interest in the Yield Public Utility directly or indirectly owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by NRG  (including, but not limited to, those held through its voting interests in the Corporation), plus (iii) the percentage of the Yield Public Utility’s outstanding voting securities owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by such person and its PUHCA Affiliates other than through ownership interests in the Corporation or NRG.  The calculation is expressed in the following formula:

 

[(AP / ATotal + BTotal) * YPUY] + [(NRGP / NRGTotal) * YPUNRG] + YPUP

 

WHERE:

 

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AP = the number of shares of Class A Common Stock owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by such person and its PUHCA Affiliates.

 

ATotal = the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding.

 

BTotal = the total number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.

 

NRGP = the number of voting shares owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by such person and its PUHCA Affiliates in NRG.

 

NRGTotal = the total number of voting shares of NRG outstanding.

 

YPUY = the percentage of the voting interests of a Yield Public Utility directly and/or indirectly owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by the Corporation.

 

YPUNRG = the percentage of the voting interests of a Yield Public Utility directly and/or indirectly owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by NRG.

 

YPUP = the percentage of the voting interests of a Yield Public Utility directly and/or indirectly owned, controlled and/or held with power to vote by such person other than through interests in the Corporation or NRG.

 

Yield Public Utility” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of Yield LLC that is a “public utility” (as that term is defined in the Federal Power Act).

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

Except as provided by this Certificate and any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock, each director shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on the election of directors voting as a single class and represented in person or by proxy at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

Section 1.                                           Board of Directors. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation (as amended and restated, the “Bylaws”), the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

 

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Section 2.                                           Number of Directors. Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the Board of Directors shall have no more than sixteen (16) nor less than three (3) members, with the exact number of directors constituting the full board to be determined from time to time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office.  Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the size of the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, although less than quorum, at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Nothing in this Certificate shall preclude a director from serving consecutive terms. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

Section 1.                                           Indemnification; Limitation of Liability.

 

(a)                                 To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, and except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, (i) no director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders; and (ii) the Corporation shall indemnify its officers and directors.

 

(b)                                 Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation in respect of any act, omission or condition existing or event or circumstance occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

Section 1.                                           Removal of Directors. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to remove directors (with or without cause) and fill the vacancies thereby created (as specified in any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock), no director may be removed from office except for cause and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding voting as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the holders of any class or series of capital stock are entitled by the provisions of this Certificate (including any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock) to elect one or more directors, such director or directors so elected may be removed with or without cause by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of that class or series entitled to vote.

 

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Section 2.                                           Vacancies in the Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to remove directors and fill the vacancies thereby created (as specified in any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock) and subject to Section 2 of Article SEVEN, vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors for any reason may be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although less than a quorum, at any meeting of the Board of Directors. A person so elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the DGCL) outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to act by written consent as specified in any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting, and must take any actions at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and the power of stockholders to consent in writing without a meeting is specifically denied. Except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total number of directors then in office.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

Section 1.                                           Competition and Corporate Opportunities. To the extent provided in the following paragraphs, the Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Dual Opportunity presented to NRG or its Affiliated Entities or to a Dual Role Person.

 

(a)                                 In the event that NRG and its Affiliated Companies acquire knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a Dual Opportunity, neither the Corporation nor any of its Affiliated Companies shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any expectancy in such Dual Opportunity.  NRG and its Affiliated Companies shall have no duty to communicate or offer to the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies, or refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in, any Dual Opportunity, and may pursue or acquire such Dual Opportunity for themselves or direct such Dual Opportunity to another Person.

 

(b)                                 A Dual Role Person (i) shall have no duty to communicate or offer to the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies any Dual Opportunity that such Dual Role Person has communicated or offered to NRG or its Affiliated Companies, (ii) shall not be prohibited from communicating or offering any Dual Opportunity to NRG or its Affiliated Companies, and (iii) shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty as a

 

7



 

stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation, as the case may be, resulting from (x) the failure to communicate or offer to the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies any Dual Opportunity that such Dual Role Person has communicated or offered to NRG or its Affiliated Companies or (y) the communication or offer to NRG or its Affiliated Companies of any Dual Opportunity, in each case, so long as the Dual Opportunity was not expressly offered in writing  to the Dual Role Person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.                                           Certain Matters Deemed not Corporate Opportunities. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article THIRTEEN, the Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that (i) the Corporation is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, (ii) is not in the Corporation’s line of business, (iii) is of no practical advantage to the Corporation, and (iv) in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy. Moreover, nothing in this Article THIRTEEN shall amend or modify in any respect any written contractual agreement between NRG or its Affiliated Companies, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies, on the other hand.

 

Section 3.                                           Certain Definitions.  For purposes of this Article THIRTEEN and Article FIFTEEN:

 

Affiliated Company” means (i) with respect to the Corporation, any Person controlled by the Corporation, (ii) with respect to NRG, any Person controlled by NRG, other than the Corporation. For purposes of this definition “is controlled by” means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Dual Opportunity” means any potential transaction or matter within the same or similar business activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies may engage, and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, participates or which may be a corporate opportunity for the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies, on the one hand, and for NRG and its Affiliated Companies, on the other hand.

 

Dual Role Person” means any individual who is an officer or director of both the Corporation and NRG.

 

Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Section 4.                                           Termination.  The provisions of this Article THIRTEEN shall have no further force or effect at such time as (i)  the Corporation and NRG are no longer affiliates of each other and (ii) none of the directors and/or officers of NRG serve as directors and/or officers of the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies; provided, however, that any such termination shall not terminate the effect of such provisions with respect to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding between the Corporation or an Affiliated Company thereof, on the one hand,

 

8



 

and NRG or an Affiliated Company thereof, on the other hand, that was entered into before such time or any transaction entered into in the performance of such agreement, arrangement or other understanding, whether entered into before or after such time.

 

Section 5.                                           Deemed Notice.  Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or obtaining any interest in any capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice and to have consented to the provisions of this Article THIRTEEN.

 

Section 6.                                           Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision, or part of any provision, of this Article THIRTEEN shall not affect the other provisions or parts hereof, and this Article THIRTEEN shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provisions or parts were omitted.

 

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate or any provisions of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of the capital stock required by law or this Certificate (including any duly authorized certificate of designation of any series of Preferred Stock), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662/3% of the combined voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the Corporation eligible to be cast in the election of directors generally voting as a single class shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Section 2 of ARTICLE FOUR hereof, ARTICLE EIGHT, ARTICLE NINE hereof, Section 2 of ARTICLE TEN hereof, ARTICLES TWELVE and THIRTEEN hereof, this ARTICLE FOURTEEN, or ARTICLE FIFTEEN hereof or any provision thereof or hereof.

 

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

 

The Corporation hereby elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL until such time as NRG and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own at least 5% of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors voting together as a single class, whereupon the Corporation shall immediately and automatically, without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of stock of the Corporation become governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

 

The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate (as may be amended, altered, changed or repealed) or the Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within

 

9



 

ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. If any provision or provisions of this Article SIXTEEN shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article SIXTEEN (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article SIXTEEN containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.  Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE SIXTEEN.

 

ARTICLE SEVENTEEN

 

Except as expressly provided herein, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other person herein are granted subject to this reservation.

 

* * * * * *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by the undersigned authorized officer this      day of        of 2013.

 

 

NRG Yield, Inc.,

 

a Delaware corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 




Exhibit 4.1

 

 


 

 




Exhibit 10.1

 

NRG YIELD, INC.,

 

NRG YIELD LLC

 

and

 

 NRG YIELD OPERATING LLC

 

and

 

NRG ENERGY, INC.

 

as Manager

 

 

MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE 1 INTERPRETATION

4

1.1

Definitions

4

1.2

Headings and Table of Contents

8

1.3

Interpretation

8

1.4

Service Recipients Third Party Beneficiaries

9

1.5

Actions by the Manager or the Service Recipients

9

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2 APPOINTMENT OF THE MANAGER

10

2.1

Appointment and Acceptance

10

2.2

Other Service Recepients

10

2.3

Subcontracting and Other Arrangements

10

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3 SERVICES AND POWERS OF THE MANAGER

10

3.1

Services

10

3.2

Supervision of Manager’s Activities

12

3.3

Restrictions on the Manager

12

3.4

Errors and Omissions Insurance

12

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MANAGER AND THE SERVICE RECIPIENTS

12

4.1

Other Activities

12

4.2

Exclusivity

13

4.3

Independent Contractor, No Partnership or Joint Venture

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5 MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

13

5.1

Management and Employees

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6 INFORMATION AND RECORDS

14

6.1

Books and Records

14

6.2

Examination of Records by the Service Recipients

14

6.3

Access to Information by Manager Group

14

6.4

Additional Information

15

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7 FEES AND EXPENSES

15

7.1

Base Management Fee

15

7.2

Computation and Payment of Quarterly Base Management Fee Amount

15

7.3

Expenses

15

7.4

Governmental Charges

17

7.5

Computation and Payment of Expenses and Governmental Charges

17

 

 

 

ARTICLE 8 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE MANAGER AND THE SERVICE RECIPIENTS

17

8.1

Representations and Warranties of the Manager

17

 



 

8.2

Representations and Warranties of the Service Recipients

18

 

 

 

ARTICLE 9 LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

19

9.1

Indemnity

19

9.2

Limitation of Liability

20

9.3

Benefit to all Manager Indemnified Parties

20

 

 

 

ARTICLE 10 TERM AND TERMINATION

21

10.1

Term

21

10.2

Termination by the Service Recipients

21

10.3

Termination by the Manager

22

10.4

Survival Upon Termination

22

10.5

Action Upon Termination

22

10.6

Release of Money or other Property Upon Written Request

23

 

 

 

ARTICLE 11 GENERAL PROVISIONS

24

11.1

Amendment, Waiver

24

11.2

Assignment

24

11.3

Failure to Pay When Due

25

11.4

Invalidity of Provisions

25

11.5

Entire Agreement

25

11.6

Mutual Waiver of Jury Trial

25

11.7

Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process

26

11.8

Governing Law

26

11.9

Enurement

26

11.10

Notices

26

11.11

Further Assurances

27

11.12

Counterparts

27

 



 

MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the        day of                     , 2013, by and among NRG Yield, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Yield”), NRG Yield LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Yield LLC”), NRG Yield Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Yield Operating”), and NRG Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Manager”).

 

RECITALS:

 

A.                                    Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating directly and indirectly, as applicable, hold interests in the Service Recipients (as defined below).

 

B.                                    Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating wish to engage the Manager to provide or arrange for other Service Providers (as defined below) to provide the services set forth in this Agreement to the Service Recipients, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and the Manager wishes to accept such engagement.

 

NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged), the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION

 

1.1                               Definitions

 

In this Agreement, except where the context otherwise requires, the following terms will have the following meanings:

 

1.1.1 “Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by such Person, or is under common Control of a third Person;

 

1.1.2 “Acquired Assets” means any renewable and conventional generation and thermal infrastructure asset acquired after the date hereof by any member of the Yield Group, including, but not limited, to any assets acquired pursuant to the NRG ROFO Agreement or otherwise agreed upon by the Manager and Yield;

 

1.1.3 “Agreement” means this Management Services Agreement, and “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and similar expressions refer to this Agreement and include every instrument supplemental or ancillary to this Agreement and, except where the context otherwise requires, not to any particular article or section thereof;

 

1.1.4 “Annual Fee Amount” means an amount equal to $4 million, which amount shall be adjusted for inflation annually beginning on January 1, 2014 at the Inflation Factor;

 



 

1.1.5 “Base Management Fee” means, as of the date of determination, an aggregate amount equal to the Annual Fee Amount, plus an amount equal to 0.05% of the Enterprise Value of any Acquired Assets as of the date of determination.  The Base Management Fee may be  increased or decreased from time to time by an agreed upon amount resulting from the amendment of the scope of the Services pursuant to Section 11.1.1 hereof;

 

1.1.6 “Business” means the business carried on from time to time by the Yield Group;

 

1.1.7 “Business Day” means every day except a Saturday or Sunday, or a legal holiday in the City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close;

 

1.1.8 “Claims” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 10.1.1 hereof;

 

1.1.9 “Control” means the control by one Person of another Person in accordance with the following: a Person (“A”) controls another Person (“B”) where A has the power to determine the management and policies of B by contract or status (for example the status of A being the managing member of B) or by virtue of beneficial ownership of or control over a majority of the voting or economic interests in B; and, for certainty and without limitation, if A owns or has control over shares to which are attached more than 50% of the votes permitted to be cast in the election of directors to the Governing Body of B or A is the general partner of B, a limited partnership, then in each case A Controls B for this purpose, and the term “Controlled” has the corresponding meaning;

 

1.1.10 “Enterprise Value” means an Acquired Asset’s capitalization plus outstanding indebtedness, minority interest and preferred shares, minus total cash and cash equivalents calculated as of such Acquired Asset’s acquisition closing date.

 

1.1.11 “Expenses” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7.3.2 hereof;

 

1.1.12 “Expense Statement” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7.5 hereof;

 

1.1.13 “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States used by Yield in preparing its financial statements from time to time; provided that, at any time after adoption of IFRS by Yield for its financial statements and reports for all financial reporting purposes, all references to GAAP hereunder shall be to IFRS;

 

1.1.14 “Governing Body” means (i) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of such corporation, (ii) with respect to a limited liability company, the manager(s) or managing member(s) of such limited liability company, (iii) with respect to a limited partnership, the board, committee or other body of the general partner of such partnership that serves a similar function or the general partner itself (or if any such general partner is itself a limited partnership, the board, committee or other body of such general partner’s general partner that serves a similar function or such general partner’s partner) and (iv) with respect to any other Person, the body of such Person that serves a similar function, and in the case of each of (i) through (iv) includes any committee or other

 

5



 

subdivision of such body and any Person to whom such body has delegated any power or authority, including any officer and managing director;

 

1.1.15 “Governing Instruments” means (i) the certificate of incorporation and bylaws in the case of a corporation, (ii) the articles of formation and operating agreement in the case of a limited liability company (iii) the partnership agreement in the case of a partnership, and (iv) any other similar governing document under which an entity was organized, formed or created and/or operates;

 

1.1.16 “Governmental Authority” means any (i) international, national, multinational, federal, state, regional, municipal, local or other government, governmental or public department, central bank, court, tribunal, arbitral body, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, including ISO/RTOs, (ii) self-regulatory organization or stock exchange, (iii) subdivision, agent, commission, board, or authority of any of the foregoing, or (iv) quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory, expropriation or taxing authority under or for the account of any of the foregoing;

 

1.1.17 “Governmental Charges” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7.4 hereof;

 

1.1.18 “IFRS” means the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

1.1.19 “Independent Committee” means a committee of the Governing Body of Yield made up of directors that are “independent” of the Manager and its Affiliates, in accordance with Yield’s Governing Instruments;

 

1.1.20 “Inflation Factor” means, at any time, the fraction obtained where the numerator is the Consumer Price Index for the United States of America (all items) for the then current year and the denominator is the Consumer Price Index for the United States of America (all items) for the year immediately preceding the then current year, with appropriate mathematical adjustment made to ensure that both the numerator and the denominator have been prepared on the same basis;

 

1.1.21 “Interest Rate” means, for any day, the rate of interest equal to the overnight U.S. dollar London interbank offered rate on such day;

 

1.1.22 “ISO/RTO” means an independent electricity system operator, a regional transmission organization, national system operator or any other similar organization overseeing the transmission of energy in any jurisdiction in which the Yield Group owns assets or operates;

 

1.1.23 “Laws” means any and all applicable (i) laws, constitutions, treaties, statutes, codes, ordinances, principles of common law and equity, rules, regulations and municipal bylaws whether domestic, foreign or international, (ii) judicial, arbitral, administrative, ministerial, departmental and regulatory judgments, orders, writs, injunctions, decisions, and awards of any Governmental Authority, and (iii) policies, practices and guidelines of any Governmental Authority which, although not actually having the force of law, are

 

6



 

considered by such Governmental Authority as requiring compliance as if having the force of law, and the term “applicable,” with respect to such Laws and in the context that refers to one or more Persons, means such Laws that apply to such Person or Persons or its or their business, undertaking, property or securities at the relevant time and that emanate from a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Person or Persons or its or their business, undertaking, property or securities;

 

1.1.24 “Liabilities” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.1.1 hereof;

 

1.1.25 “Manager Group” means the Manager and its Affiliates (other than any member of the Yield Group) and any other Service Providers;

 

1.1.26 “Manager Indemnified Parties” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.1.1 hereof;

 

1.1.27 “Manager” has the meaning assigned thereto in the preamble;

 

1.1.28 “NRG ROFO Agreement” means the agreement between the Manager and Yield that provides Yield a right of first offer to purchase certain assets of the Manager offered for sale;

 

1.1.29 “Operational and Other Services” means any services provided by any member of the Manager Group to any member of the Yield Group, including financial advisory, operations and maintenance, marketing, agency, development, operating management and other services, including services provided under any Operating and Administrative Agreement;

 

1.1.30 “Permit” means any consent, license, approval, registration, permit or other authorization granted by any Governmental Authority;

 

1.1.31 “Person” means any natural person, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, syndicate, sole proprietorship, company or corporation (with or without share capital), limited liability corporation, unlimited liability company, joint stock company, unincorporated association, trust, trustee, executor, administrator or other legal personal representative, regulatory body or agency, government or Governmental Agency, authority or entity however designated or constituted and pronouns have a similarly extended meaning;

 

1.1.32 “Operating and Administrative Agreements” means the operations and administrative agreements in effect on the date hereof between certain members of the Yield Group and Affiliates of the Manager for such Yield Group members’ operating and administrative needs and, with respect to any Acquired Assets, any operations and administrative agreements between any of the Acquired Assets and Affiliates of the Manager for such asset’s operating and administrative needs in effect as of the date of acquisition of the Acquired Asset by a member of the Yield Group,; for greater certainty, none of the Operating and Administrative Agreements are, or shall be, amended or terminated, or otherwise altered, by this Agreement;

 

7



 

1.1.33 “Quarter” means a calendar quarter ending on the last day of March, June, September or December;

 

1.1.34 “Service Providers” means the Manager, any member of the Manager Group and any other entity or individual that the Manager has arranged to provide the Services to any Service Recipient;

 

1.1.35 “Service Recipient” means Yield, Yield LLC, Yield Operating and the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule I hereto, as well as any other direct and indirect Subsidiary of Yield, Yield LLC, Yield Operating, as applicable, acquired or formed after the date hereof that receives Services from a Service Provider pursuant to this Agreement;

 

1.1.36 “Services” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.1 hereof;

 

1.1.37 “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any other Person that is directly or indirectly Controlled by such Person, (ii) any trust in which such Person holds all of the beneficial interests or (iii) any partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which such Person holds all of the interests other than the interests of any general partner, managing member or similar Person;

 

1.1.38 “Third Party Claim” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.1.3 hereof;

 

1.1.39 “Transaction Fees” means fees paid or payable by the Service Recipients, which are on market terms, with respect to financial advisory services ordinarily carried out by investment banks in the context of mergers and acquisitions transactions;

 

1.1.40 “Yield” has the meaning assigned thereto in the preamble;

 

1.1.41 “Yield Group” means Yield, Yield LLC, Yield Operating and their direct and indirect Subsidiaries;

 

1.1.42 “Yield LLC” has the meaning assigned thereto in the preamble; and

 

1.1.43 “Yield Operating” has the meaning assigned thereto in the preamble.

 

1.2                               Headings and Table of Contents

 

The inclusion of headings and a table of contents in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and will not affect the construction or interpretation hereof.

 

1.3                               Interpretation

 

In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

1.3.1 words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, words importing gender shall include all genders or the neuter, and words importing the neuter shall include all genders;

 

8



 

1.3.2 the words “include”, “includes”, “including”, or any variations thereof, when following any general term or statement, are not to be construed as limiting the general term or statement to the specific items or matters set forth or to similar items or matters, but rather as referring to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of the general term or statement;

 

1.3.3 references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns;

 

1.3.4 any reference to a statute, regulation, policy, rule or instrument shall include, and shall be deemed to be a reference also to, all amendments made to such statute, regulation, policy, rule or instrument and to any statute, regulation, policy, rule or instrument that may be passed which has the effect of supplementing or superseding the statute, regulation, policy, rule or instrument so referred to;

 

1.3.5 any reference to this Agreement or any other agreement, document or instrument shall be construed as a reference to this Agreement or, as the case may be, such other agreement, document or instrument as the same may have been, or may from time to time be, amended, varied, replaced, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified;

 

1.3.6 in the event that any day on which any amount is to be determined or any action is required to be taken hereunder is not a Business Day, then such amount shall be determined or such action shall be required to be taken at or before the requisite time on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day; and

 

1.3.7 except where otherwise expressly provided, all amounts in this Agreement are stated and shall be paid in U.S. currency.

 

1.4                               Service Recipients Third Party Beneficiaries

 

The Manager agrees that each of the Service Recipients, including the Service Recipients listed on Schedule I hereto and any other Service Recipient formed or acquired after the date of this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.2 hereof, shall be, and is hereby, named as express third-party beneficiary of this Agreement entitled to all the benefits conferred under this Agreement.

 

1.5                               Actions by the Manager or the Service Recipients

 

Unless the context requires otherwise, where the consent of or a determination is required by the Manager or Service Recipient hereunder, the parties shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon it having been given or taken, as applicable, if, the Manager or such Service Recipient, as applicable, has communicated the same in writing.

 

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ARTICLE 2
APPOINTMENT OF THE MANAGER

 

2.1                               Appointment and Acceptance

 

2.1.1 Subject to and in accordance with the terms, conditions and limitations in this Agreement, Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating hereby appoint the Manager to provide or arrange for other Service Providers to provide the Services to the Service Recipients. This appointment will be subject to the express terms of this Agreement and to each Service Recipient’s Governing Body’s supervision of the Manager and obligation to manage and control the affairs of such Service Recipient.

 

2.1.2 The Manager hereby accepts the appointment provided for in Section 2.1.1 and agrees to act in such capacity and to provide or arrange for other Service Providers to provide the Services to the Service Recipients upon the terms, conditions and limitations in this Agreement.

 

2.2                               Other Service Recipients

 

The parties acknowledge that any Subsidiary of Yield, Yield LLC or Yield Operating formed or acquired in the future that is not a Service Recipient on the date hereof may become a Service Recipient under this Agreement.  In the event that any such addition results in an amendment of the scope of the Services, such amendment shall be effectuated as provided by Section 11.1.1 hereof.

 

2.3                               Subcontracting and Other Arrangements

 

The Manager may subcontract to any other Service Provider or any of its other Affiliates, or arrange for the provision of any or all of the Services to be provided by it under this Agreement by any other Service Provider or any other of its Affiliates, and each of Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating hereby consents to any such subcontracting or arrangement; provided that the Manager shall remain responsible to the Service Recipients for any Services provided by such other Service Provider or Affiliate.

 

ARTICLE 3
SERVICES AND POWERS OF THE MANAGER

 

3.1                               Services

 

The Manager will provide, or arrange for the provision by other Service Providers of, and will have the exclusive power and authority to provide or arrange for the provision by other Service Providers of, the following services (the “Services”) to the Service Recipients:

 

3.1.1 causing or supervising the carrying out of all day to day management, secretarial, accounting, banking, treasury, administrative, liaison, representative, regulatory and reporting functions and obligations;

 

3.1.2 establishing and maintaining or supervising the establishment and maintenance of books and records;

 

3.1.3 identifying, evaluating and recommending to the Yield Group acquisitions or dispositions from time to time and, where requested to do so, assisting in negotiating the terms of such acquisitions or dispositions;

 

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3.1.4 recommending and, where requested to do so, assisting in the raising of funds whether by way of debt, equity or otherwise, including the preparation, review or distribution of any prospectus or offering memorandum in respect thereof and assisting with communications support in connection therewith;

 

3.1.5 recommending to the members of the Yield Group suitable candidates to serve on the Governing Bodies of the Yield Group;

 

3.1.6 making recommendations with respect to the exercise of any voting rights to which the Service Recipients are entitled in respect of its Subsidiaries;

 

3.1.7 making recommendations with respect to the payment of dividends by the Service Recipients or any other distributions by the Service Recipients, including distributions by Yield to its stockholders;

 

3.1.8 monitoring and/or oversight of the applicable Service Recipient’s accountants, legal counsel and other accounting, financial or legal advisors and technical, commercial, marketing and other independent experts and managing litigation in which a Service Recipient is sued or commencing litigation after consulting with, and subject to the approval of, the relevant Governing Body;

 

3.1.9 attending to all matters necessary for any reorganization, bankruptcy proceedings, dissolution or winding up of a Service Recipient, subject to approval by the relevant Governing Body;

 

3.1.10 supervising the timely calculation and payment of taxes payable, and the filing of all tax returns, by each Service Recipient;

 

3.1.11 causing or supervising the preparation of the Service Recipients’ annual combined financial statements and quarterly interim financial statements (i) to be prepared in accordance with GAAP and audited at least to such extent and with such frequency as may be required by law, regulation or in order to comply with any debt covenants; and (ii) to be submitted to the Governing Body of each Service Recipient;

 

3.1.12 making recommendations in relation to and effecting the entry into insurance of each Service Recipient’s assets, together with other insurances against other risks, including directors and officers insurance, as the relevant Service Provider and the relevant Governing Body may from time to time agree;

 

3.1.13 arranging for individuals to carry out the functions of the principal executive, accounting and financial officers for Yield only for purposes of applicable securities laws and the regulations of any stock exchange on which the Securities of Yield are listed and subject to the approval of Yield’s Governing Body;

 

3.1.14 providing individuals to act as senior officers of the Service Recipients as agreed from time to time, subject to the approval of the relevant Governing Body;

 

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3.1.15 advising the Service Recipients regarding the maintenance of compliance with applicable Laws and other obligations; and

 

3.1.16 providing all such other services as may from time to time be agreed with the Service Recipients that are reasonably related to the Service Recipient’s day to day operations.

 

3.2                               Supervision of Manager’s Activities

 

The Manager shall, at all times, be subject to the supervision of the relevant Service Recipient’s Governing Body and shall only provide or arrange for the provision of such Services as such Governing Body may request from time to time.

 

3.3                               Restrictions on the Manager

 

3.3.1 The Manager shall, and shall cause any other Service Provider to, refrain from taking any action that is not in compliance with or would violate any Laws or that otherwise would not be permitted by the Governing Instruments of the Service Recipients. If the Manager or any Service Provider is instructed to take any action that is not in such compliance by a Service Recipient’s Governing Body, such person will promptly notify such Governing Body of its judgment that such action would not comply with or violate any such Laws or otherwise would not be permitted by such Governing Instrument.

 

3.3.2 In performing its duties under this Agreement, each member of the Manager Group shall be entitled to rely in good faith on qualified experts, professionals and other agents (including on accountants, appraisers, consultants, legal counsel and other professional advisors) and shall be permitted to rely in good faith upon the direction of a Service Recipient’s Governing Body to evidence any approvals or authorizations that are required under this Agreement. All references in this Agreement to the Service Recipients or Governing Body for the purposes of instructions, approvals and requests to the Manager will refer to the Governing Body.

 

3.4                               Errors and Omissions Insurance

 

The Manager shall, and shall cause any other Service Provider to, at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain “errors and omissions” insurance coverage and other insurance coverage which is customarily carried by Persons performing functions that are similar to those performed by the Service Providers under this Agreement and in an amount which is comparable to that which is customarily maintained by such other Persons.

 

ARTICLE 4
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MANAGER AND THE SERVICE RECIPIENTS

 

4.1                               Other Activities

 

No member of the Manager Group (and no Affiliate, director, officer, member, partner, shareholder or employee of any member of the Manager Group) shall be prohibited from

 

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engaging in other business activities or sponsoring, or providing services to, third parties that compete directly or indirectly with the Service Recipients.

 

4.2                               Exclusivity

 

Except as expressly provided for herein, Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating shall not,  and shall cause the other Service Recipients not to, during the term of this Agreement, engage any other Person to provide any services comparable to the Services without the prior written consent of the Manager, which may be withheld in the absolute discretion of the Manager.

 

4.3                               Independent Contractor, No Partnership or Joint Venture

 

The parties acknowledge that the Manager is providing or arranging for the provision of the Services hereunder as an independent contractor and that the Service Recipients and the Manager are not partners or joint venturers with or agents of each other, and nothing herein will be construed so as to make them partners, joint venturers or agents or impose any liability as such on any of them as a result of this Agreement; provided however that nothing herein will be construed so as to prohibit the Service Recipients and the Manager from embarking upon an investment together as partners, joint venturers or in any other manner whatsoever.

 

ARTICLE 5
MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

 

5.1                               Management and Employees

 

5.1.1 The Manager shall arrange, or shall arrange for another member of the Manager Group to arrange, for such qualified personnel and support staff to be available to carry out the Services. Such personnel and support staff shall devote such of their time to the provision of the Services to the Service Recipients as the relevant member of the Manager Group reasonably deems necessary and appropriate in order to fulfill its obligations hereunder. Such personnel and support staff need not have as their primary responsibility the provision of the Services to the Service Recipients or be dedicated exclusively to the provision of the Services to the Service Recipients.

 

5.1.2 Each of Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating shall, and shall cause each of the other Service Recipients to do all things reasonably necessary on its part as requested by any member of the Manager Group consistent with the terms of this Agreement to enable the members of the Manager Group to fulfill their obligations, covenants and responsibilities and to exercise their rights pursuant to this Agreement, including making available to the Manager Group, and granting the Manager Group access to, the employees and contractors of the Service Recipients as any member of the Manager Group may from time to time reasonably request.

 

5.1.3 The Manager covenants and agrees to exercise the power and discharge the duties conferred under this Agreement honestly and in good faith, and shall exercise the degree of care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.

 

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ARTICLE 6
INFORMATION AND RECORDS

 

6.1                               Books and Records

 

The Manager shall, or shall cause any other member of the Manager Group to, as applicable, maintain proper books, records and documents on behalf of each Service Recipient, in which complete, true and correct entries, in conformity in all material respects with GAAP and all requirements of applicable Laws, will be made.

 

6.2                               Examination of Records by the Service Recipients

 

Upon reasonable prior notice by the Service Recipients to the relevant member of the Manager Group, the relevant member of the Manager Group will make available to the Service Recipients and their authorized representatives, for examination during normal business hours on any Business Day, all books, records and documents required to be maintained under Section 6.1 hereof. In addition, the Manager Group will make available to the Service Recipients or their authorized representatives such financial and operating data in respect of the performance of the Services under this Agreement as may be in existence and as the Service Recipients or their authorized representatives will from time to time reasonably request, including for the purposes of conducting any audit in respect of expenses of the Service Recipients or other matters necessary or advisable to be audited in order to conduct an audit of the financial affairs of the Service Recipients. Any examination of records will be conducted in a manner which will not unduly interfere with the conduct of the Service Recipients’ activities or of the Manager Group’s business in the ordinary course.

 

6.3                               Access to Information by Manager Group

 

6.3.1                     Each of Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating shall, and shall cause the other Service Recipients to:

 

6.3.1.1 grant, or cause to be granted, to the Manager Group full access to all documentation and information reasonably necessary in order for the Manager Group to perform its obligations, covenants and responsibilities pursuant to the terms hereof and to enable the Manager Group to provide the Services; and

 

6.3.1.2 provide, or cause to be provided, all documentation and information as may be reasonably requested by any member of the Manager Group, and promptly notify the appropriate member of the Manager Group of any material facts or information of which the Service Recipients are aware, including any known, pending or threatened suits, actions, claims, proceedings or orders by or against any member of the Yield Group before any Governmental Authority, that may affect the performance of the obligations, covenants or responsibilities of the Manager Group pursuant to this Agreement, including maintenance of proper financial records.

 

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6.4                               Additional Information

 

The parties acknowledge and agree that conducting the activities and providing the Services contemplated herein may have the incidental effect of providing additional information which may be utilized with respect to, or may augment the value of, business interests and related assets in which any of the Service Providers or any of its Affiliates has an interest and that, subject to compliance with this Agreement, none of the Service Providers or any of their respective Affiliates will be liable to account to the Service Recipients with respect to such activities or results; provided, however, that the relevant Service Provider will not (and will cause its Affiliates not to), in making any use of such additional information, do so in any manner that the relevant Service Provider or its Affiliates knows, or ought reasonably to know, would cause or result in a breach of any confidentiality provision of agreements to which any Service Recipient is a party or is bound.

 

ARTICLE 7
FEES AND EXPENSES

 

7.1                               Base Management Fee

 

7.1.1 Yield LLC, on behalf of the Service Recipients, hereby agrees to pay, during the term of this Agreement, the Base Management Fee.  The Base Management Fee shall be pro-rated and paid quarterly in arrears. For purposes of the initial payment hereunder, the Base Management Fee will accrue commencing on the date hereof and will be pro-rated based on the actual number of days during the first Quarter in which this Agreement is in effect.

 

7.1.2 The Base Management Fee will not be reduced by operation of this Agreement by the amount of (i)  any fees for Operational and Other Services that are paid or payable by any member of the Yield Group to any member of the Manager Group; (ii) any Expenses; or (iii) any Transaction Fees.

 

7.2                               Computation and Payment of Quarterly Base Management Fee Amount

 

7.2.1 The Manager will compute the Base Management Fee for each Quarter as soon as practicable following the end of the Quarter with respect to which such payment is due, but in any event no later than five Business Days following the end of such Quarter. A copy of the computations made will thereafter, for informational purposes only, promptly be delivered to Yield LLC. As soon as practicable following delivery of the computation of the Base Management Fee for any Quarter, but in no event later than the 30th day following the end of such Quarter, Yield LLC shall remit the corresponding payment for the corresponding Quarter to the Manager. Any dispute relating to the computation of the Base Management Fee for any Quarter shall be resolved in accordance with Article 12 hereof.

 

7.3                               Expenses

 

7.3.1 The Manager acknowledges and agrees that the Service Recipients will not be required to reimburse any member of the Manager Group for the salaries and other remuneration of the management, personnel or support staff of the Manager Group who provide the Services to such Service Recipients or overhead for such persons.

 

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7.3.2 Yield LLC, on behalf of the Service Recipients, shall reimburse the Manager for all out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses, including those of any third party (other than those contemplated by Section 7.3.1 hereof) (“Expenses”), incurred by the Manager or any member of the Manager Group in connection with the provision of the Services; provided, that, if any Expenses arise from Services that are shared with the Manager or any member of the Manager Group, the Manager shall in good faith determine the portion of Expenses allocable to members of the Yield Group. Expenses are expected to include, among other things:

 

7.3.2.1 fees, costs and expenses as a result of Yield becoming and continuing to be a publicly traded entity, including, but not limited to, costs associated with annual, quarterly and current reports, independent auditor fees, governance and compliance, registrar and transfer agent fees, exchange listing fees, tax return preparation and distribution, legal fees, independent director compensation and directors and officers liability insurance premiums;

 

7.3.2.2 fees, costs and expenses relating to any debt or equity financing of any member of the Yield Group;

 

7.3.2.2 fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the general administration of any Service Recipient;

 

7.3.2.3 licenses and other statutory fees or penalties levied against or in respect of a Service Recipient in respect of Services;

 

7.3.2.4 amounts paid by the relevant member of the Manager Group under indemnification, contribution or similar arrangements;

 

7.3.2.5 fees, costs and expenses relating to financial reporting, regulatory filings and investor relations and the fees, costs and expenses of agents, advisors and other Persons who provide Services to a Service Recipient;

 

7.3.2.6 any other fees, costs and expenses incurred by the relevant member of the Manager Group that are reasonably necessary for the performance by the relevant member of the Manager Group of its duties and functions under this Agreement or any Service Agreement; and

 

7.3.2.7 fees, expenses and costs incurred in connection with the investigation, acquisition, holding or disposal of any asset or business (including with respect to any Acquired Assets) that is made or that is proposed to be made by the Service Recipients; provided that, where the acquisition or proposed acquisition involves a joint acquisition that is made alongside one or more other Persons, the Manager shall allocate such fees, expenses and costs in proportion to the notional amount of the acquisition made (or that would have been made in the case of an unconsummated acquisition) among members of the Yield Group and such other Persons.

 

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7.4                               Governmental Charges

 

Without limiting Section 7.3 above, Yield LLC, on behalf of the Service Recipients, shall pay or reimburse the relevant member of the Manager Group for all sales taxes, use taxes, value added taxes, withholding taxes or other similar taxes, customs duties or other governmental charges (“Governmental Charges”) that are levied or imposed by any Governmental Authority by reason of this Agreement, any Service Agreement or any other agreement contemplated by this Agreement, or the fees or other amounts payable hereunder or thereunder, except for any income taxes, corporation taxes, capital taxes or other similar taxes payable by any member of the Manager Group which are personal to such member of the Manager Group. Any failure by the Manager Group to collect monies on account of these Governmental Charges shall not constitute a waiver of the right to do so.

 

7.5                               Computation and Payment of Expenses and Governmental Charges

 

From time to time the Manager shall, or shall cause the other Service Providers to, prepare statements (each an “Expense Statement”) documenting the Expenses and Governmental Charges to be reimbursed pursuant to this Article 7 and shall deliver such statements to the relevant Service Recipient. All Expenses and Governmental Charges reimbursable pursuant to this Article 7 shall be reimbursed by the relevant Service Recipient no later than the date which is 30 days after receipt of an Expense Statement. The provisions of this Section 7.5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 8
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE MANAGER AND THE SERVICE RECIPIENTS

 

8.1                               Representations and Warranties of the Manager

 

The Manager hereby represents and warrants to the Service Recipients that:

 

8.1.1 it is validly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

 

8.1.2 it, or any another Service Provider, as applicable, holds, and shall hold, such Permits as are necessary to perform its obligations hereunder and is not aware of, or shall inform the Service Recipients promptly upon knowledge of, any reason why such Permits might be cancelled;

 

8.1.3 it has the power, capacity and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 

8.1.4 it has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement;

 

8.1.5 the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it and the performance by it of its obligations hereunder do not and will not contravene, breach or result in any default under its Governing Instruments, or under any mortgage, lease, agreement or other legally binding instrument, Permit or applicable Law to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets may be bound, except for any such contravention, breach

 

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or default which would not have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Manager;

 

8.1.6 no authorization, consent or approval, or filing with or notice to any Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by it of this Agreement; and

 

8.1.7 this Agreement constitutes its valid and legally binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other laws of general application limiting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and (ii) general principles of equity, including standards of materiality, good faith, fair dealing and reasonableness, equitable defenses and limits as to the availability of equitable remedies, whether such principles are considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

 

8.2                               Representations and Warranties of the Service Recipients

 

Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating, each hereby represents and warrants, on its behalf and on behalf of each of the other Service Recipients, to the Manager that:

 

8.2.1 it (and, if applicable, its managing member) is validly organized and existing under the Laws governing its formation and organization;

 

8.2.2 it, or the relevant Service Recipient, holds such Permits necessary to own and operate the projects and entities that it directly or indirectly owns or operates from time to time and is not aware of any reason why such Permits might be cancelled;

 

8.2.3 it (or, as applicable, its managing member on its behalf) has the power, capacity and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its duties and obligations hereunder;

 

8.2.4 it (or, as applicable, its managing member) has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement;

 

8.2.5 the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it (or, as applicable, its managing member on its behalf) and the performance by it of its obligations hereunder do not and will not contravene, breach or result in any default under its Governing Instruments (or, if applicable, the Governing Instruments of its managing member), or under any mortgage, lease, agreement or other legally binding instrument, Permit or applicable Law to which it is a party or by which any of its properties or assets may be bound, except for any such contravention, breach or default which would not have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Service Recipients as a whole;

 

8.2.6 no authorization, consent or approval, or filing with or notice to any Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by it (or, as applicable, its managing member on its behalf) of this Agreement; and

 

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8.2.7 this Agreement constitutes its valid and legally binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to: (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other laws of general application limiting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally; and (ii) general principles of equity, including standards of materiality, good faith, fair dealing and reasonableness, equitable defenses and limits as to the availability of equitable remedies, whether such principles are considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

 

ARTICLE 9
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

9.1                               Indemnity

 

9.1.1 Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating hereby jointly and severally agree, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws, to indemnify and hold harmless, and to cause each other Service Recipient to indemnify and hold harmless, each member of the Manager Group, any of its Affiliates (other than any member of the Yield Group) and any directors, officers, agents, members, partners, stockholders and employees and other representatives of each of the foregoing (each, a “Manager Indemnified Party”) from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs or expenses (including legal fees) (“Liabilities”) incurred by them or threatened in connection with any and all actions, suits, investigations, proceedings or claims of any kind whatsoever, whether arising under statute or action of a Governmental Authority or otherwise or in connection with the business, investments and activities of the Service Recipients or in respect of or arising from this Agreement or the Services provided hereunder (“Claims”), including any Claims arising on account of the Governmental Charges contemplated by Section 7.4 hereof; provided that no Manager Indemnified Party shall be so indemnified with respect to any Claim to the extent that such Claim is finally determined by a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, or pursuant to a settlement agreement agreed to by such Manager Indemnified Party, to have resulted from such Manager Indemnified Party’s bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, conduct undertaken with knowledge that the conduct was unlawful.

 

9.1.2 If any action, suit, investigation, proceeding or claim is made or brought by any third party with respect to which a Service Recipient is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement (a “Third Party Claim”), the Manager Indemnified Party will have the right to employ its own counsel in connection therewith, and the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, as well as the reasonable costs (excluding an amount reimbursed to such Manager Indemnified Party for the time spent in connection therewith) and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection therewith will be paid by the Service Recipient in such case, as incurred but subject to recoupment by the Service Recipient if ultimately it is not liable to pay indemnification hereunder.

 

9.1.3 The Manager Indemnified Party and the Service Recipients agree that, promptly after the receipt of notice of the commencement of any Third Party Claim, the Manager Indemnified Party will notify the Service Recipient in writing of the commencement of

 

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such Third Party Claim (provided that any accidental failure to provide any such notice will not prejudice the right of any such Manager Indemnified Party hereunder) and, throughout the course of such Third Party Claim, such Manager Indemnified Party will use its reasonable best efforts to provide copies of all relevant documentation to such Service Recipient, and to keep the Service Recipient apprised of the progress thereof, and to discuss with the Service Recipient all significant actions proposed.

 

9.1.4 The parties hereto expressly acknowledge and agree that the right to indemnity provided in this Section 9.1 shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other liability which the Manager Indemnifying Party in any particular case may have or of any other right to indemnity or contribution which any Manager Indemnified Party may have by statute or otherwise at law.

 

9.1.5 The indemnity provided in this Section 9.1 shall survive the completion of Services rendered under, or any termination or purported termination of, this Agreement.

 

9.2                               Limitation of Liability

 

9.2.1 The Manager assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the Services in good faith and will not be responsible for any action of a Service Recipient’s Governing Body in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendations of the relevant Service Provider.

 

9.2.2 The Service Recipients hereby agree that no Manager Indemnified Party will be liable to a Service Recipient, a Service Recipient’s Governing Body (including, for greater certainty, a director or officer of a Service Recipient or another individual with similar function or capacity) or any security holder or partner of a Service Recipient for any Liabilities that may occur as a result of any acts or omissions by the Manager Indemnified Party pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement, except to the extent that such Liabilities are finally determined by a final and non appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the Manager Indemnified Party’s bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct, or in the case of a criminal matter, conduct undertaken with knowledge that the conduct was unlawful.

 

9.2.3 The maximum amount of the aggregate liability of the Manager Indemnified Parties pursuant to this Agreement will be equal to the amounts previously paid in respect of Services pursuant to this Agreement in the two most recent calendar years by the Service Recipients pursuant to Article 7.

 

9.2.4 For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 9.2 shall survive the completion of the Services rendered under, or any termination or purported termination of, this Agreement.

 

9.3                               Benefit to all Manager Indemnified Parties

 

9.3.1 Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating on behalf of themselves and the other Service Recipients, hereby constitute the Manager as trustee for each of the Manager Indemnified Parties of the covenants of the Service Recipients under this Article 9 with

 

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respect to such Manager Indemnified Parties and the Manager hereby accepts such trust and agrees to hold and enforce such covenants on behalf of the Manager Indemnified Parties.

 

9.3.2 The Manager hereby constitutes the Service Recipients as trustees for each Service Recipient’s Governing Body (including, for greater certainty, a director or officer of a Service Recipient or another individual with similar function or capacity) or any security holder or partner of a Service Recipient, of the covenants of the Manager under this Article 9 with respect to such parties and the Service Recipients hereby accept such trust and agree to hold and enforce such covenants on behalf of such parties.

 

ARTICLE 10
TERM AND TERMINATION

 

10.1                        Term

 

This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with Section 10.2, Section 10.3 or Section 11.1 hereof.

 

10.2                        Termination by the Service Recipients

 

10.2.1 Yield on behalf of the Service Recipients may, subject to Section 10.2.2, terminate this Agreement effective upon 30 days’ prior written notice of termination to the Manager without payment of any termination fee if:

 

10.2.1.1 the Manager defaults in the performance or observance of any material term, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement in a manner that results in material harm to the Service Recipients and such default continues for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof specifying such default and requesting that the same be remedied in such 30-day period;

 

10.2.1.2 the Manager engages in any act of fraud, misappropriation of funds or embezzlement against any Service Recipient that results in material harm to the Service Recipients;

 

10.2.1.3 the Manager is grossly negligent in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and such gross negligence results in material harm to the Service Recipients; or

 

10.2.1.4 the Manager, Yield, Yield LLC or Yield Operating makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, institutes proceedings to be adjudicated voluntarily bankrupt, consents to the filing of a petition of bankruptcy against it, is adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as being bankrupt or insolvent, seeks reorganization under any bankruptcy law or consents to the filing of a petition seeking such reorganization or has a decree entered against it by a court of competent jurisdiction appointing a receiver liquidator, trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or in insolvency.

 

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10.2.2 This Agreement may only be terminated pursuant to Section 10.2.1 above by Yield with the prior unanimous approval of the members of the Independent Committee.

 

10.2.3 This Agreement may also be terminated by Yield pursuant to Section 11.1.1 hereof with the prior approval of a majority of the members of the Independent Committee.

 

10.2.4 Each of Yield, Yield LLC and Yield Operating hereby agrees and confirms that this Agreement may not be terminated due solely to the poor performance or underperformance of any of their Subsidiaries or the Business or any investment made by any member of the Yield Group on the recommendation of any member of the Manager Group.

 

10.3                        Termination by the Manager

 

10.3.1 The Manager may terminate this Agreement effective upon 180 days’ prior written notice of termination to the Service Recipients without payment of any termination fee if:

 

10.3.1.1 any Service Recipient defaults in the performance or observance of any material term, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement in a manner that results in material harm to the Manager and such default continues for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof specifying such default and requesting that the same be remedied in such 30-day period; or

 

10.3.1.2 any Service Recipient makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, institutes proceedings to be adjudicated voluntarily bankrupt, consents to the filing of a petition of bankruptcy against it, is adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as being bankrupt or insolvent, seeks reorganization under any bankruptcy law or consents to the filing of a petition seeking such reorganization or has a decree entered against it by a court of competent jurisdiction appointing a receiver liquidator, trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or in insolvency.

 

10.4                        Survival Upon Termination

 

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Article 10 or Article 11, such termination will be without any further liability or obligation of any party hereto, except as provided in Section 6.4, Article 9, Section 10.5 and Section 10.6 hereof.

 

10.5                        Action Upon Termination

 

10.5.1 From and after the effective date of the termination of this Agreement, the Manager shall not be entitled to receive the Base Management Fee for further Services under this Agreement, but will be paid all compensation accruing to and including the date of termination (including such day).

 

10.5.2 Upon any termination of this Agreement, the Manager shall forthwith:

 

22



 

10.5.2.1 after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursements for any Expenses to which it is then entitled, pay over to the Service Recipients all money collected and held for the account of the Service Recipients pursuant to this Agreement;

 

10.5.2.2 deliver to the Service Recipients’ Governing Bodies a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Governing Bodies with respect to the Service Recipients; and

 

10.5.2.3 deliver to the Service Recipients’ Governing Bodies all property and documents of the Service Recipients then in the custody of the Manager Group.

 

10.6                        Release of Money or other Property Upon Written Request

 

The Manager hereby agrees that any money or other property of the Service Recipients or their Subsidiaries held by the Manager Group under this Agreement shall be held by the relevant member of the Manager Group as custodian for such Person, and the relevant member of the Manager Group’s records shall be appropriately marked clearly to reflect the ownership of such money or other property by such Person. Upon the receipt by the relevant member of the Manager Group of a written request signed by a duly authorized representative of a Service Recipient requesting the relevant member of the Manager Group to release to the Service Recipient any money or other property then held by the relevant member of the Manager Group for the account of such Service Recipient under this Agreement, the relevant member of the Manager Group shall release such money or other property to the Service Recipient within a reasonable period of time, but in no event later than 30 days following such request. The relevant member of the Manager Group shall not be liable to any Service Recipient, a Service Recipient’s Governing Body or any other Person for any acts performed or omissions to act by a Service Recipient in connection with the money or other property released to the Service Recipient in accordance with the second sentence of this Section 10.6. Each Service Recipient shall indemnify and hold harmless the relevant member of the Manager Group, any of its Affiliates (other than any member of the Yield Group) and any directors, officers, agents, members, partners, shareholders and employees and other representatives of each of the foregoing from and against any and all Liabilities which arise in connection with the relevant member of the Manager Group’s release of such money or other property to the Service Recipient in accordance with the terms of this Section 10.6. Indemnification pursuant to this provision shall be in addition to any right of such Persons to indemnification under Section 10.1 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 10.6 shall survive termination of this Agreement. The Service Recipients hereby constitute the Manager as trustee for each Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 10.6 of the covenants of the Service Recipients under this Section 10.6 with respect to such Persons and the Manager hereby accepts such trust and agrees to hold and enforce such covenants on behalf of such Persons.

 

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ARTICLE 11
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

11.1                        Amendment, Waiver

 

11.1.1 Yield is entitled to amend the scope of the Services, including by reducing the number of Service Recipients or the nature or description of the Services or otherwise, by providing 180 days’ prior written notice to the Manager; provided, however, that Yield may not increase the scope of the Services without the Manager’s prior written consent; and provided further, however, that prior to such modification, Yield and the Manager shall agree in writing to any modification of the Base Management Fee resulting from such change in scope.  Subject to Section 10.2.3 hereof, in the event that Yield and the Manager are unable to agree on a modified Base Management Fee, Yield may terminate this Agreement after the end of such 180-day period by providing 30 days’ prior written notice to the Manager.

 

11.1.2 Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of this Agreement, except pursuant to the first sentence of Section 11.1 above, will be binding unless the prior approval of a majority of the members of the Independent Committee is obtained and the amendment or waiver is executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement will constitute a waiver of any other provision nor will any waiver of any provision of this Agreement constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided. A party’s failure or delay in exercising any right under this Agreement will not operate as a waiver of that right. A single or partial exercise of any right will not preclude a party from any other or further exercise of that right or the exercise of any other right.

 

11.2                        Assignment

 

11.2.1 This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Manager without the prior written consent of Yield, except (i) pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, (ii) in the case of assignment to a Person that is the Manager’s successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of assets, in which case the successor shall be bound under this Agreement and by the terms of the assignment in the same manner as the Manager is bound under this Agreement, or (iii) to an Affiliate of the Manager or a Person that is, in the reasonable and good faith determination of the Independent Committee, an experienced and reputable manager, in which case the Affiliate or assignee shall be bound under this Agreement and by the terms of the assignment in the same manner as the Manager is bound under this Agreement. In addition, provided that the Manager provides prior written notice to the Service Recipients for informational purposes only, nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude any pledge, hypothecation or other transfer or assignment of the Manager’ rights under this Agreement, including any amounts payable to the Manager under this Agreement, to a bona fide lender as security.

 

11.2.2 This Agreement shall not be assigned by any of the Service Recipients without the prior written consent of the Manager, except in the case of assignment by any such Service Recipient to a Person that is its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of assets, in which case the successor shall be bound under this Agreement and by the terms of the assignment in the same manner as such Service Recipient is bound under this Agreement.

 

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11.2.3 Any purported assignment of this Agreement in violation of this Article 11 shall be null and void.

 

11.3                        Failure to Pay When Due

 

Any amount payable by any Service Recipient to any member of the Manager Group hereunder which is not remitted when so due will remain due (whether on demand or otherwise) and interest will accrue on such overdue amounts (both before and after judgment) at a rate per annum equal to the Interest Rate.

 

11.4                        Invalidity of Provisions

 

Each of the provisions contained in this Agreement is distinct and severable and a declaration of invalidity or unenforceability of any such provision or part thereof by a court of competent jurisdiction will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties waive any provision of law which renders any provision of this Agreement invalid or unenforceable in any respect. The parties will engage in good faith negotiations to replace any provision which is declared invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid or unenforceable provision which it replaces.

 

11.5                        Entire Agreement

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement. There are no warranties, conditions, or representations (including any that may be implied by statute) and there are no agreements in connection with such subject matter except as specifically set forth or referred to in this Agreement. No reliance is placed on any warranty, representation, opinion, advice or assertion of fact made either prior to, contemporaneous with, or after entering into this Agreement, by any party to this Agreement or its directors, officers, employees or agents, to any other party to this Agreement or its directors, officers, employees or agents, except to the extent that the same has been reduced to writing and included as a term of this Agreement, and none of the parties to this Agreement has been induced to enter into this Agreement by reason of any such warranty, representation, opinion, advice or assertion of fact. Accordingly, there will be no liability, either in tort or in contract, assessed in relation to any such warranty, representation, opinion, advice or assertion of fact, except to the extent contemplated above.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement should be construed or interpreted as an amendment, modification or termination of, or conflict with, any of the Operating and Administrative Agreements.  Each such agreement, and all its terms, including payments to be made thereunder, shall survive the entry into this Agreement and shall terminate in accordance with its terms.

 

11.6                        Mutual Waiver of Jury Trial.  AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY

 

25



 

LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

11.7                        Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process.  EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH BELOW SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

 

11.8                        Governing Law

 

The internal law of the State of New York will govern and be used to construe this Agreement without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the laws of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.

 

11.9                        Enurement

 

This Agreement will enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

11.10                 Notices

 

Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient; but if not, then on the next Business Day, (iii) one Business Day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three Business Days after it is mailed to the recipient by first class mail, return receipt requested. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the addresses specified below, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.  Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by giving prior written notice of the change to the

 

26



 

sending party as provided herein.  Notices and other communications will be addressed as follows:

 

If to the Service Recipients:

 

NRG Yield, Inc.

211 Carnegie Center

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

Attn: General Counsel

Facsimile: (609) 524-4501

 

With a copy to:

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

300 North LaSalle

Chicago, Illinois 60654

Attn: Gerald T. Nowak, P.C.

Facsimile: (312) 862-2200

 

If to the Manager:

 

NRG Energy, Inc.

211 Carnegie Center

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

Attn: General Counsel

Facsimile: (609) 524-4501

 

11.11                 Further Assurances

 

Each of the parties hereto will promptly do, make, execute or deliver, or cause to be done, made, executed or delivered, all such further acts, documents and things as the other party hereto may reasonably require from time to time for the purpose of giving effect to this Agreement and will use reasonable efforts and take all such steps as may be reasonably within its power to implement to their full extent the provisions of this Agreement.

 

11.12                 Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be signed in counterparts and each of such counterparts will constitute an original document and such counterparts, taken together, will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(Signature pages follow)

 

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

 

 

 

NRG YIELD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

NRG YIELD LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NRG YIELD OPERATING LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 



 

 

NRG ENERGY, INC., as Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 



 

Schedule I

 

Service Recipients

 

Subsidiary

 

Jurisdiction of
Organization

 

 

 

Avenal Park LLC

 

Delaware

Avenal Solar Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

Big Rock SunTower, LLC

 

Delaware

Continental Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

El Mirage Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

FUSD Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

GCE Holding LLC

 

Connecticut

GenConn Devon LLC

 

Connecticut

GenConn Energy LLC

 

Connecticut

GenConn Middletown LLC

 

Connecticut

High Plains Ranch II, LLC

 

Delaware

HLE Solar Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

HSD Solar Holdings LLC

 

California

Longhorn Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

Monster Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

NRG Alta Vista LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Electricity Sales Princeton LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Dover LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Harrisburg LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center HCEC LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Minneapolis LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Paxton LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Phoenix LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Pittsburgh LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Princeton LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center San Diego LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center San Francisco LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Smyrna LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Tucson LLC

 

Arizona

NRG Harrisburg Cooling LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Marsh Landing Holdings, LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Marsh Landing, LLC

 

Delaware

NRG SanGencisco LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Alpine LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Apple LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar AV Holdco LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Avra Valley LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Blythe LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Borrego Holdco LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Borrego I LLC

 

Delaware

 

I-1



 

Subsidiary

 

Jurisdiction of
Organization

 

 

 

NRG Solar Roadrunner Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Roadrunner LLC

 

Delaware

NRG South Trent Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Thermal LLC

 

Delaware

OC Solar 2010 LLC

 

California

PESD Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

PFMG 2011 Finance Holdco, LLC

 

Delaware

PFMG Apple I LLC

 

Delaware

PM Solar Holdings LLC

 

California

Sand Drag LLC

 

Delaware

SCWFD Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

South Trent Wind LLC

 

Delaware

Statoil Energy Power/Pennsylvania Inc.

 

Pennsylvania

Sun City Project LLC

 

Delaware

Vail Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

Wildcat Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

WSD Solar Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

 

I-2




Exhibit 10.3

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

 

This EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of                                    , 2013 (and effective as set forth in Section 5.15 of this Agreement), is made by and among NRG Yield Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), NRG Yield LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Yield LLC”), NRG Energy, Inc. (“NRG”) and the other Persons from time to time party hereto in accordance with Section 5.1 hereof (collectively with NRG, the “Yield LLC Unitholders”).

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to provide for the exchange of certain Yield LLC Units for shares of Class A Common Stock (each as defined herein), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

SECTION 1.1                   Effective Time.

 

This Agreement shall become effective upon the effectiveness of the Contribution Agreements (the “Effective Time”).

 

SECTION 1.2                   Definitions.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Yield LLC Operating Agreement (as defined herein), and the following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

 

Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Class B Common Stock” means the Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Class A Units” means the Class A Units of Yield LLC, with such rights and privileges as set forth in the Yield LLC Operating Agreement.

 

Class B Units” means the Class B Units of Yield LLC, with such rights and privileges as set forth in the Yield LLC Operating Agreement.

 

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

 

Contribution Agreements” means (i) that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Yield LLC and NRG and (ii) that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among NRG Yield Operating LLC, NRG Solar

 



 

PV LLC, NRG Solar Ventures, NRG Solar Sunrise LLC, NRG Thermal Solar LLC, NRG Connecticut Peaking Development LLC, NRG Solar LLC, NRG Repowering Holdings LLC,  and NRG.

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1 of this Agreement.

 

Election of Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Rate” means the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which a Yield LLC Unit is entitled to be Exchanged. On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be 1 for 1, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

 

IPO” means the closing of the initial public offering and sale by the Corporation of shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

Permitted Transferee” has the meaning given to such term in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

 

Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or other entity, including any governmental entity.

 

Requisite Holders” means, as of the applicable determination date, each Yield LLC Unitholder, if any, who, together with its Affiliates and Permitted Transferees, beneficially owns at least a majority of the then outstanding Yield LLC Units (excluding any Yield LLC Units held by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries).

 

Yield LLC Operating Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Yield LLC, dated on or about the date hereof, as such agreement may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Yield LLC Unit” means (i) each of the Class B Units of Yield LLC now or hereafter held by any Yield LLC Unitholder (ii) any other interest in Yield LLC that may be issued by Yield LLC in the future that is designated by the Corporation as a “Yield LLC Unit,” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Yield LLC Unitholder” means NRG and any Permitted Transferee to whom NRG (or another Permitted Transferee) transfers some or all of the Yield LLC Units owned by such Person in accordance with the terms of the Yield LLC Operating Agreement (including Section 7.3 thereof).

 

2



 

ARTICLE II

 

SECTION 2.1                   Exchange of Yield LLC Units for Class A Common Stock.

 

(a)           Each Yield LLC Unitholder shall be entitled at any time and from time to time, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof and the Yield LLC Operating Agreement, to surrender Yield LLC Units to Yield LLC in exchange for the delivery to the exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the number of Yield LLC Units surrendered multiplied by the Exchange Rate (each such exchange, an “Exchange”); provided that, (i) each Exchange shall be for a minimum of the lesser of 1,000 Yield LLC Units or all of the Yield LLC Units held by such Yield LLC Unitholder and (ii) such exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder must be the record holder of the number of shares of Class B Common Stock that is equal to the number of Yield LLC Units surrendered.

 

(b)           A Yield LLC Unitholder shall exercise its right to Exchange Yield LLC Units as set forth in Section 2.1(a) above by delivering to the Corporation and to Yield LLC a written election of exchange in respect of the Yield LLC Units to be Exchanged substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (an “Election of Exchange”), duly executed by such holder or such holder’s duly authorized representative, in each case delivered during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Corporation and of Yield LLC. An Election of Exchange may specify that the Exchange is to be contingent (including as to timing) upon the occurrence of any transaction or event, including the consummation of a purchase by another Person (whether in a tender or exchange offer, an underwritten offering or otherwise) of shares of Class A Common Stock or any merger, consolidation or other business combination. Subject to (i) Section 2.4(b) of this Agreement, (ii) the payment by the applicable Yield LLC Unitholder of any amount required to be paid under Section 2.1(c) and (iii) the surrender to Yield LLC of the unit certificates, if any, and duly executed unit powers associated with the Yield LLC Units subject to the Exchange, the Exchange shall be deemed to have been effected on (A) the Business Day immediately following receipt of the applicable Election of Exchange or (B) such later date specified in or pursuant to the applicable Election of Exchange (such date specified in clause (A) or (B), as applicable, the “Exchange Date”), and as promptly as practicable following the applicable Exchange Date, the Corporation shall deliver or cause to be delivered at the offices of the then-acting registrar and transfer agent of the Class A Common Stock or, if there is no then-acting registrar and transfer agent of the Class A Common Stock, at the principal executive offices of the Yield LLC, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable upon such Exchange, registered in the name of the relevant exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder  (or its designee). To the extent the Class A Common Stock is settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”), the Corporation will, subject to Section 2.1(c) below, upon the written instruction of an exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder, use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver the shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable to such exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder, through the facilities of the DTC, to the account of the participant of the DTC designated by such exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder may withdraw or amend an Election of Exchange, in whole or in part, prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day immediately preceding the Exchange Date (or any such later time as may be required by applicable law) by delivery of a

 

3



 

written notice of withdrawal to the Corporation and to Yield LLC, specifying (1) the number of Yield LLC Units being withdrawn, (2) the number of Yield LLC Units, if any, as to which the Election of Exchange remains in effect and (3) if such exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder so determines, a new Exchange Date or any other new or revised information permitted in an Election of Exchange. On the Exchange Date, all rights of the exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder as a holder of such Yield LLC Units shall cease and such Yield LLC Units shall automatically be reclassified pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Yield LLC Operating Agreement and delivered to the Corporation by Yield LLC.  Such exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder of such shares of Class A Common Stock on such date.  In connection with such Exchange, the Corporation shall automatically cancel shares of Class B Common Stock held by the exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder in an amount equal to the number of Yield LLC Units being exchanged in accordance with this Section 2.1 multiplied by the Exchange Rate, without any payment for such shares of Class B Common Stock.  The Corporation shall take such actions as may be required to ensure the performance by Yield LLC of its obligations under this Section 2.1(b) and the foregoing Section 2.1(a).

 

(c)           Yield LLC, the Corporation and the exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder shall bear their own expenses in connection with the consummation of any Exchange, whether or not any such Exchange is ultimately consummated, except that the Yield LLC shall bear any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Exchange; provided, however, that if any shares of Class A Common Stock are to be delivered in a name other than that of the Yield LLC Unitholder that requested the Exchange, then such Yield LLC Unitholder and/or the person in whose name such shares are to be delivered shall pay to Yield LLC the amount of any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, such Exchange or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of Yield LLC that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(d)           Each of the Corporation and Yield LLC covenants and agrees that it will not take any action that would pose a material risk that Yield LLC could be treated as a “publically traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Exchange shall be permitted (and, if attempted, shall be void ab initio) if, in the good faith determination of the Corporation or of Yield LLC, such an Exchange would pose a material risk that Yield LLC would be a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.

 

(e)           For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Yield LLC Unitholder shall not be entitled to Exchange Yield LLC Units to the extent the Corporation or Yield LLC reasonably determines in good faith that such Exchange (i) would be prohibited by applicable law or regulation or (ii) would not be permitted under any other agreement with the Corporation or its subsidiaries to which such Yield LLC Unitholder is then subject (including, without limitation, the Yield LLC Operating Agreement) or any written policies of the Corporation or Yield LLC relating to insider trading then applicable to such Yield LLC Unitholder. For the avoidance of doubt, no Exchange shall be deemed to be prohibited by any law or regulation pertaining to the registration of securities if such securities have been so registered or if any exemption from such registration requirements is reasonably available.

 

4



 

SECTION 2.2                   Adjustment. The Exchange Rate shall be adjusted accordingly if there is: (a) any subdivision (by any unit split, unit distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Class A Units or Class B Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Class A Common Stock; (b) any subdivision (by any stock split, stock dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Class A Common Stock that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Class A Units or Class B Units; (c) other than in connection with a Class A Common Stock Sale, (1) any issuance of shares of (x) Class A Common Stock by the Corporation or (y) Class A Units to the Corporation that is not accompanied by (2) the issuance of an identical number of (x) Class A Units to the Corporation (in the case of clause (c)(1)(x)) or (y) shares of Class A Common Stock (in the case of clause (c)(1)(y)), as applicable; or (d) (1) any issuance of (x) shares of Class B Common Stock by the Corporation or (y) Class B Units to NRG or its Permitted Transferees that is not accompanied by (2) the issuance of an identical number of (x) Class B Units to NRG or to any Permitted Transferee of NRG (in the case of clause (d)(1)(x)) or (y) shares of Class B Common Stock to NRG or its Permitted Transferees (in the case of clause (d)(1)(y)). If there is (i) any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed into another security, securities or other property or (ii) and any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, then upon any subsequent Exchange, an exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any such subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, this Section 2.2 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to such security or other property. This Agreement shall apply to the Class A Units and Class B Units held by the Corporation, NRG and NRG’s Permitted Transferees as of the date hereof, as well as any Class A Units and Class B Units hereafter acquired by the Corporation, NRG or any of NRG’s Permitted Transferees. This Agreement shall apply to, mutatis mutandis, and all references to “Class A Units” and “Class B Units” shall be deemed to include, any security, securities or other property of Yield LLC which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of Class A Units or Class B Units, as applicable, by reason of any distribution or dividend, split, reverse split, combination, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, exchange (other than an Exchange) or other transaction.

 

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SECTION 2.3                   Class A Common Stock to be Issued.

 

(a)           The Corporation covenants and agrees to deliver shares of Class A Common Stock that have been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Exchange to the extent that a registration statement is effective and available for such shares. In the event that any Exchange in accordance with this Agreement is to be effected at a time when any required registration has not become effective or otherwise is unavailable, upon the request and with the reasonable cooperation of the Yield LLC Unitholder requesting the Exchange, the Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly facilitate such Exchange pursuant to any reasonably available exemption from such registration requirements. The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon Exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which the outstanding Class A Common Stock may be listed or traded at the time of such delivery.

 

(b)           The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be deliverable upon any such Exchange; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude Yield LLC from satisfying its obligations in respect of the Exchange of Yield LLC Units by delivery of Class A Common Stock which is held in the treasury of the Corporation or Yield LLC or any of their subsidiaries or by delivery of purchased shares of Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof).

 

(c)           Prior to the effective date of this Agreement, the Corporation and Yield LLC will take all such steps as may be required to cause to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3(d) or (e), as applicable, under the Exchange Act, and be exempt for purposes of Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, any acquisitions or dispositions of equity securities of the Corporation (including derivative securities with respect thereto) and any securities which may be deemed to be equity securities or derivative securities of the Corporation for such purposes that result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each director or officer of the Corporation who may reasonably be expected to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Corporation upon the registration of any class of equity security of the Corporation pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (with the authorizing resolutions specifying the name of each such officer or director whose acquisition or disposition of securities is to be exempted and the number of securities that may be acquired and disposed of by each such person pursuant to this Agreement).

 

(d)           If any Takeover Law (as defined below) or other similar law or regulation becomes or is deemed to become applicable to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Corporation or Yield LLC shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to render such law or regulation inapplicable to all of the foregoing.

 

(e)           Each of the Corporation and Yield LLC covenants that all Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will pass to the applicable exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder free and clear of any liens, security interests and other encumbrances other than any such liens, security interests or other encumbrances imposed by such exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder and will not be

 

6



 

subject to any preemptive right of stockholders of the Corporation or to any right of first refusal or other right in favor of any person or entity.

 

(f)            No Exchange shall impair the right of the exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder to receive any distributions payable on the Yield LLC Units so exchanged in respect of a record date that occurs prior to the Exchange Date for such Exchange. For the avoidance of doubt, no exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder shall be entitled to receive, in respect of a single record date, distributions or dividends both on Yield LLC Units exchanged by such holder and on Class A Common Stock received by such holder in such Exchange.

 

SECTION 2.4                   Withholding; Certification of Non-Foreign Status.

 

(a)           If the Corporation or Yield LLC shall be required to withhold any amounts by reason of any Federal, State, local or foreign tax rules or regulations in respect of any Exchange, the Corporation or Yield LLC, as the case may be, shall be entitled to take such action as it deems appropriate in order to ensure compliance with such withholding requirements, including, without limitation, at its option withholding shares of Class A Common Stock with a fair market value equal to the minimum amount of any taxes which the Corporation or Yield LLC, as the case may be, may be required to withhold with respect to such Exchange. To the extent that amounts (or property) are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts (or property) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid (or delivered) to the appropriate Yield LLC Unitholder.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each of Yield LLC and the Corporation may, at its own discretion, require as a condition to the effectiveness of an Exchange that an exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder deliver to Yield LLC or the Corporation, as the case may be, a certification of non-foreign status in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b). In the event Yield LLC or the Corporation has required delivery of such certification but an exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder is unable to do so, Yield LLC shall nevertheless deliver or cause to be delivered to the exchanging Yield LLC Unitholder the Class A Common Stock in accordance with Section 2.1 of this Agreement, but subject to potential withholding as provided in Section 2.4(a).

 

ARTICLE III

 

SECTION 3.1                   Class A Common Stock Sale.

 

(a)           In connection with any sale by the Corporation of one or more shares of Class A Common Stock for cash, including in connection with the IPO (a “Class A Common Stock Sale”), the Corporation shall transfer the net cash proceeds from such sale (after deducting any underwriters’ discount and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Corporation) to Yield LLC.  Yield LLC shall either (i) issue Class A Units to the Corporation, as the managing member of Yield LLC, in exchange for such net cash proceeds, or (ii) use such net cash proceeds to purchase Yield LLC Units from one or more Yield LLC Unitholders, in accordance with Section 3.2(b) of the Yield LLC Operating Agreement and in exchange for the delivery to the Corporation of a number of shares of Class B Common Stock that is equal to the product of the number of Yield LLC Units

 

7



 

purchased multiplied by the Exchange Rate (a “Yield LLC Unit Redemption”).  Alternatively, the Corporation may purchase Class B Units directly from NRG (in which case the corresponding Class B Common Stock held by NRG would be surrendered and cancelled), and such Class B Units purchased by the Corporation would then immediately convert to Class A Units.  Upon the receipt of the shares of Class B Common Stock specified in clause (ii) of this Section 3.1, the Corporation shall cause such shares to be cancelled.  To the extent the Class B Common Stock is settled through the facilities of the DTC, the subject Yield LLC Unitholder(s) will use their commercially reasonable efforts to deliver the shares of Class B Common Stock deliverable to the Corporation in a Yield LLC Redemption, through the facilities of the DTC, to the account of the participant of the DTC designated by the Corporation.

 

(b)           Yield LLC, the Corporation and the participating Yield LLC Unitholder(s) shall bear their own expenses in connection with the consummation of any Class A Common Stock Sale, except that the Yield LLC shall bear any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Class A Common Stock Sale.

 

SECTION 3.2                   Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.  If the Corporation issues another class or series of equity securities (other than the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock), Yield LLC shall authorize and issue in accordance with Section 3.2(d) of the Yield LLC Operating Agreement, and the Corporation will use the net proceeds therefrom to purchase, an equal number of membership interests with designations, preferences and other rights and terms that are substantially the same as those of the Corporation’s newly-issued equity securities.  In the event the Corporation elects to redeem any shares of its Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or any other class or series of its equity securities for cash, Yield LLC will, immediately prior to such redemption, redeem an equal number of Class A Units, Class B Units or any other units of the corresponding classes or series, upon the same terms and for the same price as the shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or other equity securities of the Corporation so redeemed.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

SECTION 4.1                   Representations and Warranties of the Corporation and of Yield LLC. Each of the Corporation and Yield LLC represents and warrants that (i) it is a corporation or limited liability company duly incorporated or formed and is existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and, in the case of the Corporation, to issue the Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation, in the case of the Corporation, the issuance of the Class A Common Stock) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action on its part, including but not limited to all actions necessary to ensure that the acquisition of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, to the fullest extent of the Corporation’s Board of Directors’ or Yield LLC’s power and authority and to the extent permitted by law, shall not be subject to any “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination,” “fair price” or other form of “anti-takeover laws and regulations” of any jurisdiction that may purport to be applicable to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, “Takeover Laws”), (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of it enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy,

 

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insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or other organizational documents or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which it is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the it or by which any property or asset of it is bound or affected, except with respect to clauses (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations, that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on it or its business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

SECTION 4.2                   Representations and Warranties of the Yield LLC Unitholders. Each Yield LLC Unitholder, severally and jointly, represents and warrants that (i) it is duly incorporated or formed and, to the extent such concept exists in its jurisdiction of organization or formation, is in good standing under the laws of such jurisdiction, (ii) it has all requisite legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other entity action on the part of such Yield LLC Unitholder, (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Yield LLC Unitholder enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Yield LLC Unitholder and the consummation by such Yield LLC Unitholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or other organizational documents of such Yield LLC Unitholder or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Yield LLC Unitholder is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to such Yield LLC Unitholder, except with respect to clauses (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations, that would not in any material respect result in the unenforceability against such Yield LLC Unitholder of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V

 

SECTION 5.1                   Additional Yield LLC Unitholders. To the extent a Yield LLC Unitholder (including NRG) validly transfers any or all of its  Yield LLC Units to another person in a transaction in accordance with, and not in contravention of, the Yield LLC Operating Agreement, then such transferee (each, a “Permitted Transferee”) shall have the right to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, in the form of Exhibit B hereto, whereupon such Permitted Transferee shall become a Yield LLC Unitholder hereunder; provided, however, that such Permitted Transferee shall be subject to any restrictions on Exchange that would have applied to the transferor. To the extent Yield LLC issues Yield LLC Units in the future, then the

 

9


 

holder of such Yield LLC Units shall have the right to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, whereupon such holder shall become a Yield LLC Unitholder hereunder.

 

SECTION 5.2                                                         Addresses and 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, 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 as specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 5.2):

 

(a)                                 If to the Corporation or to Yield LLC, to:

 

211 Carnegie Center

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

Attention: General Counsel

 

(b)                                 If to NRG, as a Yield LLC Unitholder to:

 

211 Carnegie Center

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

Attention: General Counsel

 

(c)                                  If to any other Yield LLC Unitholder, to the address and other contact information set forth in the records of Yield LLC from time to time.

 

SECTION 5.3                                                         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 5.4                                                         Binding Effect; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall, from and after the Effective Time, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and permitted assigns, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, any Permitted Transferee, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Yield LLC Units in violation of the terms of the Yield LLC Operating Agreement or applicable law. This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Corporation or Yield LLC without the prior written consent of NRG and the Requisite Holders. In the event the Corporation or Yield LLC or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person or entity and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person or entity, then and in either case, as a condition to such consolidation, merger or transfer, proper provisions shall be made such that the successors and assigns of the Corporation or Yield LLC, as the case may be, will assume its obligations set forth in this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be enforceable against such successors and assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon anyone other than the parties and their

 

10



 

respective successors and permitted assigns any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 5.5                                                         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 acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

SECTION 5.6                                                         Integration. This Agreement, together with the Yield LLC Operating Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

 

SECTION 5.7                                                         Amendment. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified only by the affirmative vote or written consent of each of the Corporation, Yield LLC, NRG and the Requisite Holders; provided, however, that no such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification shall (i) materially alter or change any rights or obligations of any Yield LLC Unitholders in a manner that is different or prejudicial relative to any other Yield LLC Unitholders, without the prior written consent of at least two-thirds (2/3) in interest of the Yield LLC Unitholders (based on the number of Yield LLC Units held by such holders) affected in such a different or prejudicial manner or (ii) alter, supplement or amend the Exchange Rate as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof (or the adjustments provided therein) without the prior written consent of each affected Yield LLC Unitholder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation, Yield LLC and NRG, without the consent of any Requisite Holders, may amend, supplement, waive or modify any term of this Agreement to cure any ambiguity, mistake, defect or inconsistency contained herein.

 

SECTION 5.8                                                         Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

SECTION 5.9                                                         Arbitration; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)                                 Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) shall be finally settled by arbitration. The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware and be conducted in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) then in effect (except as they may be modified by mutual agreement of the Corporation, Yield LLC, NRG and the Requisite Holders). The arbitration shall be conducted by three neutral, impartial and independent arbitrators, who shall be appointed by the AAA, at least one of whom shall be a retired judge or a senior partner at one of the nationally recognized Delaware-based law firms.

 

11



 

The arbitration award shall be final and binding on the parties. Judgment upon the award may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof or having jurisdiction over the relevant party or its assets. The costs of the arbitration shall be borne by the Corporation. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), the parties hereto may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each party hereto (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 5.9 to any such action or proceeding and (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate.

 

(c)                                  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE OR ANY DELAWARE STATE COURT, IN EACH CASE, SITTING IN THE CITY OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 5.9, OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT. Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm an arbitration award. The parties acknowledge that the forum designated by this paragraph (c) have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another.

 

(d)                                 The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in the preceding paragraph of this Section 5.9 and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same, and agree that service of process upon such party in any such action, suit, demand or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 5.2.

 

SECTION 5.10                                                  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file) 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, by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 5.10.

 

SECTION 5.11                                                  Tax Treatment. This Agreement shall be treated as part of the partnership agreement of Yield LLC as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.  Each party hereto agrees to report each Exchange as a taxable sale of Class B Units by the applicable Yield LLC Unitholder to the Corporation in exchange for Class A Common Stock (in

 

12



 

conjunction with the cancellation of Class B Common Stock) and no party shall take a contrary position on any income tax return.

 

SECTION 5.12                                                  Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

SECTION 5.13                                                  Independent Nature of Yield LLC Unitholders’ Rights and Obligations. The obligations of each Yield LLC Unitholder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Yield LLC Unitholder, and no Yield LLC Unitholder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Yield LLC Unitholder hereunder. The decision of each Yield LLC Unitholder to enter into to this Agreement has been made by such Yield LLC Unitholder independently of any other Yield LLC Unitholder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Yield LLC Unitholder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute an action of the Yield LLC Unitholders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Yield LLC Unitholders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby and the Corporation acknowledges that the Yield LLC Unitholders are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Corporation will not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

SECTION 5.14                                                  Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered, all as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

NRG YIELD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

NRG YIELD LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

NRG ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

[Signature Page to Exchange Agreement]

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF]
ELECTION OF EXCHANGE

 

NRG Yield, Inc.
211 Carnegie Center
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Attention: General Counsel

 

NRG Yield LLC
211 Carnegie Center
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Attention: General Counsel

 

Reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of [            ], 2013 (as amended, the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among NRG Yield, Inc., a Delaware corporation, NRG Yield LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NRG Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and the other Persons from time to time party thereto (as Yield LLC Unitholders). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.

 

The undersigned Yield LLC Unitholder hereby transfers to the Corporation, for the account of Yield LLC, the number of Yield LLC Units set forth below in Exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued in its name as set forth below, as set forth in the Exchange Agreement. [The foregoing transfers shall be [effective as of                         ][and][conditioned upon satisfaction of the following conditions:             .](1)

 

Legal Name of Yield LLC Unitholder:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

Number of Yield LLC Units

 

to be Exchanged:

 

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned has full legal capacity to execute and deliver this Election of Exchange and to perform the undersigned’s obligations hereunder; (ii) this Election of Exchange has been duly executed and delivered by the undersigned and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned enforceable against it in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof, as the case may be, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and the availability of equitable remedies; (iii) the Yield LLC Units subject to this Election of Exchange are being transferred free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, equities or claim;

 


(1)         Insert Exchange Date and/or contingency, if applicable.

 

Exhibit A-1



 

(iv) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of any third party or with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the undersigned or the Yield LLC Units subject to this Election of Exchange is required to be obtained by the undersigned for the transfer of such Yield LLC Units; and (v) the undersigned is the record holder of shares of Class B Common Stock in an amount equal to at least the number of Yield LLC Units subject to this Election of Exchange and will retain ownership of such minimum number of shares of Class B Common Stock through the Exchange Date.

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of the Corporation or Yield LLC as the attorney of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in the premises, to do any and all things and to take any and all actions that may be necessary to (i) transfer to the Corporation (A) for the account of Yield LLC, the Yield LLC Units subject to this Election of Exchange and (B) the number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Yield LLC Units subject to this Election and Exchange (for redemption and cancellation) and (ii) deliver to the undersigned the shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered in Exchange for such Yield LLC Units.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Election of Exchange to be executed and delivered by the undersigned or by its duly authorized attorney.

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

Exhibit A-2



 

EXHIBIT B

 

[FORM OF]
JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This Joinder Agreement (“Joinder Agreement”) is a joinder to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of [         ], 2013 (as amended, the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among NRG Yield, Inc., a Delaware corporation, NRG Yield LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NRG Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and the other Persons from time to time party thereto (as Yield LLC Unitholders). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Joinder Agreement shall have their meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement. This Joinder Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware. In the event of any conflict between this Joinder Agreement and the Exchange Agreement, the terms of this Joinder Agreement shall control.

 

The undersigned hereby joins and enters into the Exchange Agreement having acquired Yield LLC Units. By signing and returning this Joinder Agreement to the Corporation and to Yield LLC, the undersigned (i) accepts and agrees to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of and agreements of a holder of Yield LLC Units contained in the Exchange Agreement, with all attendant rights, duties and obligations of a Yield LLC Unitholder thereunder and (ii) makes each of the representations and warranties of a Yield LLC Unitholder set forth in Section 3.2 of the Exchange Agreement as fully as if such representations and warranties were set forth herein. The parties to the Exchange Agreement shall treat the execution and delivery hereof by the undersigned as the execution and delivery of the Exchange Agreement by the undersigned and, upon receipt of this Joinder Agreement by the Corporation and by Yield LLC, the signature of the undersigned set forth below shall constitute a counterpart signature to the signature page of the Exchange Agreement.

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address for Notices

 

With copies to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attention:

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B-1




Exhibit 10.4

 

NRG YIELD, INC.

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

                                , 2013

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 1.

Definitions

1

Section 2.

Demand Registrations

5

Section 3.

Piggyback Registrations

9

Section 4.

Holdback Agreements

11

Section 5.

Registration Procedures

12

Section 6.

Registration Expenses

17

Section 7.

Indemnification and Contribution

17

Section 8.

Underwritten Offerings

19

Section 9.

Additional Parties; Joinder

20

Section 10.

Current Public Information

21

Section 11.

Subsidiary Public Offering

21

Section 12.

Transfer of Registrable Securities

21

Section 13.

General Provisions

22

 

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NRG YIELD, INC.

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of                           , 2013, between NRG Yield, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and NRG Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NRG”).  Except as otherwise specified herein, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 1.  This Agreement shall become effective upon the effectiveness of the Contribution Agreements (the “Effective Time”).

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, NRG owns all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and all of the outstanding common units of NRG Yield, LLC (“Yield LLC”), an indirect subsidiary of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, in accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Yield LLC (the “Yield Operating Agreement”), the common units of Yield LLC held by NRG will be reclassified into Class B common units of Yield and such units, in accordance with the terms of the related Exchange Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “Exchange Agreement”) by and among NRG, the Company and Yield LLC and the Yield Operating Agreement, will be exchangeable into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock;

 

WHEREAS, NRG is contemplating causing the Company to make an initial public offering of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share; and

 

WHEREAS, in consideration of NRG agreeing to undertake an initial public offering of the Company’s Class A common stock, the Company has agreed to grant to NRG rights with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities (as defined below) held by NRG as of the Effective Time on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                   Definitions.  The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.

 

Acquired Common” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.

 

Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person; provided that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any holder of Registrable Securities.  As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).

 



 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred) and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of, the issuing Person, including in each case any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any of the foregoing.

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

Common Stock” means the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Contribution Agreements” means (i) that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Yield LLC and NRG and (ii) that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among NRG Yield Operating LLC, NRG Solar PV LLC, NRG Solar Ventures, NRG Solar Sunrise LLC, NRG Thermal Solar LLC, NRG Connecticut Peaking Development LLC, NRG Solar LLC, NRG Repowering Holdings LLC,  and NRG.

 

Demand Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

End of Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii).

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Follow-On Holdback Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(ii).

 

Free Writing Prospectus” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

 

Holdback Extension” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(iii).

 

2



 

Holdback Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(ii).

 

Holder” means a holder of Registrable Securities.

 

Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

 

Joinder” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.

 

Long-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Piggyback Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

Public Offering” means any sale or distribution by the Company and/or holders of Registrable Securities to the public of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act.

 

Registrable Securities” means (i) any Common Stock issuable upon the exchange of Class B common units of Yield LLC held by NRG or its Affiliates in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement; (ii) any Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization; and (iii) any other Common Stock held by NRG and its Affiliates.  As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when they have been (a) sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) sold in compliance with Rule 144 following the consummation of the Company’s initial Public Offering, or (c) repurchased by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.  For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder; provided a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Capital Stock of the Company registered or to be registered as a class under Section 12 of the Exchange Act be registered pursuant to this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, any Registrable Securities held by any Person (other than NRG and its Affiliates) that may be sold under Rule 144(b)(1)(i) without limitation under any other of the requirements of Rule 144 shall not be deemed to be Registrable Securities upon notice from the Company to such Person and the Company shall, at such Person’s request, remove the legend provided for in Section 12.

 

Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

3



 

Rule 144”, “Rule 158”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415” and “Rule 462” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.

 

Sale Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

 

Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).

 

Shelf Offering Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).

 

Shelf Offering Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).

 

Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Shelf Registrable Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).

 

Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i).

 

Short-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of the Company or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the limited liability company, partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or a combination thereof.  For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

 

Suspension Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii).

 

Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii).

 

Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a)(xxiii).

 

4



 

Underwritten Takedown” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).

 

Violation” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

 

WKSI” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.

 

Section 2.                   Demand Registrations.

 

(a)         Requests for Registration.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration (“Long-Form Registrations”), and the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration (“Short-Form Registrations”) if available.  All registrations requested pursuant to this Section 2(a) are referred to herein as “Demand Registrations”. The holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities making a Demand Registration may request that the registration be made pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Shelf Registration”) and, if the Company is a WKSI at the time any request for a Demand Registration is submitted to the Company, that such Shelf Registration be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “Automatic Shelf Registration Statement”).  Within ten days after the filing of the registration statement relating to the Demand Registration, the Company shall give written notice of the Demand Registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities and, subject to the terms of Section 2(e), shall include in such Demand Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 15 days after the receipt of the Company’s notice; provided that, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities requesting such registration, the Company may provide notice of the Demand Registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities within three business days following the non-confidential filing of the registration statement with respect to the Demand Registration so long as such registration statement is not an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement.  Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the notice of Demand Registration and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such notice of Demand Registration without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)         Long-Form Registrations.  The holders of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to an unlimited number of Long-Form Registrations in which the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses (as defined in Section 6(a)), whether or not any such registration is consummated.  All Long-Form Registrations shall be underwritten registrations.

 

(c)          Short-Form Registrations.  In addition to the Long-Form Registrations provided pursuant to Section 2(b), the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall be entitled to an unlimited number of Short-Form Registrations in which the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses.  Demand Registrations shall be Short-Form Registrations whenever the

 

5



 

Company is permitted to use any applicable short form and if the managing underwriters (if any) agree to the use of a Short-Form Registration.  After the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to make Short-Form Registrations available for the sale of Registrable Securities.

 

(d)         Shelf Registrations.

 

(i)                                     Subject to the availability of required financial information, as promptly as practicable after the Company receives written notice of a request for a Shelf Registration, the Company shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration (a “Shelf Registration Statement”).  The Company shall use its best efforts to cause any Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after filing, and once effective, the Company shall cause such Shelf Registration Statement to remain continuously effective for such time period as is specified in such request, but for no time period longer than the period ending on the earliest of (A) the third anniversary of the date of filing of such Shelf Registration, (B) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration, and (C) the date as of which there are no longer any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration in existence. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless NRG instructs the Company otherwise in writing, prior to expiration of the Holdback Period, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to all of the Registrable Securities held by or issuable to NRG in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement (or such other number of Registrable Securities specified in writing by NRG) to enable such Shelf Registration Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as practicable after the expiration of the Holdback Period.

 

(ii)                                  In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an underwritten offering (an “Underwritten Takedown”)) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“Shelf Registrable Securities”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect, and the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection therewith. The holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement shall make such election by delivering to the Company a written request (a “Shelf Offering Request”) for such offering specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that the holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “Shelf Offering”).  As promptly as practicable, but no later than two business days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “Shelf Offering Notice”) of such Shelf Offering Request to all other holders of Shelf Registrable Securities.  The Company, subject to Sections 1(e) and 8 hereof, shall include in such Shelf Offering the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other holder of Shelf Registrable Securities that shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder) within seven days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering

 

6



 

Notice.  The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within 20 days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request), use its best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering.  Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Shelf Offering Notice without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.

 

(iii)                               Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities wish to engage in an underwritten block trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or through a take-down from an already existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such Holders only need to notify the Company of the block trade Shelf Offering two business days prior to the day such offering is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Company shall promptly notify other holders of Registrable Securities and such other holders of Registrable Securities must elect whether or not to participate by the next business day (i.e. one business day prior to the day such offering is to commence) (unless a longer period is agreed to by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its best efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as three business days after the date it commences); provided that the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the underwritten block trade.

 

(iv)                              The Company shall, at the request of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to effect such Shelf Offering.

 

(e)          Priority on Demand Registrations and Shelf Offerings.  The Company shall not include in any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering any securities that are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration.  If a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, which can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such offering prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable

 

7


 

Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included which, in the opinion of such underwriters, can be sold, without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the respective holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such holder.  Alternatively, if the number of Registrable Securities which can be included on a Shelf Registration Statement is otherwise limited by Instruction I.B.6 to Form S-3 (or any successor provision thereto), the Company shall include in such offering prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included which can be included on such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3, pro rata among the respective holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such holder.

 

(f)    Restrictions on Demand Registration and Shelf Offerings

 

(i)            The Company shall not be obligated to affect any Demand Registration within 90 days after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration or a previous registration in which Registrable Securities were included pursuant to Section 3 and in which there was no reduction in the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included.  The Company may, with the consent of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, postpone, for up to 60 days from the date of the request, the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for a Demand Registration or suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement for up to 60 days from the date of the Suspension Notice (and defined below) and therefore suspend sales of the Shelf Registrable Securities (such period, the “Suspension Period”) by providing written notice to the holders of Registrable Securities if (A) the Company’s board of directors determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Company or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization or other transaction involving the Company and (B) upon advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of non-public material information not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C) (x) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction or (y) disclosure would have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Company’s ability to consummate such transaction; provided that in such event, the holders of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to withdraw such request for a Demand Registration or underwritten Shelf Offering and the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering.  The Company may delay a Demand Registration hereunder only once in any twelve-month period.  The Company may extend the Suspension Period for an additional consecutive 60 days with the consent of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(ii)           In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in paragraph (f)(i) above or pursuant to Section 5(a)(vi) (a “Suspension Event”), the Company shall give a notice to the holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “Suspension Notice”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall

 

8



 

state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing.  A Holder shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below).  Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Suspension Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Suspension Notice without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.  The Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the Holders and to the Holders’ Counsel, if any, promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect.

 

(iii)          Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Company shall give a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2(f), the Company agrees that it shall extend the period of time during which such Shelf Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the Holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the Holders of the End of Suspension Notice and provide copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Event; provided that such period of time shall not be extended beyond the date that there are no longer Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(g)   Selection of Underwriters.  The holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering, subject to the Company’s approval which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.  If any Shelf Offering is an Underwritten Offering, the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities participating in such Underwritten Offering shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering relating to such Shelf Offering, subject to the Company’s approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(h)   Other Registration Rights.  Except as provided in this Agreement, the Company shall not grant to any Persons the right to request the Company or any Subsidiary to register any Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities.

 

Section 3.      Piggyback Registrations.

 

(a)   Right to Piggyback.  Whenever the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than (i) pursuant to a Demand Registration, (ii) in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange

 

9



 

Commission or any successor or similar forms or (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities), and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company shall give prompt written notice (in any event within three business days after its receipt of notice of any exercise of demand registration rights other than under this Agreement and, subject to the terms of Section 3(c) and Section 3(d), shall include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 20 days after delivery of the Company’s notice.

 

(b)   Piggyback Expenses.  The Registration Expenses of the holders of Registrable Securities shall be paid by the Company in all Piggyback Registrations, whether or not any such registration became effective.

 

(c)   Priority on Primary Registrations.  If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Company proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the holders of such Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of shares owned by each such holder, and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect. Registrable Securities beneficially owned by any officer of the Company shall not be eligible to be included in any primary offering of Common Stock without the Company’s consent.

 

(d)   Priority on Secondary Registrations.  If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities requested to be included therein by the holders initially requesting such registration and the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the holders of such securities on the basis of the number of securities owned by such Holder, and (ii) second, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

 

(e)   Selection of Underwriters.  If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the selection of investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering must be approved by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration.  Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

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(f)    Right to Terminate Registration.  The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 3 whether or not any holder of Registrable Securities has elected to include securities in such registration.  The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 6.

 

Section 4.      Holdback Agreements.

 

(a)   Holders of Registrable Securities.  If required by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, each holder of Registrable Securities shall enter into lock-up agreements with the managing underwriter(s) of an underwritten Public Offering in such form as agreed to by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities participating in such Public Offering.  In the absence of any such lock-up agreement, each holder of Registrable Securities agrees as follows:

 

(i)            in connection with the Company’s initial Public Offering, such Holder shall not (A) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (including sales pursuant to Rule 144), directly or indirectly, any Capital Stock of the Company or Yield LLC (including Capital Stock of the Company or Yield LLC that may be deemed to be owned beneficially by such holder in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) (collectively, “Securities”), (B) enter into a transaction which would have the same effect as described in clause (A) above, (C) enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences or ownership of any Securities, whether such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such Securities, in cash or otherwise (each of (A), (B) and (C) above, a “Sale Transaction”), or (D) publicly disclose the intention to enter into any Sale Transaction, commencing on the earlier of the date on which the Company gives notice to the holders of Registrable Securities that a preliminary prospectus has been circulated for such initial Public Offering or the “pricing” of such offering and continuing to the date that is 180 days following the date of the final prospectus for such initial Public Offering (the “Holdback Period”), unless the underwriters managing the Public Offering otherwise agree in writing;

 

(ii)           in connection with all underwritten Public Offerings (including the Company’s initial Public Offering), such Holder shall not effect any Sale Transaction commencing on the earlier of the date on which the Company gives notice to the holders of Registrable Securities of the circulation of a preliminary or final prospectus for such Public Offering or the “pricing” of such offering and continuing to the date that is 90 days following the date of the final prospectus for such Public Offering (a “Follow-On Holdback Period”), unless, if an underwritten Public Offering, the underwriters managing the Public Offering otherwise agree in writing; and

 

(iii)          in the event that (A) the Company issues an earnings release or discloses other material information or a material event relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries occurs during the last 17 days of the Holdback Period or any Follow-On Holdback Period (as applicable) or (B) prior to the expiration of the Holdback Period or any Follow-On Holdback Period (as applicable), the Company announces that it will

 

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release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning upon the expiration of such period, then to the extent necessary for a managing or co-managing underwriter of a registered offering hereunder to comply with FINRA Rule 2711(f)(4), if agreed to by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities selling in such Underwritten Offering, the Holdback Period or the Follow-On Holdback Period (as applicable) shall be extended until 18 days after the earnings release or disclosure of other material information or the occurrence of the material event, as the case may be (a “Holdback Extension”).

 

The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Common Stock and units of Yield LLC (or other securities) subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 4(a) until the end of such period, including any Holdback Extension.

 

(b)   The Company.  The Company (i) shall not file any registration statement for a Public Offering or cause any such registration statement to become effective, or effect any public sale or distribution of its equity securities, or any securities, options or rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities (including any Class B common units of Yield LLC) during any Holdback Period or Follow-On Holdback Period (as extended during any Holdback Extension), and (ii) shall use its best efforts to cause (A) each holder of at least one percent (1%) (on a fully-diluted basis) of its Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock (including Class B common units of Yield LLC), purchased from the Company or Yield LLC, as applicable, at any time after the date of this Agreement (other than in a Public Offering) and (B) each of its directors and executive officers to agree not to effect any Sale Transaction during any Holdback Period or Follow-On Holdback Period (as extended during any Holdback Extension), except as part of such underwritten registration, if otherwise permitted, unless the underwriters managing the Public Offering otherwise agree in writing.

 

Section 5.      Registration Procedures.

 

(a)   Whenever the holders of Registrable Securities have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or have initiated a Shelf Offering, (i) such holders shall, if applicable, cause such Registrable Securities to be exchanged into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement prior to sale of such Registrable Securities and (ii) the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof held by a holder of Registrable Securities requesting registration, and pursuant thereto the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:

 

(i)            in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective (provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to the counsel selected by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such

 

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documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel);

 

(ii)           notify each holder of Registrable Securities of (A) the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Company or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;

 

(iii)          prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but not in any event before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

 

(iv)          furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

 

(v)           use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph or (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);

 

(vi)          notify each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky law

 

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or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information, and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 2(f), at the request of any such seller, the Company shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(vii)         use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market markers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities with FINRA;

 

(viii)        use reasonable best efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

 

(ix)          enter into and perform such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, effecting a stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or reorganization);

 

(x)           make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Company as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

 

(xi)          take all reasonable actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in  connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

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(xii)         otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158;

 

(xiii)        permit any of Registrable Securities which Holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of the Company, to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and to allow such Holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;

 

(xiv)        in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Common Stock included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction use reasonable best efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

(xv)         use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(xvi)        cooperate with the holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities to be sold under the registration statement and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such holders may request;

 

(xvii)       cooperate with each holder of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

 

(xviii)      use its reasonable best efforts to make available the executive officers of the Company to participate with the holders of Registrable Securities and any underwriters in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;

 

(xix)        in the case of any underwritten offering, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain one or more cold comfort letters from the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered

 

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by cold comfort letters as the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably request;

 

(xx)         in the case of any underwritten offering, use its reasonable best efforts to provide a legal opinion of the Company’s outside counsel, dated the effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten Public Offering, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement), the registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included therein (including the preliminary prospectus) and such other documents relating thereto in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the holders of such Registrable Securities;

 

(xxi)        if the Company files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;

 

(xxii)       if the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold; and

 

(xxiii)      if the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year, refile a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and, if at any time when the Company is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, use its best efforts to refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.

 

(b)   Any officer of the Company who is a holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if and for so long as he or she is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, he or she shall participate fully in the sale process in a manner customary for persons in like positions and consistent with his or her other duties with the Company, including the preparation of the registration statement and the preparation and presentation of any road shows.

 

(c)   The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish the Company such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

(d)   If NRG or any of its Affiliates seek to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of their respective Registrable Securities to their respective direct or indirect equityholders, the Company shall, subject to any applicable lock-ups, work with the foregoing persons to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested.

 

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Section 6.      Registration Expenses.

 

(a)   The Company’s Obligation.  All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement (including, without limitation, all registration, qualification and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of custodians, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) and other Persons retained by the Company) (all such expenses being herein called “Registration Expenses”), shall be borne as provided in this Agreement, except that the Company shall, in any event, pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed.  Each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder shall bear and pay all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold for such Person’s account.

 

(b)   Counsel Fees and Disbursements.  In connection with each Demand Registration, each Piggyback Registration and each Shelf Offering that is an underwritten Public Offering, the Company shall reimburse the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel chosen by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or participating in such Shelf Offering and disbursements of each additional counsel retained by any holder of Registrable Securities for the purpose of rendering a legal opinion on behalf of such Holder in connection with any underwritten Demand Registration, Piggyback Registration or Shelf Offering.

 

Section 7.      Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)   By the Company.  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, each holder of Registrable Securities, such Holder’s officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (the “Indemnified Parties”) against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) caused by, resulting from, arising out of, based upon or related to any of the following statements, omissions or violations (each a “Violation”) by the Company:  (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (A) any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or communication (in this Section 7, collectively called an “application”) executed by or on behalf of the Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the securities laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of

 

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the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance.  In addition, the Company will reimburse such Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such losses.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such losses result from, arise out of, are based upon, or relate to an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, made in such registration statement, any such prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Party expressly for use therein or by such Indemnified Party’s failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Company has furnished such Indemnified Party with a sufficient number of copies of the same.  In connection with an underwritten offering, the Company shall indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors, and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Indemnified Parties.

 

(b)   By Each Security Holder.  In connection with any registration statement in which a holder of Registrable Securities is participating, each such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder; provided that the obligation to indemnify shall be individual, not joint and several, for each holder and shall be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

 

(c)   Claim Procedure.  Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.  If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).  An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified

 

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parties with respect to such claim. In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the registration if such Holders are indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party.

 

(d)   Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party or is otherwise unenforceable with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the case of each seller of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if the contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account such equitable considerations.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject hereof.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(e)   Release.  No indemnifying party shall, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

(f)    Non-exclusive Remedy; Survival.  The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of Registrable Securities and the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

Section 8.      Underwritten Offerings.

 

(a)   Participation.  No Person may participate in any offering hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided

 

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in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including, without limitation, pursuant to any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such Holder has requested to include) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.  Each holder of Registrable Securities shall execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with such Holder’s obligations under Section 4, Section 5 and this Section 8(a) or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.  To the extent that any such agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with, Section 4 and this Section 8(a), the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement shall supersede the respective rights and obligations of the Holders, the Company and the underwriters created pursuant to this Section 8(a).

 

(b)   Price and Underwriting Discounts.  In the case of an underwritten Demand Registration or Underwritten Takedown requested by Holders pursuant to this Agreement, the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms of the related underwriting agreement for the Registrable Securities shall be determined by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering.

 

(c)   Suspended Distributions.  Each Person that is participating in any registration under this Agreement, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(a)(vi), shall immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 5(a)(vi). In the event the Company has given any such notice, the applicable time period set forth in Section 5(a)(ii) during which a Registration Statement is to remain effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to this Section 8(c) to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 5(a)(vi).

 

Section 9.      Additional Parties; Joinder.  Subject to the prior written consent of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, the Company may permit any Person who acquires Common Stock or rights to acquire Common Stock from the Company after the date hereof to become a party to this Agreement and to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of a “holder of Registrable Securities” under this Agreement by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Person in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”).  Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Person, the Common Stock or Class B common units of Yield LLC acquired by such Person (the “Acquired Common”) shall constitute Registrable Securities and such Person shall be a Holder of Registrable Securities under this Agreement with respect to the Acquired Common, and the Company shall add such Person’s name and address to the Schedule of Investors hereto and circulate such information to the parties to this Agreement.

 

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Section 10.    Current Public Information.  At all times after the Company has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as any holder or holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such Holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144.  Upon request, the Company shall deliver to any holder of Restricted Securities a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

Section 11.    Subsidiary Public Offering.  If, after an initial Public Offering of the Capital Stock of one of its Subsidiaries (including Yield LLC), the Company distributes securities of such Subsidiary to its equity holders, then the rights and obligations of the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to such Subsidiary, and the Company shall cause such Subsidiary to comply with such Subsidiary’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 12.    Transfer of Registrable Securities.

 

(a)   Restrictions on Transfers.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of (i) a transfer to the Company, (ii) a transfer by NRG to its stockholders, (iii) a Public Offering, (iv) a sale pursuant to Rule 144 after the completion of the Company’s initial Public Offering or (v) a transfer in connection with a Sale of the Company, prior to transferring any Registrable Securities to any Person (including, without limitation, by operation of law), the transferring Holder shall cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Company a Joinder agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.  Any transfer or attempted transfer of any Registrable Securities in violation of any provision of this Agreement shall be void, and the Company shall not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Registrable Securities as the owner thereof for any purpose.

 

(b)   Legend.  Each certificate evidencing any Registrable Securities and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the transfer of any Registrable Securities (unless such Registrable Securities would no longer be Registrable Securities after such transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF                           , 2013 AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”) AND CERTAIN OF THE COMPANY’S STOCKHOLDERS, AS AMENDED.  A COPY OF SUCH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”

 

The Company shall imprint, and shall cause Yield LLC to imprint, such legend on certificates evidencing Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof.  The legend set forth

 

21



 

above shall be removed from the certificates evidencing any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

 

Section 13.    General Provisions.

 

(a)   Amendments and Waivers.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities; provided that no such amendment, modification or waiver that would materially and adversely affect a Holder or group of holders of Registrable Securities in a manner materially different than any other Holder or group of holders of Registrable Securities (other than amendments and modifications required to implement the provisions of Section 9), shall be effective against such Holder or group of holders of Registrable Securities without the consent of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities that are held by the group of Holders that is materially and adversely affected thereby.  The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.  A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.

 

(b)   Remedies.  The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor.  The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach and that, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing hereunder, any party shall be entitled to specific performance and/or other injunctive relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(c)   Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or regulation in any jurisdiction, such prohibition, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

(d)   Entire Agreement.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

 

22



 

(e)   Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns and the holders of Registrable Securities and their respective successors and assigns (whether so expressed or not).  In addition, whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit of purchasers or holders of Registrable Securities are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent holder of Registrable Securities.

 

(f)    Notices.  Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient; but if not, then on the next Business Day, (iii) one Business Day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three Business Days after it is mailed to the recipient by first class mail, return receipt requested.  Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the Company at the address specified below and to any holder of Registrable Securities or to any other party subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated on Schedule of Investors hereto, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.  Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by giving prior written notice of the change to the sending party as provided herein.  The Company’s address is:

 

NRG Yield, Inc.

c/o NRG Energy, Inc.

211 Carnegie Center

Princeton, New Jersey  08540

Attn: General Counsel

Facsimile: (609) 524-4589

 

With a copy to:

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

300 North LaSalle

Chicago, Illinois 60654

Attn: Gerald T. Nowak, P.C.

Facsimile: (312) 862-2200

 

or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

 

(g)   Business Days.  If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day that is not a Business Day, the time period shall automatically be extended to the Business Day immediately following such Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

 

(h)   Governing Law.  The corporate law of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues and questions concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders.  All other issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,

 

23



 

the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

 

(i)    MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(j)    CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS.  EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

 

(k)   No Recourse.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company and each holder of Registrable Securities agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any holder of Registrable Securities or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any holder of Registrable Securities or any current or future member of any holder of Registrable Securities or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any holder of Registrable Securities or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any holder of Registrable Securities under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with

 

24



 

this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.

 

(l)    Descriptive Headings; Interpretation.  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.  The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

(m)  No Strict Construction.  The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

 

(n)   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signature of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(o)   Electronic Delivery.  This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.  At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties.  No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

 

(p)   Further Assurances.  In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each holder of Registrable Securities shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(q)   No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement.

 

*     *     *     *    *

 

25



 

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

 

 

 

NRG YIELD, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

 

 

NRG ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

 

 



 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS

 

NRG Energy, Inc.

211 Carnegie Center

Princeton, New Jersey  08540

Attn: General Counsel

Facsimile: (609) 524-4589

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

JOINDER

 

The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of                           , 2013 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among NRG Yield, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the other person named as parties therein.

 

By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement as a holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s                          shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the                                  Class B common units of Yield, LLC shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the        day of                         ,         .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature of Stockholder

 

 

 

 

 

Print Name of Stockholder

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreed and Accepted as of

 

 

 

                                                  .

 

 

 

NRG YIELD, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

 

A-1




Exhibit 10.5

 

TRADEMARK LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

THIS TRADEMARK LICENSE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), effective as of June       , 2013 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between NRG Energy, Inc. (“Licensor”) and NRG Yield, Inc. (“Licensee”).  Licensor and Licensee are each a “Party,” and collectively, the “Parties.”

 

WHEREAS, Licensor owns certain trademarks as used in connection with the operation of its business; and

 

WHEREAS, Licensee wishes to license such trademarks of Licensor, and Licensor desires to license such trademarks to Licensee, to facilitate the operation of Licensee’s business.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows.

 

1.                                      Grant of License.

 

1.1                               License.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Licensor hereby grants to Licensee, and Licensee hereby accepts, for the Term, the non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, non-transferable, revocable, and worldwide right, license and authority to use any and all marks owned by Licensor (the “Licensed Marks”) in connection with the operation of Licensee’s business, including using the mark “NRG” in Licensee’s company name.

 

1.2                               Sublicensing.  Licensee shall have no right to sublicense the right granted in Section 1.1 without Licensor’s prior written approval, except that Licensee may sublicense such right to a Subsidiary of Licensee.  Any sublicensee shall have no right to further sublicense such right.  Licensee shall (i) be responsible for ensuring that each sublicensee shall be in strict compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and (ii) assume all responsibilities for any breach of any terms or conditions of this Agreement by each sublicensee and for any acts and omissions of each sublicensee relating to the Licensed Marks.  A “Subsidiary” of Licensee means any entity that is, directly or indirectly, Controlled by Licensee.  “Control” means owning more than fifty percent (50%) of an entity’s issued capital stock or other equity interest on a fully diluted basis, or having the right to appoint more than fifty percent (50%) of the members of its board of directors.  Any entity that ceases to be, directly or indirectly, Controlled by Licensee during the Term of this Agreement shall no longer be deemed a Subsidiary of Licensee and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, any sublicense granted to such entity shall terminate immediately.

 

1.3                               Use of Licensed Marks.  Licensee shall use the Licensed Marks only as expressly authorized in this Agreement and shall preserve the goodwill, prestige and reputation associated with the Licensed Marks using the level of care that is substantially equivalent to or higher than such level of care used by Licensor as of the Effective Date.  Licensee shall ensure that all uses of Licensed Marks (including on marketing and advertising materials, websites, and signage) conform to all standards of style, appearance, quality and usage and other guidelines and instructions regarding the Licensed Marks provided by Licensor from time to time.  Licensee shall not use any translation, adaptation, combination, transliteration, variation or derivative of,

 



 

or any word, mark, name, design or logo confusingly similar to, any Licensed Mark without Licensor’s prior written approval (which approval shall be subject to Licensor’s sole discretion).  Licensee shall not use any Licensed Mark in combination with any other trademark, service mark, trade name, company name, logo or slogan in any manner whatsoever without Licensor’s prior written approval (which approval shall be subject to Licensor’s sole discretion).  Licensee shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations in connection with the use of the Licensed Marks.  Licensee shall use appropriate notification of trademark and service mark rights or registrations on all visual displays of any of the Licensed Marks, including (i) use of the encircled “R” symbol (“®”), the superscript TM or the superscript SM, respectively, (ii) with respect to any registered Licensed Mark, the notification that such Licensed Mark is a registered trademark or service mark of Licensor, and (iii) with respect to any unregistered Licensed Mark, the notification that such Licensed Mark is a trademark or service mark of Licensor.

 

1.4                               Licensed Marks.  In the event that Licensor changes or ceases the use of, or intends to change or cease the use of, any Licensed Mark in connection with the operation of Licensor’s business, Licensor may notify Licensee in writing.  Upon Licensee’s receipt of such notice, Licensee shall, at its own cost and expense, promptly (in no event later than thirty (30) days after the date of such notice) change such Licensed Mark to the applicable new Licensed Mark or cease the use of such Licensed Mark, as applicable, in all instances where Licensee is using such Licensed Mark and in Licensee’s company name accordingly.

 

1.5                               Website Links.  Licensee shall maintain a website for its business and shall include a link on the homepage of such website to Licensor’s website (as identified by Licensor), which link shall be comparable in prominence to other links included on such homepage.

 

1.6                               Reservation of Rights; No Implied Licenses.  All rights to the Licensed Marks not expressly granted by Licensor to Licensee in this Agreement are hereby expressly reserved to Licensor.  Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither Party grants to the other Party any right, title or interest in, or a license to use, any intellectual property belonging to such Party, whether by implication, estoppel or otherwise.

 

2.                                      Quality Control.

 

2.1                               Quality Control.  Licensee acknowledges and agrees that all uses of the Licensed Marks and the business conducted using the Licensed Marks must be of high quality so as to protect the Licensed Marks and the goodwill associated therewith.  Licensee further acknowledges and agrees that the maintenance of the high quality of the products and services in connection with which Licensee uses any of the Licensed Marks is of the essence to this Agreement.  Licensee shall maintain quality standards for all such products and services to be sold, offered for sale or provided by Licensee in connection with the Licensed Marks (i) that are substantially equivalent to or stricter than those standards used by Licensor as of the Effective Date, and (ii) as may be reasonably prescribed by Licensor from time to time.

 

2.2                               Samples.  Upon Licensor’s request, Licensee shall promptly submit to Licensor samples of all Licensed Mark usages for approval of the style, appearance, quality and usage of such sample (which approval shall be subject to Licensor’s sole discretion).  In the event that the style, appearance, quality, or usage of any Licensed Mark ceases or fails to conform to any

 

2



 

standards, guidelines or instructions provided by Licensor or any requirement of law or regulation, then upon notice by Licensor, Licensee shall immediately cease and remedy all non-conforming uses.  Licensor shall have the right, upon notice, during normal business hours and in a manner so as not to unreasonably interfere with the normal operation of Licensee’s business, to inspect the premises of Licensee, for the purpose of monitoring Licensee’s compliance with the standards, guidelines and instructions provided by Licensor and Licensee’s compliance with this Agreement.

 

3.                                      Ownership of Intellectual Property.

 

3.1                               Licensor’s Ownership Acknowledged.  Licensee acknowledges and agrees that:  (i) all right, title and interest in and to the Licensed Marks is and shall be owned solely and exclusively by Licensor; (ii) all use of the Licensed Marks by Licensee, and all goodwill arising therefrom, shall inure to the exclusive benefit of Licensor; and (iii) Licensee shall not at any time acquire any rights in the Licensed Marks, or associated goodwill, by virtue of any use it may make thereof.

 

3.2                               No Adverse Actions.  Licensee shall not: (i) attack, challenge, oppose, petition to cancel, or initiate legal action or proceedings in connection with any of the Licensed Marks; (ii) apply for or seek to register any of the Licensed Marks or any trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, or other designations that incorporate, or are confusingly similar to, any of the Licensed Marks; (iii) use any of the Licensed Marks in any manner inconsistent with this Agreement; (iv) file any document with any governmental entity or take any other action that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect Licensor’s ownership of any of the Licensed Marks; (v) do, or allow to be done, any action or omission in derogation of any of the rights of Licensor in or to any of the Licensed Marks; or (vi) use any of the Licensed Marks in any manner, or take or allow any action, that might diminish, dilute or adversely affect the reputation of any of the Licensed Marks, the goodwill associated with any of the Licensed Marks or Licensor.

 

3.3                               Filing, Prosecution and Maintenance.  Licensor shall have the exclusive right (but not the obligation), in its sole discretion, to file, prosecute, and maintain applications and registrations for the Licensed Marks.  Licensee shall reasonably cooperate with and assist Licensor in filing, prosecuting and maintaining applications and registrations for, and Licensor’s rights in, the Licensed Marks.

 

3.4                               Enforcement.  Licensee shall promptly notify Licensor in writing of any infringement, dilution, or other violation of the Licensed Marks by any Person of which Licensee is or becomes aware.  Licensor shall have the exclusive right (but not the obligation), in its sole discretion, to enforce the Licensed Marks (including making any and all litigation and dispute resolution decisions), or bring any actions, suits, claims or proceedings against any actual or suspected infringement, misappropriation, or other violation occurring anywhere in the world.

 

4.                                      Term.

 

4.1                               Term.  The term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall begin on the Effective Date and shall remain in effect until terminated pursuant to Sections 4.2 or 4.3.

 

3



 

4.2                               Termination by Licensor.  Licensor may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to Licensee, in the event that: (i) Licensee materially breaches this Agreement, and (A) Licensee fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days of the receipt of notice of such breach, or (B) such breach is not capable of being cured within thirty (30) days, or (ii) Licensor (A) ceases to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the issued capital stock or other equity interest of Licensee on a fully diluted basis, or (B) ceases to have the right to appoint more than fifty percent (50%) of the members of the board of directors of Licensee.

 

4.3                               Termination by Agreement.  The Parties may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written agreement by both Parties.

 

4.4                               Effect of Termination.  Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, Licensee’s license and rights under this Agreement, including those granted under Sections 1.1 and 1.2, shall immediately expire and terminate, and Licensee shall, as soon as practicable (in any event within ninety (90) days after the effective date of such termination), cease, and cause its sublicensees to cease, all use of the Licensed Marks (including removing the Licensed Marks and any translation, adaptation, combination, transliteration, variations and derivatives thereof from marketing and advertising materials, websites, and signage, and changing its company name).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 1.6, Article 3, Section 4.4, Article 5, Article 6, and Article 7 shall survive such expiration and termination and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms.

 

5.                                      DISCLAIMER; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

 

5.1                               DISCLAIMER.  EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE LICENSED MARKS, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, LICENSOR DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT (I) LICENSOR OWNS ANY REGISTRATION OR APPLICATION FOR ANY LICENSED MARK IN ANY JURISDICTION, OR (II) LICENSOR OR LICENSEE HAS THE RIGHT TO USE ANY LICENSED MARK IN ANY JURISDICTION.

 

5.2                               LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.  NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) ARISING FROM ANY CLAIM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR RESULTING FROM THE USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE LICENSED MARKS, WHETHER THE CLAIM FOR SUCH DAMAGES IS BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR STRICT LIABILITY) OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY IS ADVISED OF, KNOWS OF OR SHOULD KNOW OF THE POSSIBILITY OR LIKELIHOOD OF SAME.

 

6.                                      Indemnification.  Licensee shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Licensor and its affiliates and subsidiaries, and its and their officers, directors, employees, representatives, and agents, against any and all third party claims, losses, damages, expenses and liabilities arising out

 

4


 

of or relating to:  (i) use of the Licensed Marks by Licensee or any of its sublicensees, including the marketing, offering for sale, selling, provision, distribution, or other commercialization of products or services; (ii) violation of any law or regulation by Licensee or any of its sublicensees; or (iii) breach of any terms or conditions of this Agreement by Licensee or any of its sublicensees.

 

7.                                      Miscellaneous.

 

7.1                               Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the principles thereof governing conflicts of law.

 

7.2                               Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally, when sent by facsimile, when sent by overnight courier service, or when mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice).

 

If to Licensor:

 

NRG Energy, Inc.
211 Carnegie Center 
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: (609) 524-4501

 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Kirkland & Ellis
300 N. LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois  60654
Attention: Gerald T. Nowak, P.C.
Facsimile No.: (312) 862-2000

 

If to Licensee:

 

NRG Yield, Inc.

c/o NRG Energy, Inc.
211 Carnegie Center 
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: (609) 524-4501

 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Kirkland & Ellis
300 N. LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois  60654

5



 

Attention: Gerald T. Nowak, P.C.
Facsimile No.: (312) 862-2000

 

7.3                               Assignment.  Licensee shall not assign, transfer or encumber this Agreement (including any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement) without the express prior written consent of Licensor (which may be granted or withheld in Licensor’s sole discretion).  Licensor may freely assign, transfer or encumber this Agreement (including any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement) without consent of Licensee.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and the successors in interest and permitted assigns of each Party hereto.  Any assignment, transfer or encumbrance in violation of this Section 7.3 shall be null, void and without effect.

 

7.4                               Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof, and the applicable provision shall be reformed to the extent necessary to render such provision valid and enforceable and to reflect the intent of the Parties to the maximum extent possible under applicable laws and regulations.

 

7.5                               Independent Contractor.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to establish a joint venture, partnership, agency, employment or other business relationship between the Parties.  Neither Party is authorized or empowered to act for or represent the other Party.  Each Party agrees not to do or authorize any act which would imply apparent authority to act for any other Party.

 

7.6                               Waiver and Modification.  This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a written mutual agreement executed and delivered by the Parties.  Any failure of any Party to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the Party entitled to the benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the Party granting such waiver, but such waiver of such obligations, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

7.7                               Construction.  The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement.  In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.  The article and section headings to this Agreement are for convenience only and are to be of no force or effect in construing and interpreting the provisions of this Agreement.  The term “including” means “including, without limitation.”

 

7.8                               Remedies Cumulative.  All remedies provided for in this Agreement shall be cumulative and in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies available to either Party at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

7.9                               Assistance; Further Assurances.  Licensee shall take all further actions and provide to Licensor all such cooperation and assistance at Licensor’s request (including the

 

6



 

execution and delivery of affidavits, declarations, oaths, samples, exhibits, specimens, assignments, powers of attorney and other documentation) to more fully and effectively effectuate the purposes of this Agreement (including to confirm Licensor’s ownership of the Licensed Marks and to assist Licensor in filing, prosecuting, maintaining, and enforcing any of the Licensed Marks) and the transactions contemplated hereby, including recording any documents necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement in all U.S. and foreign jurisdictions.

 

7.10                        Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings.

 

7.11                        Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one Party, but all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Signed counterparts of this Agreement may be delivered by facsimile and by scanned .pdf image, each of which shall have the same force and effect as an original signed counterpart.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

7



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives effective on the Effective Date first set forth above.

 

NRG Energy, Inc.

NRG Yield, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

Title:

 

 




Exhibit 10.18

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

NRG YIELD LLC

 

Dated and effective as of

 

            , 2013

 

 

 

 

 

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS IN NRG YIELD LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE 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 INTERESTS 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 AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT; AND (III) ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BETWEEN THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER.  THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS, THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT AND ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BY THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER.  THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS 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

1

Section 1.1

Definitions

1

 

 

 

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATIONAL AND OTHER MATTERS

7

Section 2.1

Formation

7

Section 2.2

Name

7

Section 2.3

Limited Liability

7

Section 2.4

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office in the United States; Other Offices

7

Section 2.5

Purpose; Powers

8

Section 2.6

Existing and Good Standing; Foreign Qualification

8

Section 2.7

Term

8

Section 2.8

No State Law Partnership

8

Section 2.9

Admission

9

 

 

 

ARTICLE III MEMBERS; CAPITALIZATION

9

Section 3.1

Members; Units

9

Section 3.2

Class A Common Stock Sale; Exchanges; Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units

9

Section 3.3

Capital Account

11

Section 3.4

No Withdrawal

13

Section 3.5

Loans From Members

13

Section 3.6

No Right of Partition

13

Section 3.7

Non-Certification of Units; Legend; Units are Securities

13

Section 3.8

Outside Activities of the Members

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS

15

Section 4.1

Determination of Distributions

15

Section 4.2

Successors

15

Section 4.3

Withholding

15

Section 4.4

Limitation

15

 

 

 

ARTICLE V ALLOCATIONS

15

Section 5.1

Allocations for Capital Account Purposes

15

Section 5.2

Allocations for Tax Purposes

17

Section 5.3

Members’ Tax Reporting

18

Section 5.4

Certain Costs and Expenses

18

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI MANAGEMENT

19

Section 6.1

Managing Member; Delegation of Authority and Duties

19

Section 6.2

Officers

19

Section 6.3

Liability of Members

20

Section 6.4

Indemnification by the Company

21

Section 6.5

Liability of Indemnitees

22

Section 6.6

Investment Representations of Members

22

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII WITHDRAWAL; DISSOLUTION; TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS

23

Section 7.1

Member Withdrawal

23

Section 7.2

Dissolution

23

Section 7.3

Transfer by Members

24

Section 7.4

Admission or Substitution of New Members

24

 



 

Section 7.5

Additional Requirements

25

Section 7.6

Bankruptcy

25

Section 7.7

Registration Rights

25

Section 7.8

Mandatory Exchange

25

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII BOOKS AND RECORDS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION; TAX MATTERS

26

Section 8.1

Books and Records

26

Section 8.2

Information

26

Section 8.3

Fiscal Year

26

Section 8.4

Certain Tax Matters

26

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

27

Section 9.1

Separate Agreements; Schedules

27

Section 9.2

Governing Law; Disputes

27

Section 9.3

Parties in Interest

28

Section 9.4

Amendments and Waivers

28

Section 9.5

Notices

29

Section 9.6

Counterparts

29

Section 9.7

Power of Attorney

29

Section 9.8

Entire Agreement

30

Section 9.9

Remedies

30

Section 9.10

Severability

30

Section 9.11

Creditors

30

Section 9.12

Waiver

30

Section 9.13

Further Action

30

Section 9.14

Delivery by Facsimile or Email

30

 



 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
NRG YIELD LLC

 

This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) of NRG Yield LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated and effective as of             , 2013 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and among the Members (as defined herein).

 

WHEREAS, as of March 5, 2013, NRG Energy Inc., Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NRG”) and the sole stockholder of NRG Yield, Inc. (“Yield”), formed NRG Yieldco LLC under the Act by executing the Limited Liability Agreement of NRG Yieldco LLC (the “Original Agreement”) and filing a Certificate of Formation with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;

 

WHEREAS, as of May 17, 2013, NRG filed an Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of NRG Yieldco LLC under the Act, which changed NRG Yieldco LLC’s name to “NRG Yield LLC” (the “Company”) and amended and restated the Original Agreement in its entirety (the “Existing Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, on                         , 2013, NRG contributed, or caused to be contributed from its other subsidiaries, certain contracted renewable and conventional generation and thermal infrastructure assets to NRG Yield Operating LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NRG (“NRG Operating”), and contributed 100% of NRG Operating’s membership interests to the Company in exchange for Units (collectively with the 1,000 Units previously issued to NRG in connection with the Company’s formation, the “Existing Units”); and

 

WHEREAS, NRG desires to amend and restate the Existing Agreement in connection with Yield’s initial public offering to provide, for among other things, the designation of Yield as the Managing Member of the Company and to create another class of limited liability interests of the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants and provisions hereinafter contained, the Members hereby adopt the following:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                 Definitions.

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended.

 

Additional Member” means any Person that has been admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to Section 7.4 by virtue of having received its Membership Interest from the Company and not from any other Member or Assignee.

 

Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Member as of the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company, (a) increased by any amounts that such Member is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such Fiscal Year, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Member in subsequent years under Section 706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such Fiscal Year, are reasonably expected to be made to such Member in subsequent years in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Member’s Capital Account that are reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the year in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 5.1(b)(i) or Section 5.1(b)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account

 



 

is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.  The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Member in respect of a Unit shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Unit were the only interest in the Company held by such Member from and after the date on which such Unit was first issued.

 

Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 3.3(c)(i) or Section 3.3(c)(ii).

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such Person.

 

Agreed Value” of any Contributed Property means the Fair Market Value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution as determined by the Managing Member, without taking into account any liabilities to which such Contributed Property was subject at such time. The Managing Member shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Company in a single transaction or series of related transactions among each separate property on a basis proportional to the Fair Market Value of each Contributed Property.

 

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

 

Assignee” means any Transferee to which a Member or another Assignee has Transferred all or a portion of its interest in the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but that is not admitted to the Company as a Member.

 

Bankruptcy” means, with respect to any Person, (a) if such Person (i) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (ii) files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, (iii) is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or has entered against it an order for relief, in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for itself any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar relief under any statute, law or regulation, (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any proceeding of this nature, (vi) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Person or of all or any substantial part of its properties, or (b) if 120 days after the commencement of any proceeding against the Person seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar relief under any statute, law or regulation, if the proceeding has not been dismissed, or if within 90 days after the appointment without such Person’s consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of its properties, the appointment is not vacated or stayed, or within 90 days after the expiration of any such stay, the appointment is not vacated. The foregoing definition of “Bankruptcy” is intended to replace and shall supersede and replace the definition of “Bankruptcy” set forth in Sections 18-101(1) and 18-304 of the Act.

 

Book-Tax Disparity” means, with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date.

 

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 New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Member pursuant to Section 3.3 of this Agreement.

 

Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of any cash or cash equivalents or the Fair Market Value of other property contributed or deemed to be contributed to the Company by such Member with respect to any Unit or other Equity Securities issued by the Company (net of liabilities assumed by the Company or to which such property is subject).

 

2



 

Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property, subject to the following sentence, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Members’ Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed Property, and (b) with respect to any other Company property, subject to the following sentence and Section 3.3(b)(iv), the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 3.3(c)(i) and Section 3.3(c)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Company properties, as deemed appropriate by the Managing Member.

 

Certificate” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Yield.

 

Class A Common Stock Sale” means the sale or issuance by Yield of one or more shares of Class A Common Stock for cash, including in the IPO.

 

Class A Member” means a holder of Class A Units as relates to the ownership of such Units, executing this Agreement as a Class A Member or hereafter admitted to the Company as a Class A Member as provided in this Agreement, but does not include any Person who has ceased to be a Member; provided, that that the holder of the Existing Units shall be deemed Class B Member and shall appear on the Schedule of Members as a Class B Member.

 

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

 

Class B Common Stock” means the Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Yield.

 

Class B Member” means a holder of Class B Units as relates to the ownership of such Units, executing this Agreement as a Class B Member or hereafter admitted to the Company as a Class B Member as provided in this Agreement, but does not include any Person who has ceased to be a Member.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth for the term “partnership minimum gain” in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

 

Control” (including the correlative terms “Controlled by” and “Controlling”) means, when used with reference to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, or to cause the direction of, the management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Contributed Property” means any property contributed to the Company by a Member.

 

Economic Risk of Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b)(vi).

 

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

 

Equity Securities” means, as applicable, (i) any capital stock, limited liability company or membership interests, partnership interests, or other equity interest, (ii) any securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock, limited liability company or membership interests, partnership interests, or other

 

3



 

equity interest or containing any profit participation features, (iii) any rights or options directly or indirectly to subscribe for or to purchase any capital stock, limited liability company or membership interests, partnership interest, other equity interest or securities containing any profit participation features or to subscribe for or to purchase any securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock, limited liability company or membership interests, partnership interest, other equity interests or securities containing any profit participation features, (iv) any equity appreciation rights, phantom equity rights or other similar rights, or (v) any Equity Securities issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above in connection with a combination, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.

 

Exchange” means the exchange of Class B Units for Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and the Exchange Agreement.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect from time to time.

 

Exchange Agreement” means the Exchange Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof among the Managing Member, the Company and the Persons from time to time party thereto, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Exchange Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c)(i).

 

Exchange Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c)(ii).

 

Exchanging Class B Member” means a Class B Member Transferring Class B Units as contemplated in Section 3.2(c).

 

Existing Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.

 

Existing Units” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any assets or securities, the fair market value for such assets or securities as determined in good faith by the Managing Member in its sole discretion.

 

Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company which shall end on December 31 of each calendar year unless, for United States federal income tax purposes, another fiscal year is required. The Company shall have the same fiscal year for United States federal income tax purposes and for accounting purposes.

 

GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, consistently applied and maintained throughout the applicable periods.

 

HSR Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.

 

Income” means individual items of Company income and gain determined in accordance with the definitions of Net Income and Net Loss.

 

Indemnitees” means (a) any Person who is or was a member, partner, shareholder, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, (b) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Managing Member as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person, in each case, acting in such capacity (provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services) and (c) any Person the Managing Member designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

IPO” means the initial public offering and sale of Class A Common Stock (as contemplated by Yield’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-[                    ]).

 

4



 

Loss” means individual items of Company loss and deduction determined in accordance with the definitions of Net Income and Net Loss.

 

Managing Member” means, initially, Yield and any assignee to which the managing member of the Company Transfers all Units held by such managing member of the Company that is admitted to the Company as the managing member of the Company, in its capacity as the managing member of the Company.

 

Member” means each Person listed on the Schedule of Members on the date hereof (including the Managing Member) and each other Person who is hereafter admitted as a Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Act. Any reference in this Agreement to any Member shall include such Member’s Successors in Interest to the extent such Successors in Interest have become Substituted Members in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Member Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning set forth for the term “partner nonrecourse debt” in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth for the term “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

Member Nonrecourse Deduction” has the meaning set forth for the term “partner nonrecourse deduction” in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(1).

 

Membership Interests” means, collectively, the limited liability company interests of the Members in the Company as represented by Units.

 

Membership Interest Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

 

Net Income” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Company’s items of income and gain for such taxable year over the Company’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 3.3(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 5.1(b).

 

Net Loss” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Company’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable year over the Company’s items of income and gain for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 3.3 and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 5.1(b).

 

Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction, or expenditure (including, without limitation, any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.

 

Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

 

NRG Operating” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.

 

Officer” means each Person designated as an officer of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.2, subject to any resolution of the Managing Member appointing such Person as an officer of the Company or relating to such appointment.

 

Original Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.

 

Percentage Interest” means, with respect to any Member as of any date of determination, the product obtained by multiplying 100% by the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units held by such Member by the total number of all outstanding Units.

 

5



 

Permitted Transferee” means with respect to any Person, any Affiliate of such Person.

 

Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or other entity, including any governmental entity.

 

Quarterly Estimated Tax Periods” means the two, three, and four calendar month periods with respect to which Federal quarterly estimated tax payments are made. The first such period begins on January 1 and ends on March 31. The second such period begins on April 1 and ends on May 31. The third such period begins on June 1 and ends on August 31. The fourth such period begins on September 1 and ends on December 31.

 

Reclassified Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c)(i).

 

Required Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b)(ix)(A).

 

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

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect from time to time.

 

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

 

Substituted Member” means a Person who is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to Section 7.5 with all the rights of a Member and who is shown as a Member on the Schedule of Members.

 

Successor in Interest” means any (i) trustee, custodian, receiver or other Person acting in any Bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding with respect to, (ii) assignee for the benefit of the creditors of, or (iii) trustee or receiver, or current or former officer, director or partner, or other fiduciary acting for or with respect to the dissolution, liquidation or termination of.

 

Tax Matters Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(d).

 

Transfer” means sell, assign, convey, contribute, distribute, give, or otherwise transfer, whether directly or indirectly, voluntarily or involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, or any act of the foregoing, including any Transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage. The terms “Transferee,” “Transferor,” “Transferred,” “Transferring Member,” “Transferor Member” and other forms of the word “Transfer” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated by the United States Treasury Department under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

 

6



 

Units” means the Class A Units, the Class B Units and any other series of limited liability company interests in the Company denominated as “Units” that is established in accordance with this Agreement, which shall constitute limited liability company interests in the Company 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 Company 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 Member as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Member to comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Company property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Fair Market Value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 3.3(c)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 3.3(c) as of such date).

 

Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Company property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 3.3(c) as of such date) over (b) the Fair Market Value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 3.3(c)).

 

Yield” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Yield Charter” means that certain certificate of incorporation of Yield as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on [              ], 2013, as further amended on May 17, 2013 and as further amended from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Section 1.2. Other Definitions. Other terms defined herein have the meanings so given them.

 

Section 1.3. Construction. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine, and neuter. All references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of this Agreement, all references to “including” shall be construed as meaning “including without limitation” and all references to Exhibits are to Exhibits attached to this Agreement, each of which is made a part for all purposes.

 

ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATIONAL AND OTHER MATTERS

 

Section 2.1                 Formation. The Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on March 5, 2013 by the execution and filing of a Certificate of Formation of the Company (the “Certificate”) by an authorized person under and pursuant to the Act and the execution of the Original Agreement.  The Members agree to continue the Company as a limited liability company under the Act, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.  The rights, powers, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Members shall be determined pursuant to the Act and this Agreement. This Agreement is the “limited liability company agreement” of the Company within the meaning of Section 18-101(7) of the Act.  To the extent that this Agreement is inconsistent in any respect with the Act, this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by the Act, control.

 

Section 2.2                 Name. The name of the Company is hereby renamed “NRG Yield LLC” and the business of the Company shall be conducted under that name, or under any other name adopted by the Managing Member in accordance with the Act. Subject to the Act, the Managing Member may change the name of the Company (and amend this Agreement to reflect such change) at any time and from time to time without the consent of any other Person. Prompt notification of any such change shall be given to all Members.

 

Section 2.3                 Limited Liability. The debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be the debts, obligations and liabilities solely of the Company, and a Member shall not be obligated personally for any of such debts, obligations or liabilities solely by reason of being a Member.

 

Section 2.4                 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office in the United States; Other Offices. The registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered office designated in the

 

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Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Managing Member may designate from time to time in the manner provided by law. The registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered agent designated in the Certificate or such other Person or Persons as the Managing Member may designate from time to time in the manner provided by law. The registered office of the Company in the United States shall be at the place specified in the Certificate, or such other place(s) as the Managing Member may designate from time to time. The Company may have such other offices as the Managing Member may determine appropriate.

 

Section 2.5                 Purpose; Powers. The Company may carry on any lawful business, purpose or activity permitted by the Act. The Company may engage in any and all activities necessary, desirable or incidental to the accomplishment of the foregoing. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and except as prohibited by the Act, (i) the Company may, with the approval of the Managing Member, enter into and perform any and all documents, agreements and instruments, all without any further act, vote or approval of any Member and (ii) the Managing Member may authorize any Person (including any Member or Officer) to enter into and perform any document on behalf of the Company.

 

Section 2.6                 Existing and Good Standing; Foreign Qualification.  The Managing Member may take all action which may be necessary or appropriate (i) for the continuation of the Company’s valid existence as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware (and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to enable the Company to conduct the business in which it is engaged) and (ii) for the maintenance, preservation and operation of the business of the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and applicable laws and regulations.  The Managing Member may file or cause to be filed for recordation in the office of the appropriate authorities of the State of Delaware, and in the proper office or offices in each other jurisdiction in which the Company is formed or qualified, such certificates (including certificates of limited liability companies and fictitious name certificates) and other documents as are required by the applicable statutes, rules or regulations of any such jurisdiction or as are required to reflect the identity of the Members and the amounts of their respective capital contributions.  Each Member shall execute, acknowledge, swear to and deliver all certificates and other instruments conforming to this Agreement that are necessary or appropriate to qualify, or, as appropriate, to continue or terminate such qualification of, the Company as a foreign limited liability company in all such jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business.

 

Section 2.7                 Term. The Company commenced on the date the Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and shall continue in existence until it is liquidated or dissolved in accordance with this Agreement and the Act.

 

Section 2.8                 No State Law Partnership.

 

(a)                                 The Members intend that the Company shall not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member or Officer shall be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member or Officer by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes other than as is set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2.8(a), and this Agreement shall not be construed to the contrary. The Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for federal and, if applicable, state or local income tax purposes, as of the date Yield first becomes a Member, and each Member, Assignee and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent with such treatment.  Neither the Company nor any Member shall take any action inconsistent with such treatment.

 

(b)                                 So long as the Company is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, to ensure that Units are not traded on an established securities market within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(b) or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.7704-1(c), notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Company shall not participate in the establishment of any such market or the inclusion of its Units thereon, and (ii) the Company shall not recognize any Transfer made on any such market by: (A) redeeming the Transferor Member (in the case of a redemption or repurchase by the Company); or (B) admitting the Transferee as a Member or otherwise recognizing any rights of the Transferee, such as a right of the Transferee to receive Company distributions (directly or indirectly) or to acquire an interest in the capital or profits of the Company.

 

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Section 2.9                 Admission. Yield is hereby designated as the Managing Member of the Company upon its execution of a counterpart signature page to this Agreement and each Member of the Company immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement (including NRG) shall continue as a Member hereunder.

 

ARTICLE III
MEMBERS; CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 3.1                 Members; Units.

 

(a)                                 Limited Liability Company Interests. Interests in the Company shall be represented by Units, or such other Equity Securities in the Company, or such other Company securities, in each case as the Managing Member may establish in its sole discretion in accordance with the terms hereof. As of the Effective Date, the Units are comprised of two Classes: “Class A Units” and “Class B Units.”

 

(b)                                 Schedule of Units; Schedule of Members. The Company shall maintain a schedule setting forth (i) the name and address of each Member, (ii) the number of Units (by Class) owned by such Member, (iii) the aggregate number of outstanding Units by Class (including rights, options or warrants convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Units), and (iv) the aggregate amount of cash Capital Contributions that have been made by each of the Members and the Fair Market Value of any property other than cash contributed by each of the Members with respect to such Units (including, if applicable, a description and the amount of any liability assumed by the Company or to which contributed property is subject) (such schedule, the “Schedule of Members”). The Schedule of Members shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit or other Equity Security in the Company and all relevant information with respect to each Member. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units or other Equity Securities in the Company 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.

 

(c)                                  Reclassification of Existing Units.  The Existing Units shall automatically be reclassified into an equivalent number of Class B Units on the Effective Date.

 

(d)                                 Class A Units.  The Schedule of Members sets forth the identity of all Class A Members and the number of Class A Units held by each Class A Member. The Class A Units shall rank pari passu with, and have all the same rights (including the rights to share in Net Income and Net Loss or items thereof and distributions made in accordance with ARTICLE IV) and be subject to all of the same obligations, as the Class B Units.

 

(e)                                  Class B Units.  The Schedule of Members sets forth the identity of all Class B Members and the number of Class B Units held by each Class B Member.  Class B Units shall only be issuable to NRG and its Permitted Transferees from and after the Effective Date.  Upon the Exchange contemplated in any Exchange Election, the Class B Units covered by such Exchange Election shall be exchanged for Exchange Shares pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and, in connection with such Exchange, reclassified as Class A Units.  The Class B Units shall rank pari passu with, and have all the same rights (including the rights to share in Net Income and Net Loss or items thereof and distributions made in accordance with ARTICLE IV) and be subject to all of the same obligations, as the Class A Units.

 

Section 3.2                 Class A Common Stock Sale; Exchanges; Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.

 

(a)                                 General.  Notwithstanding anything expressed or implied to the contrary in this Agreement (including Section 7.4 hereof), a Class B Member may not Transfer, directly or indirectly, all or any portion of its Class B Units except in connection with (i) a Class A Common Stock Sale, (ii) a Transfer of such Units in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.2(c) or (iii) a Transfer of Class B Units held by such Class B Member (as an Exchanging Class B Member) to one or more Permitted Transferees in accordance with Section 7.3.  No Transfer of any Class B Units by a Class B Member to a Permitted Transferee shall effect a release of the transferring Class B Member’s obligations under this Agreement to the Class A Members, and as a condition to such

 

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Transfer, each such Permitted Transferee shall expressly assume in writing all of the obligations of the transferring Class B Member, whether arising prior to, on or after the date of Transfer, to the Class A Members.

 

(b)                                 Class A Common Stock Sale.  In connection with any Class A Common Stock Sale, the Managing Member shall cause the Company to use the related net cash proceeds from such sale (upon the receipt thereof from Yield) to either (i) issue Class A Units, in an amount equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock related to such Class A Common Stock Sale, to the Class A Member or (ii) as contemplated in the Exchange Agreement, purchase Class B Units from one or more “Yield LLC Unitholders” under the Exchange Agreement, which Class B Units shall automatically be reclassified into Class A Units upon the consummation of the purchase set forth in this clause (ii). Alternatively, the Managing Member shall cause Yield to use a portion of the net cash proceeds to purchase Class B Units from NRG, which then will convert to Class A Units immediately upon such purchase. The determination of how to apply the net cash proceeds received by the Company from any Class A Common Stock Sale shall be made in the Managing Member’s sole discretion.

 

(c)                                  Exchanges.

 

(i)                                     Step 1.  An Exchanging Class B Member shall deliver to the Managing Member the written election of exchange (an “Exchange Election”) as contemplated by Section 2.1(b) of the Exchange Agreement. Upon the Exchange contemplated by an Exchange Election, the number of Class B Units designated in the Exchange Election shall be reclassified into an equal number of Class A Units (such Class A Units, the “Reclassified Units”) and such Reclassified Units shall be exchanged as contemplated by Step 2 below and the Exchange Agreement.

 

(ii)                                  Step 2. The Reclassified Units shall be delivered to Yield in exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock (“Exchange Shares”) as contemplated by the Exchange Agreement, which Class A Common Stock shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Exchanging Class B Member (as set forth in the Exchange Election).  The Reclassified Units shall be deemed automatically issued to Yield upon the issuance of the Exchange Shares to the Exchanging Class B Member.

 

(d)                                 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.  Subject to the limitations on issuing additional Units set forth in this Agreement (including Section 7.4), the requirements set forth in the Exchange Agreement and any applicable listing exchange requirements, the Managing Member may issue additional Classes of Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities from time to time with such rights, obligations, powers, designations, preferences and other terms, which may be different from, including senior to, any then existing or future Classes of Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities, as the Managing Member shall determine from time to time, in its sole discretion, without the vote or consent of any other Member or any other Person, including (i) the right of such Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities to share in Net Income and Net Loss or items thereof, (ii) the right of such Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities to share in Company distributions, (iii) the rights of such Units, other Equity Securities or other Company securities upon dissolution and liquidation of the Company, (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Company may or shall be required to redeem such Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities (including sinking fund provisions), (v) whether such Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities 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 Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities will be issued, evidenced by certificates or assigned or transferred, (vii) the terms and conditions of the issuance of such Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities (including, without limitation, the amount and form of consideration, if any, to be received by the Company in respect thereof, the Managing Member

 

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being expressly authorized, in its sole discretion, to cause the Company to issue Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities for less than Fair Market Value), and (viii) the right, if any, of the holder of such Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities to vote on Company matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities. The Managing Member, without the vote or consent of any other Member or any other Person but subject to Sections 3.1(d) and 3.1(e) and any applicable listing exchange requirements, is authorized (i) to issue any Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities of any such newly established Class, and (ii) to amend this Agreement to reflect the creation of any such new series, the issuance of Units, other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities of such series, and the admission of any Person as a Member which has received Units or other Equity Securities of any such Class, in accordance with this Section 3.2, 7.3 and 9.4. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary, any reference to “Units” shall include the Class A Units, the Class B Units and any other series of Units that may be established in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Section 3.3                 Capital Account.

 

(a)                                 The Managing Member shall maintain for each Member owning Units a separate Capital Account with respect to such Units in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Company with respect to such Units pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) all items of Company income and gain (including, without limitation, income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 3.3(b) and allocated with respect to such Units pursuant to Section 5.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Fair Market Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such Units pursuant to this Agreement and (y) all items of Company deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 3.3(b) and allocated with respect to such Units pursuant to Section 5.1. 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 Treasury Regulations. In the event the Managing Member shall determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts or any adjustments thereto (including, without limitation, adjustments relating to liabilities which are secured by contributed or distributed property or which are assumed by the Company or any Members) are computed in order to comply with such Treasury Regulations, the Managing Member, without the consent of any other Person, may make such modification, notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement; provided that it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributed or distributable to any Person pursuant to ARTICLE VII hereof upon the dissolution of the Company.  The Managing Member, without the consent of any other Person, also shall (i) make any adjustments, notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, that are necessary or appropriate to maintain equality among the Capital Accounts of the Members and the amount of capital reflected on the Company’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q), and (ii) make any appropriate modifications, notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b).

 

(b)                                 For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction, which is to be allocated pursuant to ARTICLE V and is to be reflected in the Members’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including, without limitation, any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose); provided, that:

 

(i)                                     Solely for purposes of this Section 3.3, the Company shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the Managing Member) of all property owned by any partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity or arrangement that is classified as a partnership or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes, of which the Company is, directly or indirectly, a partner (in the case of a partnership) or owner (in the case of a disregarded entity).

 

(ii)                                  Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Company and, as to those items described in

 

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Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

 

(iii)                               Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Company property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Company’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

 

(iv)                              In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined in the manner described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g)(3) as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Company were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 3.3(c) to the Carrying Value of any Adjusted Property that is subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined in the manner described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g)(3) and 1.704-3(a)(6)(i) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment; provided, however, that, if the asset has a zero adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, depreciation, cost recovery or amortization deductions shall be determined using any method that the Managing Member may adopt.

 

(c)                                  If a Member transfers an interest in the Company to a new or existing Member, the transferee Member shall succeed to that portion of the transferor’s Capital Account that is attributable to the transferred interest.  Any reference in this Agreement to a Capital Contribution of, or Distribution to, a Member that has succeeded any other Member shall include any Capital Contributions or Distributions previously made by or to the former Member on account of the interest of such former Member transferred to such successor Member.  In addition, the following shall apply:

 

(i)                                     In accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Units for cash or Contributed Property, the Capital Account of all Members and the Carrying Value of each Company property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Company property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated to the Members at such time pursuant to Section 5.1 in  the same manner as a corresponding item of gain or loss actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and Fair Market Value of all Company assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Units shall be determined by the Managing Member using such method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however, that the Managing Member, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the Fair Market Value of the Units of all Members at such time. The Managing Member shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Company (in such manner as it determines) to arrive at a Fair Market Value for individual properties.

 

(ii)                                  In accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Member of any Company property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Unit), the Capital Accounts of all Members and the Carrying Value of all Company property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Company property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized in a sale of such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its Fair Market Value, and had been allocated to the Members, at such time, pursuant to Section 5.1 in the same manner as a corresponding item of gain or loss actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and Fair Market Value of all Company assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash

 

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equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to ARTICLE VII or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 3.3(c) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to ARTICLE VII, be determined and allocated by the Person winding up the Company pursuant to Section 7.2(c) using such method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

(iii)                               The Managing Member may make the adjustments described in this Section 3.4(d) in the manner set forth herein if the Managing Member determines that such adjustments are necessary or useful to effectuate the intended economic arrangement among the Members, including Members who received Units in connection with the performance of services to or for the benefit of the Company.

 

(d)                                 Notwithstanding anything expressed or implied to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event the Managing Member shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto, are computed in order to effectuate the intended economic sharing arrangement of the Members, the Managing Member may make such modification, notwithstanding any other provision hereof, without the consent of any other Person.

 

Section 3.4                 No Withdrawal. No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contributions or Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided herein.

 

Section 3.5                 Loans From Members. Loans by Members to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. If any Member shall loan funds to the Company, then the making of such loans shall not result in any increase in the Capital Account balance of such Member. The amount of any such loans shall be a debt of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such loans are made.

 

Section 3.6                 No Right of Partition. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no Member shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of law of any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, be entitled to distributions of specific assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.7                 Non-Certification of Units; Legend; Units are Securities.

 

(a)                                 Units shall be issued in non-certificated form; provided that the Managing Member may cause the Company to issue certificates to a Member representing the Units held by such Member.

 

(b)                                 If the Managing Member determines that the Company shall issue certificates representing Units to any Member, the following provisions of this Section 3.8 shall apply:

 

(i)                                     The Company shall issue one or more certificates in the name of such Person in such form as it may approve, subject to Section 3.8(b)(ii) (a “Membership Interest Certificate”), which shall evidence the ownership of the Units represented thereby. Each such Membership Interest Certificate shall be denominated in terms of the number of Units evidenced by such Membership Interest Certificate and shall be signed by the Managing Member or an Officer on behalf of the Company.

 

(ii)                                  Each Membership Interest Certificate shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:

 

THIS CERTIFICATE EVIDENCES A CLASS [            ] UNIT REPRESENTING AN INTEREST IN NRG YIELD LLC AND SHALL CONSTITUTE A “SECURITY” WITHIN THE MEANING OF, AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, (I) ARTICLE 8 OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE (INCLUDING SECTION 8-102(A)(15) THEREOF) AS IN EFFECT FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, AND (II) THE CORRESPONDING

 

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PROVISIONS OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE OF ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION THAT NOW OR HEREAFTER SUBSTANTIALLY INCLUDES THE 1994 REVISIONS TO ARTICLE 8 THEREOF AS ADOPTED BY THE AMERICAN LAW INSTITUTE AND THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF COMMISSIONERS ON UNIFORM STATE LAWS AND APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION ON FEBRUARY 14, 1995.

 

THE INTERESTS IN NRG YIELD LLC REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF NRG YIELD LLC, DATED AS OF [            ], 2013, BY AND AMONG EACH OF THE MEMBERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.

 

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

 

(iv)                              The Company shall issue a new Membership Interest Certificate in place of any Membership Interest Certificate previously issued if the holder of the Units represented by such Membership Interest Certificate, as reflected on the books and records of the Company:

 

(A)                               makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that such previously issued Membership Interest Certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed;

 

(B)                               requests the issuance of a new Membership Interest Certificate before the Company has notice that such previously issued Membership Interest Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;

 

(C)                               if requested by the Company, delivers to the Company such security, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, as the Managing Member may direct, to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the previously issued Membership Interest Certificate; and

 

(D)                               satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Company.

 

(v)                                 Upon a Member’s Transfer in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement of any or all Units represented by a Membership Interest Certificate, the Transferee of such Units shall deliver such Membership Interest Certificate, duly endorsed for Transfer by the Transferee, to the Company for cancellation, and the Company shall thereupon issue a new Membership Interest Certificate to such Transferee for the number of Units being Transferred and, if applicable, cause to be issued to such Transferring Member a new Membership Interest Certificate for the number of Units that were represented by the canceled Membership Interest Certificate and that are not being Transferred.

 

Section 3.8                 Outside Activities of the Members. Any Member or any of their respective Affiliates shall be entitled to 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 or any of its Subsidiaries or any Person in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest. Neither the Company nor any of the other Members shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any other Member.

 

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ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 4.1                 Determination of Distributions. Distributions shall be made to the Members pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Interests when and in such amounts as determined by the Managing Member, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided, however that in the event the Company issues Class A Units or securities convertible or exchangeable for Class A Units for less than Fair Market Value, the amount distributed on account of Class B Units relative to Class A Units shall be equitably adjusted by the Managing Member.

 

Section 4.2                 Successors. For purposes of determining the amount of distributions under Section 4.1, each Member shall be treated as having made the Capital Contributions and as having received the distributions made to or received by its predecessors in respect of any of such Member’s Units.

 

Section 4.3                 Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Managing Member is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Company to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local 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 Managing Member may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to this ARTICLE IV in the amount of such withholding from such Member. Each Member hereby agrees, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other Members from and against any liability, claim or expense (including, without limitation, any liability for taxes, penalties, additions to tax or interest) with respect to any tax withholdings made or required to be made on behalf of or with respect to such Member. In the event the Company is liquidated and a liability or claim is asserted against, or expense borne by, the Company or any Member for tax withholdings made or required to be made, such person shall have the right to be reimbursed from the Member on whose behalf such tax withholding was made or required to be made

 

Section 4.4                 Limitation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company, and the Managing Member on behalf of the Company, shall not be required to make a distribution (a) if such distribution to any Member or Assignee would violate the Act or other applicable law, or (b) in any form other than cash.

 

ARTICLE V
ALLOCATIONS

 

Section 5.1                 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.

 

(a)                                 Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Net Income and Net Losses (and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain or loss or deduction of the Company) shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Member after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 5.1(b) is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the distributions that would be made pursuant to Section 7.2 if the Company were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Value, all Company 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 Company were distributed to the Members pursuant to this Agreement, minus (ii) such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets.

 

(b)                                 Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:

 

(i)                                     Company Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.1, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any Company taxable period, each Member shall be allocated items of Company income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts determined according to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of this Section 5.1(b), each Member’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income and gain

 

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required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 5.1(b) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 5.1(b)(iii) and Section 5.1(b)(vi)). This Section 5.1(b)(i) is intended to comply with the Company Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(ii)                                  Chargeback of Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 5.1 (other than Section 5.1(b)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Company taxable period, any Member with a share of Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Company income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts determined according to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(4), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 5.1(b), each Member’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income and gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 5.1(b), other than Section 5.1(b)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to Section 5.1(b)(i)(v) and (b)(i)(vi), with respect to such taxable period. This Section 5.1(b)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(iii)                               Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), or (6), items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible, unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Section 5.1(b)(i) or (ii). This Section 5.1(b)(iii) is intended to qualify and be construed as a “qualified income offset” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(iv)                              Gross Income Allocations. In the event any Member has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any Company taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Member is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Member is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Member shall be specially allocated items of Company gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.1(b)(iv) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 5.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.1(b)(iv) were not in this Agreement.

 

(v)                                 Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the Managing Member determines that the Company’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the Managing Member is authorized, upon notice to the other Members, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.

 

(vi)                              Member Nonrecourse Deductions. Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Member that bears the “Economic Risk of Loss” (as defined in the Treasury Regulations) with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Member bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Member Nonrecourse Debt, such Member Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Members in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.

 

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(vii)                           Nonrecourse Liabilities. Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Company described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3) shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(viii)                        Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Members in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.

 

(ix)                              Curative Allocation.

 

(A)                               The allocations set forth in Section 5.1(b)(i), (ii), (iii) and (viii) (the “Required Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Treasury Regulations. It is the intent of the Members that, to the extent possible, all Required Allocations shall be offset either with other Required Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 5.1(b)(ix)(A). Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this ARTICLE V (other than the Required Allocations), the Managing Member shall make such offsetting special allocations of Company income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it determines appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Member’s Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Member would have had if the Required Allocations were not part of this Agreement and all Company items were allocated pursuant to the economic agreement among the Members.

 

(B)                               The Managing Member shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 5.1(b)(ix)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 5.1(b)(ix)(A) among the Members in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

 

(x)                                 Deficit Capital Accounts. No Member shall be required to pay to the Company, to any other Member or to any third party any deficit balance which may exist from time to time in the Member’s Capital Account.

 

Section 5.2                 Allocations for Tax Purposes.

 

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

 

(b)                                 In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or an Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Members as follows:

 

(i)                                     In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto shall be allocated among the Members in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code that takes into account the variation between the Agreed Value of such property and its adjusted basis at the time of contribution.

 

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(ii)                                                 In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall (A) first, be allocated among the Members in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property and the allocations thereof pursuant to Section 3.3(c)(i) or Section 3.3(c)(ii), and (B) second, in the event such property was originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among the Members in a manner consistent with Section 5.2(b)(i)(A).

 

(iii)                               In order to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities, the Managing Member may cause the Company to use any method described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3.

 

(c)                                  For purposes of determining the items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit allocable to any Member with respect to any period, such items shall be determined on a daily, monthly, or other basis, as determined by the Managing Member using any permissible method under Code Section 706 and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(d)                                 Tax credits, tax credit recapture and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Members according to their interests in such items as reasonably determined by the Managing Member taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii) and 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi).

 

(e)                                  Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.2 are solely for the purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Income, Loss, distributions or other Company items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

 

(f)                                   For the proper administration of the Company, the Managing Member shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax purposes of income (including, without limitation, gross income) or deductions; (iii) without the consent of any other Person being required, amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code; and (iv) adopt and employ such methods for (A) the maintenance of capital accounts for book and tax purposes, (B) the determination and allocation of adjustments under Sections 734 and 743 of the Code, (C) the determination and allocation of taxable income, tax loss and items thereof under this Agreement and pursuant to the Code, (D) the determination of the identities and tax classification of Members, (E) the provision of tax information and reports to the Members, (F) the adoption of reasonable conventions and methods for the valuation of assets and the determination of tax basis, (G) the allocation of asset values and tax basis, (H) the adoption and maintenance of accounting methods, (I) the recognition of the transfer of Units and (J) tax compliance and other tax-related requirements, including without limitation, the use of computer software, in each case, as it determines in its sole discretion are necessary and appropriate to execute the provisions of this Agreement and to comply with federal, state and local tax law. The Managing Member may adopt such conventions and make such allocations as provided in this Section 5.2(f) without the consent of a Member only if such conventions or allocations would not have a material adverse effect on such affected Member, and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.

 

Section 5.3                 Members’ Tax Reporting. The Members acknowledge and are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made pursuant to this ARTICLE V and, except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or regulatory requirements, hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this ARTICLE V in reporting their shares of Company income, gain, loss, deduction and credit for federal, state and local income tax purposes.

 

Section 5.4                 Certain Costs and Expenses. The Company shall (i) pay, or cause to be paid, all costs, fees, operating expenses and other expenses of the Company (including the costs, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants or other professionals and the compensation of all personnel providing services to the Company) incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the activities of the Company, and (ii) reimburse the Managing Member for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by it in connection with serving as the Managing Member. To the extent that the Managing Member determines in its sole discretion that such expenses are related to the business and affairs of the Managing Member that are conducted through the Company and/or its subsidiaries (including expenses that relate to the business and affairs of the Company and/or its subsidiaries and that also relate to other activities of the Managing Member), the Managing Member may cause the Company to pay or bear all

 

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expenses of the Managing Member, including, without suggesting any limitation of any kind, costs of securities offerings not borne directly by Members, board of directors compensation and meeting costs, cost of periodic reports to its stockholders, litigation costs and damages arising from litigation, accounting and legal costs and franchise taxes, provided that the Company shall not pay or bear any income tax obligations of the Managing Member.

 

ARTICLE VI
MANAGEMENT

 

Section 6.1                 Managing Member; Delegation of Authority and Duties.

 

(a)                                 Authority of Managing Member. The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the Managing Member, which may from time to time delegate authority to Officers or to others to act on behalf of the Company. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.1(a), the Managing Member shall have the sole power to manage or cause the management of the Company, including the power and authority to effectuate the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including, but not limited to, the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Company) or the merger, consolidation, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity.

 

(b)                                 Other Members. No Member who is not also a Managing Member, in his or her or its capacity as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of the Company. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units, other Equity Securities in the Company, or the fact of a Member’s admission as a member of the Company do not confer any rights upon the Members to participate in the management of the affairs of the Company. Except as expressly provided herein, no Member who is not also a Managing Member shall have any right to vote on any matter involving the Company, including with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Company, or any other matter that a Member might otherwise have the ability to vote or consent with respect to under the Act, at law, in equity or otherwise. The conduct, control and management of the Company shall be vested exclusively in the Managing Member. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Company, the decision of the Managing Member shall be the decision of the Company. Except as required by law or expressly provided in Section 6.1(c) or by separate agreement with the Company, no Member who is not also a Managing Member (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or control of the operation or business of the Company in its capacity as a Member, nor shall any Member who is not also a Managing Member (and acting in such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Company in his or her or its capacity as a Member in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Company or of any other Member.

 

(c)                                  Delegation by Managing Member. The Company may employ one or more Members from time to time, and such Members, in their capacity as employees or agents of the Company (and not, for clarity, in their capacity as Members of the Company), may take part in the control and management of the business of the Company to the extent such authority and power to act for or on behalf of the Company has been delegated to them by the Managing Member. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Managing Member shall have the power and authority to delegate to one or more other Persons the Managing Member’s rights and powers to manage and control the business and affairs of the Company, including to delegate to agents and employees of a Member or the Company (including Officers), and to delegate by a management agreement or another agreement with, or otherwise to, other Persons. The Managing Member may authorize any Person (including any Member or Officer) to enter into and perform any document on behalf of the Company.

 

Section 6.2                 Officers.

 

(a)                                 Designation and Appointment. The Managing Member may, from time to time, employ and retain Persons as may be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the Company’s business, including employees, agents and other Persons (any of whom may be a Member) who may be designated as Officers of the Company, with such titles as and to the extent authorized by the Managing Member.  Any number of offices may be held by the same

 

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Person.  In its discretion, the Managing Member may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.  Officers need not be residents of the State of Delaware or Members.  Any Officers so designated shall have such authority and perform such duties as the Managing Member may from time to time delegate to them.  The Managing Member may assign titles to particular Officers.  Each Officer shall hold office until his successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.  The salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Managing Member.  Designation of an Officer shall not of itself create any employment or, except as provided in Section 6.4, contractual rights.

 

(b)                                 Resignation and Removal. Any Officer 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 is specified, at the time of its receipt by the Managing Member.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation.  All employees, agents and Officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the Managing Member and may be removed, with or without cause, from such office by the Managing Member and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or Officer of the Company may be suspended by or altered the Managing Member from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the Managing Member.

 

(c)                                  Officers as Agents. The Officers, to the extent of their powers, authority and duties set forth in this Agreement or an Employment Agreement or otherwise vested in them by the Managing Member, are agents of the Company for the purposes of the Company’s business and the actions of the Officers taken in accordance with such powers shall bind the Company.

 

Section 6.3                 Liability of Members.

 

(a)                                 No Personal Liability. Except as otherwise required by applicable law and as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Member shall have any personal liability whatsoever in such Person’s capacity as a Member, whether to the Company, to any of the other Members, to the creditors of the Company or to any other third party, for the debts, liabilities, commitments or any other obligations of the Company or for any losses of the Company. Except as otherwise required by the Act, each Member shall be liable only to make such Member’s Capital Contribution to the Company, if applicable, and the other payments provided for expressly herein.

 

(b)                                 Return of Distributions. In accordance with the Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, a Member may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Member. It is the intent of the Members that no distribution to any Member pursuant to ARTICLE IV shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the Act. The payment of any such money or distribution of any such property to a Member shall be deemed to be a compromise within the meaning of Section 18-502(b) of the Act, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any Member receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Company or any other Person. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Member.

 

(c)                                  No Duties. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, the parties hereby agree that the Members (including without limitation, the Managing Member), shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, including Section 18-1101(c) of the Act, owe no duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the other Members or any other Person who is a party to or otherwise bound by this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 6.3(c) shall eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Member (including without limitation, the Managing Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Company, to another Member or to another Person who is a party to or otherwise bound by this Agreement, the Members (including without limitation, the Managing Member) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Company, to any such other Member or to any such other Person who is a party to or otherwise bound by this Agreement, 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 Member (including without limitation, the Managing Member) otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, are agreed

 

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by the parties hereto to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Members (including without limitation, the Managing Member) relating thereto. The Managing Member may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors and any act or omission suffered or taken by the Managing Member on behalf of the Company or in furtherance of the interests of the Company 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 Managing Member 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement the Managing Member is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the Managing Member 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 affecting the Company or the other Members, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, the Managing Member shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards.

 

Section 6.4                 Indemnification by the Company.

 

(a)                                 To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment)) but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties (including excise and similar taxes and punitive damages), interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its acting in the capacity that gave rise to its status as an Indemnitee (a “Proceeding”); provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.4, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company, it being agreed that the Managing Member shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

 

(b)                                 To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 6.4(a) in defending any Proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to a determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Company of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 6.4.

 

(c)                                  The rights provided by this Section 6.4 shall be deemed contract rights and shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of the Membership Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

 

(d)                                 The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries and such other Persons as the Managing Member shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Company’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Company, regardless of whether the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  For purposes of this Section 6.4, the Company shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise

 

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taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 6.4(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Company.

 

(f)                                   In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Members to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(g)                                  An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 6.4 because the Indemnitee 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.

 

(h)                                 The provisions of this Section 6.4 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

 

(i)                                     No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.4 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Company, nor the obligations of the Company to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.4 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.  It is expressly acknowledged that the indemnification provided in this Section 6.4 could involve indemnification for negligence or under theories of strict liability.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Indemnitee shall be entitled to any indemnity or advancement of expenses in connection with any Proceeding brought (i) by such Indemnified Person against the Company (other than to enforce the rights of such Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 6.4), any Member or any Officer, or (ii) by or in the right of the Company, without the prior written consent of the Managing Member.

 

Section 6.5                 Liability of Indemnitees.

 

(a)                                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Company, the Members or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Company, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and nonappealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.

 

(b)                                 The Managing Member may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the Managing Member shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the Managing Member in good faith.

 

(c)                                  To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Company or to the Members, the Managing Member and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Company’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Company or to any Member for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                 Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.5 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 6.5 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.

 

Section 6.6                 Investment Representations of Members. Each Member hereby represents, warrants and acknowledges to the Company that: (a) such Member has such knowledge and experience in financial and business

 

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matters and is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Company and is making an informed investment decision with respect thereto; (b) such Member is acquiring interests in the Company for investment only and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution to the public or public offering thereof; and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by such Member.

 

ARTICLE VII
WITHDRAWAL; DISSOLUTION; TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS;
ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS

 

Section 7.1                 Member Withdrawal. No Member shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign or be expelled from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company except pursuant to a Transfer permitted under this Agreement.

 

Section 7.2                 Dissolution.

 

(a)                                 Events. The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of (i) the determination of the Managing Member, (ii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act or (iii) the termination of the legal existence of the last remaining Member or the occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued membership of the last remaining Member in the Company unless the Company is continued without dissolution in a manner permitted by the Act. In the event of a dissolution pursuant to clause (i) of the immediately preceding sentence, the relative economic rights of each Class of Units immediately prior to such dissolution shall be preserved to the greatest extent practicable with respect to distributions made to Members pursuant to Section 7.2(c) below in connection with the winding up of the Company, taking into consideration tax and other legal constraints that may adversely affect one or more parties hereto and subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, unless, with respect to any Class of Units, holders of not less than 90% of the Units of such Class consent in writing to a treatment other than as described above.

 

(b)                                 Actions Upon Dissolution. When the Company is dissolved, the business and property of the Company shall be wound up and liquidated by the Managing Member or, in the event of the unavailability of the Managing Member or if the Managing Member shall so determine, such Member or other liquidating trustee as shall be named by the Managing Member.

 

(c)                                  Priority. A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 7.2 to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up. Upon dissolution of the Company, the assets of the Company shall be applied in the following manner and order of priority: (i) to creditors, including Members who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by law, in satisfaction of liabilities of the Company (including all contingent, conditional or unmatured claims), whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof; and (ii) the balance shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with ARTICLE IV.

 

(d)                                 Cancellation of Certificate. The Company shall terminate when (i) all of the assets of the Company, after payment of or due provision for all debts liabilities and obligations of the Company, shall have been distributed to the Members in the manner provided for in this Agreement and (ii) the Certificate shall have been canceled in the manner required by the Act.

 

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

 

(f)                                   Hart Scott Rodino. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, in the event the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), is applicable to any Member by reason of the fact that any assets of the Company will be distributed to such Member in connection with the dissolution of the Company, the distribution of any assets of the Company shall not be consummated until such time

 

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as the applicable waiting periods (and extensions thereof) under the HSR Act have expired or otherwise been terminated with respect to each such Member.

 

Section 7.3                 Transfer by Members. No Member may Transfer all or any portion of its Units or other interests or rights in the Company except as provided in Section 3.2 or otherwise with the written consent of the Managing Member in its sole discretion; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4(c) (other than the provisions of Section 7.4(c)(v) to the extent that such provisions relate to the delivery of legal and/or tax opinions), without the consent of the Managing Member, a Member may, at any time, Transfer any of such Member’s Units pursuant to the Exchange Agreement. In addition, unless the Managing Member determines in good faith that a proposed Transfer would violate Section 7.4(c) below, the Managing Member shall be deemed to have consented to a Transfer (i) by a Class B Member of Class B Units then held by such Member to a Permitted Transferee or (ii) to a Successor in Interest; provided, that in connection with any such Transfer, the transferor shall transfer an equivalent number of shares of Class B Common Stock to the transferee, in accordance with the terms of the Yield Charter.  Any purported Transfer of all or a portion of a Member’s Units or other interests in the Company not complying with this Section 7.3 shall be void and shall not create any obligation on the part of the Company or the other Members to recognize that Transfer or to deal with the Person to which the Transfer purportedly was made.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Class A Units shall not be Transferable, except to a transferring Class A Member’s Successor in Interest or pursuant to the Exchange Agreement.

 

Section 7.4                 Admission or Substitution of New Members.

 

(a)                                 Admission. Without the consent of any other Person, the Managing Member shall have the right to admit as a Substituted Member or an Additional Member, any Person who acquires an interest in the Company, or any part thereof, from a Member or from the Company. Concurrently with the admission of a Substituted Member or an Additional Member, the Managing Member shall forthwith (i) amend the Schedule of Members to reflect the name and address of such Substituted Member or Additional Member and to eliminate or modify, as applicable, the name and address of the Transferring Member with regard to the Transferred Units and (ii) cause any necessary papers to be filed and recorded and notice to be given wherever and to the extent required showing the substitution of a Transferee as a Substituted Member in place of the Transferring Member, or the admission of an Additional Member, in each case, at the expense, including payment of any professional and filing fees incurred, of such Substituted Member or Additional Member.

 

(b)                                 Conditions and Limitations. The admission of any Person as a Substituted Member or an Additional Member shall be conditioned upon such Person’s written acceptance and adoption of all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by execution and delivery of the Adoption Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or such other written instrument(s) in form and substance satisfactory to the Managing Member on behalf of the Company.

 

(c)                                  Prohibited Transfers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, unless each of the Members agrees otherwise in writing, in no event may any Transfer of a Unit or other interest in the Company be made by any Member or Assignee if:

 

(i)                                     such Transfer is made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Unit or other interest in the Company;

 

(ii)                                  except as otherwise provided pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, such Transfer (which solely for purposes of this Section 7.4(c) shall include the issuance of Units upon the exercise of an option or warrant to acquire such Unit) would not be within (or would cause the Company to fail to qualify for) one or more of the safe harbors described in paragraphs (e), (f), (g), (h) or (j) of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1 or otherwise would pose a material risk that the Company could be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

(iii)                               such Transfer would require the registration of such transferred Unit or other interest in the Company or of any Class of Unit or other interest in the Company pursuant to any applicable United States federal or state securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act)

 

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or other non-U.S. securities laws (including Canadian provincial or territorial securities laws) or would constitute a non-exempt distribution pursuant to applicable provincial or state securities laws;

 

(iv)                              such Transfer would cause any portion of the assets of the Company to become “plan assets” of any “benefit plan investor” within the meaning of regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor at Section 2510.3-101 of Part 2510 of Chapter XXV, Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations as modified by Section 3(42) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time; or

 

(v)                                 to the extent requested by the Managing Member, the Company 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 Managing Member, as determined in the Managing Member’s sole discretion.

 

In addition, notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, to the extent the Managing Member shall determine that interests in the Company do not meet or will not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation section 1.7704-1(h) or could cause the Company to be treated as a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code, the Managing Member may impose such restrictions on the Transfer of Units or other interests in the Company as the Managing Member may determine to be necessary or advisable so that the Company is not treated as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation under Section 7704 of the Code.

 

Any Transfer in violation of Section 7.3 or this Section 7.4(c) shall be null and void ab initio and of no effect.

 

(d)                                 Effect of Transfer to Substituted Member. Following the Transfer of any Unit or other interest in the Company that is permitted under Sections 7.3 and 7.4, the Transferee of such Unit or other interest in the Company shall be treated as having made all of the Capital Contributions in respect of, and received all of the distributions received in respect of, such Unit or other interest in the Company, shall succeed to the Capital Account balance associated with such Unit or other interest in the Company, shall receive allocations and distributions under ARTICLE IV and ARTICLE V in respect of such Unit or other interest in the Company and otherwise shall become a Substituted Member entitled to all the rights of a Member with respect to such Unit or other interest in the Company.

 

Section 7.5                 Additional Requirements. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, for the avoidance of doubt, the Managing Member may impose such vesting requirements, forfeiture provisions, Transfer restrictions, minimum retained ownership requirements or other similar provisions with respect to any interests in the Company that are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement or are created hereafter, with the written consent of the holder of such interests in the Company. Such requirements, provisions and restrictions need not be uniform among holders of interests in the Company and may be waived or released by the Managing Member in its sole discretion with respect to all or a portion of the interests in the Company owned by any one or more Members or Assignees at any time and from time to time, and such actions or omissions by the Managing Member shall not constitute the breach of this Agreement or of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

Section 7.6                 Bankruptcy. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy of a Member shall not cause such Member to cease to be a member of the Company and upon the occurrence of such an event, the Company shall continue without dissolution.

 

Section 7.7                 Registration Rights. The Class B Member shall have the Registration Rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement entered into in connection with the IPO.

 

Section 7.8                 Mandatory Exchange. The Managing Member may, with the consent of each of the Class B Members who, together with its Affiliates and Permitted Transferees, beneficially own at least 75% of the Class B Units, require all Members holding Class B Units to exchange all such Units held by them pursuant to the Exchange Agreement. Any exchange of Class B Units pursuant to this Section 7.8 shall be treated as a transfer of Units governed by Section 3.2(c).

 

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ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS AND RECORDS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
OTHER INFORMATION; TAX MATTERS

 

Section 8.1      Books and Records. The Company shall keep at its principal executive office (i) correct and complete books and records of account (which, in the case of financial records, shall be kept in accordance with GAAP), (ii) minutes of the proceedings of meetings of the Members, (iii) a current list of the directors and officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective residence addresses, and (iv) a record containing the names and addresses of all Members, the total number of Units held by each Member, and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof. Any of the foregoing books, minutes or records may be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, notwithstanding the rights set forth in Section 18-305 of the Act, no Member shall have the right to obtain information from the Company.

 

Section 8.2      Information.

 

(a)           The Members shall be supplied at the Company’s expense with all other Company information reasonably necessary to enable each Member to prepare its federal, state, and local income tax returns on a timely basis.

 

(b)           All determinations, valuations and other matters of judgment required to be made for ordinary course accounting purposes under this Agreement shall be made by the Managing Member and shall be conclusive and binding on all Members, their Successors in Interest and any other Person who is a party to or otherwise bound by this Agreement, and to the fullest extent permitted by law or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no such Person shall have the right to an accounting or an appraisal of the assets of the Company or any successor thereto.

 

Section 8.3      Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of the Company shall end on December 31st unless otherwise determined by the Managing Member in its sole discretion in accordance with Section 706 of the Code.

 

Section 8.4      Certain Tax Matters.

 

(a)           Preparation of Returns. The Managing Member shall cause to be prepared all federal, state and local tax returns of the Company for each year for which such returns are required to be filed and shall cause such returns to be timely filed. The Managing Member shall determine the appropriate treatment of each item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Company and the accounting methods and conventions under the tax laws of the United States of America, the several states and other relevant jurisdictions as to the treatment of any such item or any other method or procedure related to the preparation of such tax returns. Except as specifically provided otherwise in this Agreement, the Managing Member may cause the Company to make or refrain from making any and all elections permitted by such tax laws. As promptly as practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Managing Member shall cause the Company to provide to each Member a Schedule K-1 for such Fiscal Year. Additionally, the Managing Member shall cause the Company to provide on a timely basis to each Member, to the extent commercially reasonable and available to the Company without undue cost, any information reasonably required by the Member to prepare, or in connection with an audit of, such Member’s income tax returns.

 

(b)           Consistent Treatment. Each Member agrees that it shall not, except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulatory requirements, (i) treat, on its individual income tax returns, any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit relating to its interest in the Company in a manner inconsistent with the treatment of such item by the Company as reflected on the Form K-1 or other information statement furnished by the Company to such Member for use in preparing its income tax returns or (ii) file any claim for refund relating to any such item based on, or which would result in, such inconsistent treatment.

 

(c)           Duties of the Tax Matters Member. In respect of an income tax audit of any tax return of the Company, the filing of any amended return or claim for refund in connection with any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit reflected on any tax return of the Company, or any administrative or judicial proceedings arising out of or in connection with any such audit, amended return, claim for refund or denial of such claim, (i) the

 

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Managing Member shall direct the Tax Matters Member to act for, and such action shall be final and binding upon, the Company and all Members except to the extent a Member shall properly elect to be excluded from such proceeding pursuant to the Code, (ii) all expenses incurred by the Tax Matters Member in connection therewith (including attorneys’, accountants’ and other experts’ fees and disbursements) shall be expenses of, and payable by, the Company, (iii) no Member shall have the right to (A) participate in the audit of any Company tax return, (B) file any amended return or claim for refund in connection with any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit (other than items which are not partnership items within the meaning of Code Section 6231(a)(4) or which cease to be partnership items under Code Section 6231(b)) reflected on any tax return of the Company, (C) participate in any administrative or judicial proceedings conducted by the Company or the Tax Matters Member arising out of or in connection with any such audit, amended return, claim for refund or denial of such claim, or (D) appeal, challenge or otherwise protest any adverse findings in any such audit conducted by the Company or the Tax Matters Member or with respect to any such amended return or claim for refund filed by the Company or the Tax Matters Member or in any such administrative or judicial proceedings conducted by the Company or the Tax Matters Member and (iv) the Tax Matters Member shall keep the Members reasonably apprised of the status of any such proceeding. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, if a petition for a readjustment to any partnership item included in a final partnership administrative adjustment is filed with a District Court or the Court of Claims and the IRS has elected to assess income tax against a Member with respect to that final partnership administrative adjustment (rather than suspending assessments until the District Court or Court of Claims proceedings become final), such Member shall be permitted to file a claim for refund within such period of time as to avoid application of any statute of limitations which would otherwise prevent the Member from having any claim based on the final outcome of that review.

 

(d)           Tax Matters Member. The Company and each Member hereby designate the Managing Member as the “tax matters partner” for purposes of Code Section 6231(a)(7) (the “Tax Matters Member”).

 

(e)           Certain Filings. Upon the Transfer of an interest in the Company (within the meaning of the Code), a sale of Company assets or a liquidation of the Company, the Members shall provide the Managing Member with information and shall make tax filings as reasonably requested by the Managing Member and required under applicable law.

 

(f)            Section 754 Election. The Managing Member shall cause the Company to make and to maintain and keep in effect at all times, in accordance with Sections 734, 743 and 754 of the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations and comparable state law provisions, an election to adjust basis in the event (i) any Class B Unit is Transferred in accordance with this Agreement or the Exchange Agreement or (ii) any Company property is distributed to any Member.

 

ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1      Separate Agreements; Schedules. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, including Section 9.4, or of any other binding agreement between the Company and any Member, the Managing Member may, or may cause the Company to, without the approval of any other Member or other Person, enter into separate agreements with individual Members with respect to any matter, which have the effect of establishing rights under, or altering, supplementing or amending the terms of, this Agreement or any such separate agreement. The parties hereto agree that any terms contained in any such separate agreement shall govern with respect to such Member(s) party thereto notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement. The Managing Member may from time to time execute and deliver to the Members schedules which set forth information contained in the books and records of the Company and any other matters deemed appropriate by the Managing Member. Such schedules shall be for information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be part of this Agreement for any purpose whatsoever.

 

Section 9.2      Governing Law; Disputes. (a) THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT OF LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

(b)           Any dispute, controversy or claim solely arising out of, relating to or in connection with the rights or obligations of the Class A Member vis-à-vis any of the Class B Members shall be finally settled by arbitration.

 

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The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware and be conducted in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) then in effect (except as they may be modified by mutual agreement of the Class A Member and the affected Class B Member). The arbitration shall be conducted by three neutral, impartial and independent arbitrators, who shall be appointed by the AAA, at least one of whom shall be a retired judge or a senior partner at one of the nationally recognized Delaware-based law firms. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on the parties. Judgment upon the award may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof or having jurisdiction over the relevant party or its assets. The costs of the arbitration shall be borne by the Company. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate and/or seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder.

 

(c)           Each party agrees that it shall bring any action, suit, demand or proceeding (including counterclaims) in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, exclusively in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or any Delaware State court, in each case, sitting in the City of Wilmington, Delaware (the “Chosen Courts”), and solely in connection with claims arising under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (i) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (ii) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action, suit, demand or proceeding in the Chosen Courts, (iii) waives any objection that the Chosen Courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any Party and (iv) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action, suit, demand or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 9.5.

 

(d)           EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, DEMAND OR PROCEEDING (INCLUDING COUNTERCLAIMS) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 9.3      Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective Successors in Interest; provided that no Person claiming by, through or under a Member (whether as such Member’s Successor in Interest or otherwise), as distinct from such Member itself, shall have any rights as, or in respect to, a Member (including the right to approve or vote on any matter or to notice thereof), and nothing in this Agreement (express or implied) is intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.4      Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the written consent of the Managing Member in its sole discretion without the approval of any other Member or other Person; provided that except as otherwise provided herein (including, without limitation, in Section 3.2), no amendment may (i) modify the limited liability of any Member, or increase the liabilities or obligations of any Member, in each case, without the consent of each such affected Member; or (ii) materially and adversely affect the rights of a holder of Class A Units or Class B Units, in their capacity as holders of Class A Units or Class B Units, in relation to other classes of Equity Securities of the Company, without the consent of the holders of a majority of such classes of Units; and provided, further that so long as the Managing Member is Yield, any such amendment, supplement or waiver must be approved by a majority of Yield’s independent directors (as determined in accordance with the applicable listing rules of the exchange on which Yield’s common stock is listed as of the time of such amendment, supplement or waiver). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member may, without the written consent of any other Member 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: (1) reflect any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the Managing Member determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any Class of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company or other Company securities in accordance with this Agreement; (2) reflect the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Members in accordance with this Agreement; (3) reflect 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; (4) reflect any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the Managing Member determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in tax laws; (5) reflect a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company and any other changes that the Managing Member determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company, including a change in the dates on which distributions

 

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are to be made by the Company; or (6) cure any ambiguity, mistake, defect or inconsistency; provided further, that the books and records of the Company (including the Schedule of Members) shall be deemed amended from time to time to reflect the admission of a new Member, the withdrawal or resignation of a Member, the adjustment of the Units or other interests in the Company resulting from any issuance, Transfer or other disposition of Units or other interests in the Company, in each case that is made in accordance with the provisions hereof. If an amendment has been approved in accordance with this Agreement, such amendment shall be adopted and effective with respect to all Members. Upon obtaining such approvals as may be required by this Agreement, and without further action or execution on the part of any other Member or other Person, any amendment to this Agreement may be implemented and reflected in a writing executed solely by the Managing Member and the other Members shall be deemed a party to and bound by such amendment.

 

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.

 

Section 9.5      Notices. Whenever notice is required or permitted by this Agreement to be given, such notice shall be in writing and shall be given to any Member at such Member’s address or facsimile number shown in the Company’s books and records, or, if given to the Company, at the following address:

 

NRG Yield LLC
211 Carnegie Center
Princeton, New Jersey  08540
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (609) 524-4501

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Company) to:

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle
Chicago, Illinois  60654
Attention:  Gerald T. Nowak, P.C.
Facsimile:  (312) 862-2000

 

Each proper notice shall be effective upon any of the following: (a) personal delivery to the recipient, (b) when sent by facsimile to the recipient (with confirmation of receipt), (c) one Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (d) three Business Days after being deposited in the mails (first class or airmail postage prepaid).

 

Section 9.6      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.

 

Section 9.7      Power of Attorney. Each Member hereby irrevocably appoints the Managing Member as such Member’s true and lawful representative and attorney in fact, each acting alone, in such Member’s name, place and stead, (a) to make, execute, sign and file all instruments, documents and certificates which, from time to time, may be required to set forth any amendment to this Agreement or which may be required by this Agreement or by the laws of the United States of America, the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Company shall determine to do business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof and (b) to execute, implement and continue the valid and subsisting existence of the Company or to qualify and continue the Company as a foreign limited liability company in all jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business. Such power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall survive and continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the subsequent withdrawal from the Company of any Member for any reason and shall survive and shall not be affected by the

 

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disability, incapacity, bankruptcy or dissolution of such Member. No power of attorney granted in this Agreement shall revoke any previously granted power of attorney.

 

Section 9.8      Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the other documents and agreements referred to herein or entered into concurrently herewith embody the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein; provided that such other agreements and documents shall not be deemed to be a part of, a modification of or an amendment to this Agreement. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter, including the Original LLC Agreement.

 

Section 9.9      Remedies. Each Member shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies that such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights that such Person has under any applicable law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security) to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by applicable law.

 

Section 9.10   Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

Section 9.11   Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Company profits, losses, distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor.

 

Section 9.12   Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 9.13   Further Action. The parties agree to execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.14   Delivery by Facsimile or Email. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or email with scan or facsimile attachment, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or email as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract, and each such party forever waives any such defense.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement.

 

 

MANAGING MEMBER

 

 

 

NRG YIELD, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER MEMBERS

 

 

 

NRG ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title

 

[Signature Page to A&R Yield LLC Agreement]

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

Adoption Agreement

 

This Adoption Agreement is executed by the undersigned pursuant to the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NRG Yield LLC (the “Company”), dated as of                        , 2013, as amended, restated or supplemented from time to time, a copy of which is attached hereto and is incorporated herein by reference (the “Agreement”). By the execution of this Adoption Agreement, the undersigned agrees as follows:

 

1.             Acknowledgment. The undersigned acknowledges that he/she is acquiring [            ] Class B Units of the Company as a Class B Member, subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement (including the Exhibits thereto), as amended from time to time. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

2.             Agreement. The undersigned hereby joins in, and agrees to be bound by, subject to, and enjoy the benefit of the applicable rights set forth in, the Agreement (including the Exhibits thereto), as amended from time to time, with the same force and effect as if he/she were originally a party thereto.

 

3.             Notice. Any notice required or permitted by the Agreement shall be given to the undersigned at the address listed below.

 

EXECUTED AND DATED on this     day of        , 20     .

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Name]

 

 

 

Notice Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 




Exhibit 21.1

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF NRG YIELD, INC.

 

Effective as of the Date of the Asset Transfer

 

Subsidiary

 

State of Incorporation or
Organization

NRG Yield LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Yield Operating LLC

 

Delaware

Avenal Solar Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

Avenal Park LLC

 

Delaware

Sand Drag LLC

 

Delaware

Sun City Project LLC

 

Delaware

GCE Holding LLC

 

Connecticut

GenConn Energy LLC

 

Connecticut

GenConn Devon LLC

 

Connecticut

GenConn Middletown LLC

 

Connecticut

NRG Alta Vista LLC

 

Delaware

Big Rock SunTower, LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Alpine LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Marsh Landing Holdings, LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Marsh Landing, LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Apple LLC

 

Delaware

PFMG 2011 Finance Holdco, LLC

 

Delaware

PFMG Apple I LLC

 

Delaware

HLE Solar Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

HSD Solar Holdings LLC

 

California

OC Solar 2010 LLC

 

California

PM Solar Holdings LLC

 

California

WSD Solar Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar AV Holdco LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Avra Valley LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Blythe LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Borrego Holdco LLC

 

Delaware

 



 

NRG Solar Borrego I LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar CVSR Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

High Plains Ranch II, LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Roadrunner Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Solar Roadrunner LLC

 

Delaware

NRG South Trent Holdings LLC

 

Delaware

South Trent Wind LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Thermal LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Dover LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Harrisburg LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center HCEC LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Minneapolis LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Paxton LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Phoenix LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Tucson LLC

 

Arizona

NRG Energy Center Pittsburgh LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Princeton LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center San Diego LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center San Francisco LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Energy Center Smyrna LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Electricity Sales Princeton LLC

 

Delaware

NRG Harrisburg Cooling LLC

 

Delaware

NRG SanGencisco LLC

 

Delaware

Statoil Energy Power/Pennsylvania Inc.

 

Pennsylvania

Continental Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

El Mirage Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

FUSD Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

Longhorn Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

Monster Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

PESD Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

SCWFD Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

Vail Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

Wildcat Energy, LLC

 

Arizona

 

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