EXHIBIT 10.26
FORM OF AGREEMENT RELATING TO RETENTION
AND
NONCOMPETITION AND OTHER COVENANTS
AGREEMENT, dated as of May 4, 2005
(this “ Agreement ”), by and between Lazard LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company (“ Lazard
”), on its behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries and
affiliates (collectively with Lazard, and its and their
predecessors and successors, the “ Firm ”), and
the individual named on Schedule I (the “ Executive
”).
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the
Executive is a “Managing Director” and a “Class A
Member” of Lazard (each as defined in the Third Amended and
Restated Operating Agreement of Lazard, dated as of January 1,
2002, as amended (as it may be amended from time to time, the
“ LLC Agreement ”)); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the LLC
Agreement and the Goodwill Vesting Agreement and Acknowledgement
between Lazard and the Executive (the “ Goodwill
Agreement ,” and, together with the LLC Agreement, the
“ Current Agreements ”), as a Class A Member,
the Executive is subject to certain restrictions relating to
competition and solicitation; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the
Executive’s participation in the reorganization of Lazard
(the “ Reorganization ”) currently expected to
occur substantially on the terms and conditions described in
Amendment No. 2 to the draft Registration Statement on Form S-1
(the “ S-1 ”) dated March 21, 2005, as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, relating to the
initial public offering (the “ IPO ” and
together with the Reorganization and the HoldCo Formation (as
defined below), as each may be modified, adjusted or implemented
after the date hereof, the “ Transactions ”) of
shares of Class A common stock of Lazard Ltd, a Bermuda limited
company (“ PubliCo ”), the Executive has agreed
to enter into this Agreement with Lazard to set forth the
Executive’s (1) understanding of the terms of the
Transactions applicable to the Executive as a Class A Member (as
defined in the LLC Agreement) and as a member of a newly formed
Delaware limited liability company (“ HoldCo ”)
to be formed in connection with the Reorganization and of the fact
that the terms are in draft form and may be changed or altered
after the date hereof (other than as expressly provided herein),
and approval of the Transactions (including as such terms may be
changed or altered), (2) continuing employment commitment in
contemplation of the IPO and following the IPO (as provided in
Section 3(a)) and (3) obligations in respect of keeping information
concerning the Firm confidential, not engaging in competitive
activities, not soliciting the Firm’s clients, not hiring the
Firm’s employees, not disparaging the Firm or its directors,
members or employees, and cooperating with the Firm in maintaining
certain relationships, while employed by the Firm and following the
termination of the Executive’s employment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises contained herein and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Executive and Lazard hereby agree as
follows:
1. Term . Subject to the
final sentence of this Section 1, Section 10(c) and to Section
16(b), the “ Term ” of this Agreement shall
commence as of the date hereof (the “ Effective Date
”) and shall continue indefinitely until terminated in
accordance with this Section 1. Either party to this Agreement may
terminate the Term (and the Executive’s employment)
upon
three months’ prior written notice to the
other party; provided, however , that such notice (or pay in
lieu of notice) shall not be required in the event of the
termination of the Executive’s employment by reason of the
Executive’s death or “disability” (within the
meaning of the long-term disability plan of the Firm applicable to
the Executive) (“ Disability ”) or by the Firm
for Cause (as defined in Section 2(g)(iv)), may be waived by the
Firm in the event of receipt of notice of a termination by the
Executive or may, if the Firm wishes to terminate the Term with
immediate effect, be satisfied by providing the Executive with his
base salary during such three-month period in lieu of such notice.
Notwithstanding that the Term commences as of the Effective Date,
certain provisions of this Agreement shall not take effect until a
later date, as specified herein. In addition, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, this Agreement shall
terminate (i) on September 30, 2005, if the date of the closing of
the IPO (the “ IPO Date ”) does not occur prior
to September 30, 2005, or (ii) on such date earlier than September
30, 2005, if any, on which (A) the IPO is finally abandoned or
terminated by Lazard or (B) the Purchase and Transaction Support
Agreement among Lazard and certain holders of “Class B-1
Interests” and “Class C Interests” (each as
defined in the LLC Agreement) terminates. Upon any such
termination, this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect
and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be
governed by the terms of the Current Agreements and any agreements
or portions thereof that had otherwise been superseded by Section
16(a).
2. The Transactions
.
(a) Participation in the
Reorganization . The Executive hereby acknowledges that he has
reviewed and understands the terms of the proposed Transactions and
that such terms, including the structure of the Transactions, may
be modified or otherwise altered by the Board of Directors of
Lazard, an authorized committee thereof or the “Head of
Lazard and Chairman of the Executive Committee” (as defined
in the LLC Agreement) as such person(s) may determine in
furtherance of the purposes underlying the Transactions. The
Executive hereby covenants to execute and deliver such documents,
consents and agreements as shall be necessary to effectuate each of
the Transactions (as described in the S-1 or as such Transactions
may be modified or altered in accordance with the foregoing
sentence), including, without limitation, any amendments to the
Current Agreements or this Agreement (solely to the extent such
amendments are necessary to effectuate any such modifications and
alterations to the Transactions and are not inconsistent with the
intent and purpose of this Agreement and other than as set forth in
the last sentence of this Section 2(a)), a customary accredited
investor representation letter, a HoldCo membership agreement and
the stockholders’ agreement referred to in Section 2(f).
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in no
event shall the following provisions be modified in a manner that
materially and adversely affects the following rights of the
Executive as and to the extent set forth in such provisions of this
Agreement: (i) Section 2(c) solely with respect to the vesting of
the Class A-2 Interests and the corresponding Holdco Interests,
(ii) Section 2(e) solely with respect to the timing of payment of
the memo and other capital in Lazard, (iii) Section 2(g)(i) solely
with respect to the last sentence thereof relating to the
restrictive covenants applicable to the Exchangeable Interests,
(iv) Section 2(g)(ii) solely with respect to the timing of
exchangeability of the Exchangeable Interests, (v) Section 2(g)(iv)
solely with respect to the definition of Cause and (vi) Schedule
I.
(b) Formation of HoldCo .
Effective upon the Reorganization and consummation of the mandatory
sale of all “Interests” (as defined in the LLC
Agreement) pursuant
-2-
to Section 6.02(b) of the LLC
Agreement (as the provisions of such Section 6.02(b) may be waived
or modified) or otherwise (the “ HoldCo Formation
”), and provided that as of the effective time of the HoldCo
Formation the Executive continues to be employed by the Firm, the
Executive shall receive, in exchange for the Executive’s
Class A Interests (as defined in the LLC Agreement) outstanding
immediately prior to the HoldCo Formation, the percentage of
membership interests in HoldCo set forth on Schedule I
attached hereto (such percentage to be increased pro rata to
reflect the redemption of Class B-1 Interests pursuant to the
Reorganization) that have substantially the same rights,
obligations and terms (including with respect to vesting) with
respect to HoldCo pursuant to the HoldCo limited liability company
operating agreement (the “ HoldCo LLC Agreement
”) and applicable law as those of the exchanged Class A
Interests, except as provided herein, including in Sections 2(a)
and 2(d), or except to the extent that any other changes, taken as
a whole with any benefits provided, are not materially adverse to
the Executive (such membership interests, the “ HoldCo
Interests ”). The Holdco LLC Agreement will include those
terms set forth on Schedule II attached hereto, subject to
the limitations set forth therein.
(c) Vesting of Class A-2
Interests (or the Holdco Interests Corresponding to Such Class A-2
Interests) . Subject to the consummation of the HoldCo
Formation and subject to and effective upon the IPO Date, and
provided that as of the IPO Date the Executive continues to be
employed by the Firm (or has had his employment terminated by the
Firm without “Cause” (as defined below) or on account
of Disability or death), following the date hereof and prior to the
IPO Date, the Class A-2 Interests (as defined in the LLC Agreement)
(the “ Class A-2 Interests ”) held by the
Executive as of the date hereof (or upon consummation of the
Reorganization, the HoldCo Interests received by the Executive in
the Reorganization that correspond to the Executive’s Class
A-2 Interests as of the date hereof) that are not vested as of the
IPO Date, shall become fully vested. Such vesting shall occur (i)
in the case of a termination of employment prior to the IPO Date on
the terms described above in this Section 2(c), on the date of such
termination (provided that in the event that the IPO Date shall not
occur as contemplated by this Agreement, such vesting shall be
deemed not to have occurred, unless it is otherwise provided by the
Current Agreements) or (ii) in any other case, on the IPO
Date.
(d) Profits Interest
Allocation . In connection with the Reorganization, subject to
the consummation of the HoldCo Formation and subject to and
effective upon the closing of the IPO, and provided that as of the
IPO Date the Executive continues to be employed by HoldCo or one of
its affiliates (including Lazard), the Executive shall become a
member participating in the profits of HoldCo with a profit
percentage in HoldCo of no less than the amount specified on
Schedule I attached hereto (the “ Profits
Interest ”) (such percentage to be increased pro rata to
reflect the redemption of Class B-1 Interests pursuant to the
Reorganization) having the rights, obligations and terms set forth
in the HoldCo LLC Agreement so long as the Executive shall remain
employed by the Firm. Subject to the provisions of the HoldCo LLC
Agreement and the determination of the Board of Directors of HoldCo
(the “ HoldCo Board ”), HoldCo shall make (i)
distributions in respect of income taxes arising from such Profit
Interests and (ii) from and after the third anniversary of the IPO
Date distributions that are intended to be equivalent to the
aggregate amount of dividends that the Executive (and, if
applicable, the Executive’s “Entities” (as
defined below)) would have received had the Executive (and, if
applicable, the Executive’s Entities) exchanged such
person’s “Exchangeable Interests” (as defined
below) for exchangeable membership interests in Lazard that were
then immediately exchanged for “PubliCo Shares” (as
defined below) effective as of the third anniversary of the IPO
Date (with such
-3-
amount of distributions, and such
profit percentage, to be adjusted from time to time to reflect the
actual exchange, in whole or in part, of such Exchangeable
Interests).
(e) Treatment of Memo Capital and
Other Capital . Upon the HoldCo Formation, HoldCo shall assume
the obligations of Lazard for memo capital and other capital in
Lazard, and the Executive hereby acknowledges such assumption and
releases Lazard in full from such obligations. HoldCo shall
distribute to the Executive amounts in respect of the
Executive’s assumed memo capital in respect of Class A-1
capital and former Class A-1 capital, if any, in equal installments
on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the IPO
Date, plus any interest accrued through each distribution date. The
Executive further hereby agrees that all of his rights and title to
and in any and all capital of HoldCo allocated with respect to any
Exchangeable Interests which are exchanged for exchangeable
membership interests in Lazard that are in turn exchanged for
PubliCo Shares, and the related profits interests (other than, for
the avoidance of doubt, the capital to be repaid in accordance with
the immediately foregoing sentence), shall be forfeited without
payment therefor, effective immediately upon the exchange of such
Exchangeable Interests. This Section 2(e) supercedes and replaces
any other agreements or understandings with respect to all capital
of Lazard and HoldCo, other than in respect of earnings on such
capital, which shall be continued in accordance with past
practice.
(f) Stockholders’
Agreement . The Executive hereby agrees that all Exchangeable
Interests and PubliCo Shares (as defined in Section 2(g)(i)) held
by the Executive and the Executive’s Entities (including
PubliCo Shares obtained pursuant to the exchange of Exchangeable
Interests for exchangeable membership interests in Lazard which are
then exchanged for PubliCo Shares) shall be subject to a
stockholders’ agreement which shall provide, among other
things, that the Executive (on behalf of himself and any
“Entity” (as defined in Section 2(g)(ii)) to whom he
has transferred any Class A-2 Interests (as defined in the LLC
Agreement) or transfers any such Exchangeable Interests or PubliCo
Shares) shall delegate to such person(s) or entity as is described
in such agreement the right to vote PubliCo Shares held by the
Executive or by any such Entity to whom he made such a transfer.
The Executive hereby agrees to execute and deliver such
stockholders’ agreement (or, in the case of any Entity, to
cause the execution and delivery thereof) in accordance with the
HoldCo LLC Agreement. The stockholders’ agreement will
include those terms set forth on Schedule III attached
hereto, subject to the limitations set forth therein.
(g) Exchangeable Interests
.
(i) A portion of the HoldCo
Interests received by the Executive pursuant to Section 2(b) equal
in percentage to the Executive’s Lazard Class A-2 Interests
as of the IPO Date as adjusted in the same manner as all other
Lazard Class A-2 Interests in connection with the HoldCo Formation
(such portion, the “ Exchangeable Interests ”)
shall be exchangeable, on the terms set forth in this Section 2(g)
and the HoldCo LLC Agreement, for membership interests in Lazard
that are in turn exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock of
PubliCo (“ PubliCo Shares ”), such exchange to
be accomplished in each case by HoldCo distributing to the
Executive (in exchange for the appropriate portion of the
Executive’s Exchangeable Interests) the corresponding portion
of HoldCo’s applicable ownership interest in Lazard and
causing PubliCo to issue the PubliCo Shares to the Executive in
ex-
-4-
change for such distributed
ownership interest in Lazard (or such other structure as may be
reflected in the Holdco LLC Agreement and documents ancillary
thereto which provide for a similar exchange, directly or
indirectly, of Exchangeable Interests for PubliCo Shares). The
documents reflecting the Exchangeable Interests shall contain the
restrictive covenants set forth in the HoldCo LLC Agreement
addressing the subject matter of the Covenants, which covenants
shall be consistent with, and no more restrictive on the Executive
than those contained in this Agreement. The Executive’s
Exchangeable Interests shall not be subject to reduction for any
reason.
(ii) Subject to the provisions of
the HoldCo LLC Agreement, the Exchangeable Interests may be
exchanged for exchangeable membership interests in Lazard that are
in turn exchangeable for PubliCo Shares as described above, at the
Executive’s election, on and after the eighth anniversary of
the IPO Date; provided , however , that (A) if the
Executive remains employed by the Firm through the third
anniversary of the IPO Date, the Executive’s Exchangeable
Interests (and any Exchangeable Interests held by any trust or any
entity that is wholly-owned by the Executive or of which the entire
ownership or beneficial interests are held by any combination of
the Executive and his spouse, parents, and any of their descendants
by lineage or adoption (an “ Entity ”)), may be
exchanged for exchangeable membership interests in Lazard that are
in turn exchangeable for PubliCo Shares, in whole or in part, at
the Executive’s (or, if applicable, such Entity’s)
election, in three equal installments on and after each of the
third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the IPO Date, provided
that each such installment may be exchanged only if the Executive
has complied with the Covenants (as defined in Section 10), and (B)
if the Executive remains employed by the Firm through the second
anniversary of the IPO Date (but not through the third anniversary
of the IPO Date), the Executive’s Exchangeable Interests may
be exchanged, in whole or in part, at the Executive’s (or, if
applicable, such Entity’s) election, in three equal
installments on and after each of the fourth, fifth and sixth
anniversaries of the IPO Date, provided that each such installment
may be exchanged only if the Executive has complied with the
Covenants. Notwithstanding the above, (w) if the Executive’s
employment is terminated by the Firm without “Cause”
(as defined below) or by reason of the Executive’s Disability
prior to the third anniversary of the IPO Date, the
Executive’s Exchangeable Interests may be exchanged as if the
Executive had remained employed on the third anniversary of the IPO
Date and complied with the requirements of clause (A) above (i.e.,
the Executive may exchange his Exchangeable Interests on the third,
fourth and fifth anniversaries of the IPO Date as described in
clause (A) above, provided that each such installment may be
exchanged only if the Executive has complied with the Covenants);
(x) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of
the Executive’s death (1) prior to or on the second
anniversary of the IPO Date, the Executive’s Exchangeable
Interests shall, at the election of the Firm, either (A) become
exchangeable in full no later than the first anniversary of such
death or (B) be purchased by HoldCo at the trading price of PubliCo
Shares on the date of such repurchase no later than the first
anniversary of such death or (2) subsequent to the second
anniversary of the IPO Date but prior to the fourth anniversary of
the IPO Date, the Executive’s Exchangeable Interests may, to
the extent not previously exchanged, be exchangeable in full on the
later of (A) the third anniversary
-5-
of the IPO Date and (B) the
anniversary of the IPO Date next following such death; (y) if
following the IPO Date and prior to the third anniversary of the
IPO Date, the Executive’s employment terminates due to his
Retirement (defined as the voluntary resignation by the Executive
on or after the date he attains age 65 or attains age 55 and has at
least ten years of continuous service as a managing director of
Lazard or one of its affiliates) and thereafter the Executive dies,
the Executive’s Exchangeable Interests shall be treated as
set forth in clause (x) of this Section, provided that the
Covenants have been complied with since his retirement without
regard to the time limits set forth therein; and (z) in the event
of a “Change of Control” (as defined in the HoldCo LLC
Agreement), the Executive’s Exchangeable Interests shall be
exchanged prior to the occurrence of such event at a time and in a
fashion designed to allow the Executive to participate in the
Change of Control transaction on a basis no less favorable (prior
to any applicable taxes) than that applicable to holders of PubliCo
Shares.
(iii) Prior to the applicable
exchange date and as a condition to the exchange of the
Exchangeable Interests for PubliCo Shares, the Executive shall have
entered into a stockholders’ agreement, as described in
Section 2(f), and otherwise complied in all material respects with
the terms of the HoldCo LLC Agreement applicable to such exchange.
Each of HoldCo and PubliCo shall have the right to require the
exchange of all or part of the Executive’s Exchangeable
Interests for PubliCo Shares during the period beginning on the
ninth anniversary of the IPO Date and ending 30 days after such
anniversary.
(iv) For purposes of this Agreement,
“Cause” shall mean: (A) conviction of the Executive of,
or a guilty or nolo contendere plea (or the equivalent in a
non-United States jurisdiction) by the Executive to, a felony (or
the equivalent in a non-United States jurisdiction), or of any
other crime that legally prohibits the Executive from working for
the Firm; (B) breach by the Executive of a regulatory rule that
materially adversely affects the Executive’s ability to
perform his duties to the Firm; (C) willful and deliberate failure
on the part of the Executive (i) to perform his employment duties
in any material respect or (ii) to follow specific reasonable
directions received from the Firm, in each case following written
notice to the Executive of such failure and, if such failure is
curable, the Executive’s failing to cure such failure within
a reasonable time (but in no event less than 30 days); or (D) a
breach of the Covenants that is (individually or combined with
other such breaches) demonstrably and materially injurious to
Lazard or any of its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
with respect to the events described in clauses (B) and (C)(i)
hereof, the Executive’s acts or failure to act shall not
constitute Cause to the extent taken (or not taken) based upon the
direct instructions of the Head of Lazard (or after the IPO Date,
the Chief Executive Officer of PubliCo (the “ CEO
”)) or the Board of Directors of PubliCo or a more senior
executive officer of Lazard.
(h) Registration; Dilution .
The definitive agreements relating to the Transactions will contain
(i) provisions obligating PubliCo to file a registration statement
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in order to
register the reoffer and resale of the PubliCo Shares on and
following the exchange of the Exchangeable Interests, subject to
custom-
-6-
ary blackout provisions and other
customary restrictions, and obligating PubliCo to use reasonable
efforts to list such PubliCo Shares on the New York Stock Exchange,
and (ii) customary antidilution and corporate event adjustment
protections (consistent with adjustments applicable to PubliCo
Shares) with respect to the Exchangeable Interests and the
Exchangeable Interests’ exchange rights into PubliCo
Shares.
(i) Cooperation With Respect to
Taxes . Lazard shall use its reasonable efforts to structure
the Transactions in a manner that does not result in any material
tax to the Executive (that the Executive would not have incurred in
the absence of the Transactions) upon the exchange of the Class A-2
Interests into Exchangeable Interests or other exchange of Class
A-2 Interests into HoldCo Interests, it being understood that this
shall not be a commitment to maintain the current tax treatment or
benefits applicable to the Executive.
(j) HoldCo Governance
Structure . Lazard shall use its reasonable efforts to
structure the HoldCo governance terms with a view to permitting it
to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including, without
limitation, with respect to making the distributions and payments
provided for in Sections 2(d) and (e) and permitting and effecting
the exchange of the Exchangeable Interests for PubliCo Shares in
the manner and at the times contemplated by Section
2(g).
3. Continued Employment . (a)
Employment . The Executive hereby agrees to continue in the
employ of the Firm, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. In that regard, the Executive is committed to remaining
in the employ of the Firm through the IPO Date and for at least two
years following the IPO Date. Lazard acknowledges that this Section
3(a) is not legally binding or enforceable, nor is this Section
3(a) consideration for any right or benefit under this
Agreement.
(b) Duties and Responsibilities;
Code of Conduct . During the Term, the Executive shall serve as
a Managing Director of Lazard or one of its affiliates (including,
but not limited to, HoldCo or PubliCo), with such duties and
responsibilities as the Head of Lazard (or after the IPO Date, the
CEO) may from time to time determine, and, other than in respect of
charitable, educational and similar activities which do not
materially affect the Executive’s duties to the Firm (or in
respect of directorships, trusteeships, or similar posts, in each
case, that are approved by the head of the Lazard house at which
the Executive serves as a Managing Director) shall devote his
entire working time, labor, skill and energies to the business and
affairs of the Firm. During the Term, the Executive shall comply
with the Firm’s professional code of conduct as in effect
from time to time and shall execute on an annual basis and at such
additional times as the Firm may reasonably request such code as
set forth in the Firm’s “Professional Conduct
Manual” or other applicable manual or handbook of the Firm as
in effect from time to time and applicable to other managing
directors in the same geographic location as the
Executive.
(c) Compensation .
(i) Base Salary . During the
portion of the Term commencing on the IPO Date, subject to the
Executive’s continued employment hereunder, the Executive
shall be paid an annualized base salary in the amount of the
Executive’s base salary as in effect on the date hereof,
payable in the same manner
-7-
as other managing directors in the
same geographic location are paid. The Executive’s base
salary shall be subject to annual review and increase, but not
decrease, unless such decrease is in line with an across-the-board
base salary decrease to all managing directors in the same
geographic location as the Executive.
(ii) Annual Bonus . During
the portion of the Term commencing on the IPO Date, subject to the
Executive’s continued employment hereunder through the date
of payment, the Executive may be awarded an annual bonus in an
amount determined in the sole discretion of the CEO (subject to
approval of the Board of Directors, or a committee of the Board of
Directors, of PubliCo, to the extent required by law, the rules of
any stock exchange or stock trading system to which PubliCo is
subject, or corporate governance procedures established by the
PubliCo Board of Directors). A portion of any such annual bonus may
be satisfied in the form of equity compensation which may be
subject to vesting conditions and/or restrictive covenants (it
being understood that the sole remedy for violation of any such
restrictive covenants shall be forfeiture of such equity
compensation and/or recapture of previous gains in respect of such
equity compensation and that, notwithstanding Section 11(b), money
damages shall not be an available remedy).
(iii) Long-term Incentive
Compensation . During the portion of the Term commencing on the
second anniversary of the IPO Date, subject to the
Executive’s continued employment hereunder, the Executive
shall be eligible to participate in any equity incentive plan for
executives of the Firm as may be in effect from time to time, in
accordance with the terms of any such plan.
(iv) Employee Benefit Plans .
During the portion of the Term commencing on the IPO Date, subject
to the Executive’s continued employment hereunder, the
Executive shall be eligible to participate in the employee
retirement and welfare benefit plans and programs of the type made
available to the Firm’s managing directors generally, in
accordance with their terms and as such plans and programs may be
in effect from time to time, including, without limitation,
savings, profit-sharing and other retirement plans or programs,
401(k), medical, dental, flexible spending account,
hospitalization, short-term and long-term disability and life
insurance plans.
(d) At-Will Employment; No
Severance . The Executive’s employment hereunder shall be
at-will and not for a definite period or duration. Subject to the
Executive’s right to continue to receive his base salary
during the three-month notice period (to the extent not waived by
the Firm) provided in Section 1, the Executive shall not be
entitled under this Agreement to any severance payments or benefits
or, in the absence of a breach of this Agreement by the Firm, any
other damages under this Agreement upon termination of the Term or
his employment with the Firm for any reason.
4. Confidential Information .
In the course of involvement in the Firm’s activities or
otherwise, the Executive has obtained or may obtain confidential
information concerning the Firm’s businesses, strategies,
operations, financial affairs, organizational and personnel matters
(including information regarding any aspect of the
Executive’s tenure as a managing di-
-8-
rector, member, partner or employee of the Firm
or of the termination of such position, partnership or employment),
policies, procedures and other non-public matters, or concerning
those of third parties. The Executive shall not at any time
(whether during or after the Executive’s employment with the
Firm) disclose or use for the Executive’s own benefit or
purposes or the benefit or purposes of any other person, firm,
partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other
business organization, entity or enterprise other than the Firm,
any trade secrets, information, data, or other confidential or
proprietary information relating to customers, development
programs, costs, marketing, trading, investment, sales activities,
promotion, credit and financial data, financing methods, plans, or
the business and affairs of the Firm, provided that the foregoing
shall not apply to information which is not unique to the Firm or
which is generally known to the industry or the public other than
as a result of the Executive’s breach of this covenant or as
required pursuant to an order of a court, governmental agency or
other authorized tribunal. The Executive agrees that upon
termination of the Executive’s employment with the Firm for
any reason, the Executive or, in the event of the Executive’s
death, the Executive’s heirs or estate at the request of the
Firm, shall return to the Firm immediately all memoranda, books,
papers, plans, information, letters and other data, and all copies
thereof or therefrom, in any way relating to the business of the
Firm, except that the Executive (or the Executive’s heirs or
estate) may retain personal notes, notebooks and diaries. The
Executive further agrees that the Executive shall not retain or use
for the Executive’s account at any time any trade names,
trademark or other proprietary business designation used or owned
in connection with the businesses of the Firm. Without limiting the
foregoing, the existence of, and any information concerning, any
dispute between the Executive and the Firm shall be subject to the
terms of this Section 4, except that the Executive may disclose
information concerning such dispute to the arbitrator or court that
is considering such dispute, and to the Executive’s legal
counsel, spouse or domestic partner, and tax and financial advisors
(provided that such persons agree not to disclose any such
information other than as necessary to the prosecution or defense
of the dispute).
5. Noncompetition . (a) The
Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature
of the businesses of the Firm. The Executive further acknowledges
and agrees that in connection with the Reorganization, and in the
course of the Executive’s subsequent employment with the
Firm, the Executive has been and shall be provided with access to
sensitive and proprietary information about the clients,
prospective clients, knowledge capital and business practices of
the Firm, and has been and shall be provided with the opportunity
to develop relationships with clients, prospective clients,
consultants, employees, representatives and other agents of the
Firm, and the Executive further acknowledges that such proprietary
information and relationships are extremely valuable assets in
which the Firm has invested and shall continue to invest
substantial time, effort and expense. As a Managing Director and
Class A Member of Lazard, the Executive is currently bound by
certain restrictive covenants, including a noncompetition
restriction, pursuant to the terms of the Goodwill Agreement.
Accordingly, the Executive hereby reaffirms and agrees that while
employed by the Firm and thereafter until (i) three months after
the Executive’s date of termination of employment for any
reason other than a termination by the Firm without Cause or (ii)
one month after the date of the Executive’s termination by
the Firm without Cause (in either case, the date of termination,
the “ Date of Termination ,” and such period,
the “ Noncompete Restriction Period ”), the
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, on the
Executive’s behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm,
corporation, association or other entity, as an employee, director,
advisor, partner, consultant or otherwise, engage in a
“Competing Activity,” or acquire or maintain any
ownership interest in, a “Competitive Enter-
-9-
prise.” For purposes of this Agreement,
(i) “ Competing Activity ” means the providing
of services or performance of activities for a Competitive
Enterprise in a line of business that is similar to any line of
business to which the Executive provided services to the Firm in a
capacity that is similar to the capacity in which the Executive
acted for the Firm while employed by the Firm, and (ii) “
Competitive Enterprise ” shall mean a business (or
business unit) that (A) engages in any activity or (B) owns or
controls a significant interest in any entity that engages in any
activity, that in either case, competes anywhere with any activity
in which the Firm is engaged up to and including the
Executive’s Date of Termination. Further, notwithstanding
anything in this Section 5, the Executive shall not be considered
to be in violation of this Section 5 solely by reason of owning,
directly or indirectly, any stock or other securities of a
Competitive Enterprise (or comparable interest, including a voting
or profit participation interest, in any such Competitive
Enterprise) if the Executive’s interest does not exceed 5% of
the outstanding capital stock of such Competitive Enterprise (or
comparable interest, including a voting or profit participation
interest, in such Competitive Enterprise).
(b) The Executive acknowledges that
the Firm is engaged in business throughout the world. Accordingly,
and in view of the nature of the Executive’s position and
responsibilities, the Executive agrees that the provisions of this
Section 5 shall be applicable to each jurisdiction, foreign
country, state, possession or territory in which the Firm may be
engaged in business while the Executive is employed by the
Firm.
6. Nonsolicitation of Clients
. The Executive hereby agrees that during the Noncompete
Restriction Period, the Executive shall not, in any manner,
directly or indirectly, (a) Solicit a Client to transact business
with a Competitive Enterprise or to reduce or refrain from doing
any business with the Firm, to the extent the Executive is
soliciting a Client to provide them with services that would be
considered a Competing Activity if such services were provided by
the Executive, or (b) interfere with or damage (or attempt to
interfere with or damage) any relationship between the Firm and a
Client. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “
Solicit ” means any direct or indirect communication
of any kind whatsoever, regardless of by whom initiated, inviting,
advising, persuading, encouraging or requesting any person or
entity, in any manner, to take or refrain from taking any action,
and the term “ Client ” means any client or
prospective client of the Firm, whether or not the Firm has been
engaged by such Client pursuant to a written agreement; provided
that an entity which is not a client of the Firm shall be
cons