Exhibit 10.22
EXECUTION COPY
MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDERS
AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
ENCORE MEDICAL
CORPORATION
AND
THE OTHER PARTIES NAMED
HEREIN
Dated as of November 3,
2006
Annex I
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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1.
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Definitions of Words and Phrases
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4
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2.
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Limitations on Transfer
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11
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3.
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Drag-Along Rights; Sponsor Call
Right
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12
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4.
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Tag-Along Rights
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15
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5.
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Management Stockholder Put Right
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17
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6.
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First-Refusal Rights
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20
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7.
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Call Option
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21
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8.
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“Piggyback” Registration
Rights
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22
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9.
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Representations, Warranties and
Covenants
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25
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10.
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Confidentiality
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28
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11.
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Employment by the Company
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29
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12.
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Taxes
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29
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13.
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After-Acquired Securities
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29
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14.
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Recapitalization, Exchange, Etc.
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30
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15.
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Notices
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30
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16.
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Successors, Assigns and Transferees
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31
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17.
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Amendment and Waiver
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31
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18.
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Counterparts
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32
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19.
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Specific Performance; Injunctive
Relief
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32
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20.
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Headings; Interpretation
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32
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21.
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Severability
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32
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22.
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Entire Agreement
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32
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23.
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Further Assurances
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32
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24.
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Governing Law
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32
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25.
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Consent to Jurisdiction; No Jury
Trial
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33
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2
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26.
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Additional Management Stockholders.
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33
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Annex I
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Form of Consent of Spouse
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Annex II
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Form of Acknowledgment and Agreement
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3
MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDERS
AGREEMENT
This MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this
“ Agreement ”)
is dated as of November 3, 2006, by and among Encore Medical
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Blackstone Capital
Partners V L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“
BCP V ”), Blackstone
Family Investment Partnership V L.P., a Cayman Islands limited
partnership (“ BFIP V
”), Blackstone Family Investment Partnership V-A L.P., a
Cayman Islands limited partnership (“ BFIP V-A ”), Blackstone
Participation Partnership V L.P., a Cayman Islands limited
partnership (“ BPP V
” and, together with BCP V, BFIPV, BFIP V-A and any of
Blackstone L.P. or its Affiliates that may from time to time hold
Sponsor Interests (as hereinafter defined), collectively, the
“ Sponsors ”
and each, a “ Sponsor
”), Grand Slam Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“ Holdco
” and, together with any of Blackstone L.P. or its Affiliates
that may from time to time directly hold shares of Common Stock,
the “ Blackstone Encore
Stockholders ”), and the parties identified on the
signature pages hereto as Management Stockholders and the Permitted
Transferees of such parties (and their respective Permitted
Transferees) identified on the signature pages to the supplementary
agreements or documents referred to in Sections 16 and
26 hereof (the “ Management Stockholders ” and,
together with the Company, the Sponsors and Holdco, the “
Parties
”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Company’s 2006
Stock Incentive Plan (as the same may be amended, supplemented or
modified from time to time, including any successor or similar
stock incentive plan, the “ Plan ”), the Company may from
time to time grant Awards (as defined in the Plan) to the
Management Stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Parties wish to enter into certain
agreements with respect to the holdings by the Sponsor and the
Management Stockholders and their respective Permitted Transferees
of Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents each as hereinafter
defined.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties
further acknowledge and agree to the following:
1.
Definitions of Words and Phrases. As used in this
Agreement:
“ Affiliate ” or “
Affiliates ” means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or
indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with such first Person or any other Person that holds directly or
indirectly more than a fifty percent (50%) economic interest in
such first person. For the purpose of this definition,
“control” will mean, as to any Person, the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or
membership on the board of managers or directors, by contract
(including, without limitation, a limited partnership agreement or
general partnership agreement) or otherwise. Any trust or
nominee directly or indirectly holding securities principally for
the benefit of employees of a Party hereto or its Affiliates shall
be deemed to be an Affiliate of such Party hereto. The term
“Affiliate” shall, in any event, include BCP V, BFIP V,
BFIP V-A and BPP V and any other Sponsors when used with respect to
Blackstone.
“ Agreement ” has the meaning set
forth in the Preamble.
“ Appraiser ” means an independent,
nationally recognized investment banking or valuation firm
experienced in valuing private companies similar to the Company,
selected by the
4
Board of Directors and reasonably acceptable to
an applicable Call Option Management Stockholder (taking into
account the fees and expenses of such Appraiser).
“ BCP
V ” has the meaning set forth in the
Preamble.
“ BFIP
V ” has the meaning set forth in the
Preamble.
“ BFIP
V-A ” has the meaning set forth in the
Preamble.
“ Blackstone ” means the Blackstone
Group L.P. or any of its Affiliates (other than the
Company).
“ Blackstone Encore Stockholders ”
has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“ Blackstone Shares ” means those
867,794 shares of Common Stock held by Holdco on the date hereof
(but subject to subsequent adjustment for any stock dividend, stock
split, reverse stock split or other similar event).
“ Board
of Directors ” means the board of directors of the
Company.
“ BPP
V ” has the meaning set forth in the
Preamble.
“ Business Day ” means a day other
than a Saturday, Sunday, federal or New York State holiday or other
day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or
required by law to close.
“ Callable Shares ” has the meaning
set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.
“ Call
Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section
7(a) hereof.
“ Call
Option ” has the meaning set forth in Section
7(a) hereof.
“ Call
Option Management Stockholder ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 7(a) hereof.
“ Call
Option Notice ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
“ Call
Right Sale ” means any sale of Shares by Management
Stockholders to a Call Right Selling Sponsor as provided for in
Section 3(b) hereof.
“ Call
Right Sale Notice ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof.
“ Call
Right Sale Notice Date ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof.
“ Call
Right Selling Sponsor ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof.
“ Cause ” means, with respect to
any Management Stockholder, the termination by the Company of such
Management Stockholder’s employment with the Company for
“cause”, as defined in the employment agreement
(“ Employment
Agreement ”) between the Company and such Management
Stockholder, or, if there is no employment agreement, the
termination by the Company of such Management Stockholder’s
employment as a result of: (i) the commission by the
Management Stockholder of an act of gross negligence, willful
misconduct, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation or breach of
fiduciary duty against the Company or any of its Affiliates, or the
conviction of the Management Stockholder by a court of competent
jurisdiction
5
of,
or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony or any
crime involving moral turpitude or any crime which reasonably could
negatively affect the reputation of the Company, or the Management
Stockholder’s ability to perform the duties required of his
employment; (ii) the commission by the Management Stockholder of a
material breach of any of the covenants in this Agreement, which
breach has not been remedied within thirty (30) days of the
delivery to the Management Stockholder by the Board of Directors of
written notice of the facts constituting the breach; or (iii) the
habitual and willful neglect by the Management Stockholder of his
or her obligations and duties as an employee of the Company or any
of its Subsidiary.
“ Change
in Control ” means (i) the sale or disposition, in
one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company to any Person or Group other than
Blackstone or (ii) if any Person or Group, other than Blackstone,
is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in
Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting
power of the voting stock of the Company or a successor to the
Company, including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise
(other than an offering of stock to the general public through a
registration statement filed with the Commission or pursuant to
which Blackstone retains, directly or indirectly, more than fifty
percent (50%) of the total voting power of the voting stock of the
Company) or (iii) the approval by the stockholders of the Company
of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company.
“ Commission ” means the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Common
Stock ” means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company.
“ Common
Stock Equivalent ” means any stock, warrants, rights,
calls, options or other securities exchangeable or exercisable for,
or convertible into, Common Stock, including, but not limited to,
the Rollover Options and any options or other securities issued
under the Plan that are exchangeable or exercisable for, or
convertible into, Common Stock.
“ Company ” has the meaning set
forth in the Preamble.
“ Confidential Information ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 10 hereof.
“ Determination Date ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2(c) hereof.
“ Disability ” means, with respect
to any Management Stockholder, “Disability” as defined
in such Management Stockholder’s Employment Agreement or, if
not defined therein or if there is no such agreement,
“Disability” means that such Management Stockholder
shall be unable to perform his or her duties and responsibilities
in connection with the conduct of the business and affairs of the
Company (or its Subsidiary, if its Subsidiary employs the
Management Stockholder) and such inability lasts for (i) a period
of at least one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days, or (ii)
periods aggregating at least two hundred forty (240) days during
any twelve-month period, by reason of such Management
Stockholder’s physical or mental disability, whether by
reason of injury, illness or similar cause.
“ Drag-Along Notice Date ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.
“ Drag-Along Sale ” means any sale
of Common Stock by the Blackstone Encore Stockholders as provided
for in Section 3(a) hereof.
“ Drag-Along Sale Notice ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.
6
“ Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore
Stockholder ” has the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
“ Employment Agreement ” shall have
the meaning set forth in the definition of the term
“Cause”.
“ Exchange Act ” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute
thereto.
“ Exercise Date ” has the meaning
set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.
“ Fair
Market Value ” means (i) if there is a public market
for the Common Stock on such date, the average of the high and low
closing bid prices of the Common Stock of the Company on such stock
exchange on which the shares are principally trading on the date in
question, or, if there were no sales on such date, on the closest
preceding date on which there were sales of shares, or (ii) if
there is no public market for the Common Stock on such date, the
fair market value of the Common Stock as determined in good faith
by the Board of Directors, assuming the Company is valued on a
going-concern basis as though it were a publicly traded company
with reasonable liquidity and without a controlling shareholder;
provided , however , that if a Management Stockholder
or Permitted Transferee, as applicable, disagrees with the Board of
Directors’ determination of Fair Market Value, the Board of
Directors shall retain an Appraiser to determine the Fair Market
Value, acting reasonably and in good faith in accordance with the
previous sentence, at the Company’s expense; provided
, further , however , that if the Appraiser
determines that Fair Market Value is less than 105% of the amount
determined by the Board of Directors, then the challenging
Management Stockholder or Permitted Transferee, as applicable,
shall pay the fees and expenses of such Appraiser. The
determination of Fair Market Value by the Appraiser shall be
binding and conclusive on the Company and such Management
Stockholder or Permitted Transferee, as applicable.
“ Good
Reason ” means, with respect to any Management
Stockholder, “Good Reason” as defined in such
Management Stockholder’s Employment Agreement or, if not
defined therein or if there is no such agreement, “Good
Reason” means, without a Management Stockholder’s
consent, (i) a material reduction in the Management
Stockholder’s compensation below the amount of compensation
in effect on the date of this Agreement, or (ii) a material
reduction in the Management Stockholder’s duties or
authority, in each case which is not cured within thirty (30) days
following the Company’s or its Subsidiary’s, as
applicable, receipt of written notice from such Management
Stockholder describing the event constituting Good
Reason.
“ Good
Termination ” means the termination of a Management
Stockholder’s employment with the Company or a Subsidiary of
the Company, as the case may be (i) by the Company (or Subsidiary)
without Cause, (ii) by the Management Stockholder for Good Reason
or (iii) due to death or Disability.
“ Group ” means any syndicate or
group that would be considered a “person” for purposes
of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.
“ Holdco ” has the meaning set
forth in the Preamble.
“ Initial
Public Offering ” means the closing of the first sale
of common equity or equivalent securities of the Company to the
public pursuant to an effective registration statement (other than
a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 or any similar or
successor form) filed under the Securities Act after the date
hereof.
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“ IPO
Effectiveness Date ” means the date upon which the
Company closes its Initial Public Offering.
“ Lapse
Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2(a) hereof.
“ Management Stockholder ” has the
meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“ Management Stockholder’s Estate
” means, with respect to any Management Stockholder, the
conservators, guardians, executors, administrators, testamentary
trustees, legatees, or beneficiaries of such Management
Stockholder’s estate.
“ Management Stockholder’s Family
Members ” means, with respect to any Management
Stockholder, the spouse (or ex-spouse) or lineal descendants
(including adopted children) of such Management
Stockholder.
“ Management Stockholder’s Trust
” means, with respect to any Management Stockholder, a
limited partnership, limited liability company, trust or
custodianship, the beneficiaries of which may include only such
Management Stockholder, his or her spouse (or ex-spouse) or his or
her lineal descendants (including lineal descendants that have even
adopted) or, if at any time after any transfer of Shares to such
Management Stockholder’s Trust there shall be no then-living
spouse or lineal descendants, such beneficiaries may include the
estate of a deceased beneficiary.
“ Merger ” means the transactions
contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger Agreement, dated
as of June 30, 2006, among Holdco, Grand Slam Acquisition Corp. and
the Company.
“ Outside
Offer ” has the meaning set forth in Section
6(a) hereof.
“ Parties ” has the meaning set
forth in the Preamble.
“ Permitted Transferee ” means,
with respect to a Management Stockholder, any Management
Stockholder’s Estate, Management Stockholder’s Family
Members or the Management Stockholder’s Trust of such
Management Stockholder or any other transferee that acquires Shares
in accordance with, and as permitted by, the terms of this
Agreement, and, with respect to Blackstone, any transferee that
acquires shares of Common Stock or Sponsor Interests in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement; provided, in any such event, that
such transferee becomes a Party to, and is bound to the same extent
as its transferor by the terms of, this Agreement (except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement).
“ Person ” means any individual,
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, joint
stock company, business trust, unincorporated association, joint
venture, governmental authority or other legal entity of any nature
whatsoever.
“ Piggyback Pro-Rata
Portion ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8(a) hereof.
“ Piggyback Right
” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a)
hereof.
“ Plan ” has the meaning set forth
in the Recitals hereto.
“ Prospective Purchaser ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 6(a) hereof.
“ Public
Company Merger ” means any merger of the Company with
or into any other entity, the result of which shares of Common
Stock, or equity securities of the surviving
8
company received by the stockholders in
exchange for Common Stock pursuant to such merger, are listed on
the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Market or other
internationally recognized stock exchange or listing
system.
“ Public
Offering ” means a sale of shares of Common Stock to
the public in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten public
offering pursuant to an effective registration statement (other
than a registration statement on Form S-4, S-8 or any successor to
such forms) filed under the Securities Act.
“ Put
Right Allotment ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(a) hereof.
“ Put
Right Notice ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c) hereof.
“ Put
Right Notice Date ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(b) hereof.
“ Put
Right Sale ” has the meaning set forth in Section
5(a) hereof.
“ Put
Right Sale Date ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(b) hereof.
“ Put
Right Sale Notice ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(b) hereof.
“ Put
Right Selling Sponsor ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(a) hereof.
“ Put
Right Stockholder ” or “ Put Right Stockholders ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“ Qualified Public Offering ” means
(i) the Initial Public Offering or (ii) any Public Company Merger,
in either case, after which at least 20% of the Company’s
outstanding Common Stock, or any Affiliate’s (which Affiliate
is a holding company of the Company) outstanding common stock, or
equity securities of the surviving company received by the
stockholders in exchange for Common Stock pursuant to such Public
Company Merger, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the
Nasdaq Global Market or other internationally recognized stock
exchange or listing system.
“ Register ”, “ registered ” and “
registration ” refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration
statement or similar document in compliance with the Securities
Act, and the automatic effectiveness or the declaration or ordering
of effectiveness by the Commission of such registration statement
or document.
“ Registrable Shares ” means the
Shares, provided that such Shares shall cease to be Registrable
Shares if and when (i) a registration statement with respect to the
disposition of such Shares shall have become effective under the
Securities Act and such Shares shall have been disposed of pursuant
to such effective registration statement, (ii) such Shares shall
have been sold under circumstances in which all applicable
conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force)
under the Securities Act are met, (iii) such Shares shall have been
otherwise transferred, new certificates not bearing restrictive
legends shall have been delivered by the Company in lieu thereof
and further disposition thereof shall not require registration or
qualification of them under the Securities Act or any state
securities or blue sky laws, (iv) such Shares may be sold pursuant
to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (v) such Shares shall
have ceased to be outstanding.
“ Regulation S ” has the meaning
set forth in Section 9(b)(iv ) hereof.
“ Restricted Period ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 9(c)(vi) hereof.
9
“ Rollover Option ” means any
option to purchase Common Stock held by a Management Stockholder
immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, which such
option was not exercised prior to the effective time of the
Merger.
“ Same
Effective Price ” means the price per share of Common
Stock calculated by dividing (i) the total consideration (whether
in cash, debt or equity, except as such consideration may be
adjusted pursuant to the terms of any agreement relating to the
applicable sale) received by a Call Right Selling Sponsor or Put
Right Selling Sponsor, as the case may be, for the Sponsor
Interests to be transferred in connection with a Call Right Sale or
a Put Right Sale, respectively, by (ii) the number of shares of
Common Stock that is equal to (A) the percentage of aggregate
Sponsor Interests in the applicable Blackstone Encore Stockholder
represented by the Sponsor Interest in such Blackstone Encore
Stockholder to be transferred in connection with such Call Right
Sale or Put Right Sale, respectively, multiplied by (B) the number
of shares of Common Stock held by such Blackstone Encore
Stockholder immediately prior to the consummation of such Call
Right Sale or Put Right Sale, as the case may be.
“ Securities Act ” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute
thereto.
“ Selling
Stockholder ” has the meaning set forth in Section
6(a) hereof.
“ Shares ” means, with respect to
each Management Stockholder, any and all shares of Common Stock
granted to such Management Stockholder pursuant to the Plan or
issued to such Management Stockholder upon exercise of any Rollover
Option or any option or other award granted pursuant to the
Plan.
“ Sponsor ” has the meaning set
forth in the Preamble.
“ Sponsor
Call Right Sale ” means any sale of Sponsor Interests
by a Sponsor as provided for in Section 3(b)
hereof.
“ Sponsor
Interests ” has the meaning set forth in Section
3(b) hereof.
“ Subsidiary ” means, with respect
to any Person, any corporation, partnership, association or other
business entity of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the total
voting power of shares of capital stock or equity interests thereof
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 any
Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a
combination thereof.
“ Tag-Along Allotment ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ Tag-Along Notice ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4(c) hereof.
“ Tag-Along Notice Date ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4(b) hereof.
“ Tag-Along Sale ” has the meaning
set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ Tag-Along Sale Date ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4(b) hereof.
“ Tag-Along Sale Notice ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4(b) hereof.
“ Tag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore
Stockholder ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4(a) hereof.
10
“ Tag-Along Stockholder ” or
“ Tag-Along
Stockholders ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.
“ Third
Party ” means any Person other than the Company, the
Management Stockholders and their respective Affiliates.
“ Transfer ” or “
transfer ” means a
transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, incurrence or assumption of any
encumbrance, hypothecation or other disposition, whether directly
or indirectly, and whether pursuant to the creation of a derivative
security, the grant of an option or other right, the imposition of
a restriction on disposition or voting by operation of law or
otherwise. When used as a verb, “ transfer ” shall have the
correlative meaning. In addition, “ transferred ” and “
transferee ” shall
have the correlative meanings.
“ Transferor ” has the meaning set
forth in Annex I hereof.
2.
Limitations on Transfer .
(a)
Until the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which a Change in
Control occurs, (ii) the date that is two years and one day after
the expiration of any Company or underwriter “lock-up”
period applicable to a Management Stockholder following an Initial
Public Offering or Public Company Merger (provided that any
“lock-up” period imposed by the Company shall not
exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, for purposes of calculating
the time period in this paragraph (a)) or (iii) subject to the
prior expiration of any such Company or underwriter
“lock-up” period, the date that is seven years from the
date hereof (the period ending on the earlier of (i), (ii) or
(iii), the “ Lapse
Date ”), except as required by law, no Management
Stockholder shall transfer any Shares (other than a transfer
pursuant to Section 2 through Section 7 hereof, or
any transfer to the Company or a Sponsor or its Affiliates) without
the prior written consent of Blackstone L.P.
(i)
After the Lapse Date, any Management Stockholder may transfer all
or a portion of his or her Shares in accordance with and subject to
the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation,
Section 2(d) hereof).
(ii)
Any attempt to transfer any Shares or any rights hereunder in
violation of this Section 2 shall be null and void ab
initio . The Company shall not record on its stock
transfer books or otherwise any transfer of Shares in violation of
the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(b)
Permitted Transfers . Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Agreement, but subject to Section
2(d) hereof, at any time, each Management Stockholder may
transfer all or a portion of his or her Shares to any of his or her
Permitted Transferees and such transfer shall not be subject to
Section 6 hereof. A Permitted Transferee of Shares pursuant
to this Section 2(b) may transfer its Shares pursuant to
this Section 2(b) only to the transferor Management
Stockholder or to a Person that is a Permitted Transferee of such
transferor Management Stockholder.
(c)
Good Termination of Management Stockholders .
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, but subject to Sections 2(d) , Section 6
and Section 7 hereof, at any time, each Management
Stockholder whose employment with the Company is terminated due to
a Good Termination may transfer all or a portion of his or her
Shares, and such Management Stockholder’s Permitted
Transferees may transfer Shares they hold that were previously
transferred by such Management Stockholder, beginning on the date
that is three (3) months and one day following the date of such
Good Termination (the “ Determination Date ”);
provided , that, after the date of such Good Termination
(the “ Termination
Date ”), in no event
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shall any Management Stockholder or any of his
or her Permitted Transferees transfer any of his, her or its Shares
prior to the Determination Date; provided , further ,
that in no event shall any Management Stockholder or any of his or
her Permitted Transferees transfer a number of his, her or its
Shares in excess of (i) with respect to the three-month period
beginning on the Determination Date, 33 1/3 % of the number of
Shares owned by such Management Stockholder or Permitted
Transferee, as applicable, on the Determination Date, (ii) for the
three months following the period described in clause (i), the sum
of (x) 33 1/3 % of the number of Shares owned by such Management
Stockholder or Permitted Transferee, as applicable, on the
Determination Date and (y) any Shares which were eligible for sale
during the period described in clause (i) above, but were not
transferred and (iii) for the three months following the period
described in clause (ii), the sum of (x) 33 1/3 % of the number of
Shares owned by such Management Stockholder or Permitted
Transferee, as applicable, on the Determination Date and (y) any
Shares which were eligible for sale during the periods described in
clauses (i) and (ii) above, but were not transferred.
(d)
Transfers in Compliance with Law; Substitution of Transferee
. No transfer by any Management Stockholder may be made
pursuant to this Agreement unless (i) the transferee has agreed in
writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement
pursuant to an instrument substantially in the form attached hereto
as Annex II (other than if (x) the transfer is conducted
pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 3, 4, 5, 6 or
7 hereof or (y) the transfer is conducted following the IPO
Effectiveness Date pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144
under the Securities Act), (ii) the transfer complies in all
respects with the applicable provisions of this Agreement, (iii)
the transfer complies in all respects with applicable federal,
state and foreign securities laws, including, without limitation,
the Securities Act and (iv) the transfer complies with all
applicable Company policies and restrictions (including any trading
“window periods” or other policies regulating insider
trading). No transfer by any Management Stockholder may be
made during the term of this Agreement (except pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act) unless
and until such Management Stockholder has first delivered to the
Company an opinion of counsel (reasonably acceptable as to counsel
and as to an opinion, in form and substance, to the Company) that
neither registration nor qualification under the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws is required in connection with
such transfer.
3.
Drag-Along Rights; Sponsor Call Right .
(a)
If at any time a Blackstone Encore Stockholder or a Sponsor
receives an offer from a Third Party to purchase Blackstone Shares
then owned by a Blackstone Encore Stockholder and such offer is
accepted by such Blackstone Encore Stockholder (in such capacity,
the “ Drag-Along Selling
Blackstone Encore Stockholder ”), then each
Management Stockholder hereby agrees that, upon the request of the
Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder pursuant to a
notice (the “ Drag-Along Sale
Notice ”) provided by the Drag-Along Selling
Blackstone Encore Stockholder at least ten (10) Business Days prior
to the proposed consummation of such sale (the “ Drag-Along Notice Date ”), it
shall sell a number of Shares owned by it to such Third Party in an
amount (which amount shall be determined in the sole and absolute
discretion of the Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder)
up to the product (rounded up to the nearest whole number) of (i)
the quotient determined by dividing (A) the total number of
Blackstone Shares that are proposed to be sold by the Drag-Along
Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder to the Third Party purchaser
in the contemplated sale by (B) the Blackstone Shares and (ii) the
total number of Shares owned, or issuable upon exercise of any
vested Common Stock Equivalents that are exercisable (or would
become vested and exercisable as a result of the underlying
transaction), by such Management Stockholder as of the close of
business on the day immediately prior to the Drag-Along Notice
Date, at the same price per share of Common Stock and upon
substantially the same terms and conditions of the offer so
accepted by the Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder,
including representations,
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warranties, covenants, indemnities and
agreements substantially similar to those to be made by the
Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder (except that, in
the case of representations and warranties pertaining specifically
to the Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder, each
Management Stockholder shall make comparable representations and
warranties pertaining specifically to itself); provided ,
that all representations, warranties and indemnities shall be made
by the Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder and the
Management Stockholders severally and not jointly; provided
, further , that the maximum liability a Management
Stockholder shall have with respect to breaches of such
representations and warranties shall not exceed the value (at such
time) of the aggregate proceeds received by such Management
Stockholder in connection with the underlying transaction;
provided , further that any such liability of the
Management Stockholder shall be satisfied first by the return of
any cash proceeds received by the Management Stockholder (including
the cash proceeds from the sale of any securities or other non-cash
consideration received by the Management Stockholder) and second by
the return of any non-cash consideration (including securities)
received by the Management Stockholder. Upon the Drag-Along
Blackstone Encore Stockholder providing the Drag-Along Sale Notice,
in the event that a Management Stockholder does not hold a
sufficient number of Shares to meet its obligations under this
Section 3(a) , then a sufficient number of Common Stock
Equivalents (that are vested and exercisable at any time up to and
including the date immediately prior to the underlying transaction
or that become exercisable as a result of a Change in Control that
is the subject of the Drag-Along Sale Notice) shall be exercised by
such Management Stockholder to cover any such shortfall and the
Shares issued upon such exercise shall be subject to the drag-along
rights set forth in this Section 3(a) . Any such
Common Stock Equivalents that are required to be exercised to cover
such shortfall but are not so exercised pursuant to this Section
3(a) shall automatically be cancelled without any consideration
paid therefor. In the event that the Management Stockholder
does not have a sufficient number of such Common Stock Equivalents
to cover such shortfall, the Management Stockholder shall exercise
all such Common Stock Equivalents then held by the Management
Stockholder in full satisfaction of its obligations with respect to
the underlying transaction.
(b)
If at any time a Sponsor receives an offer from a Third Party to
purchase units of membership interest in Holdco or units of
membership interest or any similar form of direct equity interest
in a Blackstone Encore Stockholder then held by a Sponsor (such
units of membership interest or equity interest, “
Sponsor Interests ”)
and such offer is accepted by such Sponsor (in such capacity, the
“ Call Right Selling
Sponsor ”), then each Management Stockholder hereby
agrees that, upon the request of the Call Right Selling Sponsor (in
the Call Right Selling Sponsor’s sole discretion) pursuant to
a notice (the “ Call Right
Sale Notice ”) provided by the Call Right Selling
Sponsor at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the proposed
consummation of such sale (the “ Call Right Sale Notice Date ”),
each Management Stockholder shall sell a number of Shares owned by
it to the Call Right Selling Sponsor (or such Third Party
purchaser) in an amount (which amount shall be determined in the
sole and absolute discretion of the Call Right Selling Sponsor) up
to the product (rounded up to the nearest whole number) of (i) the
quotient determined by dividing (A) the number of shares of Common
Stock that is equal to (I) the percentage of aggregate Sponsor
Interests in the applicable Blackstone Encore Stockholder
represented by the Sponsor Interest in such Blackstone Encore
Stockholder to be transferred in connection with the proposed
Sponsor Call Right Sale multiplied by (II) the number of Blackstone
Shares held by such Blackstone Encore Stockholder immediately prior
to such Sponsor Call Right Sale by (B) the Blackstone Shares and
(ii) the total number of Shares owned, or issuable upon exercise of
any vested Common Stock Equivalents that are exercisable (or would
become vested and exercisable as a result of the underlying
transaction), by such Management Stockholder as of the close of
business on the day immediately prior to the Call Right Sale Notice
Date, at a price per share equal to the Same Effective Price per
share (immediately prior to the Call Right Sale Notice Date) and
upon substantially the same terms and conditions of the offer so
accepted by the Call Right Selling Sponsor, including
representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements
substantially similar to those to be made by
13
the
Call Right Selling Sponsor (except that, in the case of
representations and warranties pertaining specifically to the Call
Right Selling Sponsor, each Management Stockholder shall make
comparable representations and warranties pertaining specifically
to itself); provided , that all representations, warranties
and indemnities shall be made by the Call Right Selling Sponsor and
the Management Stockholders transferring Shares pursuant to this
Section 3(b) severally and not jointly; provided ,
further , that the maximum liability a Management
Stockholder shall have with respect to breaches of such
representations and warranties shall not exceed the value (at such
time) of the aggregate proceeds received by such Management
Stockholder in connection with the underlying transaction;
provided , further that any such liability of the
Management Stockholder shall be satisfied first by the return of
any cash proceeds received by the Management Stockholder (including
the cash proceeds from the sale of any securities or other non-cash
consideration received by the Management Stockholder) and second by
the return of any non-cash consideration (including securities)
received by the Management Stockholder. Upon the Call Right
Selling Sponsor providing the Call Right Sale Notice, in the event
that a Management Stockholder does not hold a sufficient number of
Shares to meet its obligations under this Section 3(b) ,
then a sufficient number of Common Stock Equivalents (that are
vested and exercisable at any time up to and including the date
immediately prior to the underlying transaction or that become
exercisable as a result of a Change in Control that is the subject
of the Call Right Sale Notice) shall be exercised by such
Management Stockholder to cover any such shortfall and the Shares
issued upon such exercise shall be subject to the call rights set
forth in this Section 3(b) . Any such Common Stock
Equivalents that are required to be exercised to cover such
shortfall pursuant to this Section 3(b) shall automatically
be cancelled without any consideration paid therefor. In the
event that the Management Stockholder does not have a sufficient
number of such Common Stock Equivalents to cover such shortfall,
the Management Stockholder shall exercise all such Common Stock
Equivalents then held by the Management Stockholder in full
satisfaction of its obligations with respect to the underlying
transaction.
(c)
The provisions of this Section 3 shall apply regardless of
the form of consideration received in the Drag-Along Sale or the
Sponsor Call Right Sale, as the case may be, provided for in
Section 3(a) or (b) hereof, respectively;
provided , that, in the event the consideration to be
paid in exchange for shares of Common Stock in a proposed
Drag-Along Sale or Sponsor Call Right Sale, as the case may be,
includes any securities, and the receipt thereof by a Management
Stockholder required to sell Shares pursuant to Section 3(a)
or (b ) hereof, respectively, would require (as determined
by the Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder or Call
Right Selling Sponsor, respectively, upon the advice of its
counsel) under applicable law (x) the registration or qualification
of such securities or of any Person as a broker or dealer or agent
with respect to such securities where such registration or
qualification is not otherwise required by the receipt of such
securities by the Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder
or Call Right Selling Sponsor, respectively, or (y) the provision
to any such Management Stockholder of any specified information
regarding such securities or the issuer thereof that is not
otherwise required to be provided for in connection with the
Drag-Along Sale or Sponsor Call Right Sale, respectively, then, in
either case of (x) or (y), in lieu of receiving such securities (as
may be required by the Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore
Stockholder or Call Right Selling Sponsor, respectively, in its
sole discretion), such Management Stockholder shall receive cash
consideration equal to the fair market value of such
securities.
(d)
The required Management Stockholders shall cooperate in good faith
with the Drag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder or the
Call Right Selling Sponsor, as the case may be, in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by Section
3(a) hereof and Section 3(b) hereof, respectively, and,
in the event that a Blackstone Encore Stockholder or a Sponsor
receives a bona fide offer from a Third Party to (i) effect a
business combination of the Company with such Third Party (or an
Affiliate thereof) or (ii) purchase all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company (and/or its Subsidiaries), then, upon the
demand of the Blackstone Encore Stockholders holding a majority in
interest of all shares of Common Stock
14
then outstanding, the Management Stockholders
shall be required to vote all Shares they hold in favor of (and not
otherwise dissent to or oppose) the business combination or sale of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (and/or its
Subsidiaries) as described in such offer, and otherwise to take all
actions reasonably necessary or appropriate to facilitate the
consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e)
Any Permitted Transferee of a Management Stockholder holding Shares
shall be obligated under this Section 3 to the same extent
as such Management Stockholder.
(f)
The rights set forth in this Section 3 shall terminate
immediately prior to the closing of a Qualified Public
Offering.
(g)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the rights
provided for in this Section 3 shall apply, if at all, only
in the case of transfers of Common Stock or Sponsor Interests
pursuant to a transaction contemplated by Section 3(a)
hereof and Section 3(b) hereof, respectively, that are
beneficially owned by Blackstone immediately prior to such
transfer.
4.
Tag-Along Rights .
(a)
If at any time a Blackstone Encore Stockholder (a “
Tag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore
Stockholder ”) proposes to enter into an agreement to
sell or otherwise dispose of for value any Blackstone Shares, other
than (i) a sale or disposition that would trigger piggy-back
registration rights under Section 8 hereof, (ii) any
transfer of Common Stock to the Company, Blackstone or an Affiliate
of the Tag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder or (iii) any
transfer of Common Stock to one or more private equity funds to
permit syndication, provided that Blackstone collectively remains
the largest beneficial holder of Common Stock (such sale or other
disposition for value being referred to as “ Tag-Along Sale ”), then the
Tag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder shall afford each
of the Management Stockholders who holds Shares or vested Common
Stock Equivalents (each, individually, a “ Tag-Along Stockholder ” and,
collectively, the “ Tag-Along
Stockholders ”) the opportunity to participate
proportionately on substantially the same terms as the Tag-Along
Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder as set forth in the Tag-Along
Notice (as defined in Section 4(c) hereof) in such Tag-Along
Sale in accordance with this Section 4 . The maximum
number of Shares that each Tag-Along Stockholder will be entitled
to include in such Tag-Along Sale (such Tag-Along
Stockholder’s “ Tag-Along Allotment ”) shall be
equal to the product (rounded up to the nearest whole number) of
(x) the number of Shares owned, or issuable upon exercise of any
vested Common Stock Equivalents that are exercisable (or would
become vested and exercisable as a result of the Tag-Along Sale),
by such Tag-Along Stockholder as of the close of business on the
day immediately prior to the Tag-Along Notice Date (as defined in
Section 4(b) hereof) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of Blackstone Shares proposed by the Tag-Along
Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder to be transferred pursuant to
the Tag-Along Sale and the denominator of which is the Blackstone
Shares.
(b)
The Tag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore Stockholder shall provide
each Tag-Along Stockholder with written notice (the “
Tag-Along Sale Notice
”) not more than sixty (60) days nor less than thirty (30)
days prior to the proposed date of the Tag-Along Sale (the “
Tag-Along Sale Date
”). Each Tag-Along Sale Notice shall be accompanied by
a copy of any written agreement relating to the Tag-Along Sale and
shall set forth: (i) the name and address of each proposed
transferee in the Tag-Along Sale; (ii) the number of Blackstone
Shares that are proposed to be transferred by the Tag-Along Selling
Blackstone Encore Stockholder pursuant to the Tag-Along Sale; (iii)
the proposed amount and form of consideration to be paid for such
shares and the terms and conditions of payment offered by each
proposed transferee; (iv) the aggregate number of Blackstone Shares
held of record by the Tag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore
Stockholder as of the close of business on the day immediately
prior to the date of the
15
Tag-Along Sale Notice (the “ Tag-Along Notice Date ”); (v) the
Tag-Along Stockholder’s Tag-Along Allotment, assuming the
Tag-Along Stockholder elected to sell the maximum number of Shares
permissible; (vi) confirmation that the proposed transferee has
been informed of the “Tag-Along Rights” provided for
herein and has agreed to purchase Shares from any Tag-Along
Stockholder in accordance with the terms hereof; and (vii) the
proposed Tag-Along Sale Date. For the avoidance of doubt, a
Tag-Along Stockholder shall participate in the Tag-Along Sale at
the same price per share of Common Stock and upon the same terms
and conditions of the offer so accepted by the Tag-Along Selling
Blackstone Encore Stockholder, including representations,
warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements substantially
similar to those to be made by the Tag-Along Selling Blackstone
Encore Stockholder (except that, in the case of representations and
warranties pertaining specifically to the Tag-Along Selling
Blackstone Encore Stockholder, each Management Stockholder shall
make comparable representations and warranties pertaining
specifically to itself); provided , that all
representations, warranties and indemnities shall be made by the
Tag-Along Selling Blackstone Encore
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