Exhibit 10.6
EXECUTION COPY
STOCKHOLDERS’
AGREEMENT
dated as of July 21,
2006
among
REXNORD HOLDINGS,
INC.,
REXNORD ACQUISITION HOLDINGS I,
LLC,
REXNORD ACQUISITION HOLDINGS II,
LLC
CYPRESS INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS,
LLC
and
GEORGE M. SHERMAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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SECTION 1.
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DEFINITIONS
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1
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SECTION 2.
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RESTRICTION ON TRANSFERS
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9
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SECTION 3.
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APPROVED SALE; TAG ALONG
TRANSACTION
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10
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SECTION 4.
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REPURCHASE RIGHT
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13
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SECTION 5.
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INVOLUNTARY TRANSFERS
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15
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SECTION 6.
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PUT RIGHT
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16
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SECTION 7.
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REPURCHASE DISABILITY
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17
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SECTION 8.
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COOPERATION
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19
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SECTION 9.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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19
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SECTION 10.
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REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
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22
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SECTION 11.
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INFORMATION RIGHTS;
COVENANTS
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22
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SECTION 12.
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS
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25
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SECTION 13.
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TERMINATION
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36
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SECTION 14.
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MISCELLANEOUS
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36
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SECTION 15.
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EFFECTIVENESS
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42
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i
Schedule
Schedule I
Cypress Holder Equity
Securities
Exhibit
Exhibit A
Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation
Exhibit B
Form of Joinder to
Stockholders’ Agreement
STOCKHOLDERS’
AGREEMENT dated as of
July 21, 2006 (this “ Agreement ”), by and
among REXNORD HOLDINGS, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the
“ Company ”), REXNORD ACQUISITION HOLDINGS I,
LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ SPV
I ”), REXNORD ACQUISITION HOLDINGS II, LLC , a
Delaware limited liability company (“ SPV II ”;
together with SPV I, “ Apollo ”), CYPRESS
INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS, LLC , a Maryland limited liability company
(“ CIH ”), and George M. Sherman, individually
(“ Sherman ” and, together with CIH, each a
“ Cypress Holder ” and collectively with their
permitted transferees, the “ Cypress Holders
”).
WHEREAS , Chase Acquisition I, Inc. (“
Acquiror ”), a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, Chase Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror, RBS
Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ RBS
”), and TC Group, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, entered into that certain agreement and plan of merger
dated as of May 24, 2006 (as the same may be amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“ Agreement and Plan of Merger ”);
WHEREAS , following the consummation of the merger
contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “
Merger ”), the Stockholders shall own all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company; and
WHEREAS , as a material inducement to Acquiror to enter
into the Agreement and Plan of Merger and to consummate the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated thereby, without which
Acquiror would not have entered into the Agreement and Plan of
Merger or agree to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated thereby, the Company and the Cypress Holders agree to
provide the rights and be subject to the obligations and
restrictions 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 hereto hereby agree as
follows:
Section 1.
Definitions
.
As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
“ Accountants ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)(C)
.
“ Acquiror ” has
the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“ Affiliate ”
means (i) with respect to any individual, (A) a spouse or
descendant of such individual and (B) any trust or family
partnership or other entity whose beneficiaries shall solely be
such individual and/or such individual’s spouse and/or any
Person related by blood or adoption to such individual or such
individual’s spouse and (ii) with respect to any Person
that is not an individual, any other Person which directly or
indirectly controls, or is under common control with, or is
controlled by, such Person. As used in this definition,
“control” (including, with its correlative meanings,
“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 or partnership or other ownership interests, by
contract or otherwise).
“ Agreement ” has
the meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“ Agreement and Plan of
Merger ” has the meaning set forth in the
recitals.
“ Apollo ” has
the meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“ Apollo Directors
” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a)(ii)
.
“ Apollo Nominee
” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(ix)
.
“ Approved Sale ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(i)
.
“ Approved Sale Notice
” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(i)
.
“ Authorized
Representatives ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) .
“ Board ” means
the Board of Directors of the Company.
“ Business Combination
” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Sale
of the Company”.
“ Business Day ”
means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required
by law to close.
“ Bylaws ” means
the Bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time.
“ Cause ”
has the meaning set forth in the Consulting Agreement.
“ CIH ” has the
meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“ Closing ” has
the meaning set forth in the Agreement and Plan of
Merger.
“ Closing Date ”
has the meaning set forth in the Agreement and Plan of
Merger.
“ Code ” means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ Commission ”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
Governmental Authority at the time administering the Securities
Act.
“ Common Stock ”
means the Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per
share.
“ Company ” has
the meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“ Company Confidential
Information ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) .
2
“ Consulting Agreement
” means that certain management consulting agreement, dated
as of the date hereof, by and among Rexnord Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (“ Rexnord ”), Sherman, Cypress
Group, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company (“
Cypress Group ”), and CIH.
“ Cypress Group ”
has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consulting
Agreement”.
“ Cypress Holder
” has the meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“ Demand Party
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a)
.
“ Demand Notice ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a) .
“ Disability ”
means “Disability” as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
“ Disability Notice
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)
.
“ Equity Incentive Plan
” means any plan or agreement approved by the Board for the
purposes of issuing equity-linked Securities to any employee,
officer, consultant or director of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries as incentive or bonus compensation.
“ Equity Securities
” means (a) any equity Securities of the Company
(including Common Stock but excluding any option, warrant, or
similar equity-linked Security of the Company) purchased or
otherwise acquired by any Stockholder or (b) any Securities
issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to the
Securities referred to in clause (a) above by way of
conversion, exercise or exchange, stock dividend or stock split or
in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization,
reclassification, merger, consolidation, reorganization or other
similar event.
“ Exchange Act ”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Rules and
Regulations, all as the same shall be in effect from time to
time.
“ Family Group ”
means, with respect to any natural Person, such natural
Person’s spouse and/or lineal descendants (whether by blood
relationship or adoption), and any other Person as to which such
natural Person is a lineal descendant (whether by blood
relationship or adoption), and any trust or other entity solely for
the benefit of such Person and/or any of the foregoing.
“ Financing Documents
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(iii)
.
“ Fund VI ” means
Apollo Investment Fund VI, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership.
“ Good Reason ”
has the meaning set forth in the Consulting Agreement.
“ Governmental
Authority ” means any Federal, state, municipal, local or
foreign government, governmental authority, regulatory or
administrative agency, governmental
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commission, department, board,
bureau, agency or instrumentality, court, tribunal, arbitrator or
arbitral body.
“ Information ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 12(i)(xi)
.
“ Inspectors ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 12(i)(xi)
.
“ Involuntary Transfer
” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a)
.
“ Involuntary
Transferee ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(a) .
“ Involuntary Transfer
Notice ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(a) .
“ Involuntary Transfer
Repurchase Notice ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(b) .
“ Involuntary Transfer
Repurchase Price ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(b) .
“ Involuntary Transfer
Repurchase Right ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5(b) .
“ Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus ” means each “free writing
prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) prepared by or on
behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in any
offering of Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 12
.
“ Joinder ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2(c) .
“ Material Transfer
” means a Transfer for consideration by Apollo of more than
10% of the Restricted Shares held by Apollo as of the Closing Date
to a Person who is not an Affiliate of Apollo.
“ Merger ” has
the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“ NASD ” means
the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.
“ Non-Apollo Director
” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a)(iv)
.
“ Option ” has
the meaning set forth in the Option Agreement.
“ Option Agreement
” means that certain non-qualified stock option agreement,
dated as of July 21, 2006, by and between the Company and
Sherman.
“ Option Assumption
Agreement ” means that certain stock option assumption
agreement, dated as of July 21, 2006, by and among the
Company, RBS and CIH.
“ Order ” means
all judgments, injunctions, orders and decrees of all Governmental
Authorities in any legal, administrative or arbitration action,
suit, complaint, charge, hearing,
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mediation, inquiry, investigation or
proceeding in which the person in question is a party or by which
any of its properties or assets are bound.
“ Outstanding Company
Voting Securities ” has the meaning set forth in the
definition of “Sale of the Company”.
“ Permitted Issuer
Information ” means any “issuer information”
(as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations)
used with the prior written consent of the Company in any offering
of Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 12
.
“ Person ”
shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation,
an individual, a partnership, a limited liability partnership, an
investment fund, a limited liability company, a corporation, an
association, a joint stock corporation, a trust, a joint venture,
an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any
department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
“ Preliminary
Prospectus ” means any preliminary prospectus relating to
an offering of Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 12
.
“ Proportionate
Percentage ” means with respect to Apollo and each other
Stockholder in respect of Restricted Shares, a fraction (expressed
as a percentage) the numerator of which is the number of Restricted
Shares held by Apollo or such other Stockholder, as the case may
be, and the denominator of which is (i) in a situation where
the Proportionate Percentage is being calculated with respect to
all Stockholders, the total number of Restricted Shares outstanding
at the time in question and (ii) in a situation where the
Proportionate Percentage is being calculated with respect to a
group of Stockholders, the total number of Restricted Shares held
by the members of such group of Stockholders.
“ Prospectus ”
means the final prospectus relating to any offering of Restricted
Shares pursuant to Section 12 , including any
prospectus supplement thereto, as filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and
Regulations.
“ Public Sale ”
means any sale of Equity Securities to the public pursuant to an
offering registered under the Securities Act or to the public
effected through a broker, dealer or market maker pursuant to the
provisions of Rule 144 (if such rule is available) under
the Securities Act (or any similar rule or rules then in
effect).
“ Put Notice ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .
“ Put Price ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .
“ Put Right ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .
“ Qualified Public
Offering ” means an underwritten public offering of
Equity Securities of the Company pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (other than on Forms S-4 or S-8 or successors
to such forms) under the Securities Act, pursuant to which the
aggregate offering price of the
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Equity Securities sold in such
offering (whether sold by the Company or selling stockholders) is
at least $75,000,000.
“ RBS ” has the
meaning set forth in the recitals.
“ RBS/Cypress
Stockholders’ Agreement ” means the Stockholders
Agreement dated November 25, 2002 by and among RBS
Global, Inc., Carlyle Partners III, L.P., CP III Coinvestment,
L.P., Carlyle High Yield Partners, L.P., and CIH (as amended,
modified, restated or supplemented from time to time).
“ Records ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 12(i)(xi) .
“ Registration Expenses
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(j)
.
“ Reinstatement Notice
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)
.
“ Repurchase Date
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)
.
“ Repurchase Disability
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
.
“ Repurchase Event
” means, with respect to any Cypress Holder, the termination
of such Cypress Holder’s employment, consulting or other
professional relationship with the Company and all of its
Subsidiaries for any reason (including upon death or Disability of
Sherman).
“ Repurchase Notice
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)
.
“ Repurchase Price
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)
.
“ Repurchase Right
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)
.
“ Resignation Event
” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a)(iii)
.
“ Restated Certificate
” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
to be filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware, in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A .
“ Restricted Shares
” means at any time, with respect to Apollo or any Cypress
Holder, the shares of Common Stock held by Apollo or such Cypress
Holder; provided , however , that any (a) Common
Stock that is sold in a public offering pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement under the Securities Act or a sale pursuant
to Rule 144 thereunder or that may be sold without restriction
as to volume or otherwise pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act shall not be Restricted Shares for purposes of
Section 12 , and (b) any Person who holds any
Common Stock, all of which can be sold pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act, shall not be deemed to hold any
Restricted Shares for purposes of Section 12 and shall
have no rights to effect the registration of such securities under
Section 12 .
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“ Rexnord
Stockholders’ Agreement ” means that certain
Stockholders’ Agreement dated as of the date hereof by and
among the Company, SPV I, SPV II and certain other stockholders of
the Company named therein.
“ Road Show Material
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(k)
.
“ Rollover Options
” means the options to purchase shares of common stock (to
the extent vested) of RBS Global, Inc. in existence
immediately prior to the date hereof held by each Rollover
Optionholder (as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger) that
are subject to a Stock Option Assumption Agreement entered into by
and among such Rollover Optionholder, the Company and RBS
Global, Inc. in connection with the transactions contemplated
by the Agreement and Plan of Merger providing that such options
shall be exercisable for shares of Common Stock or other Equity
Interests of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and
Plan of Merger.
“ Rule 144 ”
means Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations or any
successor rule thereto or any complementary
rule thereto.
“ Rule 405 ”
means Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations or any
successor rule thereto or any complementary
rule thereto.
“ Rule 433 ”
means Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations or any
successor rule thereto or any complementary
rule thereto.
“ Rules and
Regulations ” means the rules and regulations of the
Commission, as the same shall be in effect from time to
time.
“ Sale Notice ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b)(i)
.
“ Sale of the Company
” means:
(a)
Approval by the Stockholders (or, if
no stockholder approval is required, by the Board alone) of the
complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, other than in
the context of a Business Combination (as defined below) that does
not constitute a Sale of the Company under paragraph
(c) below;
(b)
The acquisition by any Person of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the
Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(the “ Outstanding Company Voting Securities ”);
provided , however , that, for purposes of this
paragraph (b), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a
Sale of the Company; (A) any acquisition directly from the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) any acquisition by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) any acquisition by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by
the Company or any of its Affiliates or a successor, (D) any
acquisition by any Person pursuant to a Business Combination,
(E) any acquisition by a Person who is the beneficial owner
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the Outstanding Company
Voting
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Securities on the Closing Date (or
an Affiliate, heir or descendant of such Person) or (F) any
acquisition by Apollo or one of its Affiliated investment funds;
or
(c)
Consummation of a reorganization,
merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar
corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “ Business
Combination ”), in each case unless, following such
Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
Business Combination beneficially own more than 50% of the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of
the Person resulting from such Business Combination (including,
without limitation, a Person that, as a result of such transaction,
owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets directly or through one or more Subsidiaries of the Company,
and (2) no Person (excluding any Person described in clauses
(C), (E) or (F) of paragraph (b) above) beneficially
owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of such Person, except to the
extent that the ownership in excess of 50% existed prior to the
Business Combination;
provided , however , that an underwritten public
offering of the securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries shall in no event constitute a Sale of the Company for
purposes of this Agreement.
“ Securities
” means “securities” as defined in
Section 2(1) of the Securities Act and includes capital
stock or other equity interests or any options, warrants or other
securities that are directly or indirectly convertible into, or
exercisable or exchangeable for, capital stock or other equity
interests. Whenever a reference herein to Securities is referring
to any derivative Securities, the rights of a holder shall apply to
such derivative Securities and all underlying Securities directly
or indirectly issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of
such derivative Securities.
“ Securities Act
” means the Securities Act of 1933, and the Rules and
Regulations, all as the same shall be in effect from time to
time.
“ Sellers’
Counsel ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12(i)(ii) .
“ Sherman ” has
the meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“ SPV I ” has the
meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“ SPV II ” has
the meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“ Stockholder ”
means Apollo, CIH, Sherman and any other Person from time to time
that holds Equity Securities acquired in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement or the Rexnord Stockholders’
Agreement.
8
“ Subsidiary ”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which 50% or
more of the voting power of the equity securities or equity
interests sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board of
Directors or other governing body (or, if there is no such voting
power, 50% or more of the equity securities or equity interests) is
owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
“ Tag-Along Transaction
” means a transaction involving a Transfer by Apollo of more
than 10% of the Restricted Shares held by Apollo as of the Closing
Date to a Person who is not an Affiliate of Apollo in which each
Cypress Holder may elect in his or its discretion to participate in
accordance with Section 3(b) ; provided ,
however , that a “Tag-Along Transaction” shall
not include, and none of the rights of the Cypress Holders set
forth in Section 3(b) shall be triggered by, a
Transfer by Apollo to any limited partnership or other Person which
has directly or indirectly invested in, or otherwise has ownership,
equity or profits interests in, Fund VI or one of its Affiliated
investment funds, as part of a distribution to such Person;
provided , however , that such distribution is made
on a pro rata basis to all such Persons.
“ Transaction Documents
” has the meaning set forth in the Agreement and Plan of
Merger.
“ Transfer ”
means any direct or indirect transfer, assignment, sale, gift,
pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition, or any
interest therein whatsoever, or any other transfer of beneficial
ownership, whether voluntary or involuntary, including (a) as
a part of any liquidation of assets or (b) as a part of any
reorganization pursuant to the United States or other bankruptcy
law or other similar debtor relief laws, but excluding any transfer
of Equity Securities of the Company by employees of the Company or
its Subsidiaries upon a termination of employment.
“ Transferee ”
means any Person acquiring or intending to acquire Equity
Securities through a Transfer.
“ Underwritten Offering
” means a sale of Equity Securities to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
“ Vested Options
” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)
.
Capitalized terms used and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them
in the Agreement and Plan of Merger.
Section 2.
Restriction on
Transfers .
(a)
Except as otherwise set forth below,
the Cypress Holders shall not at any time Transfer any Equity
Securities. Any purported Transfer in violation of the
provisions of this Section 2 shall be null and void and
shall have no force or effect.
(b)
The restrictions contained in this
Section 2 shall not apply with respect to any Transfer
of Equity Securities (i) to the Company, Apollo or any of
their respective Affiliates (which term, for purposes of this
Section 2(b) , shall not include any other Stockholder
or such other Affiliates of such Stockholder other than the Company
and Apollo), (ii) pursuant to
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applicable laws of descent or to
such Stockholder’s executors, administrators, testamentary
legatees and beneficiaries upon such Stockholder’s death or
to any member of a Cypress Holder’s Family Group,
(iii) to any member of CIH upon dissolution of CIH or
(iv) to any limited liability company, limited partnership,
corporation or other entity formed by Sherman or a member of
Sherman’s Family Group and that is controlled by Sherman or
Sherman and members of Sherman’s Family Group (for purposes
of this definition, “control” being defined as the
ownership of more than 50% of both the voting and economic
interests of such entity) for the primary purpose of holding
Sherman’s Restricted Shares, other equity interests in the
Company and other equity interests of Sherman and Sherman’s
Family Group.
(c)
Each Cypress Holder agrees that, as
a condition precedent to any Transfer permitted under
Section 2(b) , each Transferee of such Equity
Securities shall have executed a joinder agreement (“
Joinder ”) substantially in the form of
Exhibit B attached hereto, pursuant to which such
Transferee agrees to become party hereto, a Cypress Holder and have
his, her or its Equity Securities subject to, the terms of this
Agreement. Any failure by a Cypress Holder to obtain a
Joinder from the Transferee as required under this
Section 2(c) shall render such Transfer null and
void; provided that, in the case of a Transfer upon a
Stockholder’s death or Disability, (i) the Transferee
shall be deemed to have executed, and shall be deemed to be bound
by, a Joinder as of the date of such Stockholder’s death or
Disability and (ii) the Transferee shall be given a reasonable
period of time (not to exceed 90 days from the date of such
Stockholder’s death or Disability) to execute such
Joinder.
(d)
This Section 2 shall not
apply to an Approved Sale under Section 3(a) , a
Transfer permitted under Section 3(b) or a
Transfer under Section 4 .
Section 3.
Approved Sale; Tag Along
Transaction .
(a)
Approved Sale; Sale of the
Company .
(i)
At any time prior to the
consummation of a Qualified Public Offering that Apollo proposes a
Material Transfer of its Restricted Shares, Apollo shall be
entitled to deliver notice (an “ Approved Sale Notice
”) to the Company and the Cypress Holders that Apollo
requires the Cypress Holders to Transfer an amount of their
Restricted Shares that is equal to the portion of Apollo’s
Restricted Shares that Apollo proposes to Transfer in the Material
Transfer (an “ Approved Sale ”); provided
, however , that if the proposed Transferee desires to
purchase an amount of Restricted Shares that is less than the
aggregate amount of Restricted Shares of Apollo and the Cypress
Holders that would otherwise be Transferred in the Approved Sale,
then Apollo may elect to cancel such Approved Sale, or Apollo and
the Cypress Holders shall sell in the Approved Sale only that
number of Restricted Shares equal to the product of (x) the total
number of Restricted Shares such proposed Transferee desires to
purchase and (y) such Cypress Holder’s Proportionate
Percentage; and provided , further , that any such
Approved Sale Notice shall include the name of the parties to the
proposed Approved Sale, a summary of the material terms and
conditions of the proposed Approved Sale, and the proposed amount
and form of consideration and the terms and conditions of payment
contemplated by the proposed Approved Sale.
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(ii)
Upon receipt of an Approved Sale
Notice, each Cypress Holder and the Company shall consent to and
raise no objections against the Approved Sale, and if the Approved
Sale is lawful and is structured as (A) a merger or
consolidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or a sale
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, each Cypress Holder shall, and
hereby does, waive any dissenter’s rights, appraisal rights
or similar rights in connection with such merger or consolidation
or sale of all or substantially all of the assets and hereby
instructs the Board to vote in favor of such Approved Sale and to
submit, if required by law, to a vote of the Stockholders of the
Company or request a written consent as promptly as possible, and
hereby agrees to vote in favor of such Approved Sale at any annual
or special meeting of the Stockholders of the Company or to execute
a written consent approving such Approved Sale, or (B) a sale
of Restricted Shares, each Cypress Holder shall, and hereby does
agree to, sell his or its Proportionate Percentage of his or its
Restricted Shares on the terms and conditions approved by Apollo;
provided , in the case of each of the foregoing clause
(A) and (B), that the terms and conditions upon which each
Cypress Holder’s Restricted Shares are sold are the same
terms and conditions that apply to Apollo.
(iii)
All Cypress Holders and the Company
shall take all necessary and desirable actions in connection with
the consummation of the Approved Sale, including the execution of
such agreements and such instruments and other actions reasonably
necessary to (1) provide the representations, warranties,
indemnities, covenants, conditions, escrow agreements and other
provisions and agreements relating to such Approved Sale;
provided , however , that the Cypress Holders shall
not be required to provide any representations, warranties,
indemnities, covenants, conditions, escrow agreements or other
provisions or agreements which are different from those made by
Apollo in connection with such Approved Sale and
(2) effectuate the allocation and distribution of the
aggregate consideration upon the consummation of the Approved
Sale. At the closing of the sale of any Restricted Shares
pursuant to this Section 3(a) , each Cypress Holder
shall deliver at such closing, against payment of the purchase
price therefor, certificates representing their Restricted Shares
to be sold, duly endorsed for Transfer or accompanied by duly
endorsed stock powers, evidence of good title to the Restricted
Shares to be sold, the absence of liens, encumbrances and adverse
claims with respect thereto and such other documents as are deemed
reasonably necessary by the Company for the proper Transfer of such
Restricted Shares on the books of the Company.
(iv)
Apollo shall deliver any Approved
Sale Notice to the Company and the Cypress Holders at least ten
(10) days prior to the consummation of the Approved
Sale.
(v)
If any Stockholders are given an
option as to the form and amount of consideration to be received in
an Approved Sale, all Stockholders shall be given the same
option.
(vi)
No Cypress Holder shall be obligated
to pay more than his or its Proportionate Percentage of reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with a consummated Approved Sale to
the extent such expenses are incurred for the benefit of
11
all Stockholders and are not
otherwise paid by the Company or the acquiring party (it being
agreed that expenses incurred by or on behalf of Apollo or a
Cypress Holder for his or its sole benefit shall not be considered
expenses incurred for the benefit of all Stockholders).
(vii)
No Stockholder shall be required to
make any representations or warranties that are joint and several
or that pertain to matters other than title to Securities held by
such Stockholder, such Stockholder’s capacity, authority or
power to consummate the transaction in question, conflicts with
laws, conflicts with contracts, organizational documents and Orders
applicable to such Stockholder, broker and similar fees payable by
such Stockholder, other representations and warranties customary
for the type of transaction being consummated and representations
and warranties with respect to any other matters particular to such
Stockholder.
(viii)
Any indemnification obligations for
breaches of representations, warranties and covenants made by the
Company and its Subsidiaries (but not by or on behalf of any
Stockholder individually) shall be shared pro rata
among the Stockholders (based on such Stockholder’s
Proportionate Percentage) based on the aggregate consideration
payable with respect to the Restricted Shares, and in no event
shall a Stockholder be required to incur indemnification or
contribution obligations with respect to such breaches that are
joint and several or exceed the aggregate consideration payable
with respect to such Stockholder’s Restricted Shares
Transferred in the Approved Sale.
(ix)
Each Cypress Holder and the Company
hereby grants an irrevocable proxy and power of attorney which, it
is agreed, is coupled with an interest, to any nominee of Apollo
(the “ Apollo Nominee ”) to take all necessary
actions and execute and deliver all documents deemed necessary and
appropriate by such Person to effectuate the consummation of any
Approved Sale. To the extent a Cypress Holder fails to comply
with the provisions of this Section 3(a) , such Cypress
Holder hereby indemnifies, defends and holds the Apollo Nominee
harmless (severally in accordance with his or its pro
rata share of the consideration received in any such
Approved Sale (and not jointly and severally)) against all
liability, loss or damage, together with all reasonable costs and
expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), relating
to or arising from its exercise of the proxy and power of attorney
granted hereby.
(x)
The Cypress Holders shall not be
required to comply with, and shall have no obligations under,
Section 2 in connection with any Approved
Sale.
(b)
Tag-Along Transaction
.
(i)
Subject to the provisions of
Section 3(a) above, prior to the consummation of
a Qualified Public Offering, if Apollo desires to effect a
Tag-Along Transaction, Apollo shall give written notice to the
Cypress Holders offering such Cypress Holders the option to
participate in such Tag-Along Transaction (a “ Sale
Notice ”) on the terms and conditions set forth in the
Sale Notice (and, in any event, on the same terms and conditions as
Apollo). The Sale Notice shall include the name of the
parties to the proposed Tag-Along Transaction, a summary of the
material terms and
12
conditions of the proposed Tag-Along
Transaction, and the proposed amount and form of consideration and
the terms and conditions of payment contemplated by the proposed
Tag-Along Transaction. Each Cypress Holder may, by written
notice to Apollo delivered within ten (10) days of the date of
the Sale Notice, elect to sell in such Tag-Along Transaction, on
the terms and conditions approved by Apollo (which terms and
conditions shall be the same as those on which Apollo’s
Restricted Shares are sold and shall be consistent with the terms
and conditions set forth in the Sale Notice); provided ,
however , that if the proposed Transferee desires to
purchase an amount of Restricted Shares that is less than the
aggregate amount of Restricted Shares proposed to be Transferred by
Apollo and the Cypress Holders in the Tag-Along Transaction, then
Apollo may elect to cancel such Tag-Along Transaction, or Apollo
and the Cypress Holders shall be permitted to sell only that number
of Restricted Shares equal to the product of (x) the total number
of Restricted Shares subject to the proposed Tag-Along Transaction
and (y) such Stockholder’s Proportionate Percentage. No
Transfer permitted under this Section 3(b) shall
be subject to the requirements of Section 2
.
(ii)
Upon the closing of the sale of any
Restricted Shares pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) above, each
Cypress Holder shall deliver at such closing, against payment of
the purchase price therefor, certificates representing his or its
Restricted Shares to be sold, duly endorsed for Transfer or
accompanied by duly endorsed stock powers, evidence of good title
to the Restricted Shares to be sold, the absence of liens,
encumbrances and adverse claims with respect thereto and such other
documents as are deemed reasonably necessary by the Company for the
proper Transfer of such Restricted Shares on the books of the
Company.
Section 4.
Repurchase
Right .
(a)
Unless otherwise provided in the
Consulting Agreement, in the event of the termination of the
Consulting Agreement (i) by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries as a result of the failure of Sherman substantially to
satisfy reasonable performance standards (after taking into account
macroeconomic factors affecting the Company and its Subsidiaries)
but not under circumstances constituting Cause, (ii) by
Sherman without Good Reason or (iii) on account of the death
or Disability of Sherman (each, a “ Repurchase Event
”), the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation,
to repurchase all or any portion of the Equity Securities held by
each Cypress Holder (including any Equity Securities received upon
a distribution from any deferred compensation plan or other Equity
Incentive Plan or any Equity Securities issuable upon exercise of
any option, warrant or similar equity-linked Security of the
Company held by each Cypress Holder) in accordance with this
Section 4 (the “ Repurchase Right
”). Any repurchase described in the immediately
preceding sentence shall be for fair market value (as determined in
accordance with Section 4(e) ), but subject to
Section 4(b) . The Company may exercise the
Repurchase Right by written notice (a “ Repurchase
Notice ”) to the Cypress Holders within six months after
the Repurchase Event; provided , however , that with
respect to Equity Securities acquired by any Cypress Holder after
such Repurchase Event (whether by exercise of any option, warrant
or similar equity-linked Security of the Company, distribution of
shares from any deferred compensation plan or otherwise), the
Company may exercise the Repurchase Right by delivering a
Repurchase Notice to such Cypress Holder within six months after
the acquisition of such Equity Securities by such Cypress Holder
(each date on which any such
13
repurchase is executed with respect
to the subject Equity Securities, the “ Repurchase
Date ”). The determination date for purposes of
determining the fair market value shall be the Repurchase Date
applicable to the subject Equity Securities. Subject to
Section 7 below, the Repurchase Date with respect to
any repurchase of Equity Securities pursuant to the exercise of the
Repurchase Right shall take place on the later of (i) the date
specified by the Company, which shall in no event be later than
thirty (30) days following the date of the Repurchase Notice and
(ii) within ten (10) days following the receipt by the
Company of all necessary government approvals.
(b)
Notwithstanding anything contained
herein to the contrary, unless otherwise provided in the Consulting
Agreement, in the event the Consulting Agreement is terminated by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for Cause, then the Company
may exercise the Repurchase Right by delivering a Repurchase Notice
to the Cypress Holders within the time periods set forth in
Section 4(a) above at a price equal to the lesser
of (i) in the case of Common Stock,
$ per
share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment by the Company to
reflect any stock split, recapitalization or similar adjustment to
the Common Stock (or, for shares of Common Stock acquired after the
Closing Date and not upon exercise of a Rollover Option, the
original acquisition cost to the applicable Cypress Holder of such
shares of Common Stock) and (b) the fair market value of such
Equity Securities. The determination date for purposes of
determining the fair market value shall be the closing date of the
purchase of the applicable Equity Securities.
(c)
The Company shall give prompt
written notice to Apollo stating whether the Company will exercise
the Repurchase Rights pursuant to Section 4(a) or
Section 4(b) above. If such notice states
that the Company will not exercise such Repurchase Rights for all
or any portion of the applicable Equity Securities subject thereto,
Apollo (or its designee) shall have the right (exercisable by
delivery of written notice to such Cypress Holder on or before the
later of (i) the 30 th day following the receipt of
such notice or (ii) six months after the Repurchase Event) to
purchase any such Equity Securities not purchased by the Company on
the same terms and conditions as the Company set forth in
Section 4(a) or Section 4(b)
.
(d)
The Repurchase Date shall take place
on a date designated by the Company or Apollo, as applicable, in
accordance with Section 4(a) or
Section 4(c) , respectively; provided ,
however , that the Repurchase Date may be deferred to a date
designated by the Company or Apollo, as applicable, or, to the
extent required to avoid liability under applicable securities
laws, the Cypress Holder, as applicable, until such time as the
subject Cypress Holder has held the Equity Securities for a period
of at least six months and one day. The purchase price shall
be paid on the Repurchase Date in the form of a check, wire
transfer of immediately available funds or by cancellation of money
purchase indebtedness of such Cypress Holder, as determined in the
sole discretion of the Company or Apollo, as applicable. The
Company or Apollo, as applicable, may effect such repurchase of
Equity Securities and the Company shall record such Transfer on its
books whether or not such Cypress Holder attends such closing or
delivers certificates representing such Equity Securities to the
Company. Each Cypress Holder hereby grants an irrevocable
proxy and power of attorney which, it is agreed, is coupled with an
interest to any nominee of the Company or Apollo, as applicable, to
take all necessary actions and execute and deliver all documents
deemed necessary and appropriate by such nominee to effect such
purchase of Equity Securities. Any Cypress Holder (with
respect to Sherman, either
14
on behalf of himself or on behalf of
CIH) who fails to take all necessary actions and execute and
deliver all documents necessary and appropriate to fulfill his or
its obligations under this Section 4 shall indemnify,
defend and hold such nominee harmless against all liability, loss
or damage, together with all reasonable costs and expenses
(including reasonable legal fees and expenses), relating to or
arising from such nominee’s exercise of the proxy and power
of attorney granted hereby. In addition, each Cypress Holder
shall immediately lose all rights each may have under
Section 9 of this Agreement in the event of any such
purchase.
(e)
For purposes of this
Section 4 , Section 5 ,
Section 6 and Section 7 , the “fair
market value” of any Equity Securities shall be determined as
follows:
(i)
if the Equity Securities are listed
on one or more National Securities Exchanges (within the meaning of
the Exchange Act), each share shall be valued at the average
closing price per share on the principal exchange on which such
shares are then trading for the 10 trading days immediately
preceding the date of determination;
(ii)
if the Equity Securities are not
traded on a National Securities Exchange but are quoted on the
NASDAQ Stock Market or a successor quotation system and the shares
are listed as a National Market issue under the National Market
System, each share shall be valued at the average of the last sales
price per share for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the
date of determination as reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market or any
such successor quotation system; or
(iii)
if the Equity Securities are not
listed on a National Securities Exchange and are not traded on the
NASDAQ Stock Market and listed as a National Market issue under the
National Market System, the fair market value shall be determined
by the Board in good faith based on its good faith determination of
the fair market value of the Company and its subsidiaries as a
whole without regard to the percentage of shares represented by the
shares subject to such determination or any minority discount or
control premium.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a
Person whose Equity Securities are being valued hereunder pursuant
to clause (iii) above disagrees with the valuation determined
by the Board, such Person may elect to choose within five Business
Days of being advised of the determination of the Board to have the
fair market value determined by and independent appraiser, the
selection of which shall be subject to the mutual agreement of the
Company and such Person. The fees and expenses of any such
independent appraiser shall be borne equally by the Company and the
Person whose Equity Securities are being valued hereunder and the
determination by the independent appraiser selected in accordance
with this Section 4(e) shall be final and
binding.
Section 5.
Involuntary
Transfers .
(a)
In the case of any Transfer of title
or beneficial ownership of Equity Securities upon default,
foreclosure, forfeit, divorce, court order or otherwise, other than
by a voluntary decision on the part of a Cypress Holder (each, an
“ Involuntary Transfer ”), the
15
Cypress Holder shall promptly (but
in no event later than two days after the Involuntary Transfer)
furnish written notice (the “ Involuntary Transfer
Notice ”) to the Company indicating that the Involuntary
Transfer has occurred, specifying the name of the Person to whom
the Equity Securities were transferred (the “ Involuntary
Transferee ”), giving a detailed description of the
circumstances giving rise to, and stating the legal basis for, the
Involuntary Transfer.
(b)
Upon the receipt of the Involuntary
Transfer Notice, and for 60 days thereafter, the Company shall have
the right to repurchase, and the Involuntary Transferee shall have
the obligation to sell, all (but not less than all) of the Equity
Securities acquired by the Involuntary Transferee for a repurchase
price equal to the “fair market value” (as determined
in accordance with Section 4(e)) of such Equity
Securities as of the date of the Involuntary Transfer (the “
Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price ” and such
right, the “ Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right
”). The Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right shall be
exercised by written notice (the “ Involuntary Transfer
Repurchase Notice ”) to the Involuntary Transferee given
in accordance with Section 14(k) of this Agreement on
or prior to the last date on which the Involuntary Transfer
Repurchase Right may be exercised by the Company.
(c)
Subject to Section 7
below, the repurchase of Equity Securities pursuant to the exercise
of the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right shall take place on a
date specified by the Company, but in no event following the later
of the 60 th day following the date of the date of the
Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice or the 10 th day
following the receipt by the Company of all necessary governmental
approvals. On such date, the Involuntary Transferee shall
transfer the Equity Securities subject to the Involuntary Transfer
Repurchase Notice to the Company, free and clear of all liens and
encumbrances, by delivering to the Company the certificates
representing the Equity Securities to be purchased, duly endorsed
for transfer to the Company or accompanied by a stock power duly
executed in blank, and the Company shall pay to the Involuntary
Transferee the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price. The
Involuntary Transferee and the Cypress Holder shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Company in order to
expedite all proceedings described in this Section 5
. If the Involuntary Transferee does not transfer the Equity
Securities to the Company as required, the Company will cancel such
Equity Securities and deposit the funds in a non-interest bearing
account and make payment upon delivery.
Section 6.
Put Right
.
(a)
Each Cypress Holder shall have the
right (but not the obligation), subject to the terms and conditions
of this Section 6 and of Section 7 , to
sell in one or more transactions in connection with the termination
of the Consulting Agreement (i) by the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries without Cause or (ii) by the Sherman, CIH or
Cypress Group for Good Reason, and the Company shall be obligated
to purchase (x) all or any shares of Common Stock held by such
Cypress Holder as of the termination of the Consulting Agreement
(whether or not acquired upon exercise of the Option) and (y) all
or any portion of the options to purchase Common Stock (including,
without limitation, the Option) held by such Cypress Holder that is
or becomes vested (collectively, the “ Vested Options
”), in each case at the applicable Put Price (as defined
below) (the “ Put Right ”). To exercise
the Put Right, such Cypress Holder must give written notice thereof
to the Company (the “ Put Notice ”). The
Put Notice is irrevocable and must (1) be in writing and
signed by such Cypress Holder, (2) set forth the intent to
exercise the Put Right and
16
contain the total number of shares
of Common Stock and Vested Options to be sold to the Company
pursuant to the Put Right and (3) be delivered to the Company
within 120 days following the termination of the Consulting
Agreement.
(b)
The Company shall have no obligation
to repurchase shares of Common Stock or Vested Options pursuant to
the exercise of the Put Right unless the repurchase will not
violate any loan covenants or other agreements imposed or required
by any entity as part of the extension of financing to the
Company. If the repurchase of Common Stock or Vested Options
pursuant to the Put Right is prohibited by the Company’s
financing arrangements, the Company shall deliver written notice to
the applicable Cypress Holder, upon or as soon as administratively
practicable after the first date on which such repurchase would not
violate the Company’s financing arrangements, and, in order
to exercise the Put Right, the such Cypress Holder, must again
deliver a Put Notice to the Company in accordance with
Section 6(a) , with such Put Right to be exercised
within 120 days following the receipt of such notice from the
Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, no Cypress Holder shall have a Put Right if (i) the
shares of Common Stock or Vested Options are subject to any lien,
encumbrance, pledge, or other interest of any third party or have
been transferred in violation of applicable law, or the
restrictions on transfer contemplated by this Agreement or
(ii) the repurchase would violate applicable laws, regulations
or exchange listing rules restricting corporate distributions
to stockholders.
(c)
The price to be paid by the Company
upon settlement of the Put Right shall equal (i) with respect
to shares of Common Stock, the fair market value (as determined in
accordance with Section 4(e) ) of a share of Common
Stock as of the date of the closing of the repurchase, and
(ii) with respect to Vested Options, the fair market value (as
determined in accordance with Section 4(e) ) of the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Vested Options
as determined under this Agreement as of the date of the closing of
the repurchase, less the aggregate exercise price of such Vested
Options (the price under clause (i) or (ii) above, as
applicable, is referred to herein as the “ Put Price
”).
(d)
The closing of any repurchase under
this Section 6 shall be at a date to be specified by
the Company, such date to be no later than 30 days after the date
of the applicable Put Notice. The Put Price shall be paid at
the closing in the form of a check, wire transfer of immediately
available funds or by cancellation of money purchase indebtedness
of the applicable Cypress Holder against surrender by such Cypress
Holder of a stock certificate evidencing the shares of Common Stock
with duly endorsed stock powers, or such other instrument of
transfer or cancellation of such shares and Vested Options as may
be reasonably requested by the Company.
(e)
The Put Right shall terminate to the
extent that it is not exercised prior to a Qualified Public
Offering.
Section 7.
Repurchase
Disability .
(a)
Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, except as otherwise provided by
Section 7(c) , the Company shall not be permitted to
purchase any Equity Securities held by any Cypress Holder or
Involuntary Transferee upon exercise of the Repurchase
Right,
17
the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase
Right or the Put Right (as applicable) if the Board reasonably
determines that:
(i)
the purchase of Equity Securities
would render the Company or its Subsidiaries unable t