EXHIBIT 10.69
MANAGEMENT MEMBERS AGREEMENT
CONCERNING
NALCO LLC
DATED AS OF JUNE 11, 2004.
This MANAGEMENT MEMBERS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated as of June
11, 2004 by and among Nalco LLC (the "Company"), a Delaware limited liability
company and the Persons who are or after the date hereof become signatories
hereto (the "Management Members").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company is governed by that certain Second Amended and
Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement (the "LLC Agreement")
dated as of May 17, 2004.
WHEREAS, the Management Members will be providing services to the
Company or its Affiliates.
WHEREAS, each Management Member will subscribe for and acquire from
the Company, and the Company will issue and sell to each Management Member, the
Company's Class A Units (the "Units"), in the amounts set forth on Schedule A to
the LLC Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time;
WHEREAS, it is a condition to the sale of the Units that the
Management Members enter into this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Management Members will enter into the Registration
Rights Agreement; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
Management Members' Representations, Warranties and Agreements
Section 1.01. Units Unregistered. Each Management Member
acknowledges and represents that such Management Member has been advised by the
Company that:
(a) the offer and sale of the Units have not been registered under the
1933 Act;
(b) the Units must be held and the Management Member must continue to
bear the economic risk of the investment in the Units unless the
offer and sale of such Units are subsequently registered under the
1933 Act and all applicable state securities laws or an exemption
from such registration is available and the Units may never be so
registered;
(c) there is no established market for the Units and it is not
anticipated that there will be any public market for the Units in
the foreseeable future;
(d) a restrictive legend in the form set forth below shall be placed on
the certificates representing the Units:
"THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE
ORIGINALLY ISSUED ON ______________, HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), AND
MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS
CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO CERTAIN TRANSFER AND OTHER
RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF MAY 17, 2004 AMONG NALCO LLC AND
CERTAIN OF ITS MEMBERS, THE MANAGEMENT MEMBERS AGREEMENTS,
DATED AS OF JUNE 11, 2004 AMONG NALCO LLC AND CERTAIN
MANAGEMENT MEMBERS NAMED THEREIN, THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT AMONG NALCO LLC AND CERTAIN OF ITS MEMBERS AND,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT IN
COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. COPIES OF SUCH
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT, SUCH MANAGEMENT MEMBERS
AGREEMENTS AND SUCH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT ARE ON FILE
WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AND ARE
AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. THE
HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE, BY ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CERTIFICATE,
AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ALL OF THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE
AFORESAID AGREEMENTS.";
(e) a restrictive legend in the form set forth below shall be placed on
the certificates representing the Units held by Georgia residents:
"THESE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED OR SOLD IN RELIANCE ON
PARAGRAPH 13 OF CODE SECTION 10-5-9 OF THE "GEORGIA SECURITIES
ACT OF 1973," AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN A
TRANSACTION WHICH IS EXEMPT UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT."; and
(f) a notation shall be made in the appropriate records of the Company
indicating that the Units are subject to restrictions on transfer
and, if the Company should at some time in the future engage the
services of a securities transfer agent, appropriate stop-transfer
instructions may be issued to such transfer agent with respect to
the Units.
Section 1.02. Additional Investment Representations. Each
Management Member represents and warrants that:
(a) the Management Member's financial situation is such that such
Management Member can afford to bear the economic risk of holding
the Units for an indefinite period of time, has adequate means for
providing for the Management Member's current needs and personal
contingencies, and can afford to suffer a complete loss of the
Management Member's investment in the Units;
(b) the Management Member's knowledge and experience in financial and
business matters are such that the Management Member is capable of
evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in the Units;
(c) the Management Member understands that the Units are a speculative
investment which involves a high degree of risk of loss of
Management Member's investment therein, there are substantial
restrictions on the transferability of the Units and, on the date on
which such Management Member acquires such Units and for an
indefinite period following such date, there will be no public
market for the Units and, accordingly, it may not be possible for
the Management Member to liquidate the Management Member's
investment including in case of emergency, if at all;
(d) the terms of this Agreement provide that if the Management Member
ceases to provide services to the Company and its Affiliates, the
Company and its Affiliates have the right to repurchase the Units at
a price which may be less than the Fair Market Value thereof;
(e) the Management Member understands and has taken cognizance of all
the risk factors related to the purchase of the Units and, other
than as set forth in this Agreement, no representations or
warranties have been made to the Management Member or Management
Member's representatives concerning the Units, the Company, the
Subsidiaries or their respective prospects or other matters;
(f) the Management Member has been given the opportunity to examine all
documents and to ask questions of, and to receive answers from, the
Company and its representatives concerning the Company and its
subsidiaries, the acquisition of Nalco Company and certain
Subsidiaries of Nalco International S.A.S. by subsidiaries of the
Company, the LLC Agreement, the Company's organizational documents
and the terms and conditions of the purchase of the
Units and to obtain any additional information which the Management
Member deems necessary; and
(g) all information which the Management Member has provided to the
Company and the Company's representatives concerning the Management
Member and the Management Member's financial position is complete
and correct as of the date of this Agreement.
Section 1.04. Contingent Bonus. The Company shall cause one of
its Subsidiaries to pay a bonus to Management Members in the circumstances set
forth in Exhibit A.
ARTICLE II
Transfers; Acceleration
Section 2.01. Transfer. (a) Until the occurrence of a Qualified
IPO, except as required by law, no Management Member may directly or indirectly,
sell, contract to sell, give, assign, hypothecate, pledge, encumber, grant a
security interest in, offer, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase
any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase,
lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any economic, voting or other rights
in or to (collectively, "Transfer") any Units except pursuant to (i) Article XI
of the LLC Agreement, (ii) Sections 2.02 or 2.04 hereof or (iii) a Transfer to a
Manager Permitted Transferee (each a "Permitted Transfer").
(b) Following a Qualified IPO and the expiration of any
underwriter or Company "lock-up" period (as provided for in Section 4(a) of the
Registration Rights Agreement or otherwise) applicable to such Qualified IPO,
each Management Member may only Transfer its Units pursuant to (i) a Permitted
Transfer, (ii) a Transfer pursuant to Section 2.03, (iii) a Transfer in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement or (iv) a Transfer conducted
in accordance with the requirements of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act;
provided, that no Management Member shall make a Transfer pursuant to this
clause (iv) without the Company's prior, written approval.
(c) No Transfer by any Management Member may be made pursuant to
this Article II unless (i) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by
the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the LLC Agreement (other than if
the Transfer is conducted in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement
or the requirements of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 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
and state securities laws, including the 1933 Act and (iv) the Transfer is made
in compliance with all applicable Company policies and restrictions (including
any trading "window periods" or other policies regulating xxxxxxx xxxxxxx);
provided, that the conditions to Transfer described in clause (i) above shall
not apply to a Transfer pursuant Article XI of the LLC Agreement or Sections
2.02, 2.03 or 2.04 hereof.
(d) No Transfer by any Management Member may be made pursuant to
this Article II (except pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the 0000 Xxx) unless and until such Management Member has first delivered to the
Company an opinion of counsel (reasonably acceptable in form and substance to
the Company) that neither registration nor qualification under the 1933 Act and
applicable state securities laws is required in connection with such Transfer.
Section 2.02. Call Option. (a) If a Management Member's Services to
the Company or any Subsidiary terminate for any of the reasons set forth in
clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) below (each such event a "Termination Event"), the
Company shall have the right but not the obligation to purchase, from time to
time after such termination of Services, any Units held by such Management
Member for a period of 60 days (subject to extension as provided below)
immediately following the later of (A) the date of the Termination Event and (B)
the date that is six (6) months and one day after the date on which such
Management Member acquired such Unit (the later of (A) and (B), the "First
Purchase Date"), and such Management Member shall be required to sell to the
Company, any or all of such Units then held by such Management Member, at a
price per Unit equal to the applicable purchase price determined pursuant to
Section 2.02(c):
(i) if such Management Member's Service with the Company and its
Subsidiaries is terminated due to the Disability or death of the
Management Member;
(ii) if such Management Member's Service with the Company and its
Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company and its Subsidiaries without
Cause or by the Management Member for any reason;
(iii) if such Management Member's Service with the Company and its
Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for
Cause.
(b) If on the 61st day following the date of the Termination
Event, the Company has not purchased all of a terminated Management Member's
Units, and the Company has not opted to extend its 60 day election period
pursuant to Section 2.02(d), the Company shall on or before the 61st day provide
written notice to the Investor Groups of (i) its decision not to purchase some
or all of such Units and (ii) the number of such Management Member's Eligible
Units (defined below) which the Company did not purchase, and the Investor
Groups shall have the right to purchase and such Management Member shall be
required to sell to the Investor Group(s), any or all of the Units (the
"Eligible Units") then held by such Management Member at a price per Unit equal
to the applicable purchase price determined pursuant to Section 2.02(c). The
Investor Groups' rights to purchase such Eligible Units and each Management
Member's corresponding obligation to sell such Eligible Units shall terminate on
the 120th day following the date of the Termination Event. Upon receipt of the
written notice described above, each Investor Group desiring to purchase Units
shall within 45 days of receipt of the Company's notice provide written notice
to the Company, specifying that such Investor Group is willing to purchase
either (i) its PRO RATA share of the Eligible Units (based upon the number of
Units held by such Investor Group relative to the total number of Units held by
all of the Investor Groups), (ii) a number of Eligible Units less than such
Investor Group's PRO RATA share, or (iii) any and all
Units available to be purchased; provided, that the Investor Groups shall, as
much as reasonably practicable, consult with each other and coordinate the
exercise of rights such that all Eligible Units are elected to be purchased.
Upon receipt of the Investor Groups' respective notices, the Company will notify
the Management Member of the Investor Group(s)' elections and the Management
Member will be obligated to sell (x) to the Investor Groups making elections
described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the preceding sentence, the number of
Eligible Units elected to be purchased by such Investor Groups and (y) all
remaining Eligible Units, if any, to the Investor Groups making the election
described in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence to such Investor Group(s) on
a PRO RATA basis (based upon the number of Units held by such Investor Group
relative to the total number of Units held by all of the Investor Groups making
such election), but in no event more that any such Investor Groups elected to
purchase.
(c) In the event of a purchase by the Company pursuant to Section
2.02(a) and/or the Investor Group(s) pursuant to Section 2.02(b) (each a "Units
Buyer"), the purchase price shall be:
(i) in the case of a Termination Event specified in Section
2.02(a)(i) or 2.02(a)(ii) a price per Unit equal to the most recently
determined Fair Market Value, and
(ii) in the case of a Termination Event specified in Section
2.02(a)(iii), a price per Unit equal to the lesser of (1) Fair Market
Value and (2) Cost.
(d) The Units Buyer may pay the purchase price for such Units (i)
by delivery of funds deposited into an account designated by the Management
Member, a bank cashier's check, a certified check or a company check of the
Units Buyer for the purchase price; (ii) if the Units Buyer is the Company and
is prohibited from paying cash by financing or liquidity constraints and is
unable to pay the purchase price as provided in clause (iii), by delaying the
exercise of the purchase right described under Section 2.02(a) until the earlier
of (x) when the financing restrictions lapse and (y) when the Company is able to
pay the purchase price as provided in clause (iii); or (iii) if the Units Buyer
is the Company and has the right to purchase such Units during the period
following a Qualified IPO (including in respect of a purchase that was delayed
pursuant to clause (ii)), by delivery of a number of shares of Issuer Common
Stock determined by dividing (A) the aggregate purchase price of the Units being
sold by such Management Member by (B) the Public Share FMV as of the close of
trading on the trading day immediately prior to the delivery thereof to the
Management Member. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
the Units Buyer may deduct and withhold from the amounts otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as necessary to comply with the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any other provision of
applicable law, with respect to the making of such payment.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere herein,
the Company shall not be obligated to purchase any Units at any time pursuant to
this Section 2.02, regardless of whether it has delivered a notice of its
election to purchase any such Units, (i) to the extent that (A) the purchase of
such Units (together with any other purchases of Units pursuant to Sections 2.02
or 2.03 hereof, or pursuant to similar provisions in any other agreements with
other investors of which the Company has at such time been given or has given
notice) or (B) in the
event of an election to purchase such Units with shares of Issuer Common Stock,
the issuance of such shares by the IPO Entity, the purchase of such shares by
the Company or the distribution of such shares to the Management Member would
result (x) in a violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, policy, order,
writ, injunction, decree or judgment promulgated or entered by any governmental
authority applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or
their assets (including any unavailability of a registration statement or
exemption from registration necessary to allow delivery of shares of Issuer
Common Stock to the Management Member), (y) after giving effect thereto
(including any dividends or other distributions or loans from a Subsidiary of
the Company to the Company in connection therewith), in a Financing Default or
(z) in the Company being required to disgorge any profit to the IPO Entity
pursuant to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, (ii) if immediately prior to such
purchase of Units, issuance of Issuer Common Stock or purchase of shares of
Issuer Common Stock, as the case may be, there exists a Financing Default which
prohibits such issuance or purchase (including any dividends or other
distributions or loans from a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company in
connection therewith), or (iii) if the Company does not have funds available to
effect such purchase of Units or Issuer Common Stock. The Company shall within
30 days of learning of any such fact so notify the Management Member that it is
not obligated to purchase such Units and has deferred its right to make such
purchase until such violation, potential liability under the 1933 Act or 1934
Act, Financing Default or unavailability of funds would not result therefrom or
has ceased. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to cure
any such Financing Default that is curable. To the extent that, pursuant to this
Section 2.02(e), the Company is not obligated to pay for a Management Member's
Units in accordance with one of the payment methods described in the first
sentence of Section 2.02(d), the Company shall, except as otherwise permitted by
this Section 2.02(e), be required to pay for such Units pursuant to an alternate
method of payment described in the first sentence of Section 2.02(d).
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Section 2.02, any Units which the Company has elected to purchase from a
Management Member, but which in accordance with Section 2.02(e) are not
purchased at the applicable time provided in this Section 2.02, shall be
purchased by the Company on the tenth Business Day after such date or dates that
it is no longer permitted to defer purchasing such Units under Section 2.02(e),
and the Company shall give such Management Member five Business Days prior
notice of any such purchase.
Section 2.03. Put Right. (a) Subject to the Call Right described in
Section 2.02, following a Qualified IPO and for so long as no Termination Event
pursuant to Section 2.02(a)(iii) shall have occurred with respect to a
Management Member, such Management Member shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to sell (the "Put Right") beginning on the later of (x) the first
date immediately following the expiration of any Company or underwriter
"lock-up" period applicable to such Qualified IPO and (y) the date that is at
least six (6) months and one day after, the Sale Date ( the later of (x) and (y)
shall be referred to as the "First Put Date"), and the Company shall be required
to purchase from such Management Member, a number of such Management Member's
Units as determined by such Management Member, at a price per Unit equal to the
Fair Market Value as of the date the Management Member exercises such Put Right.
For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the Call Right described in Section 2.02,
a Management Member shall remain entitled to the Put Right following a
Termination Event pursuant to Sections 2.02(a)(i) or (ii) with respect to such
Management Member.
(b) Each Management Member who desires to sell any of his or her
Units following the applicable First Put Date shall send written notice to the
Company of his or her intention to sell such Units pursuant to this Section
2.03. Subject to the exercise of any Call Right pursuant to Section 2.02, the
closing of the purchase shall take place at the principal office of the Company
on a date specified by the Company no later than 30 days after the giving of
such notice.
(c) At the closing of a purchase pursuant to a Put Right, the
Company will pay to the Management Member the purchase price for such Units
(determined in accordance with Section 2.03(a)) by delivery of a number of
shares of Issuer Common Stock determined by dividing (A) the aggregate purchase
price of the Units being sold by such Management Member by (B) the Public Share
FMV as of the close of trading on the trading day immediately prior to the
delivery thereof to the Management Member.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere herein, the
Company shall not be obligated to purchase any Units at any time pursuant to
this Section 2.03 (i) to the extent that (A) the purchase of such Units
(together with any other purchases of Units pursuant to Sections 2.02 or 2.03
hereof, or pursuant to similar provisions in any other agreements with other
investors of which the Company has at such time been given or has given notice)
or (B) the issuance of shares by the IPO Entity or the purchase of such shares
by the Company would result (x) in a violation of any law, statute, rule,
regulation, policy, order, writ, injunction, decree or judgment promulgated or
entered by any governmental authority applicable to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of its or their assets (including any unavailability of a
registration statement or exemption from registration necessary to allow
delivery of shares of Issuer Common Stock to the Management Member(s)), (y)
after giving effect thereto, in a Financing Default or (z) in the Company being
required to disgorge any profit to the IPO Entity pursuant to Section 16(b) of
the 1934 Act or (ii) if immediately prior to such purchase of Units, issuance of
Issuer Common Stock or purchase of shares of Issuer Common Stock, as the case
may be, there exists a Financing Default which prohibits any such issuance or
purchase. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to cure any
such Financing Default that is curable. To the extent that the Company is not
obligated to pay for any Units as described in the first sentence of Section
2.03(c) pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.03(d), the Company shall
promptly notify any Management Member that has delivered a notice of exercise of
a Put Right that it is not obligated to purchase such Units and has deferred its
right to make such purchase until such violation, potential liability under the
1933 Act or 1934 Act or Financing Default would not result therefrom or has
ceased.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Section 2.03, any Units which a Management Member has elected to sell to the
Company, but which in accordance with Section 2.03(d) are not purchased at the
applicable time provided in this Section 2.03, shall be purchased by the Company
on the tenth Business Day after such date or dates that it is no longer
permitted to defer purchasing such Units under Section 2.03(d), and the Company
shall give such Management Member five Business Days prior notice of any such
purchase.
Section 2.04. Tag-Along Right. (a) If, at any time prior to a
Qualified IPO, one or more Sponsor Members propose to Transfer, in a single
transaction or a series of related
transactions, a number of Units representing at least 30% of the Sponsor
Members' aggregate Initial Equity Stakes (as defined in the LLC Agreement) to
any Person (other than a Transfer to a Permitted Transferee (as defined in the
LLC Agreement) of any such Sponsor Member and other than a Transfer in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and other than to another
Sponsor Member) (a "Tag-Along Purchaser"), then, unless such transferring
Sponsor Member(s) are entitled to give and do give a Drag-Along Sale Notice (as
defined in the LLC Agreement) and no other Sponsor Member(s) has elected to
purchase its PRO RATA share of such Units pursuant to Section 2.04(a) of the
Sponsor Agreement, the Company shall first provide written notice to each of the
Management Members, which notice (the "Tag-Along Notice") shall state: (i) the
maximum number of Units proposed to be Transferred (the "Tag-Along Securities");
(ii) the purchase price per Unit (the "Tag-Along Price") for the Tag-Along
Securities and (iii) any other material terms and conditions of such sale,
including the proposed transfer date (which date will be within 60 business days
after the termination of the Election Period (defined below), subject to
extension for any required regulatory approvals). Each of the Management Members
that has been provided with the Tag-Along Notice (each, a "Tag-Along Manager")
shall have the right to sell to such Tag-Along Purchaser, upon the terms set
forth in the Tag-Along Notice, up to the aggregate number of Units which are
held by such Tag-Along Manager multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the aggregate number of Units proposed to be sold by the transferring Sponsor
Member as reflected in the Tag-Along Notice and the denominator of which is the
total number of Units which are held by the transferring Sponsor Member. If the
number of Units elected to be sold by the Tag-Along Managers and any other
individuals identified from time to time on Exhibit A to the LLC Agreement, the
transferring Sponsor Member and any other Sponsor Members electing to
participate in such sale is greater than the number of Tag-Along Securities
specified in the Tag-Along Notice, the number of Units being sold by each such
seller shall be reduced such that the applicable seller shall be entitled to
(and obligated to) sell only their PRO RATA share of Units (based on the
aggregate number of Units held by such seller to the total number of Units held
by all of such electing sellers). The transferring Sponsor Member(s), the
Sponsor Members electing to participate in such sale and the Tag-Along
Manager(s) exercising their rights pursuant to this Section 2.04 shall effect
the sale of the Tag-Along Securities, and such Tag-Along Manager(s) shall sell
the number of Tag-Along Securities required to be sold by such Tag-Along
Manager(s) pursuant to this Section 2.04(a) within 60 business days after the
expiration of the Election Period, subject to extension for any required
regulatory approvals.
(b) The tag-along rights provided by this Section 2.04 must be
exercised by any Tag-Along Manager wishing to sell its Units within 10 business
days following the date of delivery of the Tag-Along Notice (the "Election
Period"), by delivery of a written notice to the Company indicating such
Tag-Along Manager's wish to irrevocably exercise its rights and specifying the
number of Units (up to the maximum number of Units owned by such Tag-Along
Manager requested to be purchased by such Tag-Along Purchaser) it wishes to
sell; provided that any Tag-Along Manager may waive its rights under this
Section 2.04 prior to the expiration of such 10-business day period by giving
written notice to the Company, which will be distributed by the Company to the
transferring Sponsor Member(s). The failure of a Tag-Along Manager to respond
within such 10-business day period shall be deemed to be a waiver of such
Tag-Along Manager's rights under this Section 2.04.
(c) In connection with any sale pursuant to this Section 2.04,
each Tag-Along Manager shall make to the Tag-Along Purchaser the same
representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements as the
transferring Sponsor Member(s) makes in connection with the proposed transfer
(except that in the case of representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities
and agreements pertaining specifically to the transferring Sponsor Member(s), a
Tag-Along Manager shall make the comparable representations, warranties,
covenants, indemnities and agreements); provided that all representations,
warranties and indemnities shall be made by the transferring Sponsor Member(s)
and such Tag-Along Manager severally and not jointly and that the liability of
the transferring Sponsor Member(s) and such Tag-Along Manager thereunder shall
be borne by each of them on a PRO RATA basis. The Tag-Along Managers shall
receive the same type and amount of consideration (and rights) per Unit as is
paid or delivered to the transferring Sponsor Member(s) in the sale pursuant to
Section 2.04(a).
(d) No Transfer of any Unit pursuant to this Section 2.04 shall be
effective unless and until the applicable transferee agrees to be bound by all
of the terms and conditions of the LLC Agreement.
Section 2.05. Fair Market Value. Either the Board or the
compensation committee of the Board shall undertake in good faith to determine
the Fair Market Value of the Units no less frequently than annually and on a
quarterly basis if necessary in connection with a Transfer of Units to the
Company pursuant to Section 2.02 or Section 2.03 of this Agreement. Such
determination shall be made in the sole discretion of the Board or the
compensation committee of the Board, as the case may be.
ARTICLE III
Confidentiality; Intellectual Property Rights
Section 3.01. (a) No Management Member shall at any time (whether
during or after such Management Member's service with the Company or its
Subsidiaries) (i) retain or use for the benefit, purposes or account of the
Management Member or any other Person; or (ii) disclose, divulge, reveal,
communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside the Company
and its Subsidiaries (other than its professional advisers who are bound by
confidentiality obligations), any non-public, proprietary or confidential
information (including trade secrets, know-how, research and development,
software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and
other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments,
profits, pricing, costs, products, services, vendors, customers, clients,
partners, investors, personnel, compensation, recruiting, training, advertising,
sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approval)
concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of
the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and/or any third party that has
disclosed or provided any of same to the Company on a confidential basis,
including, without limitation, the existence and terms of this Agreement, the
LLC Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement ("Confidential Information")
without the prior authorization of the Company.
(b) "Confidential Information" shall not include any information
that is (i) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result
of the Management Member's breach of this covenant or any breach of other
confidentiality obligations by third parties; (ii) made legitimately available
to the Management Member by a third party without breach of any confidentiality
obligation; or (iii) required by law to be disclosed; provided that in
connection with sub-clause (iii), the Management Member shall give prompt
written notice to the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information
than is so required, and cooperate with any attempts by the Company to obtain a
protective order or similar treatment. This Section 3.01 shall not be construed
to preclude the Management Member from using his/her acquired knowledge,
experience and expertise gained during the term of Services in any subsequent
employment, provided that such use does not include the disclosure or other use
in any manner of Confidential Information.
(c) Except as required by law or except in connection with any
proposed transfer in accordance with this Agreement or any transfer to a
Management Permitted Transferee, the Management Member will not disclose to
anyone, other than the Management Member's immediate family and legal or
financial advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement.
(d) Upon termination of the Management Member's Services with the
Company for any reason, the Management Member shall (i) cease and not thereafter
commence use of any Confidential Information or intellectual property (including
any patent, invention, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade name, logo,
domain name or other source indicator) owned or used by the Company, its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates; (ii) immediately destroy, delete, or return to the
Company, at the Company's option, all originals and copies in any form or medium
(including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other
data) in the Management Member's possession or control (including any of the
foregoing stored or located in the Management Member's office, home, laptop or
other computer, whether or not such computer is Company property) that contain
Confidential Information or otherwise relate to the business of the Company, its
Affiliates and Subsidiaries, except that the Management Member may retain only
those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain
any Confidential Information; and (iii) notify and fully cooperate with the
Company regarding the delivery or destruction of any other Confidential
Information of which the Management Member is or becomes aware.
(e) Each Management Member who has participated or will
participate in the creation or development of any intellectual property in the
course of such individual's service to the Company or its Subsidiaries hereby
(i) disclaims and agrees to disclaim any rights with respect to such
intellectual property, (ii) agrees that the Company or a Subsidiary of the
Company, as the case may be, is or will be deemed to be the sole original
owner/author of all such intellectual property and, (iii) if requested by the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, will execute an assignment or an
agreement to assign solely in favor of the Company or such Subsidiary or such
predecessor in interest, as applicable, all right, title and interest in all
such intellectual property.
ARTICLE IV
Definitions
Section 4.01. "Act" shall mean the Delaware Limited Liability
Company Act, Delaware Code, Title 6, Sections 18-101, ET SEQ., as in effect from
time to time.
Section 4.02. "Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto
in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the 1934 Act, as in effect on the date hereof.
Section 4.03. "Applicable Law" means, with respect to any Person,
any statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, injunction, order, decree,
governmental approval, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction
or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation
or administration of any of the foregoing by, any governmental authority,
applicable to such Person or its Subsidiaries or their respective assets.
Section 4.04. "Board" shall mean the board of directors of the
Company.
Section 4.05. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which banks
are required to be open to conduct business in New York City.
Section 4.06. "Cause", when used in connection with the
termination of Services of a Management Member, shall have the same meaning
ascribed to such term in any written agreement relating to Services or any
severance agreement then in effect between such Management Member and the
Company or one of its Subsidiaries or, if no such agreement containing a
definition of "Cause" is then in effect, shall mean a termination of Services of
the Management Member by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof due to (i) the
commission by the Management Member of an act of fraud or embezzlement, (ii) the
indictment or conviction of the Management Member for a felony or a crime
involving moral turpitude or a plea by the Management Member of guilty or nolo
contendere involving such a crime, (iii) the gross negligence, malfeasance or
willful misconduct by the Management Member in the performance of the Management
Member's duties, (iv) the violation by the Management Member of a written
Company policy regarding employment, including substance abuse, sexual
harassment or discrimination, (v) the willful failure of the Management Member
to render services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance with
the Management Member's Services which failure amounts to a material neglect of
the Management Member's duties to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than as a result of mental or physical incapacity) (vi) the repeated failure of
the Management Member to comply with reasonable directives of the Board or the
chief executive officer of the Company consistent with the Management Member's
duties or (vii) the material breach by the Management Member of any of the
provisions of any agreement between the Management Member, on the one hand, and
the Company or a Member or an Affiliate of the Company, on the other hand.
Section 4.07. "Change of Control" shall mean the consummation of
any transaction (including any merger or consolidation) the result of which is
that any Person, other than a Sponsor Member or a Permitted Transferee of a
Sponsor Member, becomes the beneficial
owner, directly or indirectly, of (i) more than 50% of the voting securities of
the Company or its successor entity or (ii) all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or its successor entity.
Section 4.08. "Cost" shall mean, with respect to a Management
Member's Units, the price per unit paid by such Management Member (as
proportionately adjusted for all subsequent distributions of Units and other
recapitalizations).
Section 4.09. "Disability" shall mean the inability of a
Management Member to perform the essential functions of the Management Member's
job, with or without reasonable accommodation, by reason of a physical or mental
infirmity, for a continuous period of six months or for an aggregate of nine
months in a twenty-four month period. The period of six months shall be deemed
continuous unless such Management Member returns to work for at least 30
consecutive business days during such period and performs during such period at
the level and competence that existed prior to the beginning of the six-month
period.
Section 4.10. "Fair Market Value" shall be the fair value of the
Units determined from time to time in good faith by the Board using its
reasonable business judgment. Following the initial public offering of equity
securities of the Company or the IPO Entity, Fair Market Value will be based on
the public trading price of such securities.
Section 4.11. "Financing Default" shall mean an event which would
constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute) an event
of default (which event of default has not been cured) under or would otherwise
violate or breach (i) any financing arrangement of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in effect as of the time of the aforementioned event, and any
extensions, renewals, refinancings or refundings thereof in whole or in part;
and (ii) any provision of the Company's or any of its Subsidiary's
constitutional documents.
Section 4.12. "Investor Group" shall have the meaning set forth
in the LLC Agreement.
Section 4.13. "IPO Entity" shall mean the issuer in a Qualified
IPO.
Section 4.14. "Issuer Common Stock" shall mean common stock of
the same class as that offered to the public by the IPO Entity in a Qualified
IPO or any securities into which such common stock is exchanged, converted or
reclassified, including pursuant to any merger, reorganization or
reclassification.
Section 4.15 "1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 4.16. "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 4.17. "Management Members" shall have the meaning set
forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
Section 4.18. "Manager Permitted Transferee" shall mean, with
respect to any Management Member, (i) a transferee in a Transfer upon the death
of such Management Member to his/her executors, administrators, testamentary
trustees, legatees or beneficiaries (ii) subject to the LLC Agreement, only in
connection with a Transfer by such Management Member for estate planning
purposes not made within twelve months of any other such Transfer, a limited
partnership, limited liability company, trust or custodianship, the
beneficiaries of which may include only such Management Member, his/her spouse
(or ex-spouse) or his/her lineal descendants (including adopted), but only if,
(x) in the case of clause (i) and (ii), such Person becomes a party to, and is
bound to the same extent as the transferor by the terms of, this Agreement and
(y) in the case of a Transfer described in clause (ii), the Compensation
Committee of the Board has given its prior, written approval to such Transfer.
Section 4.19. "Member" shall have the meaning set forth in the
LLC Agreement.
Section 4.20. "Permitted Transferee" shall have the meaning set
forth in the LLC Agreement.
Section 4.21. "Person" means an individual, a partnership, a
corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company,
a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental
entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
Section 4.22. "Public Share FMV", per share of Issuer Common
Stock, shall mean the arithmetic mean of the high and low prices per share as
reported on such date on the composite tape of the principal national securities
exchange on which such shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if no
composite tape exists for such national securities exchange on such date, then
on the principal national securities exchange on which such shares are listed or
admitted to trading, or, if the shares are not listed or admitted on a national
securities exchange, the arithmetic mean of the per share closing bid price and
per share closing asked price on such date as quoted on the National Association
of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (or such market in which such
prices are regularly quoted) (the "NASDAQ"), or, if no sale of shares shall have
been reported on such composite tape or such national securities exchange on
such date or quoted on the NASDAQ on such date, then the immediately preceding
date on which sales of the shares have been so reported or quoted shall be used
to calculate the Public Share FMV.
Section 4.23. "Qualified IPO" shall have the meaning set forth in
the Registration Rights Agreement.
Section 4.24. "Registration Rights Agreement" shall mean that
certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2004, by and among
the Company and the Members, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time.
Section 4.25. "Sale Date" shall mean, with respect to any Unit,
the date on which such Unit was first purchased from the Company.
Section 4.26. "Services" shall mean (i) a Management Member's
employment if the Management Member is an employee of the Company or any of its
Affiliates, (ii) a Management Member's services as a consultant, if the
Management Member is a consultant to the Company or any of its Affiliates and
(iii) a Management Member's services as a non-employee director, if the
Management Member is a non-employee member of the Board or the board of
directors of an Affiliate; provided however that unless otherwise determined by
the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, a change in a Management
Member's status from employee to non-employee (other than with respect to a
director of the Company or an Affiliate) shall constitute a termination of
employment hereunder.
Section 4.27. "Sponsor Members" shall have the meaning set forth
in the LLC Agreement
Section 4.28. "Subsidiary" shall have the meaning set forth in
the LLC Agreement.
Section 4.29. "Tag-Along Manager" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.04(a).
Section 4.30. "Tag-Along Notice" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 2.04(a).
Section 4.31. "Tag-Along Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 2.04(a).
Section 4.32. "Tag-Along Purchaser" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.04(a).
Section 4.33. "Tag-Along Securities" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.04(a).
Section 4.34. "Termination Event" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.02(a).
Section 4.35. "Transfer" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.01(a).
Section 4.36. "Units" shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals of this Agreement.
Section 4.37. "Units Buyer" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.02(c).
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 5.01. Assignment and Binding Effect. Neither the Company nor
any Management Member shall assign all or any part of this Agreement without the
prior written
consent of the other and the consent of the Board. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the
parties pursuant to this paragraph.
Section 5.02. Conversion; Restructuring; Recapitalization;
Reorganization. (a) In connection with a Qualified IPO, pursuant to Section 4.06
of the LLC Agreement, the Units may be converted at the discretion of the Board
into Reclassified Securities (as defined in the LLC Agreement) and it is
contemplated that the restrictions contained in this Agreement would in such
case be replicated in one or more management shareholders agreements governing
the Reclassified Securities to which the Management Members would become
parties.
(b) The Company may, at the discretion of the Board and in
accordance with applicable U.S. state and federal law (including the 1933 Act
and the 1934 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder), effect a reorganization,
reclassification, conversion, merger, recapitalization or restructuring (each, a
"Restructuring Event") pursuant to which the Members would become members or
shareholders of a new limited liability company or corporation and cease to be
Members of the Company or receive different securities of the Company. The
units, shares or other equity interests provided to each Management Member
pursuant to such Corporate Restructuring would provide each Management Member
with substantially similar economic and other rights and privileges as such
Management Member had as a Member of the Company prior to such Restructuring
Event and which are consistent with the rights and preferences attendant to the
Units held by the Management Members immediately prior to such Restructuring
Event. It is contemplated that the Management Members, the company formed by
such Restructuring Event and, in the discretion of the Sponsor Members, the
Sponsor Members, would enter a management members agreement or management
shareholders agreement, as the case may be, in conjunction with such
Restructuring Event, containing provisions substantially similar to the
provisions of this Agreement. The Management Members hereby agree to enter into
any such management members agreement or management shareholders agreement.
Section 5.03. Third Party Beneficiaries. Each of the Sponsor
Members shall be considered a third party beneficiary of the representations,
warranties and agreements of the Management Members made in this Agreement,
entitled to take any action against any Management Member as if such Sponsor
Member were the Company hereunder.
Section 5.04. Notices. Any notice, demand, request, waiver, or
other communication under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
to have been given when personally delivered, one day after deposit with Federal
Express or similar overnight courier service or three days after being mailed by
first class mail, return receipt requested shall be deemed to have been given on
the date mailed, and shall be addressed as follows:
TO THE COMPANY: Nalco LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
And a copy to: Wachtell, Lipton, Xxxxx & Xxxx
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
TO ANY MANAGEMENT INVESTOR MEMBER At the address set forth in the written
records of the Company.
Section 5.05. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT
REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF
THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
Section 5.06. Jurisdiction. The parties hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of
the State of Delaware for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or
relating to this agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and agree
not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in such
courts, and further agree that service of any process, summons, notice or
document by U.S. registered mail to its address set forth above shall be
effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding brought against
such party in any such court). The parties hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit
or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby in the courts of the State of Delaware, and hereby further irrevocably
and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that
any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought
in an inconvenient forum.
Section 5.07. Management Member's Services. Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall be deemed to obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to
employ or retain any Management Member in any capacity whatsoever or to prohibit
or restrict the Company (or any Subsidiary) from terminating the Services of the
Management Member at any time or for any reason whatsoever, with or without
Cause.
Section 5.08. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the LLC Agreement
and the Registration Rights Agreement set forth the entire understanding and
agreement of the parties hereto and supersede any and all other understandings,
term sheets, negotiations or agreements between the parties hereto relating to
the subject matter of this Agreement, the LLC Agreement and the Registration
Rights Agreement.
Section 5.09. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which
together shall constitute a single agreement.
Section 5.10. Severability. In the event that any one or more of
the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the same shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall be construed in a manner which, as
nearly as possible, reflects the original intent of the parties.
Section 5.11. Interpretation. Words used in the singular form in
this Agreement shall be deemed to import the plural, and vice versa, as the
sense may require. The table of contents and headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include,"
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation."
Section 5.12. Amendment. Any amendment to this Agreement shall
only be effective if evidenced by a written instrument signed by the Company;
provided, that any such amendment that is materially adverse to the economic
interests of a Management Member shall only be effective if such Management
Member consents thereto in writing.
Section 5.13. Waiver. Any party hereto may (i) extend the time
for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties
hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and (iii) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any
agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be
valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party granting
such waiver but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with
such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver
of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or future failure.
Section 5.14. Further Assurances. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto will use its reasonable
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations, to consummate and make effective the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 5.15. Sections, Exhibits, Schedules. References to a
section are, unless otherwise specified, to one of the sections of this
Agreement and references to an "Exhibit" or
"Schedule" are, unless otherwise specified, to one of the exhibits or schedules
attached to this Agreement.
Section 5.16. Specific Enforcement. The Management Members and
the Company acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the
event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, this being in addition to
any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity.
Section 5.17. Successors. Manager Permitted Transferees are
entitled to all of the rights and subject to all of the obligations of the
transferor hereunder from whom they received their Interests regardless of
whether the Agreement elsewhere so expressly provides.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
date set forth above.
NALCO LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
MANAGEMENT MEMBER
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------
Print: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
[Signature Page - Management Members Agreement]
Schedule A
Management Members
The Management Members will be those who accept the pending offer to participate
in the Units Plan.
EXHIBIT A
CONTINGENT BONUS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issuer: A Subsidiary of the Company
Bonus: Bonus of up to the maximum amount specified in the
Management Member's subscription agreement with the
Company, subject to the contingencies set forth below
Contingency: Bonus will be paid to a Management Member following a
Qualified IPO of a subsidiary of the Company (if a
Qualified IPO occurs prior to June 1, 2005) if he or she
is i) an employee of the Company or one of its
subsidiaries on January 1, 2007 and ii) required to pay
current income tax on compensation with respect to Class A
Units prior to January 1, 2007 attributable to a final
"determination" (as defined in Section 1313(a)(i) of the
Code) of a valuation of such Units in excess of the
valuation prepared by the Company's third party valuation
firm; the bonus shall be an amount equal to the current
income tax attributable to the "determination", subject to
the maximum amount set forth above.
Eligibility: A Management Member will only be eligible for the bonus if
for all tax reporting purposes the Management Member uses
the Units valuation prepared by the Company's third party
valuation firm in connection with the issuance of the Units
