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EXHIBIT 10.9
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
This Management Agreement is entered into effective as of October 1,
1997 ("Effective Date") by and between Xxxxxx X. Xxx Company, a Massachusetts
sole proprietorship with a principal place of business at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Consultant"), and TransWestern Publishing
Company, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("TransWestern").
WHEREAS, the Consultant has staff specially skilled in corporate
finance, strategic corporate planning and other management skills and services;
and
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, TransWestern has completed its
recapitalization pursuant to the Securities Purchase and Redemption Agreement
dated this date by and among TransWestern, its general partner and limited
partners, certain affiliates of the Consultant and the stockholders of
TransWestern Communications Company, Inc., the general partner of TransWestern
(the "Company"), together with the consummation of senior credit facilities and
subordinated debt financing (collectively, the "Recapitalization"); and
WHEREAS, TransWestern will require the Consultant's special skills and
management advisory services in connection with its general business operations;
and
WHEREAS, the Consultant is willing to provide such skills and services
to TransWestern.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained
herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as
follows:
1. Engagement. TransWestern hereby engages the Consultant for the Term
(as hereinafter defined) and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth to
provide consulting and management advisory services to TransWestern, as
requested by TransWestern. These services will be in connection with financial
and strategic corporate planning and such other management services as the
Consultant and TransWestern shall mutually agree. In consideration of the
remuneration herein specified, the Consultant accepts such engagement and agrees
to perform the services specified herein.
2. Term. The engagement hereunder shall be for a term commencing on the
date hereof and expiring on the first (1st) anniversary hereof (the "Term"),
provided, however, that the Consultant or TransWestern may terminate this
Agreement at any time upon thirty (30) days prior written notice. Upon
expiration of the Term, this Agreement shall automatically extend for successive
periods of one (1) year, unless the Consultant or TransWestern shall give notice
to the other at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the Term (or any
annual extension thereof) indicating that it does not intend to renew the
Agreement. Upon final expiration of the Term (or any annual extension thereof)
all obligations as between the parties and/or any third party beneficiaries
shall be extinguished without recourse to any party under this Agreement.
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3. Services to be Performed. The Consultant shall devote reasonable time
and efforts to the performance of the consulting and management advisory
services contemplated by this Agreement. However, no precise number of hours is
to be devoted by the Consultant on a weekly or monthly basis. The Consultant may
perform services under this Agreement directly, through its employees or agents,
or with such outside consultants as the Consultant may engage for such purpose.
4. Compensation; Expense Reimbursement.
4.1 (a) In connection with the closing of the Recapitalization, on
the date hereof, TransWestern shall pay or cause to be paid a closing fee of
$5,000,000 ("Closing Fee") pro-rata to the Consultant and its affiliates and
other partners of TransWestern and other stockholders of the Company in
proportion to their respective post-Recapitalization equity interests as set
forth on Exhibit "A" attached hereto. For purposes of determining the
post-Recapitalization equity interest of the Consultant, the equity interest of
the Consultant shall be aggregated with the equity interests of all of the
Consultant's affiliates. The portion of the Closing Fee payable to Consultant
shall be paid directly to the Consultant and its affiliates as directed by
Consultant.
(b) In consideration of the management advisory services provided
by Consultant hereunder and other partners of TransWestern and stockholders of
the Company, TransWestern shall pay or cause to be paid a monthly management fee
of $41,666.67 on the last day of each month during the Term (the "Management
Fee"). Each monthly Management Fee shall be paid to the Consultant and other
partners of TransWestern and other stockholders of the Company or their
respective Permitted Transferees (as defined below) as set forth on Exhibit "B"
attached hereto; provided, however, that (i) with respect to any individual
listed on Exhibit "B" who is an employee of or a consultant to TransWestern or
the Company on the Effective Date, upon any expiration or termination of such
individual's employment or consultant relationship with TransWestern or the
Company, all of such individual's rights to receive a portion of the Management
Fee hereunder shall immediately terminate, and (ii) the right to receive a
portion of the Management Fee is not assignable or transferrable, except to a
Permitted Transferee. In the event of any sale, assignment or transfer by any
individual or entity listed on Exhibit "B" (a "Transferor") of their respective
post-recapitalization equity interests, other than to a Permitted Transferee of
such Transferor, the portion of the Management Fee payable to such Transferor
shall terminate pro-rata with respect to the portion of such
post-recapitalization equity interest transferred and the total Management Fee
payable each month thereafter by TransWestern shall be reduced by the amount of
the Management Fee so terminated. The portion of the Management Fee payable to
the non-Transferor individuals and entities listed on Exhibit "B" hereto shall
not be reduced or otherwise affected. The Management Fee shall not be payable
for partial months and no right to receive a portion of the Management Fee for
any month shall accrue until the last day of such month. As used herein, the
term "Permitted Transferee" shall mean (i) in the case of an individual, a
member of such individual's Family Group or a recipient pursuant to applicable
laws of devise and descent, or (ii) in the case of an entity, one or more
Affiliates of such entity. "Family Group" means an individual's spouse and
descendants (whether natural or adopted) and any trust solely for the benefit of
such
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individual and/or any of such individual's spouse or descendants. "Affiliate" of
an entity means any other person, entity or investment fund controlling,
controlled by or under common control with such entity and any partner of such
entity which is a partnership.
(c) TransWestern acknowledges and agrees that the other partners
of TransWestern and stockholders of the Company are intended third party
beneficiaries of the covenants and obligations of TransWestern pursuant to
Section 4.1(a) and Section 4.1(b). TransWestern acknowledges and agrees that
said intended third party beneficiaries may assert against TransWestern any and
all rights and benefits which have been covenanted or granted to said intended
third party beneficiaries and/or to which said intended third party
beneficiaries may be otherwise entitled under the terms of this Agreement and/or
applicable law.
4.2 TransWestern shall reimburse the Consultant for all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with management advisory services
to be provided by the Consultant hereunder, including, without limitation,
reasonable travel, lodging and similar out-of-pocket costs reasonably incurred
by it in connection with or on account of its performance of services for
TransWestern hereunder. Reimbursement shall be made only upon presentation to
TransWestern by the Consultant of reasonably itemized documentation therefor.
5. Indemnification. In addition to its agreements and obligations under
this Agreement, TransWestern agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the
Consultant and the person, entities or funds listed on Exhibit "A" hereto, and
their respective affiliates (including its officers, directors, stockholders,
partners, employees and agents) (individually and collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties") from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses and damages
(or actions in respect thereof), in any way related to or arising out of the
performance by the Indemnified Parties of services under Sections 1 and 3 of
this Agreement (other than for expenses incurred described in Section 4 hereof
or for compensation for services rendered), and to reimburse the Indemnified
Parties for reasonable out-of-pocket legal and other expenses incurred by it in
connection with or relating to investigating, preparing to defend, or defending
any actions, claims or other proceedings (including any investigation or
inquiry) arising in any manner out of or in connection with this Agreement
(whether or not such indemnified person is a named party in such proceeding);
provided, however, that TransWestern shall not be responsible under this Section
5 for any claims, liabilities, losses, damages or expenses to the extent that
they are finally judicially determined to result from actions taken by the
Indemnified Parties due primarily to the Indemnified Parties' gross negligence
or willful misconduct.
6. Notice. All notices hereunder, to be effective, shall be in writing
and shall be mailed by certified mail, postage prepaid as follows:
(i) If to the Consultant:
Xxxxxx X. Xxx Company
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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(ii) If to TransWestern:
TransWestern Publishing Company, L.P.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx.
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President
7. Modifications. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof, superseding
all prior understandings and agreements whether written or oral. This Agreement
may not be amended or revised except by a writing signed by the parties;
provided, however, that Section 4.1(a), Section 4.1(b) and Section 4.1(c) may
not be amended without the written consent of the intended third party
beneficiaries described in Section 4.1(c).
8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns
but may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the
other.
9. Captions. Captions have been inserted solely for the convenience of
reference and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or substance of any
provision and shall not affect the validity of any other provision.
10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed under and governed
by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without reference to its
conflicts of law principles.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as a
sealed instrument as of the date first above written.
XXXXXX X. XXX COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
TRANSWESTERN PUBLISHING
COMPANY, L.P.
By: TRANSWESTERN COMMUNICATIONS
COMPANY, INC., its general partner
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
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