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EXHIBIT 10.8
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made effective as of
January 27, 1997 (the "Effective Date"), between CSK Group, LTD., a Delaware
corporation ("Issuer"), and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx ("Optionee").
R E C I T A L S
A. Issuer desires to grant Optionee the opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest in Issuer to encourage Optionee's contribution to the
success and progress of Issuer and CSK Auto, Inc., an Arizona corporation
("Employer").
B. The Board of Directors of Issuer has as of the Effective Date granted
to Optionee a non-qualified stock option to purchase shares of Class B Stock,
$.01 par value, of Issuer (the "Class B Stock") subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
AGREEMENTS
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the
following meanings:
"Act" is defined in Section 10.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under
common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" of a
Person shall mean the power, directly or indirectly, (i) to vote fifty percent
(50%) or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of
directors of such Person whether by ownership of securities, contract, proxy or
otherwise; or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of management and policies
of such person whether by ownership of securities, contract, proxy or otherwise.
"Agreement" means this Stock Option Agreement.
"Approved Sale" means a transaction or a series of related
transactions with an acquiror which had not previously been a shareholder of
Employer or Issuer (other than, if the Approved Sale occurs after an Initial
Public Offering, as a result of purchasing shares in the public market) which
results in a bona fide, unaffiliated change of beneficial ownership of (a) 80%
of Employer's or Issuer's common equity securities or (b) all or substantially
all of either of their assets, whether pursuant to the sale of the stock or
assets of Employer or Issuer, or a merger or consolidation involving Employer or
Issuer.
"Cause" shall have the meaning given to it in the Employment
Agreement
"Class B Stock" is defined in recital B.
"Cumulative Vesting Shares" is defined in Section 3(a).
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"EBITDA" is defined in Section 3(a).
"Effective Date" is defined in the preamble.
"Eligible Shares" is defined in Section 3(a).
"Employer" is defined in recital A.
"Employment Agreement" means the employment agreement between
Optionee and Employer dated as of January 27, 1997.
"Endorsed Certificate" means a stock certificate evidencing the
shares properly endorsed for transfer.
"Exercise Price" is defined in Section 2.
"Fair Market Value" means the value of a Share, as of the
Termination Date, determined pursuant to Section 9(c).
"Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of Issuer.
"Good Reason" shall have the meaning given to it in the
Employment Agreement.
"Initial Public Offering" is defined in the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation.
"Initial Stockholders" means the 16 stockholders of Issuer that
purchased shares of Issuer on October 30, 1996 and who are entities organized
under the laws of the Cayman Islands with whom an affiliate of Investcorp Bank
E.C., a Bahrain corporation, has an administrative relationship, and persons who
acquire shares of Issuer from such stockholders and who are entities so
organized and administered.
"Issuer" is defined in the preamble.
"Lock-Up Period" means, in the case of an Initial Public Offering,
the 180-day period commencing on the effective date of the registration
statement covering capital stock of Issuer or Employer sold in such Initial
Public Offering, and, in the case of any subsequent registered offering, the
90-day period commencing on the effective date of the registration statement
relating to such offering, or, in either case, such lesser period as may be
agreed upon by Issuer or Employer with the underwriters of such offering.
"Minimum Qualifying Approved Sale" is defined in Section 3(c).
"Option" is defined in Section 2.
"Optionee" is defined in the preamble.
"Option Shares" is defined in Section 2.
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"Partial Qualifying Approved Sale" is defined in Section 3(c).
"Permanent Disability" is defined in the Employment Agreement.
"Permitted Transferee" is defined in Section 5.
"Person" means any natural person, partnership, corporation,
trust or incorporated organization.
"Public Sale" means an Approved Sale which occurs after the
consummation of an Initial Public Offering of the Issuer's common equity
securities.
"Purchase Date" is defined in Section 9(a).
"Qualifying Approved Sale" is defined in Section 3(c).
"Realization Date" is defined in Section 3(c).
"Repurchase Period" is defined in Section 9(a).
"Repurchase Price" is defined in Section 9(a).
"Restated Certificate of Incorporation" means the restated
certificate of incorporation of Issuer filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware on October 30, 1996, and as the same from time-to-time may
hereafter be amended.
"Stockholders' Agreement" means the agreement dated as of October
30, 1996 among Issuer and all of its stockholders as of such date.
"Subsidiary" means any joint venture, corporation, partnership or
other entity as to which Issuer or Employer, whether directly or indirectly, has
more than 50% of the (i) voting rights or (ii) rights to capital or profits.
"Termination Date" means the date on which Optionee ceases to be
employed by Employer or any Affiliate of Employer for any reason; provided,
however, that Optionee shall not be considered to have ceased to be employed by
Employer or any Affiliate of Employer if he or she continues to be employed by
Issuer or any Subsidiary.
2. Grant of Option. Issuer grants to Optionee the right and option (the
"Option") to purchase, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, all or
any part of an aggregate of 23,500 shares of Class B Stock (the "Option
Shares"), at the purchase price of $205.88 per Share (as such amount may be
adjusted as herein provided, the "Exercise Price"), on the terms and conditions
set forth herein.
3. Exercisability.
(a) Optionee's right to exercise the Option shall vest to the extent
of 5,875 Option Shares as of ninety (90) days following the end of each Fiscal
Year set forth on Exhibit 1
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of this Agreement if Issuer's consolidated Earnings Before Interest, Taxes,
Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"), as defined on Exhibit 1, equals or
exceeds the annual EBITDA amount set forth in Line A of Exhibit 1 with respect
to such Fiscal Year. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Section 3(a), for each such Fiscal Year in which Issuer's annual EBITDA is less
than the annual EBITDA amount set forth in Line F of Exhibit 1, Optionee will
forfeit the ability to have 5,875 Option Shares vested under the provisions of
this Section 3(a). If for any Fiscal Year:
(i) the Issuer's annual EBITDA is less than the annual EBITDA amount set
forth in Line E of Exhibit 1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, but is
equal to or greater than the EBITDA amount set forth in Line F of Exhibit
1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, no right to exercise Option Shares
will vest in Optionee, but 5,875 of the Option Shares shall become
eligible for early vesting under clauses (vi) and (vii) below (the
"Section 3(a)(i) Shares");
(ii) the Issuer's annual EBITDA is less than the annual EBITDA amount set
forth in Line D of Exhibit 1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, but is
equal to or greater than the EBITDA amount set forth in Line E of Exhibit
1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, the Option shall vest to the extent of
2,938 Option Shares with respect to such Fiscal Year and an additional
2,937 Option Shares shall become eligible for early vesting under clauses
(vi) and (vii) below (the "Section 3(a)(ii) Shares");
(iii) the Issuer's annual EBITDA is less than the annual EBITDA amount set
forth in Line C of Exhibit 1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, but is
equal to or greater than the EBITDA amount set forth in Line D of Exhibit
1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, the Option shall vest to the extent of
3,672 Option Shares with respect to such Fiscal Year and an additional
2,203 Option Shares shall become eligible for early vesting under clauses
(vi) and (vii) below (the "Section 3(a)(iii) Shares");
(iv) the Issuer's annual EBITDA is less than the annual EBITDA amount set
forth in Line B of Exhibit 1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, but is
equal to or greater than the EBITDA amount set forth in Line C of Exhibit
1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, the Option shall vest to the extent of
4,406 Option Shares with respect to such Fiscal Year and an additional
1,469 Option Shares shall become eligible for early vesting under clauses
(vi) and (vii) below (the "Section 3(a)(iv) Shares");
(v) the Issuer's annual EBITDA is less than the annual EBITDA amount set
forth in Line A of Exhibit 1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, but is
equal to or greater than the EBITDA amount set forth in Line B of Exhibit
1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, the Option shall vest to the extent of
5,141 Option Shares with respect to such Fiscal Year and an additional 734
Option Shares shall become eligible for early vesting under clauses (vi)
and (vii) below (the "Section 3(a)(v) Shares," and together with the
Section(a)(i) Shares, the Section (a)(ii) Shares, the Section (a)(iii)
Shares and the Section (s)(iv) Shares, the "Cumulative Vesting Shares");
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(vi) the Issuer's cumulative annual EBITDA for that and the preceding
Fiscal Years on Exhibit 1 equals or exceeds the Cumulative EBITDA amount
set forth in Line G of Exhibit 1 with respect to such Fiscal Year, the
Optionee's right to exercise the Option shall vest to the extent that it
would have vested pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph 3(a)
had the Issuer achieved the annual EBITDA amount set forth in Line A of
Exhibit 1 for that Fiscal Year and shall also vest to the extent of any
Cumulative Vesting Shares which have not otherwise vested hereunder; or
(vii) (x) the Issuer's cumulative annual EBITDA for that and the
preceding Fiscal Years on Exhibit 1 is less than the cumulative EBITDA
amount set forth in Line G of Exhibit 1 with respect to such Fiscal Year,
but (y) the Issuer's annual EBITDA with respect to such Fiscal Year
exceeds the annual EBITDA amount set forth in Line A of Exhibit 1 for such
Fiscal Year, in addition to vesting pursuant to the first sentence of this
paragraph 3(a), the option shall further vest in an amount obtained by
multiplying the number of Cumulative Vesting Shares not previously vested
by a fraction (which shall not be greater than 1), the numerator of which
is the amount by which the Issuer's actual EBITDA for the current Fiscal
Year exceeds the amount set forth in Line A of Exhibit 1 for the current
Fiscal Year and the denominator of which is the amount set forth in Line G
of Exhibit 1 for the prior Fiscal Year less the sum of the Issuer's actual
annual EBITDA for all prior Fiscal Years back to and including the 1997
Fiscal Year other than the current Fiscal Year.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in paragraph
(a) or paragraph (c) of this Section (c), the right to exercise the Option shall
immediately vest in full upon the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective
Date, provided that the Termination Date has not occurred prior to such date.
(c) A "Qualifying Approved Sale" shall occur if (i) an Approved Sale
is a Public Sale, or (ii) the Board of Directors of Issuer determines in
connection with an Approved Sale that is not a Public Sale or in connection with
an Initial Public Offering in which all of the equity securities of Issuer held
by the Initial Stockholders are sold that the annual compounded rate of return
expected to be realized by the Initial Stockholders, based upon an initial base
cost of the shares of $205.88 per share, from October 30, 1996 through the date
on which it is estimated that the Initial Stockholders will receive the net
proceeds from such Approved Sale or Initial Public Offering (a "Realization
Date"), equals or exceeds 30% per annum, assuming the exercise of all then
outstanding options that are exercisable (whether upon the occurrence of such
Qualifying Approved Sale or for any other reason). A "Partial Qualifying
Approved Sale" shall occur if the Board of Directors of Issuer determines in
connection with an Approved Sale that is not a Public Sale or in connection with
an Initial Public Offering in which all of the equity securities of Issuer held
by the Initial Stockholders are sold that the annual compounded rate of return
expected to be realized by the Initial Stockholders, based upon an initial base
cost of the shares of $205.88 per share, from October 30, 1996 through the
Realization Date, equals or exceeds 25% per annum, but is less than 30% per
annum, assuming the exercise of all then outstanding options that are
exercisable (whether upon the occurrence of such Qualifying Approved Sale or for
any other reason). A "Minimum Qualifying Approved Sale" shall occur if the Board
of Directors of Issuer determines in connection with an Approved Sale that is
not a
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Public Sale or in connection with an Initial Public Offering in which all of the
equity securities of Issuer held by the Initial Stockholders are sold that the
annual compounded rate of return expected to be realized by the Initial
Stockholders, based upon an initial base cost of the shares of $205.88 per
share, from October 30, 1996 through the Realization Date, equals or exceeds 20%
per annum, but is less than 25% per annum, assuming the exercise of all then
outstanding options that are exercisable (whether upon the occurrence of such
Qualifying Approved Sale or for any other reason). In the event of a Qualifying
Approved Sale, the Option shall vest fully on the Realization Date. In the event
of a Partial Qualifying Approved Sale, 75% of the unvested portion of the option
shall vest on the Realization Date. In the event of a Minimum Qualifying
Approved Sale, 50% of the unvested portion of the option shall vest on the
Realization Date. The amount used in determining the rate of return on the
Realization Date shall be the per share net proceeds from such Qualifying
Approved Sale, Partial Qualifying Approved Sale or Minimum Qualifying Approved
Sale (in each case including the proceeds attributable to any outstanding
Options) reduced by the estimated fees and expenses of such Sale, including
without limitation investment banking, legal and accounting fees. In the case of
an Initial Public Offering that is neither a Qualifying Approved Sale, a Partial
Qualifying Approved Sale, or a Minimum Qualifying Approved Sale, any outstanding
Options that are not vested shall be fully vested after the expiration of two
(2) years after the Realization Date.
4. Expiration.
(a) The vested portion of the Option shall expire upon the thirtieth
(30th) day following the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Date unless
(i) at any time prior to a Qualifying Approved Sale, Optionee is terminated
without Cause, Optionee ceases to be employed by Employer or a Subsidiary due to
death or Permanent Disability or Optionee resigns for Good Reason, in which case
the vested portion of the Option shall expire 180 days following the Termination
Date, (ii) Optionee resigns other than for Good Reason or is terminated for
Cause from employment by Employer, in which case the vested portion of the
Option shall expire at 5:00 p.m. Phoenix time on the second business day after
the date of such termination; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained in this Section 4(a), if the Issuer exercises the
purchase right pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the vested portion of the Option
shall expire on the business day immediately preceding the Purchase Date.
(b) The unvested portion of the Option shall expire on the
Termination Date except in the case where Optionee is terminated from employment
by Employer without Cause, Optionee ceases to be so employed due to death or
Permanent Disability or Optionee resigns for Good Reason, in which case the
unvested portion of the Option shall terminate 180 days following the end of the
Fiscal Year during which the Termination Date occurred, subject to the vesting
of any portion of the Option as of 90 days following the end of such Fiscal Year
pursuant to Section 3(a); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Section 4(b), if Issuer exercises the purchase
right pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the unvested portion of the Option shall
expire on the business day immediately preceding the Purchase Date.
5. Nontransferability. Subject to Section 9 hereof, the Option shall not
be transferable by Optionee otherwise than to his or her spouse, child, estate,
personal representative, heir or successor or to a trust for the benefit of
Optionee or his or her spouse,
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child or heir (a "Permitted Transferee"), and the Option shall be exercisable,
during Optionee's lifetime, only by him or her or by any of the foregoing
Permitted Transferees, or in the event of Optionee's Permanent Disability, his
or her guardian or legal representative. More particularly (but without limiting
the generality of the foregoing), the Option may not be assigned, transferred
(except as aforesaid), pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation
of law or otherwise), and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or
similar process. Any assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other
disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any
attachment or similar process upon the Option that would otherwise effect a
change in the ownership of the Option, shall terminate the Option; provided,
however, that in the case of the involuntary levy of any attachment or similar
involuntary process upon the Option, Optionee shall have thirty (30) days after
notice thereof to cure such levy or process and reinstate the Option. This
Agreement shall be binding on and enforceable against any person who is a
Permitted Transferee of the Option pursuant to the first sentence of this
Section.
6. Effect of Merger; Adjustments.
(a) In the event of an Approved Sale that is a merger or other form
of corporate reorganization and notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement, the unexercised portion of the Option shall be subject to the terms
of the agreement or plan of merger or reorganization effecting such merger or
reorganization and shall be converted, redeemed, exchanged, canceled or
otherwise treated as provided in such agreement or plan of merger or
reorganization, provided that Optionee shall be given at least 20 days' prior
notice of the proposed merger or reorganization and shall (notwithstanding
anything else herein to the contrary) be entitled to exercise the vested portion
of the Option at any time during such 20 day period up to and until the close of
business on the day immediately preceding the date of consummation of such
merger or reorganization (which exercise may be expressly contingent upon
completion of the Approved Sale if the unexercised portion of the Option were to
vest as a result of such sale being a Qualifying Approved Sale) and upon
exercise of the Option the Option Shares shall be treated in the same manner as
the shares of any other stockholder of Issuer.
(b) Subject to Section 6(a), in the event of any one or more
reorganizations, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock splits, reverse
stock splits, stock dividends or similar events, an appropriate adjustment shall
be made in the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to the
Option, and the Exercise Price for each Option Share or other unit of any
securities subject to this Agreement. No fractional interests shall be issued on
account of any such adjustment unless the Board of Directors of the Issuer
specifically determines to the contrary; provided, however, that in lieu of
fractional interests, Optionee, upon the exercise of the Option in whole or
part, shall receive cash in an amount equal to the amount by which the Fair
Market Value of such fractional interests exceeds the Exercise Price
attributable to such fractional interests.
7. Exercise of the Option. Prior to the expiration thereof, Optionee may
exercise the vested portion of the Option from time to time in whole or in part.
Upon electing to exercise the Option, Optionee shall deliver to the Secretary of
Issuer a written and signed notice of such election setting forth the number of
Option Shares Optionee has elected to purchase and shall at the time of delivery
of such notice tender cash or a cashier's or certified bank check to the order
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of Issuer for the full Exercise Price of such Option Shares and any amount
required pursuant to Section 16 hereof. The Issuer may, in its discretion, also
permit payment of the Exercise Price in such form or in such manner as may be
permissible under any applicable law.
8. Restrictions on Transfers of Option Shares. Subject to Section 9
hereof, prior to the termination of the Lock-Up Period following an Initial
Public Offering, the Option Shares shall not be transferable or transferred,
assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or
otherwise) except that Optionee may transfer the Option Shares to a Permitted
Transferee. This Agreement shall be binding on and enforceable against any
person who is a Permitted Transferee of the Option Shares. The stock
certificates issued to evidence Option Shares upon exercise of the Option
hereunder shall bear legends referring to this Agreement and the restrictions
contained herein.
9. Purchase of Option Shares.
(a) In the event that the Termination Date occurs for any reason
prior to an Initial Public Offering or an Approved Sale, the Option Shares shall
be subject to repurchase as follows:
(i) Issuer, during the sixty (60) days following the later of the
Termination Date or the date upon which Optionee gives notice in
accordance with Section 7 hereof of his election to exercise all or a part
of the portion of the Option vested at the Termination Date (the
"Repurchase Period"), shall have the right to purchase all, but not less
than all, of the Option Shares owned by Optionee on the Termination Date
or to be acquired by Optionee pursuant to such notice of exercise.
(ii) In the event that Optionee becomes entitled to acquire Option
Shares after the Termination Date, Issuer may notify Optionee in
accordance with Section 9(b) hereof that Issuer will purchase any Option
Shares that Optionee may thereafter acquire upon the exercise of the
Option and shall set the Purchase Date (as hereinafter defined) and shall
purchase such Option Shares, if any, pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.
(iii) The purchase price (the "Repurchase Price") for each Option
Share shall be Fair Market Value, provided, however, that in the case of
Option Shares purchased by Optionee during the 90-day period immediately
preceding the Purchase Date, if no material adverse change in the business
or financial condition of the Employer occurs during such 90-day period,
the purchase price shall be the greater of Fair Market Value or the per
share exercise price paid by Optionee upon his acquisition of the Option
Share.
(iv) If Issuer elects to purchase the Option Shares, it shall notify
Optionee at or before the end of the Repurchase Period and the Repurchase
Price shall be paid in cash at a time set by Issuer which time shall be
within thirty (30) days after the end of the Repurchase Period (the
"Purchase Date"), provided that Optionee has presented to Issuer an
Endorsed Certificate.
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(v) The Option Shares shall be transferred to Issuer free and clear
of all liens, encumbrances, mortgages, pledges, security interests,
restrictions, prior assignments and claims of any kind or nature
whatsoever except those created by the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation or this Agreement. If Issuer does not purchase the Option
Shares, the restrictions on transfer thereof contained in Sections 5 and 8
of this Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.
Notwithstanding Optionee's failure to deliver the Endorsed Certificate,
the Option Shares represented thereby shall be deemed to be owned by
Issuer upon (A) the payment by Issuer of the purchase price to Optionee or
his or her Permitted Transferee or (B) notice to Optionee or such
Permitted Transferee that Issuer is holding the purchase price in the
United States for the account of Optionee or such Permitted Transferee,
and upon such payment or notice (x) Optionee and such Permitted Transferee
will have no further rights in or to such Option Shares, (y) Issuer shall
be entitled to specific performance of Optionee's or such Permitted
Transferee's obligation to deliver such Endorsed Certificates, and (z)
Optionee and his or her Permitted Transferee shall be jointly and
severally liable for all reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs and
expenses incurred by Issuer in enforcing its right to repurchase the
Option Shares hereunder and shall pay to Issuer promptly upon demand the
amount of all such fees and expenses.
(b) In the event an unvested portion of the Option becomes
exercisable pursuant to Section 4(b), for purposes of Section 9(a), the
Repurchase Period shall commence as of the date notice of the Option's
exercisability is provided to Optionee.
(c) The Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by
Issuer's Board of Directors. If the Board determination is challenged by
Optionee, a mutually acceptable investment banker or appraiser shall establish
the Fair Market Value. If Optionee and Issuer cannot agree upon an investment
banker or appraiser each shall choose an investment banker or appraiser and the
two investment bankers or appraisers shall choose a third investment banker or
appraiser who alone shall establish the Fair Market Value. The Fair Market Value
shall be based on an assumed sale of 100% of the outstanding capital stock of
Issuer (without reduction for minority discount or lack of liquidity of the
Option Shares) and shall be determined using customary criteria generally
employed within the investment banking community at the time such determination
is made for valuing an entity similar to Issuer. The investment banker's or
appraiser's determination shall be conclusive and binding on Shareholder, Issuer
and Optionee. Issuer shall bear all costs incurred in connection with the
services of such investment banker or appraiser unless the Fair Market Value
established by the investment banker or appraiser is (i) less than or equal to
110% of the Board of Directors' determination, in which case Optionee shall
promptly pay or reimburse Issuer for such costs or (ii) greater than 110% but
less than 130% of the Board of Directors' determination, in which case Optionee
shall promptly pay or reimburse Issuer for 50% of such costs.
(d) For so long as Optionee or his or her Permitted Transferee owns
the Option Shares, Issuer agrees that it shall, upon the written request of
Optionee, provide Optionee with annual financial statements of Issuer promptly
upon the completion of the preparation of such statements. The annual financial
statements shall be accompanied by an audit report by Issuer's independent
accountants.
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10. Compliance with Legal Requirements.
(a) No Option Shares shall be issued or transferred pursuant to this
Agreement unless and until all legal requirements applicable to such issuance or
transfer have, in the opinion of counsel to Issuer, been satisfied. Such
requirements may include, but are not limited to, registering or qualifying such
Shares under any state or federal law, satisfying any applicable law relating to
the transfer of unregistered securities or demonstrating the availability of an
exemption from applicable laws, placing a legend on the Option Shares to the
effect that they were issued in reliance upon an exemption from registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and may not be
transferred other than in reliance upon Rule 144 or Rule 701 promulgated under
the Act, if available, or upon another exemption from the Act, or obtaining the
consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body. Issuer shall use its
best efforts to comply with all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or
transfer of Option Shares.
(b) Optionee understands that Issuer intends for the offering and
sale of Option Shares to be effected in reliance upon Rule 701 or another
available exemption from registration under the Act and intends to file a Form
701 as appropriate, and that Issuer is under no obligation to register for
resale the Option Shares issued upon exercise of the Option. In connection with
any such issuance or transfer, the person acquiring the Option Shares shall, if
requested by Issuer, provide information and assurances satisfactory to counsel
to Issuer with respect to such matters as Issuer reasonably may deem desirable
to assure compliance with all applicable legal requirements. Issuer hereby
covenants and agrees to register all of the Option Shares on a Form S-8 (or any
successor form thereto) following the Initial Public Offering.
11. Capitalizations, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Shares; Dilution.
(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to any and all
shares of capital stock of Issuer or any successor or assign of Issuer that may
be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of, the Option
Shares by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, stock issuance, reverse
stock split, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger,
consolidation or otherwise, other than an Approved Sale and in connection with
the occurrence of any such events, proportionate adjustments shall be made in
the number of Option Shares which may be acquired hereunder and the exercise
price of each Option Share.
(b) Except as may be specifically provided herein or in the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, nothing herein shall prohibit or restrict Issuer
from taking any corporate action or engaging in any corporate transaction of any
kind, including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of additional shares
of capital stock of Issuer, any merger, consolidation, liquidation or sale of
assets, or create in Optionee or his or her Permitted Transferee any rights to
acquire or receive additional shares of capital stock of Issuer or otherwise to
be protected against dilution.
12. Subject to Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Stockholders'
Agreement. Optionee acknowledges that the Option Shares are subject to the terms
of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Stockholders' Agreement.
Optionee hereby agrees to execute a copy of
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the Stockholders' Agreement at the time he executes this Agreement and to comply
with the terms of the Stockholders' Agreement.
13. No Interest in Shares Subject to Option. Neither Optionee
(individually or as a member of a group) nor any beneficiary or other person
claiming under or through Optionee shall have any right, title, interest, or
privilege in or to any shares subject to this Agreement except as to such Option
Shares, if any, as shall have been issued to such person upon exercise of this
Option or any part of it.
14. Not an Employment Contract. Nothing in this Agreement or any other
instrument executed pursuant thereto shall confer upon Optionee any right to
continue in the employ of Employer or any Subsidiary or shall affect the right
of Employer or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of Optionee with or
without Cause.
15. Governing Law. All terms of and rights under this Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law of the State of
New York, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.
16. Taxes. The Issuer may, in its discretion, make such provisions and
take such steps as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the withholding of
all federal, state, local and other taxes required by law to be withheld with
respect to the issuance or exercise of the Option including, but not limited to,
deducting the amount of any such withholding taxes from any other amount then or
thereafter payable to Optionee, requiring Optionee to pay to Issuer the amount
required to be withheld or to execute such documents as the Issuer deems
necessary or desirable to enable it to satisfy its withholding obligations.
Optionee shall have the right to satisfy the withholding obligation in whole or
in part by the delivery of shares of the Issuer previously issued to Optionee or
by the withholding of the delivery of Option Shares otherwise to be received
upon the Option exercise.
17. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if personally delivered, telexed or telecopied to, or, if mailed,
when received by, the other party, if to Issuer at its principal executive
offices addressed to the attention of Issuer's Secretary, and if to Optionee at
his or her address as it appears on the books of his or her employer (or at such
other address as shall be given in writing by Optionee or his or her Permitted
Transferee to Issuer).
18. Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended, and any
provision hereof may be waived, only by a writing signed by the party to be
charged.
19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes
all prior oral and written and all contemporaneous oral discussions, agreements
and understandings of any kind or nature.
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20. Headings. The headings preceding the text of the sections hereof are
inserted solely for convenience of reference, and shall not constitute a part of
this Agreement, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect.
21. Further Assurances. Each party shall cooperate and take such action as
may be reasonably requested by another party in order to carry out the
provisions and purposes of this Agreement.
22. Arbitration. The parties shall endeavor to settle all disputes by
amicable negotiations. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(c) hereof, any
claim, dispute, disagreement or controversy that arises among the parties
relating to this Agreement that is not amicably settled shall be resolved by
arbitration, as follows:
(a) Any such arbitration shall be heard in The City of New York, New
York, before a panel consisting of one (1) to three (3) arbitrators, each of
whom shall be impartial. Upon the written Request for Arbitration by either
party hereto to commerce arbitration hereunder, the parties shall attempt to
mutually agree as to the number and identity of the arbitrators within thirty
(30) days of such Request. Except as the parties may otherwise agree, all
arbitrators (if not selected by the parties hereto within thirty (30) days of a
written Request for Arbitration) shall be appointed pursuant to the commercial
arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. In determining the
number and appropriate background of the arbitrators, the appointing authority
shall give due consideration to the issues to be resolved, but his or her
decision as to the number of arbitrators and their identity shall be final.
(b) An arbitration may be commenced by any party to this Agreement
by the service of a written request for arbitration upon the other affected
parties. Such request for arbitration shall summarize the controversy or claim
to be arbitrated.
(c) All attorneys' fees and costs of the arbitration shall in the
first instance be borne by the respective party incurring such costs and fees,
but the arbitrators shall award costs and attorneys' fees to the prevailing
party. The parties hereby expressly waive punitive damages, and under no
circumstances shall an award contain any amount that in any way reflects
punitive damages.
(d) Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered
in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
(e) It is intended that controversies or claims submitted to
arbitration under this Section 22 shall remain confidential, and to that end it
is agreed by the parties that neither the facts disclosed in the arbitration,
the issues arbitrated, nor the views or opinions of any persons concerning them,
shall be disclosed to third persons at any time, except to the extent necessary
to enforce an award or judgment or as required by law or in response to legal
process or in connection with such arbitration.
(f) Any arbitration under this Section 22 shall be conducted
pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration
Association.
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23. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and
assigns.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
Effective Date.
CSK GROUP, LTD.
By: /s/ CSK Group, LTD
______________________________________
Name:
____________________________________
Title:
___________________________________
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
__________________________________________
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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EXHIBIT 1
(in millions of dollars)
Portion of Applicable
Line Option Shares Vesting 1997(1) 1998 1999 2000
---- --------------------- ------- ---- ---- ----
A 100.0% $70.0 $ 93.0 $116.0 $132.5
B 87.5% $68.0 $ 90.5 $112.0 $127.5
C 75.0% $66.0 $ 87.5 $108.0 $122.5
D 62.5% $64.0 $ 85.0 $104.0 $117.8
E 50.0% $62.0 $ 82.5 $ 100.0 $113.0
F $58.0 $ 76.0 $95.0
G $70.0 $ 163.0 $ 279.0 $411.0
-----------
(1) Fiscal year 1997 is Issuer's fiscal year ending in February 1998.
EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST, TAXES,
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA")
is defined as Consolidated Net Income (loss) of Issuer and its subsidiaries as
it would appear on a statement of income (loss), which shall reflect a reduction
for all management and employee bonuses payable with respect to the Fiscal Year,
of consolidated Issuer prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, consistently
applied; plus (minus), to the extent such amounts are otherwise taken into
account in determining EBITDA (prior to adjustment), the following:
1. Any provision (benefit) for taxes (including franchise taxes)
deducted (added) in calculating such consolidated net income (loss); plus
2. Any interest expense (net of interest income) deducted in
calculating such consolidated net income (loss); (plus)
3. Amortization expenses deducted in calculating consolidated net
income (loss); plus
4. Depreciation expenses deducted in calculating consolidated net
income (loss); plus
5. Management fees paid to Investcorp; plus (minus)
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6. Any unusual losses (gains) deducted (added) in calculating
consolidated net income (loss), including, without limitation, those resulting
from unusual capital expenditures. (Unusual items are intended to include
transactions and expenditures considered outside the ordinary course of
business. EBITDA will be adjusted to eliminate the effects, if any, of such
transactions and expenditures, the intent being to calculate EBITDA as if such
transactions and expenditures had not occurred); plus (minus)
7. Any compensation expense (income) deducted (added) in calculating
consolidated net income (loss) attributable to transactions involving equity
securities of Issuer or its subsidiaries.
The Optionee or Executive and his or her representative shall be provided
reasonable opportunity to review the computation of EBITDA and reasonable access
to the data and information supporting much computation, but the Board's
determination shall be conclusive and binding.
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