Exhibit (d)(19)
August 25, 2000
Prof. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
x/x XxxXxx, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Re: Grants of Stock Appreciation Rights
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Dear Xxxx. Xxxxx:
Reference is hereby made to (i) that certain consulting agreement, dated
as of March 1, 1999 (the "Consulting Agreement"), between you and ChiRex, Inc.
(the "Company") and (ii) that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
the date hereof (the "Merger Agreement"), among Rhodia, a French corporation
("Parent"), Cousin Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent, and the Company.
Subject to the consummation of the Offer (as such term is defined in the
Merger Agreement), Parent hereby agrees that it shall grant you, upon the
consummation of the Offer, stock appreciation rights ("SARs") with respect to
5,000 shares of Parent common stock ("Parent Shares"). Each SAR shall entitle
you, upon the exercise thereof, to receive with respect to each share subject
thereto an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of one Parent
Share on the date of exercise, over (ii) the per share exercise price of the
SAR, payable in cash. The SARs shall have a ten-year term and an exercise price
equal to the average trading price of Parent common stock for the 20 trading
days immediately preceding the date of grant. The SARs shall vest and become
exercisable (i) on December 31, 2001 with respect to 2,500 Parent Shares and
(ii) on December 31, 2002 with respect to the remaining 2,500 Parent Shares,
provided that the Consulting Agreement (or any amendment or replacement thereto)
is in full force and effect on the relevant date.
In the event your consulting services under the Consulting Agreement are
terminated either by you voluntarily or by the Company or Parent for Cause (as
defined below), all SARs that have not yet vested as of the date of such
termination shall be forfeited. In the event your consulting services under the
Consulting Agreement are terminated by the Company or Parent
other than for Cause, all SARs shall become fully vested and immediately
exercisable and shall remain exercisable for the full ten-year term.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:
(i) your conviction of a felony or conviction of a misdemeanor
if such misdemeanor involves moral turpitude; or
(ii) your voluntary engagement in conduct constituting larceny,
embezzlement, conversion or any other act involving the misappropriation of
Company funds; or
(iii) your willful refusal to carry out specific directions of the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, his designee, or the Board of
Directors of the Company, if such directions are consistent with the
provisions of your Consulting Agreement; or
(iv) your committing any act of gross negligence or intentional
misconduct in the performance or non-performance of your services
hereunder; or
(v) any material breach by you of any material provision of the
Consulting Agreement (other than for reasons related only to the business
performance of the Company or business results achieved by you).
This letter agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of
which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one
and the same agreement.
Please acknowledge your agreement with the foregoing by signing in the
space below.
RHODIA
By: /s/ Xxxx-Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx-Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Deputy President
Agreed and accepted:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx 08-25-00
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Xxxxxx Xxxxx
