EXHIBIT 10.17
THIS TRANSACTION AND MONITORING FEE AGREEMENT is dated February 28, 2003
(this "AGREEMENT") and is between TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Blackstone Management Partners IV L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company ("BMP").
BACKGROUND
1. Northrop Grumman Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("NORTHROP
GRUMMAN"), and BCP Acquisition Company L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company ("BCP LLC"), have entered into a Master Purchase Agreement, dated
November 18, 2002 (the "MASTER PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), as a result of which, among
other things, the Company will acquire, subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in the Master Purchase Agreement, substantially all of the assets and
liabilities of the automotive business of Northrop Grumman Space & Mission
Systems Corp., an Ohio corporation (f/k/a TRW Inc.).
2. BMP has expertise in the areas of finance, strategy, investment and
acquisitions relating to the Company and its business and has facilitated the
transactions referred to above and certain other related transactions
(collectively, the "TRANSACTIONS") through its provision of financial and
structural analysis, due diligence investigations, other advice and negotiation
assistance with all relevant parties to the Transactions. BMP has also provided
advice and negotiation assistance with relevant parties in connection with the
financing of certain of the Transactions as contemplated under the Master
Purchase Agreement (the "FINANCING").
3. The Company believes that having Blackstone Capital Partners IV L.P.
(together with its affiliated funds, "BLACKSTONE") as a beneficial stockholder
of the Company as a result of the Transactions will be of substantial benefit to
the Company and that BMP's provision of financial and structural analysis, due
diligence investigations, other advice and negotiation assistance with all
relevant parties to the Transactions and advice and negotiation assistance with
relevant parties in connection with the Financing has been of substantial
benefit to the Company and warrants payment of the fees described in this
Agreement. The Company also desires to avail itself, for the term of this
Agreement, of the expertise of BMP in these areas, and BMP wishes to provide the
services to the Company as set forth in this Agreement in consideration of the
payment of the fees described below.
4. The rendering by BMP of the services described in this Agreement and the
investment by Blackstone, as described above, is being made on the basis that
the Company will pay the fees described below.
AGREEMENT
The parties agree as follows:
SECTION 1. TRANSACTION AND ADVISORY FEE. In consideration of BMP
undertaking the financial and structural analysis, due diligence investigations,
other advice and negotiation assistance necessary in order to enable the
Transactions to be consummated, the
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Company will pay to BMP, at the Effective Time (as defined herein), a
transaction and advisory fee of an amount equal to $49,000,000.
SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT. The Company appoints BMP to render the monitoring,
advisory and consulting services described in Section 3 (the "SERVICES") for the
term of this Agreement.
SECTION 3. SERVICES. BMP agrees that during the term of this Agreement, it
will render to the Company, by and through itself, its affiliates and their
respective officers, employees and representatives as BMP in its sole discretion
may designate from time to time, monitoring, advisory and consulting services in
relation to the affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries, including, without
limitation, (a) advice regarding the structure, terms, conditions and other
provisions, distribution and timing of debt and equity offerings and advice
regarding relationships with the Company's and its subsidiaries' lenders and
bankers, (b) advice regarding the strategy of the Company, (c) advice regarding
dispositions or acquisitions and (d) such other advice directly related or
ancillary to the above financial advisory services as may be reasonably
requested by the Company. It is expressly agreed that the services to be
performed hereunder will not include investment banking or other financial
advisory services rendered by BMP or any of its affiliates to the Company in
connection with any specific acquisition, divestiture, refinancing or
recapitalization by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. BMP may be entitled
to receive additional compensation for providing services of the type specified
in the preceding sentence by mutual agreement of the Company or such subsidiary,
on the one hand, and BMP or its relevant affiliates, on the other hand.
SECTION 4. MONITORING FEE.
(a) In consideration of the Services being provided by BMP, the Company
will pay to BMP an aggregate annual monitoring fee (the "MONITORING FEE") of
$5,000,000 in cash. The Monitoring Fee will be payable quarterly in advance on
the first day of each quarter, by wire transfer in same-day funds to the bank
account designated by BMP, commencing at the Effective Time (as defined herein)
through the Termination Date (as defined below). Any Monitoring Fee for the
first calendar year of this Agreement will be prorated for the period of such
year commencing at the Effective Time. Any Monitoring Fee for the last calendar
year of this Agreement will be prorated for the period of such year ending on
the Termination Date. For purposes of this Agreement, "TERMINATION DATE" means
the earliest of (i) the date on which Blackstone owns less than 5% of the number
of shares of Common Stock then outstanding, (ii) when BMP is no longer entitled
to any payment of the Monitoring Fee in accordance with Section 4(c) and (iii)
such earlier date as the Company and BMP may mutually agree upon.
(b) To the extent the Company cannot pay the Monitoring Fee for any reason,
including by reason of any debt financing of the Company or its subsidiaries,
the payment by the Company to BMP of the accrued and payable Monitoring Fee will
be deferred until the earlier of (i) the date of payment of such deferred
Monitoring Fee that is not otherwise prohibited under any contract applicable to
the Company and that is otherwise able to be made, and (ii) total or partial
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. Any installment of the
Monitoring Fee not paid on the scheduled due date will bear interest at an
annual rate of ten percent (10%), compounded quarterly, from the date due until
paid.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in subparagraph (a)
above, BMP may elect at any time in connection with or in anticipation of a
change of control or an initial public offering (or at any time thereafter)
(which election can be made in its sole discretion by the delivery of written
notice to the Company) to receive, in lieu of annual payments of the Monitoring
Fee, a single lump sum cash payment equal to the then present value (using a
discount rate equal to the yield to maturity on the date of such written notice
of the class of outstanding U.S. government bonds having a final maturity
closest to the tenth anniversary of such written notice) of all then current and
future Monitoring Fees payable under this Agreement, assuming the Termination
Date to be the tenth anniversary of the date hereof (the "LUMP SUM FEE"). The
Lump Sum Fee will be payable to BMP by wire transfer in same-day funds to the
bank account designated by BMP.
SECTION 5. REIMBURSEMENTS. In addition to the fees payable pursuant to this
Agreement, the Company will pay directly or reimburse BMP, Blackstone and each
of their respective affiliates for their respective Out-of-Pocket Expenses (as
defined below). For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "OUT-OF-POCKET
EXPENSES" means the out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by BMP, Blackstone
and their respective affiliates in connection with the Transactions and the
Services rendered under this Agreement, or in order to make SEC and other
legally required filings relating to Blackstone's ownership of capital stock of
the Company or its successor, or otherwise incurred by BMP, Blackstone and their
respective affiliates from time to time in the future in connection with the
ownership or subsequent sale or transfer by Blackstone of capital stock of the
Company or its successor, including, without limitation, (a) fees and
disbursements of any independent professionals and organizations, including
independent accountants, outside legal counsel or consultants, retained by BMP,
Blackstone or any of its affiliates, (b) costs of any outside services or
independent contractors such as financial printers, couriers, business
publications, on-line financial services or similar services, retained or used
by BMP, Blackstone or any of their respective affiliates and (c) transportation,
per diem costs, word processing expenses or any similar expense not associated
with its or its affiliates' ordinary operations. All payments or reimbursements
for Out-of-Pocket Expenses will be made by wire transfer in same-day funds to
the bank account designated by BMP or its relevant affiliate (if such
Out-of-Pocket Expenses were incurred by BMP, Blackstone or their respective
affiliates) promptly upon or as soon as practicable following request for
reimbursement in accordance with this Agreement, to the account indicated to the
Company by the relevant payee.
SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless BMP,
its affiliates and their respective partners (both general and limited), members
(both managing and otherwise), officers, directors, employees, agents and
representatives (each such person being an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, whether joint or several
(the "LIABILITIES"), related to, arising out of or in connection with the
Services contemplated by this Agreement or the engagement of BMP pursuant to,
and the performance by BMP of the services contemplated by, this Agreement,
whether or not pending or threatened, whether or not an Indemnified Party is a
party, whether or not resulting in any liability and whether or not such action,
claim, suit, investigation or proceeding is initiated or brought by the Company.
The Company will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) as they are
incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing, defending or
assisting in the defense of any action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
for which the
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Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification under the terms of the
previous sentence, or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not
such Indemnified Party is a party thereto. The Company will not be liable under
the foregoing indemnification provision with respect to any particular loss,
claim, damage, liability, cost or expense of an Indemnified Party that is
determined by a court, in a final judgment from which no further appeal may be
taken, to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Indemnified Party. If an Indemnified Party is reimbursed
hereunder for any expenses, such reimbursement of expenses will be refunded to
the extent it is finally judicially determined that the Liabilities in question
resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Indemnified Party.
SECTION 7. ACCURACY OF INFORMATION. The Company will furnish or cause to be
furnished to BMP such information as BMP believes reasonably appropriate to its
monitoring, advisory and consulting services hereunder and to comply with SEC or
other legal requirements relating to the beneficial ownership by Blackstone of
the capital stock of the Company (all such information so furnished, the
"INFORMATION"). The Company recognizes and confirms that BMP (a) will use and
rely primarily on the Information and on information available from generally
recognized public sources in performing the Services contemplated by this
Agreement without having independently verified the same, (b) does not assume
responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the Information and such
other information and (c) is entitled to rely upon the Information without
independent verification.
SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE TIME. This Agreement will become effective (the
"EFFECTIVE TIME") as of the Closing Date (as defined in the Master Purchase
Agreement). At the Effective Time, the Company will make the payments to BMP
pursuant to Sections 1 and 4 by wire transfer of same-day funds to the bank
account designated by the payee in writing.
SECTION 9. TERM. This Agreement will become effective as of the Effective
Time and will continue until the Termination Date, except that Section 5 will
remain in effect thereafter with respect to Out-of-Pocket Expenses which were
incurred prior to or within a reasonable period of time after the Termination
Date but have not been paid to BMP in accordance with Section 5. The provisions
of Sections 4(b), 6, 7 and 9 will survive the termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 10. PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES. Subject to applicable law, nothing
herein will in any way preclude BMP or its affiliates (other than the Company or
its subsidiaries and their respective employees) or their respective partners
(both general and limited), members (both managing and otherwise), officers,
directors, employees, agents or representatives from engaging in any business
activities or from performing services for its or their own account or for the
account of others, including for companies that may be in competition with the
business conducted by the Company.
SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, or consent
to any departure by any party hereto from any such provision, will be effective
unless it is in writing and signed by the parties hereto. Any amendment, waiver
or consent will be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given. The waiver by any
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party of any breach of this Agreement will not operate as or be construed to be
a waiver by such party of any subsequent breach.
(b) Any notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder
will be sufficiently given if delivered personally or sent by facsimile with
confirmed receipt, or by overnight courier, addressed as follows or to such
other address of which the parties may have given written notice:
if to BMP:
c/o The Blackstone Group L.P.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
if to the Company:
c/o TRW Automotive Acquisition Corp.
00000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Unless otherwise specified herein, such notices or other communications will be
deemed received (i) on the date delivered, if delivered personally or sent by
facsimile with confirmed receipt, and (ii) one business day after being sent by
overnight courier.
(c) This Agreement will constitute the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof, and will supersede all previous oral
and written (and all contemporaneous oral) negotiations, commitments, agreements
and understandings relating hereto.
(d) This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of New York.
(e) The provisions of this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted transferees and their
respective successors, each of which permitted transferees will agree, in
writing in form and substance satisfactory to BMP,
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to become a party hereto and be bound to the same extent as its transferor
hereby. Subject to the next sentence, no Person other than the parties hereto
and their successors and permitted assigns is intended to be a beneficiary of
this Agreement. The parties acknowledge and agree that Blackstone and its
affiliates and their respective partners (both general and limited), members
(both managing and otherwise), officers, directors, employees, agents and
representatives are intended to be third-party beneficiaries under Sections 5
and 6 of this Agreement.
(f) This Agreement may be executed by one or more parties to this Agreement
on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken
together will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
(g) Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in
any jurisdiction will, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction will not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed, or have caused to be
executed, this Transaction and Monitoring Fee Agreement on the date first
written above.
TRW AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Treasurer and Secretary
BLACKSTONE MANAGEMENT PARTNERS IV L.L.C.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Authorized Signatory
