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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2017

Registration No. 333-220785


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



Amendment No. 2
to

FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



EWT Holdings I Corp.*
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  3999
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  46-4132761
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

210 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
(724) 772-0044
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)



Ronald C. Keating
Chief Executive Officer
210 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
(724) 772-0044
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number including area code, of agent for service)



Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:

Andrew B. Barkan, Esq.
Meredith L. Mackey, Esq.
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
One New York Plaza
New York, New York 10004
(212) 859-8000

 

Vincent Grieco
General Counsel
Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.
210 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
(724) 772-0044

 

Marc D. Jaffe, Esq.
Ian D. Schuman, Esq.
Latham & Watkins LLP
885 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 906-1200

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

           If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.     o

           If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

           If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

           If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

           Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

Large accelerated filer  o   Accelerated filer  o   Non-accelerated filer  ý
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company  o

Emerging growth company  o

           If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

            The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


*
On October 16, 2017, EWT Holdings I Corp. was renamed Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.

   



EXPLANATORY NOTE

        This Amendment No. 2 (the "Amendment") to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-220785) (the "Registration Statement") of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. is being filed solely for the purpose of filing certain exhibits to the Registration Statement and updating Item 16 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Accordingly, the Amendment consists solely of the facing page, this explanatory note, Item 16 of Part II of the Registration Statement, the index to exhibits, the signatures and the filed exhibits and is not intended to amend or delete any part of the Registration Statement except as specifically noted herein.


PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 16.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

        The exhibits filed herewith are set forth on the index to exhibits filed as a part of this Registration Statement beginning on page II-2 hereof.

II-1


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
No.
  Exhibit Description
  1.1 * Form of Underwriting Agreement.
        
  3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.
        
  3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.
        
  4.1   Specimen Common Stock Certificate of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.
        
  5.1   Opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.
        
  10.1 ** First Lien Credit Agreement, among EWT Holdings III Corp., as the borrower, EWT Holdings II Corp., as the parent guarantor, the financial institutions party thereto as lenders, Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent and Credit Suisse AG, as collateral agent, dated January 15, 2014.
        
  10.2 ** Incremental Term Facility Amendment No. 1, among EWT Holdings III Corp., as the borrower, EWT Holdings II Corp., as the parent guarantor, EWT Holdings II Corp.'s indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries party thereto as guarantors, the financial institutions party thereto as lenders, Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent and Credit Suisse AG, as collateral agent, dated April 15, 2016.
        
  10.3 ** Amendment No. 2, among EWT Holdings III Corp., as the borrower, EWT Holdings II Corp., as the parent guarantor, EWT Holdings II Corp.'s indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries party thereto as guarantors, the financial institutions party thereto as lenders, Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent and Credit Suisse AG, as collateral agent, dated October 28, 2016.
        
  10.4 ** Amendment No. 3, among EWT Holdings III Corp., as the borrower, EWT Holdings II Corp., as the parent guarantor, EWT Holdings II Corp.'s indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries party thereto as guarantors, the financial institutions party thereto as lenders, Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent and Credit Suisse AG, as collateral agent, dated March 6, 2017.
        
  10.5 ** Amendment No. 4, among EWT Holdings III Corp., as the borrower, EWT Holdings II Corp., as the parent guarantor, EWT Holdings II Corp.'s indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries party thereto as guarantors, the financial institutions party thereto as lenders, Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent and Credit Suisse AG, as collateral agent, dated August 8, 2017.
        
  10.6   Second Amended and Restated Stockholders' Agreement, among EWT Holdings I Corp., AEA Investors Fund V LP, AEA Investors Fund V-A LP, AEA Investors Fund V-B LP, AEA Investors Participant Fund V LP, AEA Investors QP Participant Fund V LP and the additional investors party thereto, dated December 11, 2014.
        
  10.7   Second Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, among Evoqua Water Technologies Corp., AEA Investors Fund V LP, AEA Investors Fund V-A LP, AEA Investors Fund V-B LP, AEA Investors Participant Fund V LP, AEA Investors QP Participant Fund V LP and the additional investors party thereto, dated October 16, 2017.
        
  10.8 ** Management Agreement, among WTG Holdings I Corp., WTG Holdings III Corp. and AEA Investors LP, dated January 7, 2014.
        
  10.9   Employment Agreement, by and between Ronald Keating and the Company, dated September 8, 2014.
        
  10.10   Amendment, dated September 6, 2017, to Employment Agreement, by and between Ronald Keating and the Company, dated September 8, 2014.
 
   

II-2


Exhibit
No.
  Exhibit Description
  10.11   Employment Agreement, by and between Benedict J. Stas and the Company, dated February 26, 2015.
        
  10.12   Amended and Restated Amendment, dated October 13, 2017, to Employment Agreement, by and between Benedict J. Stas and the Company, dated February 26, 2015.
        
  10.13   Employment Agreement, by and between James Irwin and the Company, dated April 26, 2016.
        
  10.14   Amendment, dated September 6, 2017, to Employment Agreement, by and between James Irwin and the Company, dated April 26, 2016.
        
  10.15   Employment Agreement, by and between Rodney Aulick and the Company, dated April 14, 2014.
        
  10.16   Amendment, dated September 6, 2017, to Employment Agreement, by and between Rodney Aulick and the Company, dated April 14, 2014.
        
  10.17 ** EWT Holdings I Corp. Stock Option Plan.
        
  10.18   Employment Agreement, by and between Malcolm Kinnaird and the Company, dated April 14, 2014.
        
  10.19   Amendment, dated September 6, 2017, to Employment Agreement, by and between Malcolm Kinnaird and the Company, dated April 14, 2014.
        
  10.20   Employment Agreement, by and between Kenneth Rodi and the Company, dated March 14, 2016.
        
  10.21   Amendment, dated September 6, 2017, to Employment Agreement, by and between Kenneth Rodi and the Company, dated March 14, 2016.
        
  10.22   Employment Agreement, by and between Anthony Webster and the Company, dated January 20, 2016.
        
  10.23   Amended and Restated Amendment, dated October 13, 2017, to Employment Agreement, by and between Anthony Webster and the Company, dated January 20, 2016.
        
  10.24   Bonus Agreement, by and between Anthony Webster and the Company, dated March 1, 2016.
        
  10.25   Employment Agreement, by and between Edward N. May and the Company, dated August 22, 2014.
        
  10.26   Amendment, dated September 6, 2017, to Employment Agreement, by and between Edward N. May and the Company, dated August 22, 2014.
        
  10.27   Employment Agreement, by and between Vincent Grieco and the Company, dated September 6, 2017.
        
  10.28   Employment Agreement, by and between James M. Kohosek and the Company, dated September 6, 2017.
        
  10.29   Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement.
        
  10.30   Form of 2017 Equity Incentive Plan.
        
  10.31   Form of 2017 Annual Incentive Plan.
        
  10.32   Form of Standard Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.
        
  10.33   Form of Indemnification Agreement.
 
   

II-3


Exhibit
No.
  Exhibit Description
  21.1   List of subsidiaries of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.
        
  23.1 ** Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
        
  23.2 ** Consent of RSM US LLP.
        
  23.3 ** Consent of Amane Advisors.
        
  23.4   Consent of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
        
  24.1 ** Power of Attorney.

*
To be filed by amendment.

**
Previously filed.

II-4


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on this 17th day of October, 2017.

    EWT Holdings I Corp.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ BENEDICT J. STAS

Benedict J. Stas
Chief Financial Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
 
Title
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Ronald C. Keating
  Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)   October 17, 2017

/s/ BENEDICT J. STAS

Benedict J. Stas

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

October 17, 2017

*  

Martin Lamb

 

Chairman of the Board and Director

 

October 17, 2017



Nick Bhambri

 

Director

 

October 17, 2017

*  

Gary Cappeline

 

Director

 

October 17, 2017

*  

Judd Gregg

 

Director

 

October 17, 2017



Brian R. Hoesterey

 

Director

 

October 17, 2017

II-5


Signature
 
Title
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Vinay Kumar
  Director   October 17, 2017

*By:

 

/s/ BENEDICT J. STAS

Benedict J. Stas
Attorney-in-fact

 

 

 

 

II-6




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EXPLANATORY NOTE
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
SIGNATURES

Exhibit 3.1

 

Delaware

The First State

 

I, JEFFREY W. BULLOCK, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF “EWT HOLDINGS I CORP . ” , CHANGING ITS NAME FROM “EWT HOLDINGS I CORP . ” TO “EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES CORP . ” , FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER, A . D . 2017,  AT 8 : 41 O’CLOCK A . M .

 

A FILED COPY OF THIS CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS.

 

 

/s/ Jeffrey W. Bullock

 

Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secretary of State

5411033 8100

SR# 20176625076

Authentication: 203401537

Date: 10-16-17

 

You may verify this certificate online at corp.delaware.gov/authver.shtml

 

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State of Delaware
Secretary of State
Division of Corporations
Delivered 08:41 AM 10/16/2017
FILED 08:41 AM 10/16/2017
SR 20176625076 - File Number 5411033

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

 

* * * * *

 

EWT Holdings I Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), does hereby certify as follows:

 

(a)          The Corporation (i) filed its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 7, 2013 under the name WTG Holdings I Corp. and (ii) filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation on January 31, 2014 changing its name from WTG  Holdings 1 Corp. to EWT Holdings I Corp.

 

(b)          The board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) has adopted resolutions proposing to amend and restate the Previous Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety, and the stockholders of the Corporation have duly approved the amendment and restatement.

 

(c)           Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as it may be amended from time to time, the “ DGCL ”), this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “ Certificate ”) restates, integrates and further amends the Previous Certificate of Incorporation to read in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME

 

The name of the Corporation is Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.

 

ARTICLE II

 

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808. The name of the registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE  III

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

 



 

ARTICLE IV


CAPITAL STOCK

 

A.                                     Immediately upon the filing of this Certificate, (i) each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (“ Pre-Conversion Common Stock ”), shall convert into 26.9576358715408 shares of Common Stock (as defined below) (the “ Conversion ”). Following the Conversion, the certificates representing such shares of Pre-Conversion Common Stock shall be deemed to represent shares of Common Stock or alternatively, shares of Common Stock held in book-entry form, if any, without a need for such certificates to be surrendered to the Corporation or its transfer agent and exchanged for certificates of Common Stock or book-entry positions evidencing such shares of Common Stock. The Conversion will therefore be effective whether or not the certificates representing such shares of Pre-Conversion Common Stock are surrendered to the Corporation or its transfer agent; provided, however, that if any holder of Common Stock held in certificated form requests to receive certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock issuable upon the Conversion or book-entry positions evidencing such shares of Common Stock, the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue such certificates evidencing such shares of Common Stock or book-entry positions evidencing such shares of Common Stock unless and until the certificates evidencing such shares of Pre-Conversion Common Stock are either delivered to the Corporation or its transfer agent, or the holder notifies the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates.

 

B.                                     The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,100,000,000, which shall be divided into two classes as follows:

 

(i)                   1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”); and

 

(ii)                100,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”).

 

C.                                     The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix, without further stockholder approval, the designation of such series, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of such series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares of such series, which number the Board of Directors may, except where otherwise provided in the designation of such series, increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding). The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.

 

D.                                     Each holder of record of Common Stock, as such, shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock that is outstanding in his, her or its name on the books of the Corporation on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally; provided, however, to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to applicable law or

 

2



 

this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock). For the avoidance of doubt, to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, the initial adoption of any certificate of designations that establishes, or authorizes the issuance of, any series of Preferred Stock.

 

E.                                      Except as otherwise required by applicable law or in this Certificate, the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class (or, if the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, together as single class with the holders of such other series of Preferred Stock) on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders generally.

 

F.                                       Except as otherwise required by applicable Law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to only such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to such series of Preferred Stock).

 

G.                                     Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends may be declared and paid ratably on the Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are legally available for this purpose at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine.

 

H.            Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets of the Corporation upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.

 

I.                                         The number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor, unless a vote of any such holder is required pursuant to this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock).

 

ARTICLE V

 

AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

 

A.                                     The Corporation reserves the right, at any time and from time to time, to alter, amend, add to or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) in any manner now or hereafter prescribed by law (subject to the express provisions hereof that prohibit retroactive application of changes), and all rights, preferences, privileges and powers of any nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons herein are granted subject to this reservation. This Certificate may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; provided that at any time when the AEA Investors beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the

 

3



 

vote of, less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote required by applicable law, this Certificate may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

 

B.                                     So long as the AEA Investors beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the vote of, 50% or more in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect from time to time, the “ Bylaws ”) may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, by (i) the Board of Directors without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Certificate, or (ii) the vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. At any time when the AEA Investors beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the vote of, less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote required by applicable law, the Bylaws may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

A.                                     Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by law or in this Certificate or the Bylaws, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV (including any certificate of designations with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) and this Article VI relating to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors, the total number of directors shall be determined from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Effective from consummation of the initial public offering of the Common Stock, the directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of such directors. Class I directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date the Common Stock is first publicly traded (the “ IPO Date ”), Class II directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date and Class III directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date. Commencing with the first annual meeting following the IPO Date, the directors of the class to be elected at each annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Any such director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and

 

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qualified, or his or her death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to their respective class.

 

B.                                A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for all purposes at any meeting of the Board of Directors, and, except as otherwise expressly required by law or in this Certificate, all matters shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present.

 

C.                                Subject to the rights granted to the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding or the rights granted pursuant to that certain Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement of the Company as in effect from time to time, by and among the Corporation, the AEA Investors, Management Investors, Additional Investors and Relationship Investors (each as defined in such Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement), dated as of December 11, 2014 (such agreement, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”), any newly created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) shall be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or if only one director remains, by the sole remaining director or, if there are no directors, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that for as long as the AEA Investors have the right to nominate a director under the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the AEA Investors shall have the right to fill any vacancy that resulted from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a director designated by the AEA Investors under the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

D.                                Any or all of the directors (other than the directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) may be removed at any time either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of at least a majority in voting power of all then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class; provided, however, that at any time when the AEA Investors beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the vote of, less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any such director or all such directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two- thirds in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

 

E.                                 Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.

 

F.                                  During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, have the right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier,

 

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subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series or in any certificate of designations with respect to such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.

 

G.                                     Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any two directors then-serving on the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, and otherwise as may he provided in the Bylaws.

 

H.                                    Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders of the Corporation before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the bylaws of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VII
LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY

 

A.                                     To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders.

 

B.                                     Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of a current or former director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.

 

ARTICLE VIII
CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF MEETING, ANNUAL AND SPECIAL
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

At any time when the AEA Investors beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the vote of, 50% or more in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall he made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. At any time when the AEA Investors beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the vote of, less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior

 

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notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designations relating to such series of Preferred Stock.

 

ARTICLE IX
COMPETITION AND CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

 

A.                           In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain directors, principals, officers, employees and/or other representatives of the AEA Investors may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation, (ii) the AEA Investors may now engage and may continue to engage in any transaction or matter that may be an investment or corporate or business opportunity or offer a prospective economic or competitive advantage in which the Corporation or any of its controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, could have an interest or expectancy (a “ Competitive Opportunity ”) or may otherwise compete with the Corporation or its controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, and (iii) members of the Board of Directors who are not officers or employees of the Corporation or their respective Affiliates may desire to participate or invest in certain Competitive Opportunities, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of opportunities as they may involve any of the AEA Investors and their respective Affiliates or the Specified Directors (as defined below) and their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.

 

B.                           Each of (i) the AEA Investors and any directors, principals, officers, employees and/or other representatives of the AEA Investors that may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation, and each of their Affiliates or (ii) subject to Section (C) of this Article IX, each member of the Board of Directors who is not an officer or employee of the Corporation and is not described in clause (i)of this sentence (such directors not described in clause (i), the “ Specified Directors ”), and his or her Affiliates (the Persons (as defined below) identified in clause (i) above being referred to. collectively, as “ Identified Persons ” and, individually, as an “ Identified Person ” shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, not have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (a) engaging in any Competitive Opportunity or (b) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its controlled Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any controlled Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any Competitive Opportunity or other corporate or business opportunity that may be a Competitive Opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its controlled Affiliates, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. In the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a Competitive Opportunity or other corporate or business opportunity that may be a Competitive Opportunity for itself, herself or himself, or for its, her or his Affiliates, and for the Corporation or any of its controlled Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty to communicate or present such opportunity to the Corporation or any of its controlled Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any controlled Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such Competitive Opportunity for itself, herself or himself, or offers or directs such Competitive Opportunity to another Person.

 

C.                           The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any Competitive Opportunity offered to any Specified Director if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her

 

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capacity as a director of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section (B) of this Article IX shall not apply to any such Competitive.

 

D.                                In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a business or other opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential Competitive Opportunity for the Corporation if it is an opportunity that (i) the Corporation (together with its controlled Affiliates) is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

E.                                 For purposes of this Certificate, the “ AEA Investors ” means, collectively, (i) AEA Investors Fund V LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership; (ii) AEA Investors Fund V-A LP, a Delaware limited partnership; (iii) AEA Investors Fund V-B LP, a Delaware limited partnership; (iv) AEA Investors Participant Fund V LP, a Delaware limited partnership; (v) AEA Investors QP Participant Fund V LP, a Delaware limited partnership; (vi) any general or limited partnership, corporation or limited liability company having as a general partner, controlling equity holder or managing member (whether directly or indirectly) a Person who is a member of any of the foregoing listed in clauses (i) - (vi) or an Affiliate of any such Person and (vii) any Affiliate, successor, permitted assign or transferee of any of the foregoing.

 

F.                                  For purposes of this Certificate (other than Article X), (i) “ Affiliate ” means (a) in respect of the AEA Investors, any Person (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by any AEA Investor, controls any AEA Investor or is under common control with any AEA Investor and shall include any principal, member, director, partner, stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of any of the foregoing, (b) in respect of a Specified Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Specified Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation), and (c) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; and (ii) “ Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.

 

G.                                To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX.

 

H.                               Neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this Article IX nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate inconsistent with this Article IX nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article IX in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article IX, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.

 

ARTICLE  X

DGCL SECTION 203 AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

 

A.                                     The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

B.                                     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time, following the date of closing of the initial public offering of the Common Stock, at which time the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), with any interested

 

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stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

(i)         prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or

 

(ii)      upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (a) persons who are directors and also officers and (b) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or

 

(iii)   at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized or approved at an annual or special meeting of stockholders (or by written consent, if action by written consent is not then prohibited by this Certificate) by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds in voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon that is not owned by the interested stockholder, voting together as a single class.

 

C.                                     For purposes of this Article X of this Certificate, references to:

 

(iv) affiliate ” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

 

(v)     associate ,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (a) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (b) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

(vi) business combination ,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

 

(a)                                            any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (1) with the interested stockholder or (2) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section (B) of this Article X is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

(b)                                            any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the

 

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assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the then outstanding stock of the Corporation;

 

(c)                                   any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (1) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary, which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (2) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (3) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary, which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (4) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (5) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (3) through (5) of this subsection (c) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

 

(d)                                  any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary that is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption or other transfer of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or

 

(c)                                   any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (a) through (d) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

 

(vii) “ control ,” including the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article X, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

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(viii) “ Exempt Transferee ” means (A) any person that acquires (other than in an Excluded Transfer) directly from the AEA Investors or any of their affiliates or successors, ownership of voting stock of the Corporation, and is designated in writing by the transferor as an “Exempt Transferee” for the purpose of this Article X; and (B) any person that acquires (other than in an Excluded Transfer) directly from a person described in clause (A) of this definition or from any other Exempt Transferee ownership of voting stock of the Corporation, and is designated in writing by the transferor as an “Exempt Transferee” for the purpose of this Article X.

 

(ix) “ Excluded Transfer ” means (a) a transfer to a Person that is not an affiliate of the transferor, which transfer is by gift or otherwise not for value, including a transfer by dividend or distribution by the transferor, (b) a transfer in a public offering that is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act ”), (c) a transfer to one or more broker-dealers or their affiliates pursuant to a firm commitment purchase agreement for an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act, (d) a transfer made through the facilities of a registered securities exchange or automated interdealer quotation system and (e) a transfer made in compliance with the manner of sale limitations of Rule 144(f) under the Securities Act or any successor rule or provision.

 

(x)  “ interested stockholder ” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (a) is the owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (b) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder” shall not include (x) the AEA Investors, any Exempt Transferee or any of their respective affiliates or successors or any “group,” or any member of any such group, of which any of such persons is a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (y) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided that such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below.

 

(xi)  “ majority-owned subsidiary ” of the Corporation (or specified person) means another person of which the Corporation (or specified person), directly or indirectly with or through one or more majority-owned subsidiaries, is the general partner or managing member of such other person or owns equity securities with a majority of the votes of all equity securities generally entitled to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such other person.

 

(xii)  “ owner ,” including the terms “own,” “owned,” and “ownership,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

 

(a)                                       beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

 

(b)                                       has (1) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of

 

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such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (2) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

 

(c)                                        has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (2) of subsection (b) above of this definition), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

 

(xiii)  “ person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

(xiv)  “ stock ” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

(xv) “ voting stock ” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS

 

A.            The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate or the Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section (A) of this Article XI.

 

B.            If any provision or provisions of this Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate (including each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Certificate (including each such portion of any paragraph of this Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

C.            For purposes of this Certificate, unless the context otherwise requires, (i) references to “ Articles ” and “ Sections ” refer to articles and sections of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate

 

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of Incorporation and (ii) the term include ” or “ includes ” means includes, without limitation, and “ including ” means including, without limitation.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, EWT Holdings I Corp. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 13 th  day of October, 2017.

 

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Vincent Grieco

 

 

Name: Vincent Grieco

 

 

Title: Authorized Officer

 




Exhibit 3.2

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
(Effective October 16, 2017)

 

ARTICLE I

 

Offices

 

SECTION 1.01  Registered Office .  The registered office and registered agent of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (the “ Corporation ”) shall be as set forth in the Certificate (as defined below).  The Corporation may also have offices in such other places in the United States or elsewhere (and may change the Corporation’s registered agent) as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) may, from time to time, determine or as the business of the Corporation may require as determined by any officer of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Meetings of Stockholders

 

SECTION 2.01  Annual Meetings .  Annual meetings of stockholders may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors shall determine and state in the notice of meeting.  In the absence of any such designation, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that meetings of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as described in Section 2.11 of these Bylaws in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”).  The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 2.02  Special Meetings .  Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors; provided, however, so long as the AEA Investors (as defined in the Certificate) beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the vote of 50% or more in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes shall also be called by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the request of the AEA Investors.  Special meetings of the stockholders may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware and at such time and date as the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall determine and state in the notice of meeting.  The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

 



 

SECTION 2.03  Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

 

(A)                                Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

 

(1)                                  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) as provided in the Stockholder Agreement (as defined in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation as then in effect (as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Certificate ”)) (with respect to nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors only), (b) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Section 2.04 of Article II of these Bylaws, (c) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof or (d) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who, subject to paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03, complied with the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) of this Section 2.03 and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation (the “ Secretary ”).

 

(2)                                  For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (d) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 2.03, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary, and, in the case of business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, such other business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Certificate) are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on September 30, 2017); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from the anniversary date of the previous year’s meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.  Public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice.  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.03(A)(2) to the contrary, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred (100) calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders, then a stockholder’s notice required by this Section shall be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) calendar day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(3)                                  Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief

 

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description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of the stock of the Corporation at the time of the giving of the notice, will be entitled to vote at such meeting and will appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, will be or is part of a group that will (x) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or, (y) otherwise solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, (v) a certification regarding whether such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and/or the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation and (vi) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (d) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation between or among the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, any of their respective affiliates or associates and/or any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing (collectively, “ proponent persons ”); (e) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any contract to purchase or sell, the acquisition or grant of any option, right or warrant to purchase or sell or any swap or other instrument) to which any proponent person is a party, the intent or effect of which may be (i) to transfer to or from any proponent person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security of the Corporation, (ii) to increase or decrease the voting power of any proponent person with respect to shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and/or (iii) to provide any proponent person, directly or indirectly, with the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to otherwise benefit economically from, any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the Corporation (a “ Derivative Instrument ”); (f) to the extent not disclosed pursuant to clause (e) above, the principal amount of any indebtedness of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned by the proponent persons, together with the title of the instrument under which such indebtedness was issued and a description of any Derivative Instrument entered into by or on behalf of the proponent persons relating to the value or payment of any indebtedness of the Corporation or any such subsidiary; and (g) any material interest of the stockholder in such business.  A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (A)(3) or paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03) shall update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct (x) as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and (y) as of the date that is fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, provided that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting is less than fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the information shall be supplemented and updated as of such later date.  Any such update and supplement

 

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shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), not later than ten (10) days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update or supplement required to be made as of fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof) and not later than five (5) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, but no later than the date prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of a date less than fifteen (15) days prior the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).  The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation and to determine the independence of such director under the Exchange Act and rules and regulations thereunder and applicable stock exchange rules.

 

(B)                                Special Meetings of Stockholders .  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) to the extent provided in the Stockholder Agreement, (2) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (3) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who (subject to paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary.  In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 2.03 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting and the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(C)                                General .

 

(1)                                  Except as provided in paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 or the Stockholder Agreement, if applicable, shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual or special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall, in addition to making any other determination that may be appropriate for the conduct of the meeting, have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.  The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting.  The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and

 

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regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate.  Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.  Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting, (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and on stockholder approvals.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 2.03, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

(2)                                  Whenever used in these Bylaws, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure (a) in a press release released by the Corporation, provided that such press release is released by the Corporation following its customary procedures, is reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or is generally available on internet news sites or (b) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.03; provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to these Bylaws (including paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) of this Section 2.03 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business.  Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock of the Corporation as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances.

 

(4)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.03, for as long as the AEA Investors (as defined in the Certificate) collectively beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the vote of, at least 50% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the AEA Investors (as defined in the Certificate) shall not be subject to the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2), (A)(3) or (B) of this Section 2.03 with respect to any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

 

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SECTION 2.04  Notice of Meetings .  Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a timely notice in writing or by electronic transmission, in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL, of the meeting, which shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be mailed to or transmitted electronically by the Secretary to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.  Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

 

SECTION 2.05  Quorum .  Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, the holders of record of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on that matter.  Once a quorum is present to organize a meeting, it shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholders.

 

SECTION 2.06   Voting .  Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder that has voting power upon the matter in question.  Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy in any manner provided by applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.  A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.  Unless required by the Certificate or applicable law, or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any question need not be by ballot.

 

On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such stockholder’s proxy, if there be such proxy.  When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of applicable law, of the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, of any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, of the Certificate or of these Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence and subject to the Certificate, all elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast in respect of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

 

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SECTION 2.07  Chairman of Meetings .  The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, or, in his or her absence or disability, a person designated by the Board of Directors shall be the chairman of the meeting and, as such, preside at all meetings of the stockholders.

 

SECTION 2.08  Secretary of Meetings .  The Secretary shall act as secretary at all meetings of the stockholders.  In the absence or disability of the Secretary, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a person to act as secretary at such meetings.

 

SECTION 2.09  Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting .  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote only to the extent permitted by and in the manner provided in the Certificate and in accordance with applicable law.

 

SECTION 2.10  Adjournment .  At any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, if less than a quorum be present, the chairman of the meeting or stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present.  Any business may be transacted at the adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting originally noticed.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.  If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

SECTION 2.11  Remote Communication .  If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

 

(a)                                  participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

 

(b)                                  be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that:

 

(i)                                      the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder;

 

(ii)                                   the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and

 

(iii)                                if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

 

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SECTION 2.12  Inspectors of Election .  The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof.  The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.  The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (a) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (b) determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots.  Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law.  In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law.  The inspectors need not be stockholders, but no person who is a candidate for an office at an election, including directorships, may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Board of Directors

 

SECTION 3.01   Powers .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may exercise all such authority and powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by the DGCL or the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

SECTION 3.02  Election, Number and Term; Chairman .  The manner of election and number of directors shall be fixed in the manner provided in the Certificate.  The term of each director shall be as set forth in the Certificate.  Directors need not be stockholders.  The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board of Directors, who shall have the powers and perform such duties as provided in these Bylaws and as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.  The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present.  If the Chairman of the Board of Directors is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one (1) of their members to preside.  Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 3.03  Resignations .  Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Secretary.  The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the resignation.

 

SECTION 3.04  Removal .  Directors of the Corporation may be removed only in the manner provided in the Certificate, the Stockholder Agreement and applicable law.

 

SECTION 3.05  Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships .  Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, vacancies occurring in any directorship (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in

 

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the number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the Certificate and the Stockholder Agreement.  Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

SECTION 3.06  Meetings .  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places (within or without the State of Delaware) and times as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or as provided by the Certificate and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary if directed by the Board of Directors, and shall be at such places and times as they or he or she shall fix.  Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors.  At least twenty four (24) hours before each special meeting of the Board of Directors, either written notice, notice by electronic transmission, or oral notice (either in person or by telephone) of the time, date and place of the meeting shall be given to each director.  Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

 

SECTION 3.07  Quorum, Voting and Adjournment .  Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, the Certificate or these Bylaws, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these Bylaws, the act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting to another time and place.  Notice of such adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place of such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting so adjourned.

 

SECTION 3.08  Committees; Committee Rules .  The Board of Directors may designate from time to time one or more committees, including an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation in accordance with the Stockholder Agreement.  The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, (b) adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the Corporation, or (c) other matters as may otherwise be excluded by law or the Certificate.  All committees of the Board of Directors shall keep minutes of their meetings and shall report their proceedings to the Board of Directors when requested or required by the Board of Directors.  Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee.  Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting of the committee at which a quorum is present.  Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, and subject to the Certificate, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

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SECTION 3.09  Action Without a Meeting .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed in the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.  Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form or shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

SECTION 3.10  Remote Meeting .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment in which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.  Participation in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

SECTION 3.11  Compensation .  The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

 

SECTION 3.12  Reliance on Books and Records .  A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Officers

 

SECTION 4.01  Number .  The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer (who shall also be President for the purpose of the DGCL, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors), a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel and a Secretary, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors and who shall hold office for such terms as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and until their successors are elected and qualify or until their earlier resignation or removal.  In addition, the Board of Directors may elect one or more Vice Presidents, including one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law.

 

SECTION 4.02  Other Officers and Agents .  The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it deems advisable, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise and perform such powers and duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may appoint one or more officers called a Vice Chairman, each of whom does not need to be a member of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.03  Chief Executive Officer .  The Chief Executive Officer shall have general executive charge, management and control of the properties and operations of the Corporation in the

 

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ordinary course of its business, with all such powers with respect to such properties and operations as may be reasonably incident to such responsibilities.

 

SECTION 4.04  President/Vice Presidents .  The President, each Vice President, if any are elected (of whom one or more may be designated an Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President), shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.05  Chief Financial Officer .  The Chief Financial Officer shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.06  Chief Legal Officer/General Counsel .  The Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.07  Treasurer .  The Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate funds, securities, evidences of indebtedness and other valuables of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation.  He or she shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors or its designees selected for such purposes.  The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation, taking proper vouchers therefor.  He or she shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, upon their request, a report of the financial condition of the Corporation.  If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

 

In addition, the Treasurer shall have such further powers and perform such other duties incident to the office of Treasurer as from time to time are assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.08  Secretary .  The Secretary shall: (a) cause minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and directors to be recorded and kept properly; (b) cause all notices required by these Bylaws or otherwise to be given properly; (c) see that the minute books, stock books and other nonfinancial books, records and papers of the Corporation are kept properly; and (d) cause all reports, statements, returns, certificates and other documents to be prepared and filed when and as required.  The Secretary shall have such further powers and perform such other duties as prescribed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.09  Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries .  Each Assistant Treasurer and each Assistant Secretary, if any are elected, shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the Treasurer and Secretary, respectively, in the absence or disability of such officer, unless or until the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors shall otherwise determine.  In addition, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.10  Corporate Funds and Checks .  The funds of the Corporation shall be kept in such depositories as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or its designees selected for such purposes.  All checks or other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary or such other person or agent as may

 

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from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors and with such countersignature, if any, as may be required by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.11  Contracts and Other Documents .  The Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary and such other officer or officers as may from time to time be authorized by the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors or any other committee given specific authority by the Board of Directors during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors to authorize such action, shall each have the power to sign and execute on behalf of the Corporation deeds, conveyances, contracts and any and all other documents requiring execution by the Corporation.

 

SECTION 4.12  Ownership of Securities of Another Entity .  Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary, or such other officer or agent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors, shall have the power and authority, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend and to vote at any meeting of securityholders of any entity in which the Corporation holds securities or equity interests and may exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities or equity interests at any such meeting, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies and consents on behalf of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 4.13  Delegation of Duties .  In the absence, disability or refusal of any officer to exercise and perform his or her duties, the Board of Directors may delegate to another officer such powers or duties.

 

SECTION 4.14  Resignation and Removal .  Any officer of the Corporation may be removed from office for or without cause at any time by the Board of Directors.  Any officer may resign at any time in the same manner prescribed under Section 3.03.

 

SECTION 4.15  Vacancies .  The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring in any office.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Stock

 

SECTION 5.01  Shares With Certificates .  The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares.  Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.  Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, (a) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a Vice President and (b) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number and class of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by such holder.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.  The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint one or more transfer agents and/or registrars for the transfer or registration of certificates of stock of any class and may require stock certificates to be countersigned or registered by one or more of such transfer agents and/or registrars.

 

SECTION 5.02  Shares Without Certificates .  If the Board of Directors chooses to issue shares of stock without certificates, the Corporation, if required by the DGCL, shall, within a reasonable time after the issue or transfer of shares without certificates, send the stockholder a written statement of the

 

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information required by the DGCL.  The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.

 

SECTION 5.03  Transfer of Shares .  Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, upon surrender to the Corporation by delivery of a properly endorsed certificate or certificates for a like number of shares (to the extent evidenced by physical stock certificates) to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers.  Certificates representing such shares, if any, shall be cancelled and new certificates, if the shares are to be certificated, shall thereupon be issued.  Shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are not represented by a certificate shall be transferred in accordance with applicable law.  A record shall be made of each transfer.  Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.  The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation.  The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

 

SECTION 5.04  Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates .  Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation and/or the Corporation’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”) (an affidavit of the registered holder shall be satisfactory) of the ownership and the misplacement, loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any certificate evidencing shares of the Corporation’s common stock,  a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation, and the Corporation may, in its discretion, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation or its Transfer Agent a bond, in such sum as the Corporation may direct, in order to indemnify the Corporation against any claims that may be made against it in connection therewith; provided, however, that if the holder is an AEA Investor or a financial institution or institutional investor with net worth sufficient to satisfy such liability (as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion), the agreement of such holder will be sufficient.  A new certificate or uncertificated shares of stock may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation that has become mutilated upon the surrender by such owner of such mutilated certificate and, if required by the Corporation, the posting of a bond by such owner in an amount sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it in connection therewith. Dividends shall accrue on the shares of common stock of the Corporation represented by such new certificate from the date to which dividends have been fully paid on such misplaced, lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate.

 

SECTION 5.05  List of Stockholders Entitled To Vote .  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation.  In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an

 

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electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.  If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present.  If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 5.05 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

SECTION 5.06  Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record .

 

(a)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting.  If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination.  If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

(b)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action.  If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

(c)                                   Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors.  If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is

 

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required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

SECTION 5.07  Registered Stockholders .  Prior to the surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock or notification to the Corporation of the transfer of uncertificated shares with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner of such share or shares as the person entitled to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of such share or shares.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Notice and Waiver of Notice

 

SECTION 6.01  Notice .  If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.

 

SECTION 6.02  Waiver of Notice .  A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person.  The transaction of all business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though transacted at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present who did not receive notice shall sign a written waiver of notice or shall waive notice by electronic transmission. All such waivers shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.  Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.  Attendance at any meeting (in person or by remote communication) shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Indemnification

 

SECTION 7.01  Indemnification of Directors and Officers .  Each current or former director or officer of the Corporation (hereinafter an “ indemnitee ”) who was or is a party, is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, as a witness or otherwise, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, including any and all appeals, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by indemnitee in any such capacity or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent (hereinafter an “ indemnifiable proceeding ”), shall be indemnified and held harmless

 

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by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than the DGCL permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), from and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including any appeals; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.03 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors; provided, further, that the Corporation not be obligated under this Section 7.01: (a) to indemnify indemnitee under these Bylaws for any amounts paid in settlement of any indemnifiable proceeding unless the Corporation consents to such settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, or (b) to indemnify indemnitee for any disgorgement of profits made from the purchase or sale by indemnitee of securities of the Corporation under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

In addition, subject to Section 7.04, the Corporation shall not be liable under this Article VII to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, without limitation, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) if and to the extent that the indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under this Article VII or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

SECTION 7.02  Right to Advancement of Expenses .  In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 7.01, an indemnitee shall also have the right, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees, costs and expenses) incurred by the indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending, or otherwise arising out of or related to, any indemnifiable proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VII pursuant to Section 7.03 (hereinafter an “ advancement of expenses ”); provided , however , that,

 

(a)                                  if the DGCL so requires or in the case of an advance made in a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement, an advancement of expenses shall be made solely upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “ undertaking ”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay any amounts so advanced (without interest) if and to the extent that it is determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “ final adjudication ”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or entitled to advancement of expenses under Sections 7.01 and 7.02 or otherwise;

 

(b)                                  the Corporation’s obligation to make an advancement of expenses pursuant to this Section 7.02 shall be subject to the limitations on indemnification provided in Section 7.01, except that the Corporation shall advance expenses to defend an indemnifiable proceeding alleging a claim under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and

 

(c)                                   with respect to any indemnifiable proceeding for which the indemnitee requests advancement of expenses under this Section 7.02, the Corporation shall be entitled to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to indemnitee, upon the delivery to indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so.

 

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SECTION 7.03  Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit .  If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Corporation of a request therefor, the indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in any court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses, as applicable.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense (including attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) of prosecuting or defending such suit.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or the Corporation’s stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or the Corporation’s stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit.  In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.  Further, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover advanced expenses upon a final adjudication that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.  In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

SECTION 7.04  Indemnification Not Exclusive .

 

(a)                                  The provisions for indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any indemnitee under this Article VII, or the entitlement of any indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this Article VII, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Corporation to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such indemnitee in any other way permitted by law or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, the Certificate, other agreements or arrangements, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such indemnitee’s capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation and as to action in any other capacity.

 

(b)                                  Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims (as defined below) may arise due to the service of the indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Corporation at the request of the indemnitee-related entities (as defined below), the Corporation shall be fully and primarily responsible for payments to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claims, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Article VII, irrespective of any right of recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee- related entities.  Under no circumstance shall the Corporation be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the indemnitee-related entities, and no right of advancement or recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the indemnitee or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder.  In the event that any of the indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee against the Corporation, and the

 

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indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.  Each of the indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section 7.04(b) and entitled to enforce this Section 7.04(b).

 

For purposes of this Section 7.04(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(1)                                  The term “ indemnitee-related entities ” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Corporation or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for which the indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Corporation or at the Corporation’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described herein) from whom an indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Corporation may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy).

 

(2)                                  The term “ jointly indemnifiable claims ” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which the indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both the Corporation and any indemnity- related entity pursuant to the DGCL, any agreement and any certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Corporation or the indemnitee-related entities, as applicable.

 

SECTION 7.05  Nature of Rights .  The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.  Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.  In addition, the rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VII shall extend to any broader indemnification rights permitted by any amendment to the DGCL.

 

SECTION 7.06  Insurance; Subrogation .  The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.  Subject to Section 7.04, in the event of any payment by the Corporation under this Article VII, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy or any other indemnity agreement covering the indemnitee. The indemnitee shall execute all papers required and take all reasonable action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Corporation to bring suit to enforce such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance policy.  The Corporation shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.

 

SECTION 7.07  Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation .  The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of

 

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directors and officers of the Corporation, and may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, enter agreements with any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation that grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses in excess of those granted in the provisions of this Article VII.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 8.01  Electronic Transmission .  For purposes of these Bylaws, “ electronic transmission ” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

SECTION 8.02  Corporate Seal .  The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary.  If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

 

SECTION 8.03  Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to change, by the Board of Directors.  Unless otherwise fixed by the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall consist of the twelve (12) month period ending on September 30.

 

SECTION 8.04  Construction; Section Headings .  For purposes of these Bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires, (i) references to “Articles” and “Sections” refer to articles and sections of these Bylaws and (ii) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation.  Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

 

SECTION 8.05  Inconsistent Provisions .  In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate, the DGCL or any other applicable law, such provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Amendments

 

SECTION 9.01  Amendments .  So long as the AEA Investors collectively beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the vote of 50% or more in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, these Bylaws may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, by (i) the Board of Directors without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or the Certificate the affirmative, or (ii) the vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. At any time when the AEA Investors collectively beneficially own, or have the right (by proxy or by contract) to direct the vote of, less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote required by applicable law, these Bylaws may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be

 

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adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE COMMON SHARES, $0.01 PAR VALUE, OF Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. transferable on the books of the Corporation byCthe hOolder Mhereof iMn persoOn or bNy Attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid until countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed by facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. Dated: TITLE TITLE COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC (Brooklyn, New York) TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR BY AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE THIS CERTIFIES THAT SPECIMEN is the owner of CUSIP 30057T 10 5

 


The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: UTMA – Custodian TEN COM – as tenants in common (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT JT TEN – as tenants by entireties under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act _ – as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. (State) For value received hereby sell, assign, and transfer unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE) Shares of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated X X NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. SIGNATURE GUARANTEED ALL GUARANTEES MUST BE MADE BY A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SUCH AS A BANK OR BROKER) WHICH IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE SECURITIES TRANSFER AGENTS MEDALLION PROGRAM (“STAMP”), THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. MEDALLION SIGNATURE PROGRAM (“MSP”), OR THE STOCK EXCHANGES MEDALLION PROGRAM (“SEMP”) AND MUST NOT BE DATED. GUARANTEES BY A NOTARY PUBLIC ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

 



Exhibit 5.1

 

[Letterhead of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP]

 

October 16, 2017

 

Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.

210 Sixth Avenue

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

 

Re:                              Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220785

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Evoqua Water Technologies Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-220785) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and as subsequently amended (the “ Registration Statement ”), relating to the registration of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) being offered by the Company (the “ Company Shares ”) and certain stockholders (the “ Selling Stockholders ”) of the Company (the “ Selling Stockholder Shares ” and, collectively with the Company Shares, the “ Shares ”). The Selling Stockholder Shares include shares which may be purchased by the underwriters upon the exercise of the option to purchase additional Common Stock granted to the underwriters by the Selling Stockholders. The Shares are proposed to be sold pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) to be entered into among the Company and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.  With your permission, all assumptions and statements of reliance herein have been made without any independent investigation or verification on our part, and we express no opinion with respect to the subject matter or accuracy of such assumptions or items relied upon.

 

In connection with this opinion, we have (i) investigated such questions of law, (ii) examined the originals or certified, conformed, facsimile, electronic or reproduction copies of such agreements, instruments, documents and records of the Company, such certificates of public officials and such other documents and (iii) received such information from officers and representatives of the Company and others as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

 

In all such examinations, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of original and certified documents and the conformity to original or certified documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed, facsimile, electronic or reproduction copies.  As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinion expressed herein, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, certificates and oral or written statements and other information of or from public officials and officers and representatives of the Company.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 



 

1.               The Company Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

2.               The Selling Stockholder Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as currently in effect, and no opinion is expressed with respect to any other laws or any effect that such other laws may have on the opinion expressed herein. The opinions expressed herein are limited to the matters stated herein and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein. We undertake no responsibility to update or supplement this letter after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included therein. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

 

 

 

 

 

FRIED, FRANK, HARRIS, SHRIVER & JACOBSON LLP

 

 

2




Exhibit 10.6

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

among

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.,

 

THE AEA INVESTORS,

 

MANAGEMENT INVESTORS,

 

ADDITIONAL INVESTORS

 

and

 

RELATIONSHIP INVESTORS

 

Dated as of December 11 , 2014

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

I.

INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

2

 

1.1.

Defined Terms

2

 

1.2.

Construction

7

II.

TRANSFERS

7

 

2.1.

Limitations on Transfer

7

 

2.2.

Certain Permitted Transfers

8

 

2.3.

Tag-Along Rights

9

 

2.4.

Drag Along Rights

11

 

2.5.

Participation Right

13

 

2.6.

Capitalization Changes

14

III.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

14

IV.

PURCHASE OF MINORITY SHARES UPON TERMINATION DATE

15

 

4.1.

Purchase of Minority Shares from Management Investors Upon Termination of Employment

15

 

4.2.

Purchase Price for Minority Shares

16

 

4.3.

Purchase of Minority Shares from Relationship Investors Upon Termination of Contractual Relationship

17

V.

CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS

18

 

5.1.

Certain Transactions

18

 

5.2.

Mergers, Etc.

18

 

5.3.

Board of Directors; Books and Records

18

 

5.4.

Corporate Opportunities

19

 

5.5.

Confidentiality

20

 

5.6.

Distributions or Redemptions

21

 

5.7.

Annual Valuation

22

VI.

MISCELLANEOUS

22

 

6.1.

Additional Securities Subject to Agreement

22

 

6.2.

Term

22

 

6.3.

Notices

22

 

6.4.

Further Assurances

22

 

6.5.

Non-Assignability

23

 

6.6.

Amendment, Waiver

23

 

6.7.

Third Parties

23

 

i



 

 

6.8.

Governing Law; Arbitration

23

 

6.9.

Specific Performance

24

 

6.10.

Entire Agreement

24

 

6.11.

Titles and Headings

24

 

6.12.

Severability

24

 

6.13.

Counterparts

24

 

6.14.

Additional Management Investors and Relationship Investors

24

 

6.15.

Stock Certificates

25

 

6.16.

Tax Forms; FATCA

25

 

6.17.

Relationship Investors

25

 

Schedule 4.13

 

Purchase Price for Relationship Investor’s Minority Shares

 

ii


 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT , dated as of December 11, 2014 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), among (i) EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), (ii) the AEA Investors (as defined herein), (iii) the parties identified on the signature pages hereto as “Management Investors” (together with their respective Permitted Transferees, the “ Management Investors ”), (iv) the parties identified on the signature pages hereto as “Additional Investors” (together with their respective Permitted Transferees, the “ Additional Investors ”), and (v) the Persons identified on the signature pages hereto as “Relationship Investors” that have either a municipal, distributor, representative, consulting or industrial contract with the Company and/or its subsidiaries ((together with their respective Permitted Transferees, the “ Relationship Investors ”); collectively with the Management Investors, the Additional Investors and each Person who executes an Assumption Agreement and falls under clause (x)(i) of the definition of Assumption Agreement, the “ Minority Investors ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                     EWT Holdings III Corp. (f/k/a WTG Holdings III Corp.), a Delaware corporation and indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“ EWT III ”), and Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (“ Siemens ”) are parties to a Master Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2013 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “ MSPA ”), pursuant to which, among other things, Siemens sold and transferred the business of providing products, equipment, solutions and services related to water and wastewater treatment markets through Siemens’ business unit “Water Technologies” with three segments (i.e., industrial, municipal and service) (the “ Business ”) to EWT III and its Affiliates, and EWT III and its Affiliates purchased and acquired the Business from Siemens, in each case at the Closing (as defined in the MSPA) and with economic effect as of the Effective Date (as defined in the MSPA);

 

B.                                     The AEA Investors hold a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share of the Company (the “ Company Common Stock ”), the Minority Investors hold the remainder of the outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock and the Company has no other capital stock outstanding as of the date hereof;

 

C.                                     The Company, the AEA Investors, the Management Investors and the Additional Investors entered into that certain Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2014 (the “ Original Agreement ”), on the terms and conditions set forth in the Original Agreement to provide for certain matters relating to their respective holdings of the Company Common Stock;

 

D.                                     The Company and the AEA Investors executed that certain First Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2014 (the “ First A&R Agreement ”), on the terms and conditions set forth in the First A&R Agreement to provide for certain matters relating to their respective holdings of the Company Common Stock; and

 

E.                                      Pursuant to 6.6(i) of the First A&R Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company, the AEA Investors and the Minority

 

1



 

Investors, which collectively hold 100% of the outstanding Company Common Stock, desire to amend and restate the First A&R Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

I.                                         INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

 

1.1.                             Defined Terms .  The following terms have the following meanings when used herein with initial capital letters:

 

Additional Investors shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

AEA means AEA Investors LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

AEA Investors means (i) AEA Investors Fund V LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership. (ii) AEA Investors Fund V-A LP, a Delaware limited partnership, (iii) AEA Investors Fund V-B LP, a Delaware limited partnership, (iv) AEA Investors Participant Fund V LP, a Delaware limited partnership, (v) AEA Investors QP Participant Fund V LP, a Delaware limited partnership, (vi) any general or limited partnership, corporation or limited liability company having as a general partner, controlling equity holder or managing member (whether directly or indirectly) a Person who is a member of AEA or an Affiliate of any such Person and (vii) any successor or permitted assign or transferee of any of the foregoing.

 

AEA Sale ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled or is under common control with, such Person.

 

Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Assumption Agreement means a writing reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the AEA Investors whereby a transferee of shares of Company Common Stock becomes a party to, and agrees to be bound, to the same extent as its transferor, by the terms of this Agreement (i.e., (x)(i) if the transferor of such shares was a Minority Investor, such transferee will be subject to the same rights and obligations as the Minority Investor who transferred such shares unless (ii) the transfer occurred pursuant to Section 2.3, in which case such transferee will be subject to the same rights and obligations as an AEA Investor and (y) if the transferor of such shares was an AEA Investor, such transferee will be subject to the same rights and obligations of an AEA Investor).

 

BC Act ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(b).

 

bcIMC Investor ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(b).

 

Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2



 

Breaching Drag-Along Stockholder ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

 

Business Day ” a day, other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Cause means, (i) if a Management Investor is a party to an employment or a severance agreement with the Company or one of its subsidiaries, the occurrence of any circumstances defined as “Cause” in such employment or severance agreement or (ii) if a Management Investor is not a party to an employment or severance agreement with the Company or one of its subsidiaries, (A) the Management Investor’s indictment for, or conviction or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to (1) any felony or (2) any crime (whether or not a felony) involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, breach of trust or other similar acts, whether of the United States or any state thereof or any similar foreign law to which the Management Investor may be subject, (B) the Management Investor’s being or having been engaged in conduct constituting a breach of fiduciary duty, willful misconduct or negligence relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the performance of the Management Investor’s duties, (C) the Management Investor’s willful failure to (1) follow a reasonable and lawful directive of the Company or of, the subsidiary of the Company at which he or she is employed or provides services, or the Board, or (2) comply with any written rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company at which he or he is employed or to which he or she provides services which, if not complied with, would reasonably be expected to have more than a de minimis adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Company, (D) the Management Investor’s violation of any agreement, contract or understanding with the Company and/or its subsidiaries to which the Management Investor is a party, or (E) the Management Investor’s deliberate and continued failure to perform his or her material duties to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the events described in clauses (A) through (E) of this definition shall constitute Cause only if the Company provides the Management Investor with notice within thirty (30) days after the Company’s initial knowledge of the events or circumstances that the Company believes constitute Cause and the Management Investor fails to cure such event or circumstance within thirty (30) days after receipt from the Company of such notice.  For purposes of this definition, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Management Investor shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Management Investor in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Management Investor’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.

 

Business ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Company Common Stock shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

3



 

Confidential Information ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a).

 

Contractual RI Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.17(a).

 

Credit Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(d).

 

Disability means (i) if a Management Investor is a party to an employment or a severance agreement with the Company or one of its subsidiaries, the occurrence of any circumstances defined as “Disability” in such employment or severance agreement if such term is defined or (ii) if a Management Investor is not a party to an employment or severance agreement with the Company or one of its subsidiaries or the Management Investor’s employment or severance agreement does not define “Disability,” permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.  A determination of Disability may be made by a physician selected or approved by the Board and, in this respect, the Management Investor shall submit to any reasonable examination(s) required by such physician upon request.

 

Disclosing Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a).

 

Drag-Along Proxy Holder ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

 

Dragging Parties ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

 

Equity Securities ” means any (i) capital stock of any class or series, (ii) options, warrants or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock, (iii) options, warrants or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such securities described in clause (ii), or (iv) any other rights to acquire, directly or indirectly, such capital stock.

 

First A&R Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Fair Market Value of a share of Company Common Stock on any date shall mean a value determined in good faith by the Board that reflects the equity value of the Company assuming a total sale of the Company (including its goodwill) and shall not include any discounts to reflect the fact that the Company Common Stock subject to any such determination represents a minority interest in the Company.

 

FATCA ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.16.

 

IPO means the initial bona fide underwritten public offering and sale of Company Common Stock (or other Equity Securities of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or of any successor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries) pursuant to an effective registration statement (other than on Form S-4, S-8 or a comparable form) filed under the Securities Act.

 

4



 

Issuance ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

 

Legend ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(d).

 

Management Agreement means the Management Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2014, (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time) between the Company and AEA.

 

Management Investors shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Management Investor Available Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

Management Investor Call Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

Management Investor Call Option ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

Management Investor Call Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

Management Investor Option Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

Management Investor Termination Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

Minority Investors shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Minority Shares shall mean all shares of Company Common Stock issued to or held by, any Minority Investor, including, without limitation, all shares of Company Common Stock purchased by a Minority Investor for cash or issued upon conversion of convertible securities, upon exercise of stock options, by way of a stock dividend or stock sold or in connection with any conversion, merger, consolidation, recapitalization or other reorganization affecting the Company Common Stock.  Minority Shares will continue to be Minority Shares in the hands of any transferee other than the Company or the AEA Investors.

 

MSPA ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Original Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Permitted Transferee means any Person to whom shares of Company Common Stock are Transferred in a Transfer in accordance with Section 2.2 and not in violation

 

5



 

of this Agreement and who is required to, and does, enter into an Assumption Agreement, and includes any Person to whom a Permitted Transferee of a Minority Investor (or a Permitted Transferee of a Permitted Transferee) so further Transfers shares of Company Common Stock and who is required to, and does, execute and deliver to the Company and the AEA Investors an Assumption Agreement.

 

Person means any individual, firm, corporation, company, limited liability company, partnership, trust, joint stock company, business trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other legal entity of any nature whatsoever.

 

Proposed Transferee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

Qualified Transaction ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

 

Receiving Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a).

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article III.

 

Relationship Investor ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Relationship Investor Available Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

Relationship Investor Call Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

Relationship Investor Call Option ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

Relationship Investor Call Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

Relationship Investor Option Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

Relationship Investor Representative Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

Relationship Investor Termination Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

Right ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

 

Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

6



 

Siemens ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Significant Stockholder means each Stockholder who holds at least 20% of the outstanding Company Common Stock.

 

Stockholders means each of the holders of Company Common Stock who are parties to this Agreement or an Assumption Agreement.

 

Tagging Stockholder ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

Third Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

 

Third Party Offer shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

 

Transfer means a transfer, sale, assignment, donation, contribution, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition (including, without limitation, by operation of law), whether directly or indirectly, pursuant to the creation of a derivative security, the grant of an option or other right.

 

VCOC Fund shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).

 

1.2.                             Construction .  The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party.  Unless the context otherwise requires: (a) “or” is disjunctive but not exclusive, (b) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular, and (c) the words “hereof”, “herein”, and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

II.                                    TRANSFERS

 

2.1.                             Limitations on Transfer .  (a) Each Stockholder hereby agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, Transfer any shares of Company Common Stock unless such Transfer complies with the provisions hereof and (i) such Transfer is pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and has been registered under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or (ii) such Stockholder shall have furnished the Company with a written opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that no such registration is required because of the availability of an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws.

 

(b)                                  (i)                                      Prior to an IPO, no Minority Investor may Transfer any shares of Company Common Stock other than pursuant to Sections 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4.

 

7



 

(ii)                                   Prior to an IPO, the AEA Investors will not Transfer any shares of Company Common Stock in a transaction subject to Section 2.3 unless Section 2.3 is complied with.

 

(c)                                   In the event of any purported Transfer by any of the Stockholders of any shares of Company Common Stock in violation of the provisions of this Agreement, such purported Transfer will be void and of no effect and the Company will not give effect to such Transfer.

 

(d)                                  Each certificate representing shares of Company Common Stock issued to the Stockholders will bear a legend on the face thereof substantially to the following effect (with such additions thereto or changes therein as the Company may be advised by counsel are required by law or necessary to give full effect to this Agreement, the “ Legend ”):

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ SECURITIES ACT ”), OR ANY STATE “BLUE SKY” LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH STATE LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER.  THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, AND CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF DECEMBER 11, 2014 (AS AMENDED, MODIFIED AND SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME), BY THE COMPANY AND THE PARTIES THERETO, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE STOCKHOLDER HEREOF AT THE COMPANY’S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS WITHOUT CHARGE.”

 

The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates evidencing outstanding Company Common Stock.

 

2.2.                             Certain Permitted Transfers .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, each Minority Investor shall be entitled from time to time to Transfer any or all of the shares of Company Common Stock held by it to (i) any one or more of its respective Affiliates, (ii) in the case of any transferor which is a partnership or limited liability company, any partners or members of such transferor, (iii) in the case of any transferor which is a trust, the beneficiaries of such transferor, (iv) in the case of any transferor who is an individual, such transferor’s current or former spouse or direct lineal descendants (including adopted children) or antecedents or a charitable remainder trust or trust, in either case the current beneficiaries of which, or to a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, the stockholders, members or limited or general partners of which, include only such transferor and/or such transferor’s current or former spouse and/or such transferor’s direct lineal descendants (including adopted children) or antecedents, or the executor, administrator, testamentary trustee,

 

8



 

legatee or beneficiary of any deceased transferor holding shares of Company Common Stock or (v) in accordance with Sections 4.1 and 4.3 hereof; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) — (iv) of this Section 2.2, (x) the Minority Investor making the Transfer must first give the Company at least ten (10) Business Days prior written notice of such Transfer, which notice must include the name and address of the proposed transferee and the number of shares of Company Common Stock to be Transferred, (y) any such transferee duly executes and delivers an Assumption Agreement, and (z) the Company has been furnished with an opinion of counsel in connection with such Transfer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that no registration under the Securities Act or any state securities or “blue sky” laws is required because of the availability of an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws.

 

2.3.                             Tag-Along Rights .  (a) So long as this Agreement remains in effect, with respect to any proposed Transfer by the AEA Investors of the shares of Company Common Stock held by the AEA Investors to any Person other than an Affiliate of AEA or another AEA Investor (other than in an IPO, which shall be subject to the Registration Rights Agreement contemplated in Article III hereof), whether pursuant to a stock sale, merger, consolidation, a tender or exchange offer or any other transaction (any such transaction, an “ AEA Sale ”), the AEA Investors will have the obligation, and each of the Minority Investors will have the right, to require the proposed transferee or acquiring Person to purchase from each of the Minority Investors who exercises its rights under Section 2.3(b) (a “ Tagging Stockholder ”) (x) in the case of the first such proposed Transfer following which the AEA Investors, after giving effect to such AEA Sale, would not either hold a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or have the ability to elect or appoint a majority of the members of the Board, all shares of Company Common Stock owned by such Tagging Stockholder and (y) in all other cases, a number of shares of Company Common Stock up to the product (rounded up to the nearest whole number) of (i) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock owned by such Tagging Stockholder by (B) the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and (ii) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be directly or indirectly Transferred to the transferee or acquiring Person by the AEA Investors in the contemplated AEA Sale (a “ Proposed Transferee ”), at the same price per share and upon substantially the same terms and conditions (including, without limitation, time of payment and form of consideration) as to be paid by and given to the AEA Investors.  In order to be entitled to exercise its right to sell shares of Company Common Stock to the Proposed Transferee pursuant to this Section 2.3, each Tagging Stockholder must agree to make to the Proposed Transferee the same covenants, indemnities (with respect to all matters other than the AEA Investors’ or other Tagging Stockholders’ ownership of Company Common Stock) and agreements as the AEA Investors agree to make in connection with the AEA Sale and only such representations and warranties (and related indemnification) as to its ownership

 

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of its Company Common Stock as are given by the AEA Investors with respect to such party’s ownership of Company Common Stock; provided, however, that all such covenants, indemnities and agreements shall be made by the Tagging Stockholders severally and not jointly and that the liabilities thereunder (other than with respect to the ownership of each Stockholder’s shares being transferred, which shall be several obligations) shall be borne on a pro rata basis based on the number of shares Transferred by each of the AEA Investors and the Tagging Stockholders and are limited to the lesser of (A) the net proceeds actually received by such Tagging Stockholder for such Transferred shares and (B) such Tagging Stockholder’s pro rata share of any “cap” on indemnification obligations of the Stockholders selling shares of Company Common Stock in the AEA Sale.  Each Tagging Stockholder will be responsible for its proportionate share of the reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by the AEA Investors in connection with the AEA Sale to the extent not paid or reimbursed by the Company or the Proposed Transferee.

 

(b)                                  The AEA Investors will give notice to each Tagging Stockholder of each proposed AEA Sale at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the proposed consummation of such AEA Sale, setting forth the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be so Transferred, the name and address of the Proposed Transferee, the proposed amount and form of consideration (and if such consideration consists in part or in whole of property other than cash, the AEA Investors will provide such information, to the extent reasonably available to the AEA Investors, relating to such consideration as the Tagging Stockholder may reasonably request in order to evaluate such non-cash consideration) and other terms and conditions of payment offered by the Proposed Transferee.  The tag-along rights provided by this Section 2.3 must be exercised by each Tagging Stockholder within ten (10) Business Days following receipt of the notice required by the preceding sentence by delivery of an irrevocable written notice to the AEA Investors (with a copy to the Company) indicating such Tagging Stockholder’s exercise of its, her or his rights and specifying the maximum number of shares of Company Common Stock it, she or he desires to sell.  The Tagging Stockholder will be entitled under this Section 2.3 to Transfer to the Proposed Transferee the number of shares of Company Common Stock determined in accordance with Section 2.3(a).

 

(c)                                   If any Tagging Stockholder exercises its, her or his rights under Section 2.3(a), the closing of the purchase of the Company Common Stock with respect to which such rights have been exercised is subject to, and will take place concurrently with, the closing of the AEA Sale.  If the closing of the AEA Sale does not occur within one hundred twenty (120) days after the Minority Investors’ receipt of written notice of such AEA Sale pursuant to Section 2.3(b), each Tagging Stockholder may withdraw from AEA Sale by providing written notice to the AEA Investors within ten (10) Business Days after the expiration of such one hundred twenty (120) day period.

 

(d)                                  The requirements of this Section 2.3 shall not apply to (i) proposed Transfers of Common Stock by the AEA Investors in a transaction or series of related transactions that occurs during the six (6) month period following the Closing Date (as defined in the MSPA) in which the AEA Investors Transfer shares of Company Common Stock held by the

 

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AEA Investors to any Person with an aggregate value that does not exceed Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00) in the aggregate for all such transactions and does not cause the AEA Investors to hold less than a majority of the outstanding Company Shares following such transaction or series of related transactions, (ii) Transfers to a Permitted Transferee, or (iii) any Transfer of Company Common Stock required to be made by a Stockholder pursuant to the Drag-Along rights set forth in Section 2.4 hereof.  The requirements of this Section 2.3 are in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other restrictions on Transfers of Company Common Stock contained in this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   If a Minority Investor exercises its rights as a Tagging Stockholder under this Section 2.3, such Minority Investor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to secure any governmental authorization required to be obtained by such Minority Investor and shall provide any information which may be needed from such Minority Investor in connection therewith, to comply as soon as reasonably practicable with all applicable Laws and to take all such other actions and to execute such additional documents as are necessary or appropriate in order to consummate the AEA Sale.

 

2.4.                             Drag Along Rights .  (a) If Stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (in such capacity, the “ Dragging Parties ”) receive a bona fide offer from a Person other than a Stockholder or an Affiliate of a Stockholder (a “ Third Party ”) to purchase (other than in an IPO) at least a majority of the shares of Company Common Stock (a “ Third Party Offer ”) and such Third Party Offer is accepted by the Dragging Parties, then each of the other Stockholders hereby agrees that, if requested by the Dragging Parties, it will Transfer to such Third Party on substantially the same terms and conditions (including, without limitation, time of payment and form of consideration) as to be paid and given to the Dragging Parties, the number of shares equal to the number of shares owned by it multiplied by the percentage of the then outstanding shares to which the Third Party Offer is applicable.

 

(b)                                  The Dragging Parties will give notice (the “ Drag-Along Notice ”) to each of the other Stockholders of any proposed Transfer giving rise to the rights of the Dragging Parties set forth in Section 2.4(a) as soon as reasonably practicable following the acceptance of the offer referred to in Section 2.4(a).  The Drag-Along Notice will set forth the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be so Transferred, the name of the Proposed Transferee or acquiring Person, the proposed amount and form of consideration (and if such consideration consists in part or in whole of property other than cash, the Dragging Parties will provide such information, to the extent reasonably available to the Dragging Parties, relating to such consideration as the other Stockholders may reasonably request in order to evaluate such non-cash consideration), the number of shares of Company Common Stock sought and the other terms and conditions of the offer.  The Dragging Parties will notify the other Stockholders at least ten (10) Business Days in advance of the closing of the sale of shares to the Third Party.  In any such agreement, such other Stockholders will be required (i) to make or agree to the same covenants, indemnities (with respect to all matters other than the Dragging Parties’ or other Stockholders’ ownership of Company Common Stock) and agreements as the Dragging Parties so long as such covenants, indemnities and agreements are made severally and not jointly and the

 

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liabilities thereunder (other than with respect to the ownership of each Stockholder’s shares being transferred, which shall be several obligations) are borne on a pro rata basis based on the number of shares Transferred by each Stockholder and are limited to the lesser of (A) the net proceeds actually received by such Stockholder for such Transferred shares and (B) such Stockholder’s pro rata share of any “cap” on indemnification obligations of the Stockholders selling shares of Company Common Stock in the sale to the Third Party, (ii) to make representations and warranties (and provide related indemnification) only as to their respective ownership of Company Common Stock as are given by the Dragging Parties with respect to such party’s ownership of Company Common Stock, (iii) otherwise take all necessary action, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, expressly waiving any dissenter’s rights or rights of appraisal or similar rights, surrendering certificates, cooperating in obtaining any applicable governmental authorization(s) and otherwise as reasonably required to assist the Dragging Parties in the consummation of such Third Party Offer and (iv) to pay their proportionate share of the reasonable costs incurred for the benefit of all Stockholders in connection with such transaction to the extent not paid or reimbursed by the Company or the transferee or acquiring Person.  If the Transfer referred to in the Drag-Along Notice is not consummated within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the Drag-Along Notice, the Dragging Parties must deliver another Drag-Along Notice in order to exercise its rights under this Section 2.4 with respect to such Transfer or any other Transfer.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon receipt of the Drag-Along Notice, each other Stockholder shall be obligated to vote his, her or its shares of Company Common Stock, if applicable, in favor of such Third Party Offer at any meeting of holders of Company Common Stock called to vote on or approve such Third Party Offer (or any written consent solicited for such purpose).  Solely for purposes of this Section 2.4(c) and in order to secure the performance of each Stockholder’s obligations under this Section 2.4(c), each Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints each other Stockholder that qualifies as a Drag-Along Proxy Holder (as defined below) the attorney-in-fact and proxy of such Stockholder (with full power of substitution) to vote or provide a written consent with respect to its Company Common Stock as described in this paragraph if, and only in the event that, such Stockholder fails to vote or provide a written consent with respect to his, her or its Company Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.4(c) (each such Stockholder, a “ Breaching Drag-Along Stockholder ”) within three (3) days of a request for such vote or written consent.  Upon such failure, the Dragging Parties shall have and are hereby irrevocably granted a proxy to vote or provide a written consent with respect to each such Breaching Drag-Along Stockholder’s Company Common Stock for the purposes of taking the actions required by this Section 2.4(c) (such Dragging Parties, a “ Drag-Along Proxy Holder ”).  Each Stockholder intends this proxy to be, and it shall be, irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and each Stockholder will take such further action and execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy and hereby revoke any proxy previously granted by it with respect to the matters set forth in Section 2.4(c) with respect to the Company Common Stock owned by such Stockholder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conditional proxy granted by this Section 2.4(c) shall be deemed to be revoked upon the termination of this Section 2.4 in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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(d)                                  If a Minority Investor is required to Transfer any of its shares in accordance with this Section 2.4, such Minority Investor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to secure any governmental authorization required to be obtained by such Minority Investor and shall provide any information which may be needed from such Minority Investor in connection therewith, to comply as soon as reasonably practicable with all applicable Laws and to take all such other actions and to execute such additional documents as are necessary or appropriate in order to consummate the Third Party Offer.

 

(e)                                   For the avoidance of doubt, the Dragging Parties will not receive any collateral consideration in connection with a Third Party Offer that is not also received by each of the other Stockholders in connection with any proposed Transfer giving rise to the rights of the Dragging Parties set forth in Section 2.4(a).

 

2.5.                             Participation Right .  (a) The Company shall not issue (an “ Issuance ”) additional shares of Company Common Stock or other Equity Securities to any Person, including AEA or the AEA Investors (other than (i) shares or other securities issued upon the exchange, exercise or conversion of options, warrants, convertible stock, rights, calls or other securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into such class of shares or other securities in accordance with the terms thereof, (ii) shares or other securities issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization of the Company, (iii) shares or other securities issued by the Company pursuant to the acquisition of another corporation, partnership or other business or entity or a material portion of the assets thereof, by merger or purchase of assets (any such transaction, a “ Qualified Transaction ”) or otherwise pursuant to a plan, agreement or other arrangement in relation to a Qualified Transaction approved by the Board; provided, however, that if such corporation, partnership or other business or entity is an Affiliate of the Company or the AEA Investors, such acquisition is made on an arms-length basis, (iv) shares or other Equity Securities issued to employees, the Relationship Investors, officers or directors of the Company that are not employees of AEA; provided, however, that such Issuances are approved by the Board or a committee thereof and, in the case of Issuances to Relationship Investors, so long as such Issuances to the Relationship Investors do not have an aggregate value that exceeds Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) in the aggregate for all such transactions and does not cause the AEA Investors to hold less than a majority of the outstanding Company Shares following such transactions, or (v) shares or other securities issued in connection with an IPO), unless, prior to such Issuance, the Company notifies each Stockholder party hereto in writing of the proposed Issuance and grants to each such Stockholder or, at such Stockholder’s election, one or more of its Affiliates the right (the “ Right ”) to subscribe for and purchase such additional shares of Company Common Stock or units of other Equity Securities to be issued in the proposed Issuance at the same price and upon the same terms and conditions (including, in the event such securities are issued as a unit together with other securities, the purchase of such other securities) to be issued in the proposed Issuance such that, immediately after giving effect to the Issuance and exercise of the Right (including, for purposes of this calculation, the

 

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issuance of shares of Company Common Stock upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Equity Securities issued in the Issuance or subject to the Right), the shares of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by such Stockholder and its Affiliates on a fully diluted basis (rounded to the nearest whole share) shall represent the same percentage of the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding on a fully diluted basis as were beneficially owned by such Stockholder and its Affiliates immediately prior to the Issuance.

 

(b)                                  The Right may be exercised by each Stockholder party hereto or its Affiliates at any time by written notice to the Company received by the Company within fifteen (15) Business Days after receipt of notice from the Company of the proposed Issuance, and the closing of the purchase and sale pursuant to the exercise of the right shall occur at least thirty (30) days after the giving of the notice of the proposed Issuance by the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Right shall not apply to any Issuance, pro rata, to all holders of Company Common Stock.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 2.5, if the Board reasonably determines that there is a need of the Company to issue securities of the Company that would otherwise be required to be offered to the Stockholders to exercise the Right under this Section 2.5 prior to such Issuance, the Company may issue such securities without first complying with this Section 2.5; provided, however, that within thirty (30) days after such Issuance, the Company offers each Stockholder the opportunity to purchase such number of securities that such Stockholder would have been entitled to purchase pursuant to the Right of Section 2.5 by sending written notice to the Stockholders.  In the event of an offer made by the Company pursuant to this Section 2.5(c), the timing and procedures for the exercise and consummation of such offer shall be the same as those set forth in Section 2.5(b), with appropriate modifications to reflect the post-issuance delivery of the notice as contemplated in this Section 2.5(c).

 

2.6.                             Capitalization Changes .  Within thirty (30) days of an Issuance, the Company shall notify the Additional Investors of such Issuance and provide the Additional Investors with a capitalization table, which shall set forth the name of each stockholder of the Company and the number of shares of Company Common Stock or other Equity Securities that are outstanding for each such stockholder.

 

III.                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Each of the Company, the AEA Investors, any Management Investor, any Relationship Investor and any Additional Investor (or any Permitted Transferee of the foregoing) shall enter into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”).

 

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IV.                                PURCHASE OF MINORITY SHARES UPON TERMINATION DATE

 

4.1.                             Purchase of Minority Shares from Management Investors Upon Termination of Employment .

 

(a)                                  (i)                                      If the employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any Management Investor (or any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries who transferred such employee’s Minority Shares to a Permitted Transferee) shall terminate for any reason whatsoever, including death, Disability, resignation, or termination with or without Cause (the date on which such termination occurs being referred to as the “ Management Investor Termination Date ”), then the Company shall have the option (the “ Management Investor Call Option ”) to repurchase all, but not less than all, of the Minority Shares held by such Management Investor (or by any Minority Investor who acquired such shares as a Permitted Transferee from an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries), at the price and on the other terms specified in Section 4.2.  The Company may exercise the Management Investor Call Option by delivery of written notice (the “ Management Investor Call Notice ”) to the holder or holders of the Minority Shares within ninety (90) days, or within three hundred sixty five (365) days if termination is because of death or Disability, after the Management Investor Termination Date (the “ Management Investor Call Period ”).  The Management Investor Call Notice shall set forth the number of the Minority Shares to be acquired from such holder(s), the aggregate consideration to be paid for such shares and the time and place for the closing of the transaction.

 

(ii)                                   If for any reason the Company does not elect to purchase all of the Minority Shares pursuant to the Management Investor Call Option, then each Significant Stockholder shall be entitled to exercise the Company’s Management Investor Call Option in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph (a) for all, but not less than all, of the Minority Shares (the “ Management Investor Available Shares ”).  As soon as practicable after the Company has determined that there will be Management Investor Available Shares, but in any event within the Management Investor Call Period, the Company shall deliver written notice (the “ Management Investor Option Notice ”) to each Significant Stockholder setting forth the number of Management Investor Available Shares and the price for each Management Investor Available Share.  Each Significant Stockholder may elect to purchase all of the Management Investor Available Shares by delivering written notice to the Company within ten (10) days after receipt of the Management Investor Option Notice by such Significant Stockholder.  As soon as practicable, and in any event within five (5) days after the expiration of such ten (10) day period, the Company shall notify the holder(s) of Minority Shares as to the number of Minority Shares being purchased from such holder by such Significant Stockholder.  If more than one Significant Stockholder elects to exercise such purchase option with respect to the Minority Shares not purchased by the Company, such electing Persons shall be entitled to purchase such Minority Shares pro rata on the basis of their ownership of Company Common Stock or in such proportion as they may agree between or among themselves.

 

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(b)                                  Settlement of the purchase of Minority Shares pursuant to this Section 4.1 will occur at the Company’s principal office on a Business Day to be fixed by the Company within fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the Management Investor Call Period.  At the time of the settlement, (i) the purchaser or purchasers shall pay the purchase price in the manner specified in Section 4.2, (ii) the holders of the Minority Shares being purchased shall deliver the certificate or certificates representing such shares to the purchaser or purchasers or their nominees, endorsed in blank, or accompanied by appropriate stock powers executed in blank, together with funds for any required stock transfer taxes, and (iii) the transferor shall represent in writing to the transferee (and to the Company, if the Company is not the transferee) that such Minority Shares are owned of record and beneficially by such transferor, free and clear of all liens, security interests, claims, restrictions and encumbrances of any kind.

 

(c)                                   Each Management Investor acknowledges that the Minority Shares which the Company or a Significant Stockholder may elect to purchase include any Minority Shares issued upon exercise of any stock option (regardless of whether such option is exercised before or after the Management Investor Termination Date).

 

4.2.                             Purchase Price for Minority Shares .  The purchase price per share to be paid for any Minority Shares purchased by the Company or a Significant Stockholder pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be equal to:

 

(i)                                      if the termination of employment giving rise to the Management Investor Call Option arose (x) out of a termination for Cause or (y) because such employee left the Company or any of its subsidiaries to serve as an employee, office or director of or consultant to or owner of a business engaged in any activity which the Company determines is in competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the lesser of (1) the cost incurred by the terminated Management Investor (or the employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries who transferred such Minority Shares to such Minority Investor) in connection with the purchase of the Minority Shares being repurchased (it being agreed that in the case of shares acquired upon the exercise of options to purchase Company Common Stock, the cost incurred shall be deemed to be the exercise price) and (2) the Fair Market Value of the Minority Shares being purchased; and

 

(ii)                                   if the termination of employment giving rise to the Management Investor Call Option arose for any other reason, the Fair Market Value of the Minority Shares being purchased.

 

Such purchase price may be paid (a) in the case of a purchase by the Company, at the option of the Management Investor, either in cash at the closing contemplated by Section 4.1(b) or, to the extent the Company’s credit agreements do not permit such cash payment, by delivery of a subordinated promissory note having the terms described in the next sentence, or (b) in the case of a purchase by a Significant Stockholder, in cash at the closing contemplated by Section 4.1(b).  Any subordinated promissory note issued by the Company in payment of such purchase price shall (x) provide that the principal amount thereof shall be payable on the first anniversary of the date thereof, (y) bear interest at the rate of publically announced by Credit Suisse as their respective prime commercial lending rate, payable semiannually and (z) be subordinated on

 

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terms and conditions satisfactory to any holders of indebtedness (other than Affiliates of the Company) for borrowed money of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

4.3.                             Purchase of Minority Shares from Relationship Investors Upon Termination of Contractual Relationship .

 

(a)                                  (i)                                      If the contractual relationship (“ Relationship Investor Representative Agreement ”) between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any Relationship Investor (or any Permitted Transferee who currently holds the Relationship Investor’s Minority Shares) shall terminate for any reason whatsoever, including death, resignation, or termination (the date on which such termination occurs being referred to as the “ Relationship Investor Termination Date ”), then the Company shall have the option (the “ Relationship Investor Call Option ”) to repurchase all, but not less than all, of the Minority Shares held by such Relationship Investor (or by any Minority Investor who acquired such shares as a Permitted Transferee from the Relationship Investor), at the price and on the other terms specified in Schedule 4.3.  The Company may exercise the Relationship Investor Call Option by delivery of written notice (the “ Relationship Investor Call Notice ”) to the holder or holders of the Minority Shares within ninety (90) days, or within three hundred sixty five (365) days if termination is because of death, after the Relationship Investor Termination Date (the “ Relationship Investor Call Period ”).  The Relationship Investor Call Notice shall set forth the number of the Minority Shares to be acquired from such holder(s), the aggregate consideration to be paid for such shares and the time and place for the closing of the transaction.

 

(ii)                                   If for any reason the Company does not elect to purchase all of the Minority Shares pursuant to the Relationship Investor Call Option, then each Significant Stockholder shall be entitled to exercise the Company’s Relationship Investor Call Option in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph (a) for all, but not less than all, of the Minority Shares (the “ Relationship Investor Available Shares ”).  As soon as practicable after the Company has determined that there will be Relationship Investor Available Shares, but in any event within the Relationship Investor Call Period, the Company shall deliver written notice (the “ Relationship Investor Option Notice ”) to each Significant Stockholder setting forth the number of Relationship Investor Available Shares and the price for each Relationship Investor Available Share.  Each Significant Stockholder may elect to purchase all of the Relationship Investor Available Shares by delivering written notice to the Company within ten (10) days after receipt of the Relationship Investor Option Notice by such Significant Stockholder.  As soon as practicable, and in any event within five (5) days after the expiration of such ten (10) day period, the Company shall notify the holder(s) of Minority Shares as to the number of Minority Shares being purchased from such holder by such Significant Stockholder.  If more than one Significant Stockholder elects to exercise such purchase option with respect to the Minority Shares not purchased by the Company, such electing Persons shall be entitled to purchase such Minority Shares pro rata on the basis of their ownership of Company Common Stock or in such proportion as they may agree between or among themselves.

 

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(b)                                  Settlement of the purchase of Minority Shares pursuant to this Section 4.3 will occur at the Company’s principal office on a Business Day to be fixed by the Company within fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the Relationship Investor Call Period.  At the time of the settlement, (i) the purchaser or purchasers shall pay the purchase price in the manner specified in Schedule 4.3, (ii) the holders of the Minority Shares being purchased shall deliver the certificate or certificates representing such shares to the purchaser or purchasers or their nominees, endorsed in blank, or accompanied by appropriate stock powers executed in blank, together with funds for any required stock transfer taxes, and (iii) the transferor shall represent in writing to the transferee (and to the Company, if the Company is not the transferee) that such Minority Shares are owned of record and beneficially by such transferor, free and clear of all liens, security interests, claims, restrictions and encumbrances of any kind.

 

(c)                                   Each Relationship Investor acknowledges that the Minority Shares which the Company or a Significant Stockholder may elect to purchase include any Minority Shares issued upon exercise of any stock option (regardless of whether such option is exercised before or after the Relationship Investor Termination Date).

 

V.                                     CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

5.1.                             Certain Transactions .  The parties hereto agree to the execution, delivery and performance of the Management Agreement by the Company.

 

5.2.                             Mergers, Etc .  If the Board and the Stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock approve (a) any merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination involving the Company, (b) any acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all or a material portion of the business or assets of, or stock or other evidences of beneficial ownership of, any Person, or (c) the sale of all of the business or assets of, or substantially all of the assets of, the Company, then each Stockholder agrees to vote or cause to be vote all of its shares of Company Common Stock in favor of such transaction and agrees not to exercise any appraisal or dissenters’ rights available under any rule, regulation, statute, agreement, the certificate of incorporation, the by-laws or otherwise.  The obligations of each Stockholder with respect to any transaction subject to this Section 5.2 shall be conditioned on the same terms in such transaction applying to such Stockholder as apply to all other Stockholders.

 

5.3.                             Board of Directors ; Books and Records .  (a) The Stockholders and the Company hereby agree that, at all times until an IPO, the Board shall consist entirely of (i) the person who holds the title of Chief Executive Officer of the Company so long as such individual remains an employee of the Company; provided, however, that the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the Chief Executive Officer shall not be appointed to the Board until immediately following the Closing Date, and (ii) any number of other individuals designated by the AEA Investors; provided, however, that for so long as each of AEA Investors Fund V LP, AEA Investors Fund V-A LP and AEA Investors Fund V-B LP (each, a “ VCOC Fund ”), directly or indirectly through any other entity owns any of the Company Common Shares

 

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owned by the AEA Investors, such VCOC Fund shall have the right to designate at least one of the individuals that the AEA Investors are entitled to designate for election to the Board of Directors.  The Stockholders and the Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to cause such individuals to be elected or re-elected as the members of the Board and to be maintained in such positions at all such times.

 

(b)                                  Following an IPO, for so long as the AEA Investors in the aggregate own at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, the AEA Investors shall at all times be entitled to nominate at least one individual for election to the Board.  The Company hereby agrees that, at all times after the IPO, at and in connection with each annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company at which directors of the Company are to be elected, the Company, the Board and the nominating committee thereof will (A) nominate and recommend to stockholders for election or re-election as part of the management slate of directors each such individual and (B) provide the same type of support for the election of each such individual as a director of the Company as provided by the Company, its directors, its management and its Affiliates to other persons standing for election as directors of the Company as part of the management slate.  Each Stockholder hereby agrees that, at all times after the IPO, such Stockholder will, and will cause each of its Affiliates to, vote all shares of Company Common Stock owned or held of record by it, at each annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company at which directors of the Company are to be elected, in favor of the election or reelection as a member of the Board of each such individual nominated by the AEA Investors.

 

(c)                                   For so long as the AEA Investors shall have the right to designate a member of the Board pursuant to this Section 5.3, the AEA Investors shall be furnished full and complete access to the files and records regarding the business of the Company including, without limitation, monthly statements of profit and loss and any other periodic management reports.

 

(d)                                  For so long as an Additional Investor owns any shares of Company Common Stock, the Company shall (i) permit such Additional Investor, upon its reasonable request and reasonable advance notice to have reasonable access during normal business hours to the files and records regarding the Business; provided, however, that each Additional Investor acknowledges and agrees that no access granted hereunder shall unreasonably interfere with the business operations of the Business, and (ii) provide each Additional Investor (A) unaudited monthly reports and unaudited quarterly and audited annual financial statements regarding its financial operations within five (5) Business Days following the date upon which the AEA Investors receive such reports or financial statements, as applicable, and (B) any additional information the Company is required to deliver the lending agent pursuant to the credit agreement that EWT III will execute in connection with the acquisition of the Business (the “ Credit Agreement ”) within five (5) Business Days following the date upon which the Company has delivered such information to such lending agent under the Credit Agreement.

 

5.4.                             Corporate Opportunities .

 

(a)                                  In recognition and anticipation of the facts that (i) the directors, officers and/or employees of each AEA Investor or its Affiliates may serve as directors and/or officers of

 

19



 

the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and (ii) each AEA Investor and its Affiliates engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Section 5.4 are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Company as they may involve the AEA Investors, their Affiliates and their respective officers, directors and employees, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and its officers, directors, Affiliates and Stockholders in connection therewith.

 

(b)                                  No AEA Investor, any of its Affiliates nor any of their respective officers, directors or employees shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company.  The Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both an AEA Investor or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors or employees and the Company, and therefore no AEA Investor, any of its Affiliates nor any of their respective officers, directors or employees shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to communicate or offer such corporate opportunity to the Company and shall not be liable to the Company or its Stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder, director and/or officer of the Company solely by reason of the fact that such party pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Company.

 

(c)                                   To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Section 5.4 to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Stockholders, the Company and its Stockholders hereby waive any and all claims and causes of action that the Company or the Stockholders may have for such activities to the fullest extent permitted by law.  The provisions of this Section 5.4 apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past.

 

5.5.                             Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                  In respect of any trade secrets, customer lists, drawings, designs, information regarding product development, services, marketing plans, sales plans, management organization information (including data and other information relating to members of the Board or management), operating policies or manuals, business plans, financial records, packaging design or other financial, commercial, business or technical information relating to the Company or a Stockholder (in each case, such party being the “ Disclosing Party ”), any of its subsidiaries or the business or information designated as confidential or proprietary that the Disclosing Party or any of its subsidiaries may receive belonging to suppliers, customers or others who do business with the Disclosing Party or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”) that is disclosed by the Disclosing Party to the Company, its subsidiaries or another Stockholder (in each case, such party being the “ Receiving Party ”), without the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party, except (a) to the extent required by law, rule, regulation or court order or otherwise compelled by regulatory or legal process, (b) for disclosure made by the Receiving

 

20



 

Party to any Person who is an officer, director, employee or agent of the Receiving Party or any of their respective Affiliates or counsel to, accountants of, consultants to or other advisors for, the Receiving Party or its Affiliates, (c) to the extent necessary in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder, (d) to any potential transferee in connection with a proposed Transfer of Company Common Stock, in each case as permitted hereunder, as long as such transferee agrees to be bound by a confidentiality agreement containing terms substantially similar to the provisions of this Section 5.5, or (e) for disclosure to the direct or indirect shareholders, limited partners, partners or members of the Receiving Party and their respective advisors (provided, however, any disclosure pursuant to this clause (e) is generally consistent with the scope and nature of disclosure made by the Receiving Party to such Persons in respect of the Receiving Party’s other investments), the Receiving Party shall not disclose Confidential Information to any third Person unless such Confidential Information has been previously disclosed to the public by the Disclosing Party or is in the public domain (other than by reason of the Receiving Party’s breach of this Section 5.5).

 

(b)                                  bcIMC Private Placement (2013) Investment Corporation and bcIMC (WCBAF) Private Placement (2013) Investment Corporation (collectively, “ bcIMC Investor ”) hereby represents and warrants that it is subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (British Columbia) (the “ BC Act ”) and that it is contractually obligated to disclose certain information to its investors and prospective investors.  Based solely on the foregoing representations in the immediately preceding sentence, the Company agrees that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.5(a), the bcIMC Investor may disclose to its ultimate equity holders and to any other Person to which it is required to disclose pursuant to the BC Act the following information about the Company: (i) the name and address of the Company and the fact that such bcIMC Investor has made an investment in the Company, (ii) a brief description of the business of the Company, (iii) the amount and currency of bcIMC Investor’s investment in the Company, (iv) the internal rate of return of the bcIMC Investor’s investment in the Company with respect the Company’s performance as a whole as prepared by the bcIMC Investor, (v) the amount of any distributions received by the bcIMC investor in connection with its investment in the Company, and (vi) that AEA is the financial sponsor of the Company; provided that in each case (x) such bcIMC Investor shall clearly indicate that any such disclosure made pursuant to clause (iv) was not prepared, reviewed, or approved by the Company, AEA or any of their respective affiliates and (y) such bcIMC Investor agrees that none of the Company, AEA or any of their respective affiliates shall have any responsibility or liability in connection with any disclosure made pursuant to this Section 5.5(b).

 

5.6.                             Distributions or Redemptions .  For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not distribute its earnings to its Stockholders or redeem shares of Company Common Stock of its Stockholders unless such distribution or redemption is available to all Stockholders, pro rata, based on their respective holdings of Company Common Stock; provided, however, that the Company shall be permitted to redeem any number of shares of Company Common Stock held by (a) any Management Investor that is not an employee of AEA and (b) any Relationship Investor, in each case, to the extent the Board determines that such redemption is in the best interests of the Company.

 

21



 

5.7.                             Annual Valuation .  The Company shall, at the request of an Additional Investor, use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to such Additional Investor on or prior to the last business day of February of each fiscal year a preliminary estimate (based on unaudited financial information actually known by the Company at the time and without any requirement of the Company to change the timing of its ordinary course year-end valuation work) of the Fair Market Value of the Company as of December 31 of the preceding fiscal year; provided, however, that such Additional Investor confirms that it understands that such information may be incomplete and/or change prior the issuance of any other determination of Fair Market Value of the Company otherwise required to be delivered to such Additional Investor in connection with such Additional Investor’s investment in funds or investment vehicles managed by AEA.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, each Additional Investor agrees to keep such information confidential and only disclose such information to employees and advisers who need to know such information in connection with the preparation of such Additional Investor’s statutorily required reports.

 

VI.                                MISCELLANEOUS

 

6.1.                             Additional Securities Subject to Agreement .  Each Stockholder agrees that any other Equity Securities of the Company which they hereafter acquire by means of a stock split, stock dividend, or distribution will be subject to the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent as if held on the date hereof.

 

6.2.                             Term .  This Agreement will be effective from and after the date hereof and will terminate and be of no further force and effect (other than with respect to prior breaches) with respect to the provisions referred to below as follows: (i) with respect to Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and Schedule 4.3, upon completion of an IPO; and (ii) with respect to all Sections, upon the sale of all or substantially all of the assets or equity interests in the Company to a Third Party whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or securities or otherwise.

 

6.3.                             Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by cable, by telecopy, by telegram, by telex or registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), or by electronic mail to the respective parties at the addresses set forth on the signature pages (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 6.3).

 

6.4.                             Further Assurances .  The parties hereto will sign such further documents, cause such meetings to be held, resolutions passed, exercise their votes and do and perform and cause to be done such further acts and things as may be necessary in order to give full effect to this Agreement and every provision hereof.

 

22



 

6.5.                             Non-Assignability .  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding on the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by any party hereto without the express prior written consent of the other parties, and any attempted assignment, without such consents, will be null and void; provided, however, that any Stockholder may assign or delegate all or any portion of its rights hereunder to any Permitted Transferee so long as such Person is a party hereto or executes and delivers to the Company an Assumption Agreement satisfactory to the Company; and; provided, further, that each Person who acquires any Company Common Stock from any Stockholder hereunder shall assume the rights and obligations, including the economic rights, of the AEA Investors (in the case of any Transfer from the AEA Investors) or a Minority Investor (in the case of any Transfer from a Minority Investor unless the Transfer occurred pursuant to Section 2.3, in which case such Person will be subject to the same rights and obligations, including the economic rights, as an AEA Investor).

 

6.6.                             Amendment, Waiver .  This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified only by a written instrument executed by the Company and the holders of a majority of the shares of Company Common Stock; provided, however, (i) that any amendment, supplement or modification of Article 2 and Sections 5.3(a), 5.3(d), 5.4, 5.5(a), 5.6 and 5.7 and Article 6 (other than Sections 6.3, 6.14 and 6.15) of this Agreement shall require the written approval of each Additional Investor and (ii) that any amendment, supplement or modification of this Agreement which disproportionately adversely affects any Stockholder shall not be effective without the written approval of such Stockholder; provided, however, that the Company and the AEA Investors shall be expressly permitted to amend, supplement or modify Schedule 4.3 without the consent of any of the Minority Investors.  No waiver by any party of any of the provisions hereof will be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and executed by the party so waiving.  Except as provided in the preceding sentence, no action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation, any investigation by or on behalf of any party, will be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any covenants or agreements contained herein.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

 

6.7.                             Third Parties .  This Agreement does not create any rights, claims or benefits inuring to any person that is not a party hereto nor create or establish any third party beneficiary hereto.

 

6.8.                             Governing Law; Arbitration .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.

 

23



 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any controversy or dispute arising out of this Agreement, the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof or the action or inaction of any Person hereunder shall be submitted to arbitration in New York, New York, before the American Arbitration Association under the commercial arbitration rules of such Association.  Any award or decision obtained from any such arbitration proceeding shall be final and binding on the parties, and judgment upon any award so obtained may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, no action at law or in equity based upon any claim arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be instituted in any court by any party except:  (i) an action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Section 6.8(b), (ii) an action to enforce an award obtained in an arbitration proceeding in accordance with this Section 6.8(b), or (iii) an action for injunctive relief when and if such relief is appropriate under the terms of this Agreement.

 

6.9.                             Specific Performance .  Without limiting or waiving in any respect any rights or remedies of the parties hereto under this Agreement now or hereinafter existing at law or in equity or by statute, each of the parties hereto will be entitled to seek specific performance of the obligations to be performed by the other in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

6.10.                      Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with, as applicable, the subscription agreements entered into by Company and the Management Investors, the subscription agreements entered into by the Company and the Relationship Investors and the subscription agreements entered into by the Company, the AEA Investors and each Additional Investor as of the date hereof, sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

6.11.                      Titles and Headings .  The section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and will not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

6.12.                      Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement is declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, all other provisions of this Agreement will not be affected and will remain in full force and effect.

 

6.13.                      Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which together will be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

 

6.14.                      Additional Management Investors and Relationship Investors .  Any employee or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries who becomes party to a stock subscription agreement, option agreement or similar agreement after the date hereof, or any Person that has a Relationship Investor Representative Agreement with the Company and/or its subsidiaries and who the Company has agreed to admit as a Relationship Investor may become a party hereto and may become bound hereby by entering into a supplementary agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof (or only specific sections hereof).  Each such supplementary agreement shall become effective upon its execution by the

 

24



 

Company and such employee, director or any Person that has a Relationship Investor Representative Agreement with the Company and/or its subsidiaries and who the Company has agreed to admit as a Relationship Investor, and it shall not require the signature or consent of any other party hereto.  Such supplementary agreement may modify some of the terms hereof as they effect such employee, director or Person that has a Relationship Investor Representative Agreement with the Company and/or its subsidiaries and who the Company has agreed to admit as a Relationship Investor.

 

6.15.                      Stock Certificates .  Until the occurrence of an IPO, AEA Sale or consummation of a Third Party Offer, any certificate representing shares of Company Common Stock issued to the Management Investors and Relationship Investors shall be held by the Company for the benefit of the Management Investors and Relationship Investors.  Upon the occurrence of an IPO, AEA Sale or consummation of a Third Party Offer, the Company shall return any such certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock issued to the Management Investors and Relationship Investors to the record holder(s) thereof.

 

6.16.                      Tax Forms; FATCA .

 

(a)                                  Each Stockholder shall furnish to the Company from time to time all such information as is required by applicable law or otherwise reasonably requested by the Company (including IRS Forms W-8 or W9, as applicable, and any other forms or certificates prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, the regulations promulgated thereunder, or other applicable state, local or non-U.S. law) to permit the Company to ascertain whether and in what amount withholding of taxes is required in respect of such Stockholder.

 

(b)                                  Without limiting the preceding paragraph, the Company will comply with any withholding or information reporting requirements applicable to it required by sections 1471 through 1474 (or any successor provisions or amendments thereof)  of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any current or future U.S. Treasury Regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder (“ FATCA ”).  Each Stockholder will comply with all requirements and obligations imposed on it under FATCA that are applicable to its investment in the Company, including providing the Company with any applicable forms and information to avoid the imposition of withholding tax on amounts received with respect to its investment in the Company.  Each Stockholder shall bear any taxes or withholding, and all other costs, attributable its failure to comply with FATCA and amounts paid to such Stockholder being subject to withholding tax, and no Stockholder shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company or any other Stockholder.

 

6.17.                      Relationship Investors .

 

(a)                                  For the avoidance of doubt, a natural person shall be permitted to own Company Shares and qualify as a “Relationship Investor” hereunder if he or she is employed by, consulting with or owns an entity that has a Relationship Investor Representative Agreement with the Company and/or its subsidiaries (such entity that has a Relationship Investor

 

25



 

Representative Agreement with the Company and/or its subsidiaries shall be referred to as the “ Contractual RI Party ”).

 

(b)                                  A natural person of the type referenced in Section 6.17(a) that executes this Agreement and owns Company Shares agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Relationship Investor Representative Agreement referenced in Section 6.17(a) as if he or she is the Contractual RI Party under such Relationship Investor Representative Agreement.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]

 

26


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement or caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf as of the date first written above.

 

 

THE COMPANY:

 

 

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

Title: Vice President, Secretary and Assistant

 

Treasurer

 

Address: c/o AEA Investors L.P.

 

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th Floor

 

New York, NY 10103

 

Attention: Barbara Burns

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

THE AEA INVESTORS:

 

 

 

AEA INVESTORS FUND V LP

 

 

 

By: AEA Investors Partners V LP,

 

Its general partner

 

 

 

By: AEA Management (Cayman) Ltd.,

 

Its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

Title: Vice President

 

Address: c/o AEA Investors L.P.

 

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th Floor

 

New York, NY 10103

 

Attention: Barbara Burns

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

 

 

AEA INVESTORS FUND V-A LP

 

 

 

By: AEA Investors Partners V LP,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

By: AEA Management (Cayman) Ltd.,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

Title: Vice President

 

Address: c/o AEA Investors L.P.

 

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th Floor

 

New York, NY 10103

 

Attention: Barbara Burns

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

 

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

AEA INVESTORS FUND V-B LP

 

 

 

By: AEA Investors Partners V LP,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

By: AEA Management (Cayman) Ltd.,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

Title: Vice President

 

Address: c/o AEA Investors L.P.

 

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th Floor

 

New York, NY 10103

 

Attention: Barbara Burns

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

 

 

AEA INVESTORS PARTICIPANT FUND V LP

 

 

 

By: AEA Investors PF V LLC,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

Title: Vice President

 

Address: c/o AEA Investors L.P.

 

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th Floor

 

New York, NY 10103

 

Attention: Barbara Burns

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

AEA INVESTORS QP PARTICIPANT FUND V LP

 

 

 

By: AEA Investors PF V LLC,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

Title: Vice President

 

Address: c/o AEA Investors L.P.

 

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th Floor

 

New York, NY 10103

 

Attention: Barbara Burns

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

THE ADDITIONAL INVESTORS:

 

 

 

bcIMC Private Placement (2013) Investment Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lincoln Webb

 

Name: Lincoln Webb

 

Title: President

 

Address: 301-2940 Jutland Rd., Victoria, BC,

 

              Canada, V8T 5K6

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

bcIMC (WCBAF) Private Placement (2013) Investment Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lincoln Webb

 

Name: Lincoln Webb

 

Title: President

 

Address: 301 – 2940 Jutland Rd., Victoria, BC,

 

              Canada, V8T 5K6

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

FW RMB NANSEMOND INVESTORS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bryan Barrett

 

Name: Bryan Barrett

 

Title: Vice President

 

Address: 201 Main Street Suite 2600

 

              Fort Worth, TX 76102

 

Telephone:

 

Email:

 

Fax:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

2014 WATER LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ H. Hiter Harris III

 

Name:

 

Title: Manager

 

Address: 1001 Haxall Point, 9 th  Floor

 

              Richmond, VA 23219

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

Jungfrau SICAV-SIF, in relation to its compartment Long Term Allocation, by its investment manager Banque Pictet & Cie S.A.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gerald Formaz

/s/ Carsten Beyer

 

Name:

Gerald Formaz

Carsten Beyer

 

Title: Assistant Vice Presidents

 

Address: Route des Acacias 60

 

              1211 Geneva 73, Switzerland

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

Pictet Private Equity Investors SA, acting as nominee for the account of Banque Pictet & Cie S.A., in turn on behalf of its undisclosed clients

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gerald Formaz

/s/ Carsten Beyer

 

Name:

Gerald Formaz

Carsten Beyer

 

Title:

Director

Director

 

Address: Route des Acacias 60

 

              1211 Geneva 73, Switzerland

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 


 

 

HAVELOCK FUND INVESTMENTS PTE LTD

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Alan Thompson

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Address: 60B Orchard Road

 

           #06-18 Tower 2 The Atrium @ Orchard

 

           Singapore 238891

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

Partners Group U.S. Private Equity 2011, L.P. Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Neil Hartley

/s/ Brett McFarlane

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Address: 1114 Avenue of the Americas, 37 th  Floor

 

           New York, NY 10036

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

Monte Rosa Funds SICAV-SIF, in relation to its segregated compartment Monte Rosa 2011, by its investment manager Banque Pictet & Cie S.A.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Marechal

/s/ Jerome Vogt

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Address:

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

Monte Rosa Opportunities SICAV-SIF, in relation to its segregated compartment Monte Rosa Co-Investments II, by its investment manager Banque Pictet & Cie S.A.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Marechal

/s/ Jerome Vogt

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Address:

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

Xyris Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bowei Lee

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Address: Suite 2, 20/F., CMA Building, No. 64

 

           Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

LCY Investments Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bowei Lee

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Address: 4F, Bade Road Section 4,

 

           Taipei 105, Taiwan

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

 

NB PEP Holdings Limited

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Blake Rice

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Address: c/o NB Alternatives, 325 N. Saint

 

           Paul Street Suite 4900

 

           Dallas, TX 7520

 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Email:

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement ]

 



 

Schedule 4.13

 

Purchase Price for Relationship Investor’s Minority Shares

 

The purchase price per share to be paid for any Minority Shares purchased by the Company or a Significant Stockholder pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Agreement shall be equal to:

 

(i)                                    if the termination of the Relationship Investor Representative Agreement giving rise to the Relationship Investor Call Option arose (x) out of the mutual consent of the Company or its subsidiaries and the applicable Relationship Investor or (ii) the Relationship Investor terminating the Relationship Investor Representative Agreement with the Company or its subsidiaries solely due to the Company or its subsidiaries discontinuing Relationship Investor’s sales rights of a product line that was responsible for greater than fifty percent (50%) of the commissions paid to such Relationship Investor over the preceding 36-month period prior to such termination, the Fair Market Value of the Minority Shares being purchased.

 

(ii)                                 if the termination of the Relationship Investor Representative Agreement giving rise to the Relationship Investor Call Option arose for any reason other than the reasons set forth in this Schedule 4.3(i), then the purchase price per share to be paid for any Minority Shares shall be the lesser of (1) the cost incurred by the Relationship Investor that has terminated the Relationship Investor Representative Agreement (or any Permitted Transferee who currently holds the Relationship Investor’s Minority Shares) in connection with the purchase of the Minority Shares being repurchased and (2) the Fair Market Value of the Minority Shares being purchased.

 

Such purchase price may be paid (a) in the case of a purchase by the Company, at the option of the Relationship Investor, either in cash at the closing contemplated by Section 4.3(b) of this Agreement or, to the extent the Company’s credit agreements do not permit such cash payment, by delivery of a subordinated promissory note having the terms described in the next sentence, or (b) in the case of a purchase by a Significant Stockholder, in cash at the closing contemplated by Section 4.3(b) of this Agreement.  Any subordinated promissory note issued by the Company in payment of such purchase price shall (x) provide that the principal amount thereof shall be payable on the first anniversary of the date thereof, (y) bear interest at the rate of publically announced by Credit Suisse as their respective prime commercial lending rate, payable semiannually and (z) be subordinated on terms and conditions satisfactory to any holders of indebtedness (other than Affiliates of the Company) for borrowed money of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 


 



Exhibit 10.7

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES CORP.,

 

THE AEA INVESTORS,

 

MANAGEMENT INVESTORS,

 

RELATIONSHIP INVESTORS

 

and

 

ADDITIONAL INVESTORS

 

Dated as of October 16, 2017

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 1.

Certain Definitions

2

Section 2.

Registration Rights

7

 

2.1.

Demand Registrations

7

 

2.2.

Piggyback Registrations

11

 

2.3.

Allocation of Securities Included in Registration Statement

13

 

2.4.

Registration Procedures

16

 

2.5.

Registration Expenses

23

 

2.6.

Certain Limitations on Registration Rights

23

 

2.7.

Limitations on Sale or Distribution of Other Securities

24

 

2.8.

No Required Sale

25

 

2.9.

Indemnification

26

 

2.10.

Limitations on Registration of Other Securities; Representation

30

 

2.11.

No Inconsistent Agreements

30

Section 3.

Underwritten Offerings

30

 

3.1.

Requested Underwritten Offerings

30

 

3.2.

Piggyback Underwritten Offerings

30

Section 4.

General

31

 

4.1.

Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities

31

 

4.2.

Rule 144 and Rule 144A

31

 

4.3.

Nominees for Beneficial Owners

32

 

4.4.

Amendments and Waivers

32

 

4.5.

Notices

32

 

4.6.

Successors and Assigns

33

 

4.7.

Entire Agreement

34

 

4.8.

Governing Law; Arbitration

34

 

4.9.

Interpretation; Construction

34

 

4.10.

Counterparts

35

 

4.11.

Severability

35

 

4.12.

Remedies

35

 

4.13.

Further Assurances

35

 

4.14.

Confidentiality

35

 

4.15.

IPO

36

 

4.16.

MFN

36

 

 

 

 

Schedule I

   Notices

 

 

i



 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT , dated as of October 16, 2017 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), by and among (i) Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (f/k/a EWT Holdings I Corp.), a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) , (ii) the AEA Investors (as defined herein), (iii) the parties identified on Schedule I hereto as “Management Investors” (together with their respective Permitted Transferees and each party who executes a joinder to this Agreement (or has executed a joinder to the Original Agreement or the First A&R Agreement (each as defined below)) agreeing to be bound by and comply with the applicable terms, conditions and provisions hereof from time to time, the “ Management Investors ”), (iv) the parties identified on Schedule I hereto as “Additional Investors” (together with their respective Permitted Transferees and each party who executes a joinder to this Agreement (or has executed a joinder to the Original Agreement or the First A&R Agreement (each as defined below)) agreeing to be bound by and comply with the applicable terms, conditions and provisions hereof from time to time, the “ Additional Investors ”), and (v) the Persons identified on Schedule I hereto as “Relationship Investors” that have either a municipal, distributor, representative, consulting or industrial contract with the Company and/or its subsidiaries (together with their respective Permitted Transferees and each party who executes a joinder to this Agreement (or has executed a joinder to the Original Agreement or the First A&R Agreement (each as defined below)) agreeing to be bound by and comply with the applicable terms, conditions and provisions hereof from time to time, the “ Relationship Investors ”); and, collectively with the Management Investors, the Additional Investors and each Person who executes an Assumption Agreement (as defined in the Second A&R Stockholders Agreement (as defined below)) and falls under clause (x)(i) of the definition of Assumption Agreement, the “ Minority Investors ”).

 

RECITALS :

 

WHEREAS, EWT Holdings III Corp. (f/k/a WTG Holdings III Corp.), a Delaware corporation and indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“ EWT III ”), and Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (“ Siemens ”) are parties to a Master Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2013 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “ MSPA ”), pursuant to which, among other things, Siemens sold and transferred the business of providing products, equipment, solutions and services related to water and wastewater treatment markets through Siemens’ business unit “Water Technologies” with three segments (i.e., industrial, municipal and service) (the “ Business ”) to EWT III and its Affiliates, and EWT III and its Affiliates purchased and acquired the Business from Siemens, in each case at the January 15, 2014 and with economic effect as of the Effective Date (as defined in the MSPA);

 

WHEREAS, the AEA Investors hold a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Minority Investors hold the remainder of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and the Company has no other capital stock outstanding as of the date hereof;

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the AEA Investors, the Management Investors and the Additional Investors entered into that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2014 (the “ Original Agreement ”), on the terms and conditions set forth in the Original Agreement to provide for certain registration rights set forth therein with respect to the ownership of shares of capital stock of the Company;

 



 

WHEREAS, the Company, the AEA Investors, the Management Investors and the Additional Investors executed that certain First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ First A&R Agreement ”), on the terms and conditions set forth in the First A&R Agreement to provide for certain registration rights set forth therein with respect to the ownership of shares of capital stock of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the AEA Investors, the Management Investors and the Additional Investors are parties to that certain Stockholders Agreement, dated as January 15, 2014 (the “ Stockholders Agreement ”), establishing and setting forth their agreement with respect to certain rights and obligations associated with the ownership of shares of capital stock of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, as permitted under the Stockholders Agreement, the Company and the AEA Investors executed that certain First Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2014 (the “ First A&R Stockholders Agreement ”), on the terms and conditions set forth in the First A&R Stockholders Agreement to provide for certain matters relating to their rights and obligations associated with the ownership of shares of capital stock of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, as permitted under the First A&R Stockholders Agreement, the Company, the AEA Investors and the Additional Investors executed that certain Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2014 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “ Second A&R Stockholders Agreement ”), on the terms and conditions set forth in the Second A&R Stockholders Agreement to provide for certain matters relating to their rights and obligations associated with the ownership of shares of capital stock of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with entering into the Second A&R Stockholders Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4.4 of the First A&R Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company, the AEA Investors and the Additional Investors, which are the holders of a majority of the shares of Registrable Securities desire to amend and restate the First A&R Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Certain Definitions .  As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional Investors ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

 

Additional Piggyback Rights ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(b).

 

AEA ” means AEA Investors LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

2



 

AEA Investors ” means (i) AEA Investors Fund V LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership. (ii) AEA Investors Fund V-A LP, a Delaware limited partnership, (iii) AEA Investors Fund V-B LP, a Delaware limited partnership, (iv) AEA Investors Participant Fund V LP, a Delaware limited partnership, (v) AEA Investors QP Participant Fund V LP, a Delaware limited partnership, (vi) any general or limited partnership, corporation or limited liability company having as a general partner, controlling equity holder or managing member (whether directly or indirectly) a Person who is a member of AEA or an Affiliate of any such Person and (vii) any successor or permitted assign or transferee of any of the foregoing.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such Person.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

 

Automatic shelf registration statement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.4.

 

bcIMC Investor ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.14(b).

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

Business Day ” means a day, other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Claims ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.9(a).

 

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and any and all securities of any kind whatsoever which may be issued after the date hereof in respect of, or in exchange for, such shares of common stock of the Company pursuant to a merger, consolidation, stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization of the Company or otherwise.

 

Common Stock Equivalents ” means, with respect to the Company, all options, warrants and other securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for (at any time or upon the occurrence of any event or contingency and without regard to any vesting or other conditions to which such securities may be subject), shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any note or debt security convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company).

 

Company ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble and, for purposes of this Agreement, such term shall include any Subsidiary or parent company of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. and any successor to Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. or any Subsidiary or parent company of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.

 

Confidential Information ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.14(a).

 

3



 

Demand Exercise Notice ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).

 

Demand Registration ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).

 

Demand Registration Request ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC issued under such Act, as they may from time to time be in effect.

 

Expenses ” means any and all fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with Section 2, including, without limitation:  (i) SEC, stock exchange, FINRA and all other registration and filing fees and all listing fees and fees with respect to the inclusion of securities on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq or on any other U.S. or non-U.S. securities market on which the Common Stock is or may be listed or quoted, (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws of any state or jurisdiction of the United States or compliance with the securities laws of foreign jurisdictions and in connection with the preparation of a “blue sky” survey, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of outside “blue sky” counsel and securities counsel in foreign jurisdictions, (iii) word processing, printing and copying expenses, (iv) messenger and delivery expenses, (v) expenses incurred in connection with any road show, (vi) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (vii) with respect to each registration or underwritten offering, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the AEA Investors and one counsel for all other Participating Holder(s) collectively (selected by the holders of a majority of the shares held by such other Participating Holder(s)), together in each case with any local counsel, (viii) fees and disbursements of all independent public accountants (including the expenses of any audit/review and/or “cold comfort” letter and updates thereof) and fees and expenses of other Persons, including special experts, retained by the Company, (ix) fees and expenses payable to a Qualified Independent Underwriter, (x) fees and expenses of any transfer agent or custodian, (xi) any other fees and disbursements of underwriters, if any, customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the underwriters in connection with any filing with or review by FINRA and (xii) expenses for securities law liability insurance and, if any, rating agency fees.

 

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

First A&R Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

First A&R Stockholders Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

Holder ” or “ Holders ” means (1) any Person who is a signatory to this Agreement or (2) any permitted transferee of Registrable Securities to whom any Person who is a signatory to this Agreement shall assign or transfer any rights hereunder, provided that such transferee has agreed in writing to be bound generally by the terms of this Agreement in respect of such Registrable Securities.

 

Initiating Holders ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).

 

4



 

Investor Holders ” means the AEA Investors, or any of them, to the extent they acquire or hold Registrable Securities.

 

IPO ” means the initial bona fide underwritten public offering and sale of Common Stock (or other equity securities of the Company) pursuant to an effective registration statement (other than on Form S-4, S-8 or a comparable form) filed under the Securities Act.

 

Majority Participating Holders ” means Participating Holders holding more than 50% of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in any offering of Registrable Securities by such Participating Holders pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2.

 

Management Investors ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

Manager ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(c).

 

Minimum Threshold ” means $20 million.

 

MSPA ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

Original Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

Participating Holders ” means all Holders of Registrable Securities which are proposed to be included in any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2.

 

Partner Distribution ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(iii).

 

Person ” means any individual, firm, corporation, company, limited liability company, partnership, trust, joint stock company, business trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other legal entity of any nature whatsoever.

 

Piggyback Notice ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a).

 

Piggyback Shares ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(a)(iii).

 

Postponement Period ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b).

 

Qualified Independent Underwriter ” means a “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121.

 

Registrable Securities ” means (a) any shares of Common Stock held by the Holders at any time (including those held as a result of, or issuable upon, the conversion or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents), whether now owned or acquired by the Holders at a later time, (b) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or with respect to the Common Stock referenced in clause (a) above by way of stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares or in connection with a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, share exchange, consolidation or other reorganization and (c) any securities issued in replacement of or exchange for any securities described in clause (a) or (b) above.  As to any

 

5



 

particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (A) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, or (B) such securities shall have been sold or, with respect to the Minority Investors, can be sold (without being restricted by any volume limitations), in compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule 144 may be amended (or any successor provision thereto).

 

Relationship Investor ” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

Restricted Period ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.7(c).

 

Rule 144 ” and “ Rule 144A ” have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.2.

 

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or such other federal agency which at such time administers the Securities Act.

 

Second A&R Stockholders Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

Section 2.3(a) Sale Number ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(a).

 

Section 2.3(b) Sale Number ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(b).

 

Section 2.3(c) Sale Number ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(c).

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC issued under such Act, as they may from time to time be in effect.

 

Shelf Registrable Securities ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e).

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e).

 

Shelf Underwriting ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e).

 

Shelf Underwriting Notice ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e).

 

Shelf Underwriting Request ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e).

 

Siemens ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

Stockholders Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company on the date hereof and any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company organized or acquired after the date hereof.

 

Valid Business Reason ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b).

 

WKSI ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).

 

6



 

EWT III ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

Section 2.                                            Registration Rights .

 

2.1.                             Demand Registrations .

 

(a)                                  (i)                                      Subject to Sections 2.1(b) and 2.3, at any time and from time to time after the closing of an IPO, the AEA Investors shall have the right to require the Company to file one or more registration statements under the Securities Act covering all or any part of its and its Affiliates’ Registrable Securities by delivering a written request therefor to the Company specifying the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and the intended method of distribution thereof.  Any such request by any AEA Investor pursuant to this Section 2.1(a)(i) is referred to herein as a “ Demand Registration Request ,” and the registration so requested is referred to herein as a “ Demand Registration ” (with respect to any Demand Registration, the Holder(s) making such demand for registration being referred to as the “ Initiating Holders ”).  Any Demand Registration Request may request that the Company register Registrable Securities on an appropriate form, including a shelf registration statement, and, if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, a “ WKSI ”), an automatic shelf registration statement.  The Company shall give written notice (the “ Demand Exercise Notice ”) of such Demand Registration Request (1) to each of the Holders of record of Registrable Securities (other than individuals), at least five (5) Business Days prior to the filing of any registration statement under the Securities Act and (2) to each Holder of Registrable Securities that is an individual, no more than five (5) Business Days after the filing of the registration statement under the Securities Act (or, in the case of a request for the filing of an automatic shelf registration statement, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the filing of such registration statement).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay any Demand Exercise Notice until after filing a registration statement, so long as all recipients of such notice have the same amount of time to determine whether to participate in an offering as they would have had if such notice had not been so delayed.

 

(ii)                                   The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6, shall include in a Demand Registration (x) the Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holders and (y) the Registrable Securities of any other Holder of Registrable Securities which shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such registration pursuant to Section 2.2 (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Participating Holder) within five (5) days following the receipt of any such Demand Exercise Notice.

 

(iii)                                The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible, but subject to Section 2.1(b), use its reasonable best efforts to (x) file with the SEC (no later than forty five (45) days from the Company’s receipt of the applicable Demand Registration Request) and cause to be declared effective such registration under the Securities Act as soon as reasonably practicable (including, without limitation, by means of a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act if so requested and if the Company is then eligible to use such a registration) of the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register, for distribution in accordance with the intended method of distribution, including a distribution to, and resale by, the members or partners of a Holder (a “ Partner Distribution ”) and (y) if

 

7



 

requested by the Initiating Holders, obtain acceleration of the effective date of the registration statement relating to such registration.

 

(iv)                               Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall, at the request of any Holder seeking to effect or considering a Partner Distribution, file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments, or include in the initial registration statement any disclosure or language, or include in any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment any disclosure or language, and otherwise take any action, deemed necessary or advisable by such Holder to effect such Partner Distribution.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2.1(a), the Demand Registration rights granted in Section 2.1(a) are subject to the following limitations:  (i) the Company shall not be required to cause a registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a) to be declared effective within a period of one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of any other registration of the Company (or one hundred and eighty (180) days in the case of an IPO) filed pursuant to the Securities Act (other than a Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor or other forms promulgated for similar purposes or forms filed in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan);  (ii) the Company shall not be required to effect more than five (5) Demand Registrations on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration at the request of the AEA Investors (it being understood that if a single Demand Registration Request is delivered by more than one AEA Investor, the registration requested by such Demand Registration Request shall constitute only one Demand Registration); provided , however , that the AEA Investors shall be entitled to request an unlimited number of Demand Registrations on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration (including pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act);  (iii) each registration in respect of a Demand Registration Request made by any Holder must include, in the aggregate, shares of Common Stock having an aggregate market value of at least the lesser of (a) the Minimum Threshold (based on the Common Stock included in such registration by all Holders participating in such registration) and (b) the Initiating Holder’s remaining shares of Common Stock; and (iv) if the Board, in its good faith judgment, determines that any registration of Registrable Securities should not be made or continued because it would materially and adversely interfere with any existing or potential material financing, acquisition, corporate reorganization, merger, share exchange or other transaction or event involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or because the Company does not yet have appropriate financial statements of acquired or to be acquired entities available for filing (in each case, a “ Valid Business Reason ”), then (x) the Company may postpone filing a registration statement relating to a Demand Registration Request until five (5) Business Days after such Valid Business Reason no longer exists, but in no event for more than forty-five (45) days after the date the Board determines a Valid Business Reason exists and (y) in case a registration statement has been filed relating to a Demand Registration Request, if the Valid Business Reason has not resulted in whole or part from actions taken or omitted to be taken by the Company, the Company may, to the extent determined in the good faith judgment of the Board to be reasonably necessary to avoid interference with any of the transactions described above, suspend use of or, if required by the SEC, cause such registration statement to be withdrawn and its effectiveness terminated or may postpone amending or supplementing such registration statement until five (5) Business Days after such Valid Business Reason no longer exists, but in no event for more than forty-five (45) days after the date the Board determines a Valid Business Reason exists (such period of postponement or withdrawal under this clause (iv),

 

8


 

the “ Postponement Period ”).  The Company shall give written notice to the Initiating Holders and any other Holders that have requested registration pursuant to Section 2.2 of its determination to postpone or suspend use of or withdraw a registration statement and of the fact that the Valid Business Reason for such postponement or suspension or withdrawal no longer exists, in each case, promptly after the occurrence thereof; provided , however , the Company shall not be permitted to postpone or suspend use of or withdraw a registration statement after the expiration of any Postponement Period until twelve (12) months after the expiration of such Postponement Period.

 

If the Company shall give any notice of postponement or suspension or withdrawal of any registration statement pursuant to clause (iv) above, the Company shall not, during the Postponement Period, register any Common Stock, other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 (or an equivalent registration form then in effect).  Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company that the Company has determined to suspend use of, withdraw, terminate or postpone amending or supplementing any registration statement pursuant to clause (iv) above, such Holder will discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.  If the Company shall have suspended use of, withdrawn or terminated a registration statement filed under Section 2.1(a)(i) (whether pursuant to clause (iv) above or as a result of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court), the Company shall not be considered to have effected a Demand Registration for the purposes of this Agreement until the Company shall have permitted use of such suspended registration statement or filed a new registration statement covering the Registrable Securities covered by the withdrawn or terminated registration statement and such registration statement shall have been declared effective and shall not have been withdrawn.  If the Company shall give any notice of suspension, withdrawal or postponement of a registration statement, the Company shall, not later than five (5) Business Days after the Valid Business Reason that caused such suspension, withdrawal or postponement no longer exists (but in no event later than forty-five (45) days after the date of the suspension, postponement or withdrawal), as applicable, permit use of such suspended registration statement or use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities covered by the withdrawn or postponed registration statement in accordance with this Section 2.1 (unless the Initiating Holders shall have withdrawn such request, in which case the Company shall not be considered to have effected a Demand Registration for the purposes of this Agreement and such request shall not count as a Demand Registration Request under this Agreement), and following such permission or such effectiveness such registration shall no longer be deemed to be suspended, withdrawn or postponed pursuant to clause (iv) of Section 2.1(b) above.

 

(c)                                   In connection with any Demand Registration, the majority of the Initiating Holders participating in such Demand Registration shall have the right to designate the lead managing underwriter (any lead managing underwriter for the purposes of this Agreement, the “ Manager ”) in connection with any underwritten offering pursuant to such registration and each other managing underwriter for any such underwritten offering; provided that in each case, each such underwriter is reasonably satisfactory to the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

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(d)                                  No Demand Registration shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of Section 2.1(a) (i) if the registration statement relating thereto (x) does not become effective, (y) is not maintained effective for a period of at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date thereof or such shorter period during which all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold ( provided , however , that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder of Registrable Securities refrains from selling any securities included in such Registration Statement at the request of the Company or an underwriter of the Company), or (z) is subject to a stop order, injunction, or similar order or requirement of the SEC during such period, (ii) with respect to one Demand Registration for each Initiating Holder, if any of the Registrable Securities requested by such Initiating Holder to be included in such Demand Registration are not so included pursuant to Section 2.3 (even where some or most of such Holder’s Registrable Securities are included in such Demand Registration), (iii) if the method of disposition is a firm commitment underwritten public offering and any of the applicable Registrable Securities have not been sold pursuant thereto or (iv) if the conditions to closing specified in any underwriting agreement, purchase agreement or similar agreement entered into in connection with the registration relating to such request are not satisfied (other than as a result of a default or breach thereunder by such Initiating Holder(s) or its Affiliates) or are otherwise waived by such Initiating Holder(s).

 

(e)                                   In the event that the Company files a shelf registration statement under Rule 415 of the Securities Act pursuant to a Demand Registration Request and such registration becomes effective (such registration statement, a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”), the Initiating Holders with respect to such Demand Registration Request shall have the right at any time and from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an underwritten offering Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement.  The Initiating Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Company a written request (a “ Shelf Underwriting Request ”) for such underwritten offering specifying the number of Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holders desire to sell pursuant to such underwritten offering (the “ Shelf Underwriting ”).  As promptly as practicable, but no later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Underwriting Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “ Shelf Underwriting Notice ”) of such Shelf Underwriting Request to the Holders of record of other Registrable Securities registered on such Shelf Registration Statement (“ Shelf Registrable Securities ”).  The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6, shall include in such Shelf Underwriting (x) the Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holders and (y) the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder of Shelf Registrable Securities which shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Underwriting (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder) within five (5) days after the receipt of the Shelf Underwriting Notice.  The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within twenty (20) days after the receipt of a Shelf Underwriting Request), but subject to Section 2.1(b), use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Underwriting.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Investor Holder wishes to engage in an underwritten block trade or similar transaction or other transaction with a 2-day or less marketing period (collectively, “ Underwritten Block Trade ”) off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an automatic shelf registration statement or through a take-down from an already existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such Investor Holder only needs to notify the Company of the Underwritten Block Trade on the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall notify other Investor Holders and, during the

 

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Restricted Period, the Additional Investors on the same day and such other Investor Holders  and, during the Restricted Period, the Additional Investors must elect whether or not to participate on the day such offering is to commence, and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible, but subject to Section 2.1(b),  use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Underwriting (which may close as early as three (3) Business Days after the date it commences); provided , however , that the Investor Holder requesting such Underwritten Block Trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Underwritten Block Trade.  In the event an Investor Holder requests such an Underwritten Block Trade, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.1 or in Section 2.2, (1) the Additional Investors shall have no right to notice of or to participate in such Underwritten Block Trade following the Restricted Period and (2) any other Holder who does not constitute an Investor Holder shall have no right to notice of or to participate in such Underwritten Block Trade at any time.  The Company shall, at the request of any Initiating Holder, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by the Initiating Holders or any other Holder of Shelf Registrable Securities to effect such Shelf Underwriting.  Once a Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective, the Initiating Holders may request, and the Company shall be required to facilitate, subject to Section 2.1(b), an unlimited number of Shelf Underwritings with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.1(e), each Shelf Underwriting must include, in the aggregate, shares of Common Stock having an aggregate market value of at least the lesser of (a) the Minimum Threshold (based on the Common Stock included in such Shelf Underwriting by all Holders participating in such Shelf Underwriting) and (b) the Initiating Holder’s remaining shares of Common Stock

 

(f)                                    Any Initiating Holder may revoke a Demand Registration Request delivered by such Initiating Holder at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Demand Registration and such Demand Registration shall have no further force or effect and such request shall not count as a Demand Registration Request under this Agreement.

 

2.2.                             Piggyback Registrations .

 

(a)                                  If the Company proposes or is required (pursuant to Section 2.1 or otherwise) to register any of its equity securities for its own account or for the account of any other shareholder under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to registrations on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any similar successor forms thereto), the Company shall give written notice (the “ Piggyback Notice ”) of its intention to do so (1) to each of the Holders of record of Registrable Securities (other than individuals), at least five (5) Business Days prior to the filing of any registration statement under the Securities Act and (2) to each Holder of Registrable Securities that is an individual, no more than five (5) Business Days after the filing of the registration statement under the Securities Act (or, in the case of an automatic shelf registration statement, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the filing of such registration statement).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay any Piggyback Notice until after filing a registration statement, so long as all recipients of such notice have the same amount of time to determine whether to participate in an offering as they would have had if such notice had not been so

 

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delayed.  Upon the written request of any such Holder, made within five (5) days following the receipt of any such Piggyback Notice (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder and the intended method of distribution thereof), the Company shall, subject to Sections 2.2(c), 2.2(f), 2.3 and 2.6 hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities, the Holders of which have so requested the registration thereof, to be registered under the Securities Act with the securities which the Company at the time proposes to register to permit the sale or other disposition by the Holders (in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof) of the Registrable Securities to be so registered, including, if necessary, by filing with the SEC a post-effective amendment or a supplement to the registration statement filed by the Company or the prospectus related thereto.  There is no limitation on the number of such piggyback registrations pursuant to the preceding sentence which the Company is obligated to effect.  No registration of Registrable Securities effected under this Section 2.2(a) shall relieve the Company of its obligations to effect Demand Registrations under Section 2.1 hereof.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Investor Holder wishes to engage in an Underwritten Block Trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an automatic shelf registration statement or through a take-down from an already existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, the Investor Holder only needs to notify the Company of the Underwritten Block Trade on the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall notify other Investor Holders and, during the Restricted Period, the Additional Investors on the same day and such other Investor Holders and, during the Restricted Period, the Additional Investors must elect whether or not to participate on the day such offering is to commence, and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Underwriting (which may close as early as three (3) Business Days after the date it commences); provided , however , that the Investor Holder requesting such Underwritten Block Trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Underwritten Block Trade.  In the event an Investor Holder requests such an Underwritten Block Trade, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2.1 or in this Section 2.2, (1) the Additional Investors shall have no right to notice of or to participate in such Underwritten Block Trade following the Restricted Period and (2) any other Holder who does not constitute an Investor Holder shall have no right to notice of or to participate in such Underwritten Block Trade at any time.

 

(b)                                  The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6, may elect to include in any registration statement and offering pursuant to demand registration rights by any Person or otherwise, (i) authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held by the Company as treasury shares and (ii) any other shares of Common Stock which are requested to be included in such registration pursuant to the exercise of piggyback registration rights granted by the Company after the date hereof and which are not inconsistent with the rights granted in, or otherwise conflict with the terms of, this Agreement (“ Additional Piggyback Rights ”); provided , however , that, with respect to any underwritten offering, including a block trade, such inclusion shall be permitted only to the extent that it is pursuant to, and subject to, the terms of the underwriting agreement or arrangements, if any, entered into by the Initiating Holders or the Majority Participating Holders in such underwritten offering.

 

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(c)                                   Other than in connection with a Demand Registration, if, at any time after giving a Piggyback Notice and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such equity securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to all institutional Holders of record of Registrable Securities and (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such abandoned registration, without prejudice, however, to the rights of Holders under Section 2.1, and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay such registration of its equity securities, shall be permitted to delay the registration of such Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering such other equity securities.

 

(d)                                  Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.2 by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw; provided , however , that such request must be made in writing prior to the earlier of the execution of the underwriting agreement or the execution of the custody agreement with respect to such registration or as otherwise required by the underwriters.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall, at the request of any Holder (including to effect a Partner Distribution), file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments, or include in the initial registration statement any disclosure or language, or include in any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment any disclosure or language, and otherwise take any action, deemed necessary or advisable by such Holder (including to effect such Partner Distribution).

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the piggyback registration rights set forth in Section 2.2(a) shall not apply to any Holder in connection with the IPO without the prior written consent of AEA; provided , however , that if any AEA Investor participates in the IPO, each Additional Investor shall be entitled to participate in such IPO on a pro rata basis in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.2, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6 hereof.

 

2.3.                             Allocation of Securities Included in Registration Statement .

 

(a)                                  If any requested registration made pursuant to Section 2.1 (including a Shelf Underwriting) involves an underwritten offering and the Manager of such offering shall advise the Company that, in its view, the number of securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Company or any other Persons exercising Additional Piggyback Rights exceeds the largest number (the “ Section 2.3(a) Sale Number ”) that can be sold in an orderly manner in such underwritten offering within a price range acceptable to the Initiating Holders and the Majority Participating Holders, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to include in such underwritten offering:

 

(i)                                      first, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Holders thereof (including pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2); provided , however , that if the number of such Registrable Securities exceeds the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number, the number of such Registrable Securities

 

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(not to exceed the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number) to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Holders requesting that Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering (including pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2), based on the number of Registrable Securities then owned by each such Holder requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Holders requesting inclusion;

 

(ii)                                   second, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(a) is less than the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number, any securities that the Company proposes to register, up to the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number; and

 

(iii)                                third, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.3(a) is less than the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number, the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Persons requesting that securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights (“ Piggyback Shares ”), based on the number of Piggyback Shares then owned by each Person requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Piggyback Shares owned by all Persons requesting inclusion, up to the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary, no employee stockholder of the Company will be entitled to include Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering requested by the Initiating Holders pursuant to Section 2.1 to the extent that the Manager of such underwritten offering shall determine in good faith that the participation of such employee stockholder would adversely affect the marketability of the securities being sold by the Initiating Holders in such underwritten offering.

 

(b)                                  If any registration or offering made pursuant to Section 2.2 involves an underwritten primary offering on behalf of the Company after the date hereof and the Manager shall advise the Company that, in its view, the number of securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Company or any other Persons exercising Additional Piggyback Rights exceeds the largest number (the “ Section 2.3(b) Sale Number ”) that can be sold in an orderly manner in such underwritten offering within a price range acceptable to the Company, the Company shall include in such underwritten offering:

 

(i)                                      first, all equity securities that the Company proposes to register for its own account;

 

(ii)                                   second, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(b) is less than the Section 2.3(b) Sale Number, the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Holders requesting that Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2(a), based on the number of Registrable Securities then owned by each such Holder requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Holders requesting inclusion, up to the Section 2.3(b) Sale Number; and

 

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(iii)                                third, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.3(b) is less than the Section 2.3(b) Sale Number, the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Persons requesting that securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights, based on the number of Piggyback Shares then owned by each Person requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Piggyback Shares owned by all Persons requesting inclusion, up to the Section 2.3(b) Sale Number.

 

(c)                                   If any registration pursuant to Section 2.2 involves an underwritten offering that was initially requested by any Person(s) (other than a Holder) to whom the Company has granted registration rights which are not inconsistent with the rights granted in, and do not otherwise conflict with the terms of, this Agreement and the Manager shall advise the Company that, in its view, the number of securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering exceeds the number (the “ Section 2.3(c) Sale Number ”) that can be sold in an orderly manner in such underwritten offering within a price range acceptable to the Company, the Company shall include in such underwritten offering:

 

(i)                                      first, the shares requested to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among such Person(s) requesting the registration and all Holders requesting that Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2(a), based on the aggregate number of securities or Registrable Securities, as applicable, then owned by each of the foregoing requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of securities or Registrable Securities, as applicable, owned by all such Holders and Persons requesting inclusion, up to the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number;

 

(ii)                                   second, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(c) is less than the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number, the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Persons requesting that securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights, based on the number of Piggyback Shares then owned by each Person requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Piggyback Shares owned by all Persons requesting inclusion, up to the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number; and

 

(iii)                                third, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.3(c) is less than the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number, the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated to shares the Company proposes to register for its own account, up to the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number.

 

(d)                                  If, as a result of the proration provisions set forth in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 2.3, any Holder shall not be entitled to include all Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that such Holder has requested be included, such Holder may elect to withdraw such Holder’s request to include Registrable Securities in the registration to which such underwritten offering relates or may reduce the number requested to be included; provided ,

 

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however , that (x) such request must be made in writing prior to the earlier of the execution of the underwriting agreement or the execution of the custody agreement with respect to such registration and (y) such withdrawal or reduction shall be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal or reduction, such Holder shall no longer have any right to include Registrable Securities in the registration as to which such withdrawal or reduction was made to the extent of the Registrable Securities so withdrawn or reduced.

 

2.4.                             Registration Procedures .  If and whenever the Company is required by the provisions of this Agreement to effect or cause the registration of and/or participate in any offering or sale of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in this Agreement (or use reasonable best efforts to accomplish the same), the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

(a)                                  prepare and file all required filings with the SEC and FINRA, including preparing and filing with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate registration form of the SEC for the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof (including, without limitation, a Partner Distribution), which registration form (i) shall be selected by the Company (except as provided for in a Demand Registration Request) and (ii) shall, in the case of a shelf registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and such registration statement shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable registration form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and remain continuously effective for such period as any Participating Holder pursuant to such registration statement shall request ( provided , however , that as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, or comparable statements under securities or state “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction, or any free writing prospectus related thereto, the Company will furnish to one counsel for the Holders participating in the planned offering (jointly selected by the Initiating Holder and the Majority Participating Holders) and to one counsel for the Manager, if any, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including all exhibits thereto and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the SEC), which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and reasonable comment of such counsel (including any objections to any information pertaining to any Participating Holder and its plan of distribution and otherwise to the extent necessary, if at all, to complete the filing or maintain the effectiveness thereof), and the Company shall make the changes reasonably requested by such counsel and shall not file any registration statement or amendment thereto, any prospectus or supplement thereto or any free writing prospectus related thereto to which the Initiating Holders, the Majority Participating Holders or the underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object); provided , however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to file any document with the SEC which in the view of the Company or its counsel contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statement therein not misleading;

 

(b)                                  (i) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith and such free writing

 

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prospectuses and Exchange Act reports as may be necessary to keep such registration statement continuously effective for such period as any Participating Holder pursuant to such registration statement shall request and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the sale or other disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, and any prospectus so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement and (ii) provide notice to such sellers of Registrable Securities and the Manager, if any, of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a registration statement would be appropriate;

 

(c)                                   furnish, without charge, to each Participating Holder and each underwriter, if any, of the securities covered by such registration statement such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, each free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith, in each case, in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and other documents, as such seller and underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (the Company hereby consenting to the use in accordance with all applicable laws of each such registration statement (or amendment or post-effective amendment thereto) and each such prospectus (or preliminary prospectus or supplement thereto) or free writing prospectus by each such Participating Holder and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement or prospectus);

 

(d)                                  use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or state “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any sellers of Registrable Securities or any managing underwriter, if any, shall reasonably request in writing, and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such sellers or underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions in accordance with the intended methods of disposition (including keeping such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such registration statement remains in effect), except that in no event shall the Company be required to qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where it would not, but for the requirements of this paragraph (d), be required to be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

(e)                                   promptly notify each institutional Participating Holder and each managing underwriter, if any: (i) when the registration statement, any pre-effective amendment, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto, any post-effective amendment to the registration statement or any free writing prospectus has been filed with the SEC and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the SEC or state securities authority for amendments or supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus related thereto or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt

 

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by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or state “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the existence of any fact of which the Company becomes aware which results in the registration statement or any amendment thereto, the prospectus related thereto or any supplement thereto, any document incorporated therein by reference, any free writing prospectus or the information conveyed to any purchaser at the time of sale to such purchaser containing an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statement therein not misleading (which notice shall notify the Participating Holders only of the occurrence of such an event and shall provide no additional information regarding such event to the extent such information would constitute material non-public information); and (vi) if at any time the representations and warranties contemplated by any underwriting agreement, securities sale agreement, or other similar agreement, relating to the offering shall cease to be true and correct; and, if the notification relates to an event described in clause (v), unless the Company has declared that a Postponement Period exists, the Company shall promptly prepare and furnish to each such seller and each underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading;

 

(f)                                    comply (and continue to comply) with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (including, without limitation, maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) in accordance with the Exchange Act), and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable after the effective date of the registration statement (and in any event within forty-five (45) days, or ninety (90) days if it is a fiscal year, after the end of such twelve month period described hereafter), an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

 

(g)                                   (i) (A) cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on the principal securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed (if any), if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (B) if no similar securities are then so listed, to either cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on a national securities exchange or to secure designation of all such Registrable Securities as a Nasdaq National Market “national market system security” within the meaning of Rule 11Aa2-1 of the Exchange Act or, failing that, secure Nasdaq National Market authorization for such shares and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, take all actions that may be required by the Company as the issuer of such Registrable Securities in order to facilitate the managing underwriter’s arranging for the registration of at least two market makers as such with respect to such shares with FINRA, and (ii) comply (and continue to comply) with the requirements of any self-regulatory organization applicable to the Company, including without limitation all corporate governance requirements;

 

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(h)                                  cause its senior management, officers and employees to participate in, and to otherwise facilitate and cooperate with the preparation of the registration statement and prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (including participating in meetings, drafting sessions, due diligence sessions and rating agency presentations) taking into account the Company’s reasonable business needs;

 

(i)                                      provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration statement and, in the case of any secondary equity offering, provide and enter into any reasonable agreements with a custodian for the Registrable Securities;

 

(j)                                     enter into such customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement) and take such other actions as the Initiating Holder or the Majority Participating Holders or the underwriters shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (it being understood that the Holders of the Registrable Securities which are to be distributed by any underwriters shall be parties to any such underwriting agreement and may, at their option, require that the Company make to and for the benefit of such Holders the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company which are being made to and for the benefit of such underwriters);

 

(k)                                  use its reasonable best efforts (i) to obtain opinions from the Company’s counsel, including without limitation local and/or regulatory counsel, and a “cold comfort” letter and updates thereof from the independent public accountants who have certified the financial statements of the Company (and/or any other financial statements) included or incorporated by reference in such registration statement, in each case, in customary form and covering such matters as are customarily covered by such opinions and “cold comfort” letters (including, in the case of such “cold comfort” letter, events subsequent to the date of such financial statements) delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings, which opinions and letters shall be dated the dates such opinions and “cold comfort” letters are customarily dated and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the underwriters, if any, and to the Majority Participating Holders, and (ii) furnish to each Participating Holder upon its request and to each underwriter, if any, a copy of such opinions and letters addressed to such underwriter and each Participating Holder to the extent permitted by the Company’s independent public accountants;

 

(l)                                      deliver promptly to counsel for the Majority Participating Holders and to each managing underwriter, if any, copies of all correspondence between the SEC and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with the SEC or its staff with respect to the registration statement, and, upon receipt of such confidentiality agreements as the Company may reasonably request, make reasonably available for inspection by counsel for the Majority Participating Holders, by counsel for any underwriter participating in any disposition to be effected pursuant to such registration statement and by any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Majority Participating Holders or any such underwriter, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause all of the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such counsel for the Majority Participating Holders, counsel for an underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

 

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(m)                              use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance or obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, in each case, as promptly as reasonably practicable;

 

(n)                                  provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, not later than the effective date of the registration statement;

 

(o)                                  use its reasonable best efforts to make available its senior management, employees and personnel for participation in “road shows” and other marketing efforts and otherwise provide reasonable assistance to the underwriters (taking into account the Company’s reasonable business needs and the requirements of the marketing process) in the marketing of Registrable Securities in any underwritten offering;

 

(p)                                  promptly prior to the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into the registration statement or the prospectus (after the initial filing of such registration statement), and prior to the filing or use of any free writing prospectus, provide copies of such document to counsel for the Majority Participating Holders and to each managing underwriter, if any, and make the Company’s representatives reasonably available for discussion of such document and make such changes in such document concerning the Participating Holders prior to the filing thereof as counsel for the Majority Participating Holders or underwriters may reasonably request ( provided , however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to file any document with the SEC which in the view of the Company or its counsel contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statement therein not misleading);

 

(q)                                  furnish to counsel for each Participating Holder upon its request and to each managing underwriter, without charge, upon request, at least one conformed copy of the registration statement and any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), any other prospectus and prospectus supplement filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act and all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference) and any free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith;

 

(r)                                     cooperate with the Participating Holders and the managing underwriter, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates not bearing any restrictive legends representing the Registrable Securities to be sold, and cause such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names in accordance with the underwriting agreement at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters or, if not an underwritten offering, in accordance with the instructions of the Participating Holders at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities and instruct any transfer agent and registrar of Registrable Securities to release any stop transfer orders in respect thereof (and, in the case of Registrable Securities registered on a Shelf Registration Statement, at the request of any Holder, prepare and deliver certificates representing such Registrable Securities not bearing any restrictive legends and deliver or cause to be

 

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delivered an opinion or instructions to the transfer agent in order to allow such Registrable Securities to be sold from time to time);

 

(s)                                    include in any prospectus or prospectus supplement if requested by any managing underwriter updated financial or business information for the Company’s most recent period or current quarterly period (including estimated results or ranges of results) if required for purposes of marketing the offering in the view of the managing underwriter;

 

(t)                                     take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act; provided , however , that to the extent that any prohibition is applicable to the Company, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to make any such prohibition inapplicable;

 

(u)                                  use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Participating Holders or the underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended methods thereof;

 

(v)                                  take all such other commercially reasonable actions as are necessary or advisable in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(w)                                take all reasonable action to ensure that any free writing prospectus utilized in connection with any registration covered by Section 2.1 or 2.2 complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, prospectus supplement and related documents,  will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(x)                                  in connection with any underwritten offering, if at any time the information conveyed to a purchaser at the time of sale includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, promptly file with the SEC such amendments or supplements to such information as may be necessary so that the statements as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances, be misleading;

 

(y)                                  to the extent required by the rules and regulations of FINRA, retain a Qualified Independent Underwriter acceptable to the managing underwriter; and

 

(z)                                   use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with the managing underwriters, Participating Holders, any indemnitee of the Company and their respective counsel in connection with the preparation and filing of any applications, notices, registrations and responses to requests for additional information with FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, or any other national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are or are to be listed.

 

To the extent the Company is a WKSI at the time any Demand Registration Request is submitted to the Company, and such Demand Registration Request requests that the

 

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Company file an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “ automatic shelf registration statement ”) on Form S-3, the Company shall file an automatic shelf registration statement which covers those Registrable Securities which are requested to be registered.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such automatic shelf registration statement is required to remain effective.  If the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time the automatic shelf registration statement is filed, the Company agrees to pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold in compliance with the SEC rules.  If the automatic shelf registration statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at or prior to the end of the third year the Company shall upon request refile a new automatic shelf registration statement covering the Registrable Securities.  If at any time when the Company is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to refile the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.

 

If the Company files any shelf registration statement for the benefit of the holders of any of its securities other than the Holders, and the Holders do not request that their Registrable Securities be included in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Company agrees that it shall include in such registration statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B under the Securities Act (referring to the unnamed selling security holders in a generic manner by identifying the initial offering of the securities to the Holders) in order to ensure that the Holders may be added to such shelf registration statement at a later time through the filing of a prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment.

 

The Company may require that each Participating Holder as to which any registration is being effected (i) furnish the Company such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request, provided that such information is necessary for the Company to consummate such registration and shall be used only in connection with such registration and (ii) provide any underwriters participating in the distribution of such securities such information as the underwriters may request and execute and deliver any agreements, certificates or other documents as the underwriters may request.

 

Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clause (v) of paragraph (e) of this Section 2.4, such Holder will discontinue such Holder’s disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by paragraph (e) of this Section 2.4 and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that was in effect at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the applicable period mentioned in paragraph (b) of this Section 2.4 shall be extended by the number of days during such period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each Participating Holder covered by such registration statement shall have received

 

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the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by paragraph (e) of this Section 2.4.

 

The Company agrees not to file or make any amendment to any registration statement with respect to any Registrable Securities, or any amendment of or supplement to the prospectus, or any free writing prospectus, that refers to any Investor Holder covered thereby by name, or otherwise identifies such Investor Holder, without the consent of such Investor Holder, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, unless such disclosure is required by law, in which case the Company shall provide written notice to such Investor Holders no less than five (5) Business Days prior to the filing.  If any such registration statement or comparable statement under state “blue sky” laws refers to any Holder by name or otherwise as the Holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall have the right to require the insertion therein of language, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Holder and the Company, to the effect that the holding by such Holder of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the Company’s securities covered thereby and that such holding does not imply that such Holder will assist in meeting any future financial requirements of the Company.

 

To the extent that any of the AEA Investors or the Additional Investors is or may be deemed to be an “underwriter” of Registrable Securities pursuant to any SEC comments or policies, the Company agrees that (1) the indemnification and contribution provisions contained in Section 2.9 shall be applicable to the benefit of the AEA Investors and the Additional Investors, as applicable, in their role as an underwriter or deemed underwriter in addition to their capacity as a Holder and (2) the AEA Investors and any Additional Investors, as applicable, shall be entitled to conduct the due diligence which they would normally conduct in connection with an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act, including without limitation receipt of customary opinions and comfort letters addressed to the AEA Investors and the Additional Investors, as applicable.

 

2.5.                             Registration Expenses .

 

(a)                                  The Company shall pay all Expenses with respect to any registration or offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, whether or not a registration statement becomes effective or the offering is consummated.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the provisions of this Section 2.5 shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to cause these expense provisions to comply with state “blue sky” laws of each state in which the offering is made and (y) in connection with any underwritten offering hereunder, each Participating Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and any transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities, pro rata with respect to payments of discounts and commissions in accordance with the number of shares sold in the offering by such Holder.

 

2.6.                             Certain Limitations on Registration Rights .  In the case of any registration under Section 2.1 involving an underwritten offering, or, in the case of a registration under Section 2.2, if the Company has determined to enter into an underwriting agreement in connection therewith, all securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be subject to such underwriting

 

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agreement and no Person may participate in such underwritten offering unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided therein and completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, and other documents (including custody agreements and powers of attorney) which must be executed in connection therewith; provided , however , that all such documents shall be consistent with the provisions hereof and (ii) provides such other information to the Company or the underwriter as may be necessary to register such Person’s securities.

 

2.7.                             Limitations on Sale or Distribution of Other Securities .

 

(a)                                  Each Holder agrees (whether or not such Holder can participate in any such offering), (i) to the extent requested by a managing underwriter, if any, of any underwritten public offering pursuant to a registration or offering effected pursuant to Section 2.1 (including any Shelf Underwriting pursuant to Section 2.1(e)), or of the Company’s IPO, not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144, any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalent (other than as part of such underwritten public offering) during the time period reasonably requested by the managing underwriter, not to exceed ninety (90) days from the pricing date of such offering (plus customary lockup extension periods as reasonably determined by the managing underwriter, not to exceed thirty-five (35) days) or such shorter period as the managing underwriter, the Company or any executive officer or director of the Company shall agree to (other than in the case of the IPO, which time period shall be one hundred eighty (180) days from the pricing date of such offering (plus customary lockup extension periods as reasonably determined by the managing underwriter, not to exceed thirty-five (35) days)) (and the Company hereby also so agrees (except that the Company may effect any sale or distribution of any such securities pursuant to a registration on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or any successor or similar form which (x) is then in effect or (y) shall become effective upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Common Stock Equivalent), to use its reasonable best efforts to cause each holder of any equity security or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company purchased from the Company at any time other than in a public offering so to agree), and (ii) to the extent requested by a managing underwriter of any underwritten public offering effected by the Company for its own account (including without limitation any offering in which one or more Holders is selling Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights under Section 2.2 hereof), or of the Company’s IPO, not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144, any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalent (other than as part of such underwritten public offering) during the time period reasonably requested by the managing underwriter, which period shall not exceed ninety (90) days from the pricing date of such offering (plus customary lockup extension periods as reasonably determined by the managing underwriter, not to exceed thirty-five (35) days) or such shorter period as the managing underwriter, the Company or any executive officer or director of the Company shall agree to (other than in the case of the IPO, which time period shall be one hundred eighty days (180) days from the pricing date of such offering (plus customary lockup extension periods as reasonably determined by the managing underwriter, not to exceed thirty-five (35) days)).  Each Holder agrees to execute and deliver customary lock-up agreements for the benefit of the underwriters with such form and substance as the managing underwriter shall reasonably determine provided that (1) the lock-up agreement of each Additional Investor shall be on substantially the same terms as that of each other Additional Investor and (2) any waivers from any obligations in

 

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relation to any lock-up agreement granted to one Additional Investor shall likewise be granted to each other Additional Investor on substantially the same terms.

 

(b)                                  The Company hereby agrees that, in connection with an offering pursuant to Section 2.1 (including any Shelf Underwriting pursuant to Section 2.1(e)) or 2.2, the Company shall not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalent (other than as part of such underwritten public offering, a registration on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor or similar form which is (x) then in effect or (y) shall become effective upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Common Stock Equivalent), until a period of ninety (90) days (or such shorter period to which the managing underwriter shall agree, but one hundred eighty days (180) days in the case of the IPO) shall have elapsed from the pricing date of such offering (in each case plus customary lockup extension periods as determined by the managing underwriter); and the Company shall (i) so provide in any registration rights agreements hereafter entered into with respect to any of its securities and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause each holder of any equity security or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company purchased from the Company at any time other than in a public offering to so agree.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, each of the Minority Investors agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalent pursuant to Rule 144 or other private placement for a period of two (2) years following the Company’s IPO (the “ Restricted Period ”) except (i) for the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to a registered offering in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (ii) if consented to in writing by the Board in its sole discretion, which consent may be provided on an individual basis with respect to any particular Holder or (iii) to a Permitted Transferee. In the event the Restricted Period shall be shortened in respect of any Minority Investor, the Restricted Period for each other Minority Investor shall likewise be shortened.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, each of the Investor Holders agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalent pursuant to Rule 144 or other private placement or in any other transaction not otherwise subject to the terms of this Agreement during the Restricted Period except (i) if AEA grants a waiver to the Restricted Period provided in Section 2.7(c) with respect to the Additional Investors and permits the Additional Investors to participate on a pro rata basis in such sale, transfer, disposition or similar transaction or (ii) to a Permitted Transferee.

 

2.8.                             No Required Sale .  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create an independent obligation on the part of any Holder to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to any effective registration statement.  A Holder is not required to include any of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement, is not required to sell any of its Registrable Securities which are included in any effective registration statement, and may sell any of its Registrable Securities in any manner in compliance with applicable law (including pursuant to Rule 144) even if such shares are already included on an effective registration statement.

 

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2.9.                             Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  In the event of any registration or offer and sale of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act pursuant to this Section 2, the Company will (without limitation as to time), and hereby agrees to, and hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Participating Holder, its directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, stockholders, members or general and limited partners (and the directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, stockholders, members or general and limited partners thereof), each other Person who participates as a seller (and its directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, stockholders, members or general and limited partners), underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any, in the offering or sale of such securities, each officer, director, employee, stockholder, fiduciary, managing director, agent, affiliate, consultant, representative, successor, assign or partner of such underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, and each other Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such seller or any such underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter and each director, officer, employee, stockholder, fiduciary, managing director, agent, affiliate, consultant, representative, successor, assign or partner of such controlling Person, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, actions or proceedings (whether commenced or threatened) and expenses (including reasonable fees of counsel and any amounts paid in any settlement effected with the Company’s consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to which each such indemnified party may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise in respect thereof (collectively, “ Claims ”), insofar as such Claims arise out of, are based upon, relate to or are in connection with (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement under which such securities were registered under the Securities Act or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary, final or summary prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, together with the documents incorporated by reference therein, or any free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in the information conveyed by the Company or any underwriter to any purchaser at the time of the sale to such purchaser, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or (iv) any violation by the Company of any federal, state or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company and relating to any action required of or inaction by the Company in connection with any such offering of Registrable Securities, and the Company will reimburse any such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim as such expenses are incurred; provided , however , that the Company shall not be liable to any such indemnified party in any such case to the extent such Claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact made in such registration statement or amendment thereof or supplement thereto or in any such prospectus or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus or free writing prospectus in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such indemnified party specifically for use therein.  Such indemnity and reimbursement of

 

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expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such seller.

 

(b)                                  Each Participating Holder (and, if the Company requires as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed in accordance with Section 2.1 or 2.2, any underwriter and Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any) shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 2.9) to the extent permitted by law the Company, its officers who signed the applicable registration statement and its directors, each Person controlling the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and all other prospective sellers and their directors, officers, stockholders, fiduciaries, managing directors, agents, affiliates, consultants, representatives, successors, assigns or general and limited partners and respective controlling Persons with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact in, or omission or alleged omission of any material fact from, such registration statement, any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith, if such statement or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company or its representatives by or on behalf of such Participating Holder or underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any, specifically for use therein, and each such Participating Holder, underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any, shall reimburse such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim as such expenses are incurred; provided , however , that the aggregate amount which any such Participating Holder shall be required to pay pursuant to this Section 2.9 (including pursuant to indemnity, contribution or otherwise) shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such Participating Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement giving rise to such Claim; provided , further , that such Participating Holder shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such registration statement or prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith, such Participating Holder has furnished in writing to the Company information expressly for use in such registration statement or prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or free writing prospectus which corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished to the Company.  The Company and each Participating Holder hereby acknowledge and agree that, unless otherwise expressly agreed to in writing by such Participating Holders to the contrary, for all purposes of this Agreement, the only information furnished or to be furnished to the Company for use in any such registration statement, preliminary, final or summary prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, or any free writing prospectus, are statements specifically relating to (i) the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by such Participating Holder and its Affiliates as disclosed in the section of such document entitled “Selling Stockholders” or “Principal and Selling Stockholders” or other documents thereof and (ii) the name and address of such Participating Holder.  If any additional information about such Holder or the plan of distribution (other than for an underwritten offering) is required by law to be disclosed in any such document, then such Holder shall not unreasonably withhold its agreement referred to in the immediately preceding sentence.  Such indemnity and reimbursement of expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any

 

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investigation made by or on behalf of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Holder.

 

(c)                                   Indemnification similar to that specified in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 2.9 (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each Participating Holder with respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities under any applicable securities and state “blue sky” laws.

 

(d)                                  Any Person entitled to indemnification under this Agreement shall notify promptly the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to which a claim for indemnification may be made pursuant to this Section 2.9, but the failure of any indemnified party to provide such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.9, except to the extent the indemnifying party is materially and actually prejudiced thereby and shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 2.  In case any action or proceeding is brought against an indemnified party and such indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof (as required above), the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, unless in the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the indemnified party a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such Claim, to assume the defense thereof jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party that it so chooses, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided , however , that (i) if the indemnifying party fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently the action or proceeding within twenty (20) days after receiving notice from such indemnified party that the indemnified party believes it has failed to do so; or (ii) if such indemnified party who is a defendant in any action or proceeding which is also brought against the indemnifying party reasonably shall have concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party which are not available to the indemnifying party or which may conflict with or be different from those available to another indemnified party with respect to such Claim; or (iii) if representation of both parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct, then, in any such case, the indemnified party shall have the right to assume or continue its own defense as set forth above (but with no more than one firm of counsel for all indemnified parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent any indemnified party or parties reasonably shall have made a conclusion described in clause (ii) or (iii) above) and the indemnifying party shall be liable for any expenses therefor.  No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, such indemnifying party agrees to indemnify each indemnified party from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment.  No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to

 

28


 

such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (B) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(e)                                   If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable, unenforceable or is insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Sections 2.9(a), (b) or (c), then each applicable indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable to such indemnified party as a result of any Claim in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other hand, with respect to such Claim.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  If, however, the allocation provided in the second preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative faults but also the relative benefits of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if any contribution pursuant to this Section 2.9(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the preceding sentences of this Section 2.9(e).  The amount paid or payable in respect of any Claim shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.9(e) to the contrary, no indemnifying party (other than the Company) shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.9(e) to contribute any amount greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such indemnifying party from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement giving rise to such Claim, less the amount of any indemnification payment made by such indemnifying party pursuant to Sections 2.9(b) and (c).  In addition, no Holder of Registrable Securities or any Affiliate thereof shall be required to pay any amount under this Section 2.9(e) unless such Person or entity would have been required to pay an amount pursuant to Section 2.9(b) if it had been applicable in accordance with its terms.

 

(f)                                    The indemnity and contribution agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution which any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made or omitted by or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by any such party.

 

(g)                                   The indemnification and contribution required by this Section 2.9 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred.

 

29



 

2.10.                      Limitations on Registration of Other Securities; Representation .  From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Holders holding more than 50% of the Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company giving such holder or prospective holder any registration rights the terms of which are (i) more favorable taken as a whole than the registration rights granted to the Holders hereunder unless the Company shall also give such rights to such Holders or (ii) on parity with the registration rights granted to the Holders hereunder; provided, however, the prior written consent of an Investor Holder will be required prior to the Company entering into any such agreement with any such holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company to the extent such agreement disproportionately adversely affects any such Investor Holder relative to the other Holders of Registrable Securities.

 

2.11.                      No Inconsistent Agreements .  The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent in any material respects with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Underwritten Offerings .

 

3.1.                             Requested Underwritten Offerings .  If requested by the underwriters for any underwritten offering pursuant to a registration requested under Section 2.1, the Company shall enter into a customary underwriting agreement with the underwriters.  Such underwriting agreement shall (i) be satisfactory in form and substance to the Initiating Holders and the Majority Participating Holders, (ii) contain terms not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and (iii) contain such representations and warranties by, and such other agreements on the part of, the Company and such other terms as are generally prevailing in agreements of that type, including, without limitation, indemnities and contribution agreements.  Any Participating Holder shall be a party to such underwriting agreement.  Unless otherwise agreed by the respective Participating Holders and the underwriters, each such Participating Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Participating Holder, its ownership of and title to the Registrable Securities, any written information specifically provided by such Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement and its intended method of distribution; and any liability of such Participating Holder to any underwriter or other Person under such underwriting agreement for indemnity, contribution or otherwise shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such Participating Holder upon the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement and in no event shall relate to anything other than information about such Holder specifically provided by such Holder for use in the registration statement and prospectus.

 

3.2.                             Piggyback Underwritten Offerings .  In the case of a registration pursuant to Section 2.2, if the Company shall have determined to enter into an underwriting agreement in connection therewith, all of the Participating Holders’ Registrable Securities to be included in such registration shall be subject to such underwriting agreement.  Unless otherwise agreed by the respective Participating Holders and the underwriters, each such Participating Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Participating Holder, its ownership of and title to the Registrable Securities, any written

 

30



 

information specifically provided by such Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement and its intended method of distribution; and any liability of such Participating Holder to any underwriter or other Person under such underwriting agreement shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such Participating Holder upon the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement and in no event shall relate to anything other than information about such Holder specifically provided by such Holder for use in the registration statement and prospectus.

 

Section 4.                                            General .

 

4.1.                             Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities .  The Company agrees that it shall not effect or permit to occur any combination or subdivision of shares of Common Stock which would adversely affect the ability of any Holder of any Registrable Securities to include such Registrable Securities in any registration contemplated by this Agreement or the marketability of such Registrable Securities in any such registration.  The Company agrees that it will take all reasonable steps necessary to effect a subdivision of shares of Common Stock if in the reasonable judgment of (a) the Majority Participating Holders or (b) the managing underwriter for the offering in respect of such Demand Registration Request, such subdivision would enhance the marketability of the Registrable Securities.  Subject to the Second A&R Stockholders Agreement (if in effect at the time), each Holder agrees to vote all of its shares of capital stock in a manner, and to take all other actions reasonably necessary, to permit the Company to carry out the intent of the preceding sentence including, without limitation, voting in favor of an amendment to the Company’s organizational documents in order to increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock of the Company.  In any event, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein with respect to the Registrable Securities, to any and all shares of capital stock of the Company, any successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger, share exchange, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) or any Subsidiary or parent company of the Company which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, Registrable Securities and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date hereof.

 

4.2.                             Rule 144 and Rule 144A .  If the Company shall have filed a registration statement pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Exchange Act or a registration statement pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act in respect of the Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, the Company covenants that (i) so long as it remains subject to the reporting provisions of the Exchange Act, it will timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (including, but not limited to, the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1)(i) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended (“ Rule 144 ”)) or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales by such Holder under Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended (“ Rule 144A ”), or any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC, and (ii) it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (A) Rule 144, (B) Rule 144A or (C) any similar rule or regulation

 

31



 

hereafter adopted by the SEC.  Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

4.3.                             Nominees for Beneficial Owners .  If Registrable Securities are held by a nominee for the beneficial owner thereof, the beneficial owner thereof may, at its option, be treated as the Holder of such Registrable Securities for purposes of any request or other action by any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement (or any determination of any number or percentage of shares constituting Registrable Securities held by any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities contemplated by this Agreement); provided , however , that the Company shall have received assurances reasonably satisfactory to it of such beneficial ownership.

 

4.4.                             Amendments and Waivers .  Except as otherwise provided herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective against the Company or any Holder unless (i) such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by the Company and the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities then held by all Holders and (ii) each Additional Investor receives prior written notice prior to the effective date of such modification, amendment or waiver; provided, however, that any amendment, supplement or modification of this Agreement that shall adversely and disproportionately affect the rights, interests, privileges or obligations of any Additional Investor shall require the prior written approval of such Additional Investor.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar).  No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof or of any other or future exercise of any such right, power or privilege.

 

4.5.                             Notices .  All notices, demands and other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) if personally delivered, on the date of delivery, (ii) if delivered by express courier service of national standing (with charges prepaid), on the Business Day following the date of delivery to such courier service, (iii) if deposited in the United States mail, first-class postage prepaid, on the fifth (5 th ) Business Day following the date of such deposit, (iv) if delivered by facsimile transmission, upon confirmation of successful transmission, (x) on the date of such transmission, if such transmission is completed at or prior to 5:00 p.m., local time of the recipient party on a Business Day, on the date of such transmission, and (y) on the next Business Day following the date of transmission, if such transmission is completed after 5:00 p.m., local time of the recipient party, on the date of such transmission or is transmitted on a day that is not a Business Day, or (v) if via e-mail communication, on the date of delivery.  All notices, demands and other communications hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below and to any other recipient at the address indicated on Schedule I hereto and to any other holder of Stock subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated by the Company’s records, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

 

32



 

if to the Company, to:

 

Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.
c/o AEA Investors L.P.

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th Floor

New York, NY 10103

Attention:                                          Barbara L. Burns

Fax:                                                                        (212) 702-0518

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to :

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

One New York Plaza

New York, New York 10004

Telephone:                                    (212) 859-8000

Fax:                                                                        (212) 859-4000

Attention:                                          Christopher Ewan, Esq.

 

if to the AEA Investors, to:

 

AEA Investors L.P.

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th Floor

New York, NY 10103

Attention:                                          Barbara L. Burns

Fax:                                                                        (212) 702-0518

Email:             bburns@aeainvestors.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to :

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

One New York Plaza

New York, New York 10004

Telephone:                                    (212) 859-8000

Fax:                                                                        (212) 859-4000

Attention:                                          Christopher Ewan, Esq.

Email:                                                             christopher.ewan@friedfrank.com

 

if to the Additional Investors, the Management Investors or the Relationship Investors, to the address set forth opposite the name of such Additional Investor, Management Investor or Relationship Investor on Schedule I or such other address indicated in the records of the Company.

 

4.6.                             Successors and Assigns .  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and the respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the parties hereto, whether so expressed or not.  This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the AEA Investors.  Each Holder shall have the right to assign all or part

 

33



 

of its or his rights and obligations under this Agreement only in accordance with transfers of Common Stock prior to an IPO and permitted under, and made in compliance with, the Second A&R Stockholders Agreement to Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Second A&R Stockholders Agreement).  Upon any such assignment, such assignee shall have and be able to exercise and enforce all rights of the assigning Holder which are assigned to it and, to the extent such rights are assigned, any reference to the assigning Holder shall be treated as a reference to the assignee.  If any Holder shall acquire additional Registrable Securities, such Registrable Securities shall be subject to all of the terms, and entitled to all the benefits, of this Agreement.  The parties hereto and their respective successors may assign their rights under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any purchaser of shares of Registrable Securities held by them.

 

4.7.                             Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, the Second A&R Stockholders Agreement and the other documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto which form part hereof constitute the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

4.8.                             Governing Law; Arbitration .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.

 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any controversy or dispute arising out of this Agreement, the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof or the action or inaction of any Person hereunder shall be submitted to arbitration in New York, New York, before the American Arbitration Association under the commercial arbitration rules of such Association.  Any award or decision obtained from any such arbitration proceeding shall be final and binding on the parties, and judgment upon any award so obtained may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, no action at law or in equity based upon any claim arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be instituted in any court by any party except:  (i) an action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Section 4.8(b), (ii) an action to enforce an award obtained in an arbitration proceeding in accordance with this Section 4.8(b), or (iii) an action for injunctive relief when and if such relief is appropriate under the terms of this Agreement.

 

4.9.                             Interpretation; Construction .

 

(a)                                  The table of contents and headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.  Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

 

34



 

(b)                                  The parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement.  In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

4.10.                      Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed and delivered in any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic mail), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

4.11.                      Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.  If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

 

4.12.                      Remedies .  The parties hereto 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 each party hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, without the posting of any bond, and, if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.  All remedies, either under this Agreement, by law, or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

4.13.                      Further Assurances .  Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.14.                      Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                  Each Holder agrees that any non-public information which they may receive relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Confidential Information”) will be held strictly confidential and will not be disclosed by it to any Person without the express written permission of the Company; provided, however, that the Confidential Information may be disclosed (i) in the event of any compulsory legal process or compliance with any applicable law, subpoena or other legal process or in connection with any filings that the Holder may be required to make with any regulatory authority; provided, however, that in the event of compulsory legal process, unless prohibited by applicable law or that process, each Holder agrees (A) to give the

 

35



 

AEA Investors and the Company prompt notice thereof and to cooperate with the Company and the AEA Investors in securing a protective order in the event of compulsory disclosure and (B) that any disclosure made pursuant to public filings will be subject to the prior reasonable review of the Company and the AEA Investors, (ii) to any foreign or domestic governmental or quasi-governmental regulatory authority, including without limitation, any stock exchange or other self-regulatory organization having jurisdiction over such party, (iii) to each Holder’s or its Affiliate’s, officers, directors, employees, partners, accountants, lawyers and other professional advisors for use relating solely to management of the investment or administrative purposes with respect to such Holder and (iv) to a proposed transferee of securities of the Company held by a Holder; provided, however, that the Holder informs the proposed transferee of the confidential nature of the information and the proposed transferee agrees in writing to comply with the restrictions in this Section 4.14 and delivers a copy of such writing to the Company.

 

(b)                                  bcIMC Private Placement (2013) Investment Corporation and bcIMC (WCBAF) Private Placement (2013) Investment Corporation (collectively, “ bcIMC Investor ”) hereby represents and warrants that it is subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (British Columbia) (the “BC Act”) and that it is contractually obligated to disclose certain information to its investors and prospective investors.  Based solely on the foregoing representations in the immediately preceding sentence, the Company agrees that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.14(a), the bcIMC Investor may disclose to its ultimate equity holders and to any other Person to which it is required to disclose pursuant to the BC Act the following information about the Company: (i) the name and address of the Company and the fact that such bcIMC Investor has made an investment in the Company, (ii) a brief description of the business of the Company, (iii) the amount and currency of bcIMC Investor’s investment in the Company, (iv) the internal rate of return of the bcIMC Investor’s investment in the Company with respect the Company’s performance as a whole as prepared by the bcIMC Investor, (v) the amount of any distributions received by the bcIMC investor in connection with its investment in the Company, and (vi) that AEA is the financial sponsor of the Company; provided that in each case (x) such bcIMC Investor shall clearly indicate that any such disclosure made pursuant to clause (iv) was not prepared, reviewed, or approved by the Company, AEA or any of their respective affiliates and (y) such bcIMC Investor agrees that none of the Company, AEA or any of their respective affiliates shall have any responsibility or liability in connection with any disclosure made pursuant to this Section 4.14(b).

 

4.15.                      IPO .  To the extent that the Board elects to effect an initial public offering of the Company or substantially all of the business of the Company through a Subsidiary or parent company of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp., the provisions of this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted, and the Holders and the Company shall enter into such further agreements and arrangements as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to provide the Holders with substantially the same registration rights as they would have under this Agreement, giving due consideration to the nature of the entity going public and tax and other relevant considerations.

 

4.16.                      MFN .  None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has granted any registration rights or shall grant any registration rights to any Additional Investor that has the effect of establishing registration rights or otherwise benefits such Additional Investor (other than as set forth herein) in a manner more favorable in any material respect than the rights and

 

36



 

benefits established in favor of any other Additional Investor pursuant hereto unless, in any such case, each other Additional Investor shall be offered in writing the opportunity to receive all such rights and benefits of such grants reasonably applicable to such other Additional Investor.

 

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

37



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

THE COMPANY:

 

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Vincent Grieco

 

 

Name: Vincent Grieco

 

 

Title: Authorized Officer

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 



 

 

AEA INVESTORS:

 

 

 

AEA INVESTORS FUND V LP

 

 

 

 

By:

AEA Investors Partners V LP,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

AEA Management (Cayman) Ltd.,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AEA INVESTORS FUND V-A LP

 

 

 

By:

AEA Investors Partners V LP,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

AEA Management (Cayman) Ltd.,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 



 

 

AEA INVESTORS FUND V-B LP

 

 

 

By:

AEA Investors Partners V LP,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

AEA Management (Cayman) Ltd.,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AEA INVESTORS PARTICIPANT FUND V LP

 

 

 

 

By:

AEA Investors PF V LLC,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AEA INVESTORS QP PARTICIPANT FUND V LP

 

 

 

 

By:

AEA Investors PF V LLC,

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Name: Barbara L. Burns

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 



 

SCHEDULE I

 

Notices

 

 

 

Name

 

Address

AEA INVESTORS

1.

 

AEA Investors Fund V LP

 

[REDACTED]

2.

 

AEA Investors Fund V-A LP

 

[REDACTED]

3.

 

AEA Investors Fund V-B LP

 

[REDACTED]

4.

 

AEA Investors Participant Fund V LP

 

[REDACTED]

5.

 

AEA Investors QP Participant Fund V LP

 

[REDACTED]

ADDITIONAL INVESTORS

1.

 

Jungfrau SICAV-SIF

 

[REDACTED]

2.

 

Pictet Private Equity Investors SA

 

[REDACTED]

3.

 

Monte Rosa Opportunities SICAV-SIF

 

[REDACTED]

4.

 

Monte Rosa Funds SICAV-SIF

 

[REDACTED]

5.

 

bcIMC Private Placement (2013) Investment Corporation

 

[REDACTED]

6.

 

bcIMC (WCBAF) Private Placement (2013) Investment Corporation

 

[REDACTED]

7.

 

Havelock Fund Investments Pte Ltd

 

[REDACTED]

8.

 

FW RMB Nansemond Investors, LLC

 

[REDACTED]

9.

 

2014 Water LLC

 

[REDACTED]

10.

 

Partners Group U.S. Private Equity 2011, L.P. Inc.

 

[REDACTED]

11.

 

Xyris Inc.

 

[REDACTED]

12.

 

LCY Investments Corp.

 

[REDACTED]

13.

 

NB PEP Holdings Limited

 

[REDACTED]

14.

 

Randal S. Neuman

 

[REDACTED]

15.

 

Ken Rodi

 

[REDACTED]

16.

 

Jon McClean

 

[REDACTED]

17.

 

Charles M. Neuman

 

[REDACTED]

18.

 

Neuman 2015 Family Trust

 

[REDACTED]

 




Exhibit 10.9

 

Execution Version

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of September 8, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and Ronald Keating (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) and solely for the purposes of Section 2.3 herein, EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and wishes to be assured of his services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company as Chief Executive Officer and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                    Employment .

 

1.1.                             Term .  The initial term of the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will commence on December 1, 2014 (the “ Commencement Date ”) and end on the third anniversary of the Commencement Date (the “ Initial Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided , however , that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Commencement Date (and on each anniversary of the Commencement Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (the Initial Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2.                             Duties .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, as a member of the board of managers of the Company and the board of directors of Holdings (the “ Board ”) and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to the Board.  In his position as Chief Executive Officer, the Executive shall perform duties customary for the Chief Executive Officer of a company similar to the Company’s size and nature, plus such additional duties, consistent with the foregoing, as the Board may reasonably assign.

 

1.3.                             Exclusivity .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful

 



 

and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Board, consistent with Section 1.2 hereof.  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided , that the Executive may (a) serve any civic, charitable, educational or professional organization, (b) manage his personal investments and (c) serve on the board of directors of one other for-profit enterprise, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2.                    Compensation .

 

2.1.                             Salary .  As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $750,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”).  The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the Board (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

2.2.                             Annual Bonus .  For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by the Board or a committee thereof (the “ Performance Targets ”).  The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period shall be equal to 100% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets; provided , however , that subject to the last sentence of this Section 2.2, the Annual Bonus for the Company’s fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2014 shall be no less than $750,000 (but can exceed $750,000 based on the Company’s performance).  The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 60 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15 th  of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided , that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.3.                             Initial Stock Option Grant and Equity Purchase Opportunity .  As soon as practicable following the Commencement Date, (i) Holdings shall grant to the Executive an option to purchase 92,500 shares of common stock of Holdings, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in an option agreement between Holdings and the Executive, with such option agreement to be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , (ii) Executive shall purchase common stock of Holdings with an aggregate purchase price of $500,000 pursuant to a subscription agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B , one half of the purchase price of which will be financed from the proceeds of the loan extended pursuant to the loan agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C .

 

2.4.                             Employee Benefits; Vacation .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee and fringe benefit plans and programs of the Company and shall be entitled to receive

 

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such perquisites as the Company makes available from time to time, in each case on the same basis as other senior executives of the Company.  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to four weeks vacation per calendar year, to be taken and carried over in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy.  The number of vacation days shall be pro-rated for the first and last calendar years of employment.

 

2.5.                             Business Expenses .  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for the following items, in each case in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time to time (solely to the extent such policy is applicable to the listed expense): (i) all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement; (ii) commuting and temporary living expenses, on a grossed-up basis for taxes, related to the Executive’s principal place of employment at the Company’s offices in Warrendale, PA (including, without limitation, weekly flights between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, hotel expenses (or, at the Executive’s election, a reasonably priced rental apartment in lieu of a hotel), and a car) until such time as the Executive, in his discretion, determines to relocate his residence to the location of the Company’s principal offices, at which time the Company will reimburse the Executive for all relocation expenses (which, for the sake of clarity, shall not include reimbursement of any loss of equity on Executive’s existing residence or similar items), on a grossed-up basis for taxes; and (iii) legal fees incurred by the Executive in connection with his entering into this Agreement, up to $10,000.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following requirements:  (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year; (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred; (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.                    Employment Termination .

 

3.1.                             Termination of Employment .  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (subject to the longer notice requirements in connection with a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason as set forth in Section 3.2(b)(iii)) (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”).  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company

 

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for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.5 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ”); provided , however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.  For all purposes under this Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.

 

3.2.                             Certain Terminations .

 

(a)                                                                                  Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .  If the Executive’s employment is terminated (i) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date, in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 12-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective; provided that if such termination occurs prior to the second anniversary of the Commencement Date (an “ Early Termination ”), the payment shall equal twice his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date and shall be paid in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 24-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective, and (B) a prorated portion of the Executive’s Target Annual Bonus Opportunity, determined in accordance with Section 2.2 and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Target Annual Bonus Opportunity determined by multiplying the Target Annual Bonus Opportunity by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 and, solely in the case of an Early Termination, multiplying that result by 2; provided that if such termination occurs prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the amount payable pursuant to this clause (B) shall equal $1,500,000 ((A) and (B) collectively, the “ Severance Amount ”).  In addition, the Company shall provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the first anniversary of the Termination Date (or, if the Termination Date occurs prior to the second anniversary of the Commencement Date, the second anniversary of the Termination Date) and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated senior executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”).  The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount and pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation shall be conditioned upon: (i) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement and (ii) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non-

 

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revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)                                                                                  Definitions .  For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)                                      Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following:  (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   Disability ” shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

(iii)                                Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.

 

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(c)                                                                                   Section 409A .  If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death.  For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A.  For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

3.3.                             Exclusive Remedy .  The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.                             Resignation from All Positions .  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”).  The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing, but the Executive shall be treated for all purposes as having so resigned upon termination of the Executive’s employment, regardless of when or whether the Executive executes any such documentation.

 

3.5.                             Cooperation .  Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account the Executive’s personal and business commitments) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries, and the Company shall reimburse the Executive for any expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive in providing any assistance to the Company pursuant to this Section 3.5, including attorneys fees.

 

Section 4.                    Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights .

 

4.1.                             Unauthorized Disclosure .  The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”).  Confidential Information shall not include

 

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information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information.  The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible.  This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction.  Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.                             Non-Competition .  By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for the two year period following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided , that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof.  For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers.  In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products, but shall not include any business solely to the extent it is engaged in the manufacture or sale of water treatment products of the type sold by Contech

 

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Engineered Solutions as of August 31, 2014 .  For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not be limited to:  XXXXXX.  During the Restriction Period, upon request of the Company, the Executive shall notify the Company of the Executive’s then-current employment status.

 

4.3.                             Non-Solicitation of Employees .  During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group.

 

4.4.                             Interference with Business Relationships .  During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.                             Extension of Restriction Period .  The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.                             Proprietary Rights .  The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments ”).  Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement.  The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer.  Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group.  These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.  In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest

 

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in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the date hereof.  If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

4.7.                             Confidentiality of Agreement .  Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further.  Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.                             Remedies .  The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive.  The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive.  The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses.  In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive.

 

Section 5.                    Representations .  The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6.                    Mutual Non-Disparagement .  From and after the Commencement Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to

 

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become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders. Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Company agrees to instruct its senior offices and directors not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Executive.

 

Section 7.                    Withholding .  All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law.  The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

Section 8.                    Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.                             Indemnification .  To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, or, if greater, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period.  The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other officers.

 

8.2.                             Amendments and Waivers .  This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided , that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.                             Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void.  Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable

 

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in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4.  The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

8.4.         Notices .  Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be in writing.  Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

 

 

If to the Company:

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

 

 

c/o AEA Investors LP

 

 

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th FL

 

 

New York, NY 10103

 

 

Attn: General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

with a copy to:

 

 

 

 

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

 

 

One New York Plaza

 

 

New York, NY 10004

 

 

Attention: Jeffrey Ross, Esq.

 

 

e-mail: Jeffrey.Ross@friedfrank.com

 

 

 

If to the Executive:

 

Ronald Keating, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received.  Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

8.5.          Governing Law .  This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.          Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be

 

11



 

interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction.  In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.          Entire Agreement .  From and after the Commencement Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

8.8.          Counterparts .  This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.         Survivorship .  Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.       Binding Effect .  This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.       General Interpretive Principles .  The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.  Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations.  Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

[signature page follows]

 

12



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Barbara Burns

 

 

By: Barbara Burns

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Brian Hoestery

 

 

By: Brian Hoestery, Exec. VP

 

 

Date: 9/9/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ronald Keating

 

 

Ronald Keating

 

 

Date: September 9, 2014

 

 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

A- 1


 

EXHIBIT B

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

B- 1


 

EXHIBIT C

 

LOAN AGREEMENT

 

C- 1


 

EXHIBIT D

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

Release of Claims

 

1.                                       In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), to which Ronald Keating (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) are parties, the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company and each of its and their subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Affiliated Group ”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Company Released Parties ”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“ Title VII ”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ ADA ”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the New York Human Rights Law, the New York Executive Law, the New York Labor Law, all New York State Wage and Hour Laws, the New York Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, all New York leave laws, the New York Constitution, and any other similar or analogous federal, state or local statute, excepting only:

 

(A)                                rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;

 

(B)                                the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law;

 

(C)                                claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the

 

D- 1



 

meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

(D)                                rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force;

 

(E)                                 any matters which expressly survive the execution of this Release as set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(F)                                  rights granted to Executive during his employment related to the purchase of equity of Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

 

2.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

 

3.                                       This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

4.                                       The Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided , however , that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

 

5.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been given but not utilized a period of 21 days to consider whether to execute this Release. If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, he may thereafter, for a period of seven days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release. If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed. If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Benefits Continuation (as defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

 

6.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

7.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.

 

D- 2



 

8.                                       The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

 

9.                                       The Executive acknowledges that the Severance Amount he is receiving in connection with this Release and his obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

 

10.                                Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

11.                                This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

12.                                The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

 

13.                                This Release may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

14.                                This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.

 

15.                                 Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

D- 3



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of                  .

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

  EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Ronald Keating

 

D- 4




Exhibit 10.10

 

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT (the “ Amendment ”) is entered into this 6 th  day of September, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and among Ronald Keating (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”, and together with the Executive, collectively, the “ Parties ” and individually, a “ Party ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Employment Agreement dated September 8, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the terms of the Employment Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this Amendment but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree to amend the Employment Agreement as follows:

 

1.               Section 3.2(a). Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability . The following shall be added as the penultimate sentence of Section 3.2(a):

 

“The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.5 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement services for the Executive exceed $15,000.”

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment on the date and year first above written.

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Anthony Webster

 

Name:

Anthony Webster

 

Title:

CHRO

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

/s/ Ronald Keating

 

Ronald Keating

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT — KEATING]

 




Exhibit 10.11

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 26, 2015 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and Benedict J. Stas (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as Chief Financial Officer and wishes to be assured of his services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company as Chief Financial Officer and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.   Employment .

 

1.1.         Term . The initial term of the Executive’s employment under this   Employment Agreement will commence on March 30, 2015 (the “ Effective Date ”) and end on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided , however , that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (and on each anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (the Initial Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2.         Duties . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Chief Financial Officer and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (the “ Reporting Person ”) or his designee. In his position of Chief Financial Officer, the Executive shall perform duties assigned to him by the Reporting Person or his designee.

 

1.3.         Exclusivity . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Reporting Person or his designee. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided , that the Executive may (a) serve any civic, charitable, educational or professional organization and (b) manage his personal investments, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this

 



 

Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2.   Compensation .

 

2.1.         Salary . As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $350,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”). The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

2.2.         Annual Bonus . For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by senior management of the Company (the “ Performance Targets ”). The Annual Bonus shall be prorated for any partial fiscal years occurring within the Employment Period (including the 2015 fiscal year). The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period shall be equal to 60% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus  Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 90 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15 th  of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided , that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.3.         Employee Benefits . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other executives of the Company.

 

2.4.         Business Expenses . The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement and in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following requirements: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year; (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred; (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-

 

2



 

kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.   Employment Termination .

 

3.1.         Termination of Employment . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, including the Company’s decision not to renew the Executive’s employment with the Company at the end of the Term or any Renewal Period, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ”); provided, however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated or not renewed by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.

 

3.2.         Certain Terminations .

 

(a)           Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability . If the Executive’s employment is not renewed or terminated by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 12-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective, and (B) a prorated portion of the Executive’s actual Annual Bonus, determined in accordance with Section 2.2 and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Annual Bonus determined by multiplying the actual Annual Bonus, if any, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 ((A) and (B) collectively, the “ Severance Amount ”). In addition, the Company shall, subject to the Executive electing COBRA, provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the date that is six months immediately following the Termination Date or the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the Company’s cost (“ Benefits Continuation ”). The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.5 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement

 

3



 

services for the Executive exceed $15,000. The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount, pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation and provide outplacement assistance shall be conditioned upon: (i) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement and (ii) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non- revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)           Definitions . For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)             “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, (E) ongoing refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, or the deliberate and consistent refusal to conform to or follow any reasonable policy adopted by the Board, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment. However, if, within 30 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)            “ Disability ” shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

(c)           Section 409A . If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which is determined to be non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date or (ii) the date of the Executive’s death. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

4



 

3.3.         Exclusive Remedy .    The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.         Resignation from All Positions .    Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of EWT Holdings I Corporation (“ Holdings ”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”). The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

3.5.         Cooperation .    Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.    Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights .

 

4.1.         Unauthorized Disclosure . The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”). Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information. The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible. This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence,

 

5



 

tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.         Non-Competition . By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for one year following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided , that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof. For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers. In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products. For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not be limited to: XXXXXX.

 

4.3.         Non-Solicitation of Employees . During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 3 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group.

 

6



 

4.4.         Interference with Business Relationships . During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.         Extension of Restriction Period . The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.         Proprietary Rights . The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments ”). Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement. The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.0 § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group. These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives. In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the Effective Date. If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

4.7.         Confidentiality of Agreement .   Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this

 

7



 

Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further. Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.         Remedies . The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive. The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive. The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses. In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive and the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments relating to the Severance Amount or any other benefits (including reimbursement for outplacement services) pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 5.   Representations . The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6.   Non-Disparagement . From and after the Effective Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders.

 

Section 7.   Withholding . All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law. The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

8



 

Section 8.   Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.         Indemnification . To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period. This indemnity shall not apply to the Executive’s acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other officers.

 

8.2.         Amendments and Waivers . This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided, that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.         Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void. Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4. The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

8.4.         Notices . Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests,demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

If to the Company:

 

9



 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

181 Thorn Hill Road

Warrendale, PA 15086

Attn: VP Human Resources

 

with a copy to:

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

One New York Plaza

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Jeffrey Ross, Esq.

e-mail: Jeffrey.Ross@friedfrank.com

 

If to the Executive:                                                                Benedict J. Stas, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received. Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

8.5.         Governing Law . This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.         Severability . Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction. In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.         Entire Agreement . From and after the Effective Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, any offer letters addressed to the Executive.

 

10



 

8.8.         Counterparts . This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.         Survivorship . Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.       Binding Effect . This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.       General Interpretive Principles . The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof. Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non- characterizing illustrations. Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

[signature page follows]

 

11



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron C. Keating

 

Name:

Ron C. Keating

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

By:

/s/ Benedict J. Stas

 

Name:

Benedict J. Stas

 

 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

Release of Claims

 

1.                                       In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2015 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), to which Benedict J. Stas (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) are parties, the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company and each of its and their subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Affiliated Group ”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Company Released Parties ”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“ Title VII ”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ ADA ”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ ADEA ”), and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only:

 

(A)                                     rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;

 

(B)                                     the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law;

 

(C)                                     claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

A- 1



 

(D)                                          rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force;

 

(E)                                           any matters which expressly survive the execution of this Release as set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(F)                                            rights granted to Executive during his employment related to the purchase of equity of Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

 

2.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

 

3.                                       This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

4.                                       The Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided , however, that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

 

5.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been given but not utilized a period of 21 days to consider whether to execute this Release. If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, he may thereafter, for a period of seven days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release. If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed. If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Benefits Continuation (as defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

 

6.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

7.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.

 

A- 2



 

8.                                       The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

 

9.                                       The Executive acknowledges that the Severance Amount he is receiving in connection with this Release and his obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

 

10.                                Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

11.                                This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

12.                                The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

 

13.                                This Release may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

14.                                This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.

 

15.                                Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

A- 3



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of                    .

 

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Benedict J. Stas

 

A- 4




Exhibit 10.12

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT,

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, AND

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AMENDMENT (the “ A&R Amendment ”) is entered into this 13th day of October, 2017, effective as of September 6, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and among Benedict J. Stas (the “ Executive ”), Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”, and together with the Executive and the Company, collectively, the “ Parties ” and individually, a “ Party ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Amendment to Employment Agreement, Stockholders’ Agreement, and Registration Rights Agreement dated the Effective Date (the “ Original Amendment ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend and restate the terms of the Original Amendment in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Employment Agreement dated February 26, 2015 (the “ Employment Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the terms of the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this A&R Amendment but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree to amend the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement as follows:

 

PART I: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

1.               Section 1.1. Term .  The following shall be added to the last sentence of Section 1.1, between the word “Period” and the parenthetical:

 

“(such non-extension, a “ Non-Renewal ”)”

 



 

2.               Section 3.1. Termination of Employment .

 

a.               The following shall be added to the first sentence of Section 3.1 following the word “reason” in both places in which it appears:

 

“(including due to a Non-Renewal)”

 

b.               The following shall be added as the last sentence of Section 3.1:

 

“For all purposes under this Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.”

 

3.               Section 3.2(a). Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability .

 

a.               Section 3.2(a) is amended such that the section heading shall read “ Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Company due to Non-Renewal; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .”

 

b.               Section 3.2(a) is amended to provide that the Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth thereunder (in addition to the termination events included therein) upon (i) a termination of employment by the Company due to a Non-Renewal, and (ii) a termination by the Executive for Good Reason.

 

c.                The second sentence of Section 3.2(a) is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“In addition, the Company shall provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the first anniversary of the Termination Date and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated senior executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”).”

 

4.               Section 3.2(b)(i). Definition of Cause . Section 3.2(b)(i) is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“(i) “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of

 

2



 

such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.”

 

5.               Section 3.2(b)(iii). Definition of Good Reason . Section 3.2(b) is hereby amended to add the following definition as Section 3.2(b)(iii):

 

“(iii) “ Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement, provided , however , the Executive shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment pursuant to subsection (A) above if the Company is acquired in a strategic transaction, after which the Executive continues to report to the most senior executive (“ Evoqua Head ”) of the division, unit or sector of the post-transaction organization in which the Evoqua business is resident, or to any individual senior to the Evoqua Head.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.”

 

PART II: STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

6.               Stockholders’ Agreement Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Stockholders’ Agreement, Holdings acknowledges and agrees that in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.3 or 2.4 of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to sign any agreement that subjects the Executive to non-competition or non-solicitation obligations that have a duration or scope in excess of the duration or scope of the Executive’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

PART III: REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

7.               Registration Rights Agreement Tag-Along Rights . Holdings agrees that the last paragraph of Section 2.3(a) of Registration Rights Agreement (which begins with the phrase, “Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary”) shall not apply to the Executive, other than in connection with an “IPO” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

8.               Registration Rights Agreement Form S-8 Registration Statement . Holdings agrees that following an IPO, Holdings shall register a number of shares equal to the number of then-outstanding

 

3



 

options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan pursuant to one or more registration statements on Form S-8, provided, that, the Executive agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding the registration of any of the shares underlying the Executive’s outstanding options, the Executive shall remain subject to the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 2.7 of the Registration Rights Agreement), and to any agreed upon lock-up arrangement, in each case, with respect to any such shares registered on Form S-8.

 

PART IV: MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.               Surviving Terms . Except as set forth in this A&R Amendment, the terms of this Employment Agreement, and, insofar as either relates to the Executive, the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  In the event of a conflict between, on the one hand, this A&R Amendment and, on the other hand, this Employment Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this A&R Amendment shall prevail.

 

10.        Counterparts . This A&R Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this A&R Amendment on the date and year first above written.

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ronald C. Keating

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDINGS

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

/s/ Benedict J. Stas

 

Benedict J. Stas

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO A&R AMENDMENT — STAS]

 




Exhibit 10.13

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of April 26, 2016 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and James Irwin (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development and wishes to be assured of his services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company as Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.        Employment .

 

1.1.             Term . The initial term of the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will commence on May 28, 2016 (the “ Effective Date ”) and end on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; Provided , however , that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (and on each anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (the Initial Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2.            Duties . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (the “ Reporting Person ”) or his designee. In his position of Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development, the Executive shall perform duties assigned to him by the Reporting Person or his designee.

 

1.3.            Exclusivity . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Reporting Person or his designee. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided, that the Executive may (a) serve any

 



 

civic, charitable, educational or professional organization and (b) manage his personal investments, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2.     Compensation .

 

2.1.             Salary . As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $260,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”). The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

2.2.             Annual Bonus . For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by senior management of the Company (the “ Performance Targets ”). The Annual Bonus shall be prorated for any partial fiscal years occurring within the Employment Period. The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period shall be equal to 50% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s Annual Bonus for the 2016 fiscal year will be calculated as though he was employed for the entire fiscal year, but in no event will be less than $99,652. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 90 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15th of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided, that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.3.             Stock Option Grant . As soon as practicable following the Commencement Date, The Company shall grant to the Executive an option to purchase 4,500 shares of common stock of EWT Holdings I Corp. (“ Holdings ”), pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in an option agreement between Holdings and the Executive, with such option agreement to be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B .

 

2.4.             Employee Benefits . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other executives of the Company. Executive will be eligible for Paid Time Off (“ PTO ”) per the Company’s PTO policy at 25 days per calendar year (19 days for remainder of 2016 calendar year).

 

2.5.             Business Expenses . The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement and in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time

 

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to time. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following requirements: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year; (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred; (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.     Employment Termination .

 

3.1.             Termination of Employment . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.5 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ”); provided , however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.

 

3.2.             Certain Terminations .

 

(a)           Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability . If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 12-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective, and (B) a prorated portion of the Executive’s actual Annual Bonus, determined in accordance with Section 2.2 and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Annual Bonus determined by multiplying the actual Annual Bonus, if any, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 ((A) and (B) collectively, the “ Severance Amount ”). In addition, the Company

 

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shall, subject to the Executive electing COBRA, provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the date that is six months immediately following the Termination Date and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”). The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.5 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement services for the Executive exceed $15,000. The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount, pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation and provide outplacement assistance shall be conditioned upon: (i) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement and (ii) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)           Definitions . For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)                “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, (E) ongoing refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, or the deliberate and consistent refusal to conform to or follow any reasonable policy adopted by the Board, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment. However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)               “ Disability ” shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

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(c)           Section 409A . If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

3.3.             Exclusive Remedy . The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.             Resignation from All Positions . Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of EWT Holdings I Corporation (“ Holdings ”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”). The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

3.5.             Cooperation . Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.   Unauthorized Disclosure: Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights .

 

4.1.             Unauthorized Disclosure . The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”). Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information. The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either

 

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directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible. This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.                                        Non-Competition . By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for one year following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided , that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof. For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers. In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products. For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not be limited to: XXXXXX.

 

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4.3.                                        Non-Solicitation of Employees . During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group.

 

4.4.                                       Interference with Business Relationships . During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.                                       Extension of Restriction Period . The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.                                       Proprietary Rights . The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments ”). Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement. The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group. These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives. In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the Effective Date. If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this

 

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Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

4.7.                                           Confidentiality of Agreement . Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further. Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.                                         Remedies . The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive. The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive. The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses. In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive and the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments relating to the Severance Amount or any other benefits (including reimbursement for outplacement services) pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 5 .    Representations . The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6 .    Non-Disparagement . From and after the Effective Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages

 

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or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders.

 

Section 7 .    Withholding . All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law. The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

Section 8 .    Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.                                          Indemnification . To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period. This indemnity shall not apply to the Executive’s acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other officers.

 

8.2.                                          Amendments and Waivers . This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided , that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.                                         Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void. Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4. The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

8.4.                                        Notices . Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment

 

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Agreement shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

 

If to the Company:

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

 

181 Thorn Hill Road

 

Warrendale, PA 15086

 

Attn: Senior VP Human Resources

 

 

 

with a copy to: General Counsel

 

 

If to the Executive:

James Irwin, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received. Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims or other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

8.5.                                     Governing Law . This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.                                    Severability . Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction. In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.                                  Entire Agreement . From and after the Effective Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and

 

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supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, any offer letters addressed to the Executive.

 

8.8.                            Counterparts . This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.                            Survivorship . Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.                     Binding Effect . This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.                     General Interpretive Principles . The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations. Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron C. Keating

 

 

Name:

Ron C. Keating

 

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James Irwin

 

 

James Irwin

 

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

Release of Claims

 

1.                                       In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2016 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), to which James Irwin (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) are parties, the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company and each of its and their subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Affiliated Group ”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Company Released Parties ”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“ Title VII ”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ ADA ”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ ADEA ”), and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only:

 

(A)                             rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;

 

(B)                             the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law;

 

(C)                             claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

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(D)                             rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force;

 

(E)                              any matters which expressly survive the execution of this Release as set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(F)                               rights granted to Executive during his employment related to the purchase of equity of Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

 

2.                                                 The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

 

3.                                                 This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

4.                                                 The Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided , however , that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

 

5.                                                 The Executive acknowledges that he has been given but not utilized a period of 21 days to consider whether to execute this Release. If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, he may thereafter, for a period of seven days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release. If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed. If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Benefits Continuation (as defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

 

6.                                                 The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

7.                                                 The Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.

 

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8.                                                 The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

 

9.                                                 The Executive acknowledges that the Severance Amount he is receiving in connection with this Release and his obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

 

10.                                          Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

11.                                          This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

12.                                          The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

 

13.                                          This Release may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

14.                                          This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.

 

15.                                          Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of April 26, 2016.

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Ron Keating

 

 

CEO, Evoqua Water Technologies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Irwin

 

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Exhibit 10.14

 

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT,

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, AND

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT (the “ Amendment ”) is entered into this 6 th  day of September, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and among James Irwin (the “ Executive ”), Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”, and together with the Executive and the Company, collectively, the “ Parties ” and individually, a “ Party ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Employment Agreement dated April 26, 2016 (the “ Employment Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the terms of the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this Amendment but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree to amend the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement as follows:

 

PART I: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

1.               Section 1.1. Term .  The following shall be added to the last sentence of Section 1.1, between the word “Period” and the parenthetical:

 

“(such non-extension, a “ Non-Renewal ”)”

 

2.               Section 3.1. Termination of Employment .

 

a.               The following shall be added to the first sentence of Section 3.1 following the word “reason” in both places in which it appears:

 

“(including due to a Non-Renewal)”

 



 

b.               The following shall be added as the last sentence of Section 3.1:

 

“For all purposes under this Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.”

 

3.               Section 3.2(a). Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability .

 

a.               Section 3.2(a) is amended such that the section heading shall read “ Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Company due to Non-Renewal; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .”

 

b.               Section 3.2(a) is amended to provide that the Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth thereunder (in addition to the termination events included therein) upon (i) a termination of employment by the Company due to a Non-Renewal, and (ii) a termination by the Executive for Good Reason.

 

4.               Section 3.2(b)(i). Definition of Cause . Section 3.2(b)(i) is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“(i) “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.”

 

5.               Section 3.2(b)(iii). Definition of Good Reason . Section 3.2(b) is hereby amended to add the following definition as Section 3.2(b)(iii):

 

“(iii) “ Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the

 

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Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement, provided , however , the Executive shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment pursuant to subsection (A) above if the Company is acquired in a strategic transaction, after which the Executive continues to report to the most senior executive (“ Evoqua Head ”) of the division, unit or sector of the post-transaction organization in which the Evoqua business is resident, or to any individual senior to the Evoqua Head.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.”

 

PART II: STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

6.               Stockholders’ Agreement Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Stockholders’ Agreement, Holdings acknowledges and agrees that in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.3 or 2.4 of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to sign any agreement that subjects the Executive to non-competition or non-solicitation obligations that have a duration or scope in excess of the duration or scope of the Executive’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

PART III: REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

7.               Registration Rights Agreement Tag-Along Rights . Holdings agrees that the last paragraph of Section 2.3(a) of Registration Rights Agreement (which begins with the phrase, “Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary”) shall not apply to the Executive, other than in connection with an “IPO” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

8.               Registration Rights Agreement Form S-8 Registration Statement . Holdings agrees that following an IPO, Holdings shall register a number of shares equal to the number of then-outstanding options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan pursuant to one or more registration statements on Form S-8, provided, that, the Executive agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding the registration of any of the shares underlying the Executive’s outstanding options, the Executive shall remain subject to the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 2.7 of the Registration Rights Agreement), and to any agreed upon lock-up arrangement, in each case, with respect to any such shares registered on Form S-8.

 

PART IV: MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.               Surviving Terms . Except as set forth in this Amendment, the terms of this Employment Agreement, and, insofar as either relates to the Executive, the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  In the event of a conflict between, on the one hand, this Amendment and, on the other hand, this Employment Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall prevail.

 

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10.        Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment on the date and year first above written.

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDINGS

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

/s/ James Irwin

 

James Irwin

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT — IRWIN]

 




Exhibit 10.15

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of April 14 , 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and Rodney Aulick (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive as President Industry Division and wishes to be assured of his services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company as President Industry Division and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Employment .

 

1.1.         Term .  The initial term of the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will commence on April 14, 2014 (the “ Effective Date ”) and end on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided, however, that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (and on each anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (the Initial Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2          Duties .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as President Industry Division of the Company and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to Chief Executive Officer. In his position of President Industry Division, the Executive shall perform duties customary for the President Industry Division of a company similar to the Company’s size and nature, plus such additional duties, consistent with the foregoing, as the Chief Executive Officer or his designee may reasonably assign.

 

1.3.         Exclusivity .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Chief Executive Officer or his designee, consistent with Section 1.2 hereof. During the Employment Period, the Executive

 



 

shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided , that the Executive may (a) serve any civic, charitable, educational or professional organization and (b) manage his personal investments, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2. Compensation .

 

2.1.         Salary .  As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $250,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”). The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

2.2.         Annual Bonus .  For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by the Board or a committee thereof (the “ Performance Targets ”). The Annual Bonus shall be prorated for any partial fiscal years occurring within the Employment Period. The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period shall be equal to 60% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 60 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15 th  of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided , that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.3.         Employee Benefits .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other senior executives of the Company, and shall receive an annual perquisite allowance equal to $20,000, payable in equal installments on each payroll date during the Employment Period.

 

2.4.         Business Expenses .  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement and in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following

 

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requirements: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year; (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred; (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) the reimbursement shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3. Employment Termination .

 

3.1.         Termination of Employment .  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (subject to the longer notice requirements in connection with a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason as set forth in Section 3.2(b)(iii)) (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company of any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ’’); provided , however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder· is terminated by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.

 

3.2.                           Certain Terminations .

 

(a)           Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .  If the Executive’s employment is terminated (i) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 12-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective and (B) a prorated portion of the Executive’s actual Annual Bonus, determined in accordance with Section 2.2 and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Annual Bonus determined by multiplying the actual Annual Bonus, if any, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 ((A) and (B) collectively, the “ Severance Amount ’’). In addition, the Company shall provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the first anniversary of the Termination

 

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Date and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated senior executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”). The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount and pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation shall be conditioned upon: (i) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement and (ii) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)           Definitions ,  For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)                  “ Cause ”  shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, (E) ongoing refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, or the deliberate and consistent refusal to conform to or follow any reasonable policy adopted by the Board, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment. However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)                “ Disability ”  shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

(iii)               “ Good Reason ”  shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company or (B) a material breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement. A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the

 

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Executive has knowledge of such conduct. The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct. Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.

 

(c)                          Section 409A .  If the Executive is a “specified employee’’ for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

3.3.         Exclusive Remedy .  The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.         Resignation from All Positions .  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of EWT Holdings I Corporation (“ Holdings ”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”). The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

3.5.         Cooperation .  Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Section 4. Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights .

 

4.1.         Unauthorized Disclosure .  The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer· and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals)

 

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(collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”). Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information. The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible. This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.                             Non-Competition .  By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for one year following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided, that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof. For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers. In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products. For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not

 

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be limited to: XXXXXX. During the Restriction Period, upon request of the Company, the Executive shall notify the Company of the Executive’s then-current employment status.

 

4.3.                             Non-Solicitation of Employees .  During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group.

 

4.4.                             Interference with Business Relationships .  During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.                             Extension of Restriction Period .  The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.                             Proprietary Rights .  The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments ”). Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement. The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group. These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives. In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the date hereof. If the

 

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Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

4.7.                             Confidentiality of Agreement .  Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further. Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.                             Remedies .  The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive. The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive. The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses. In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive.

 

Section 5. Representations .  The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter’ into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6. Non-Disparagement . From and after the Effective Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether· true or false, that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages

 

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or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders.

 

Section 7. Withholding .  All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law. The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

Section 8. Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.                             Indemnification .  To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period. This indemnity shall not apply to the Executive’s acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other’ officers.

 

8.2.                             Amendments and Waivers .  This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided , that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.                             Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries .  This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void. Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4. The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

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8.4.                             Notices .  Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

 

If to the Company:

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

 

c/o AEA Investors LP

 

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th FL

 

New York, NY 10103

 

Attn: General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

with a copy to:

 

 

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

 

One New York Plaza

 

New York, NY 10004

 

Attention: Jeffrey Ross, Esq.

 

e-mail: Jeffrey.Ross@friedfrank.com

 

 

If to the Executive:

Rodney Aulick, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received. Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

8.5.                             Governing Law .  This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.                             Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this

 

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Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction. In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.                             Entire Agreement . From and after the Effective Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

8.8.                             Counterparts . This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.                             Survivorship . Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.                      Binding Effect . This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.                      General Interpretive Principles . The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof. Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations. Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Hope Martin-Palmer

 

 

By: Hope Martin-Palmer

 

 

Date: 9/30/2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Rodney Aulick

 

 

Rodney Aulick

 

 

Date: April 14, 2014

 

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

Release of Claims

 

1.                                        In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of April   , 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), to which Rodney Aulick (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) are parties, the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company and each of its and their subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Affiliated Group ”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Company Released Parties ”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“ Title VII ”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ ADA ”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ ADEA ”), and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only:

 

(A)                                rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;

 

(B)                                the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law;

 

(C)                                claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of BRISA) of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

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(D)                                rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force;

 

(E)                                 any matters which expressly survive the execution of this Release as set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(F)                                  rights granted to Executive during his employment related to the purchase of equity of Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

 

2.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

 

3.                                        This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

4.                                       The Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided , however , that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

 

5.                                      The Executive acknowledges that he has been given but not utilized a period of 21 days to consider whether to execute this Release. If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, he may thereafter, for a period of seven days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release. If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed. If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Benefits Continuation (as defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

 

6.                                     The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

7.                                     The Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.

 

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8.                                         The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

 

9.                                         The Executive acknowledges that the Severance Amount he is receiving in connection with this Release and his obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

 

10.                                 Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

11.                                 This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

12.                                The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

 

13.                                This Release may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

14.                                This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.

 

15.                               Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of       .

 

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Rodney Aulik

 

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Exhibit 10.16

 

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT,

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, AND

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT (the “ Amendment ”) is entered into this 6 th  day of September, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and among Rodney Aulick (the “ Executive ”), Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”, and together with the Executive and the Company, collectively, the “ Parties ” and individually, a “ Party ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Employment Agreement dated April 14, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the terms of the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this Amendment but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree to amend the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement as follows:

 

PART I: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

1.               Section 1.1. Term .  The following shall be added to the last sentence of Section 1.1, between the word “Period” and the parenthetical:

 

“(such non-extension, a “ Non-Renewal ”)”

 

2.               Section 3.1. Termination of Employment .

 

a.               The following shall be added to the first sentence of Section 3.1 following the word “reason” in both places in which it appears:

 

“(including due to a Non-Renewal)”

 



 

b.               The following shall be added as the last sentence of Section 3.1:

 

“For all purposes under this Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.”

 

3.               Section 3.2 (a). Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability .

 

a.               Section 3.2(a) is amended such that the section heading shall read “ Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Company due to Non-Renewal; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .”

 

b.               Section 3.2(a) is amended to provide that the Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth thereunder (in addition to the termination events included therein) upon (i) a termination of employment by the Company due to a Non-Renewal, and (ii) a termination by the Executive for Good Reason.

 

c.                The following shall be added as the penultimate sentence of Section 3.2(a):

 

“The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.4 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement services for the Executive exceed $15,000.”

 

4.               Section 3.2(b)(ii). Definition of Cause . Section 3.2(b)(ii) is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“(ii) “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.”

 

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5.               Section 3.2(b)(iii). Definition of Good Reason . Section 3.2(b) is hereby amended to add the following definition as Section 3.2(b)(iii):

 

“(iii) “ Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement, provided , however , the Executive shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment pursuant to subsection (A) above if the Company is acquired in a strategic transaction, after which the Executive continues to report to the most senior executive (“ Evoqua Head ”) of the division, unit or sector of the post-transaction organization in which the Evoqua business is resident, or to any individual senior to the Evoqua Head.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.”

 

PART II: STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

6.               Stockholders’ Agreement Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Stockholders’ Agreement, Holdings acknowledges and agrees that in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.3 or 2.4 of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to sign any agreement that subjects the Executive to non-competition or non-solicitation obligations that have a duration or scope in excess of the duration or scope of the Executive’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

PART III: REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

7.               Registration Rights Agreement Tag-Along Rights . Holdings agrees that the last paragraph of Section 2.3(a) of Registration Rights Agreement (which begins with the phrase, “Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary”) shall not apply to the Executive, other than in connection with an “IPO” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

8.               Registration Rights Agreement Form S-8 Registration Statement . Holdings agrees that following an IPO, Holdings shall register a number of shares equal to the number of then-outstanding options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan pursuant to one or more registration statements on Form S-8, provided, that, the Executive agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding the registration of any of the shares underlying the Executive’s outstanding options, the Executive shall remain subject to the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 2.7 of the Registration Rights Agreement), and to any agreed upon lock-up arrangement, in each case, with respect to any such shares registered on Form S-8.

 

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PART IV: MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.               Surviving Terms . Except as set forth in this Amendment, the terms of this Employment Agreement, and, insofar as either relates to the Executive, the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  In the event of a conflict between, on the one hand, this Amendment and, on the other hand, this Employment Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall prevail.

 

10.        Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment on the date and year first above written.

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDINGS

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

/s/ Rodney Aulick

 

Rodney Aulick

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT — AULICK]

 




Exhibit 10.18

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of April  14, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and Malcolm B. Kinnaird (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive as President Municipal Division and wishes to be assured of his services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company as President Municipal Division and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.      Employment .

 

1.1.          Term .  The initial term of the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will commence on April 14, 2014 (the “ Effective Date ”) and end on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided , however , that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (and on each anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (the Initial Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2.          Duties .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as President Municipal Division of the Company and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to Chief Executive Officer.  In his position of President Municipal Division, the Executive shall perform duties customary for the President Municipal Division of a company similar to the Company’s size and nature, plus such additional duties, consistent with the foregoing, as the Chief Executive Officer or his designee may reasonably assign.

 

1.3.          Exclusivity .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Chief Executive Officer or his

 



 

designee, consistent with Section 1.2 hereof.  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided , that the Executive may (a) serve any civic, charitable, educational or professional organization and (b) manage his personal investments, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2.      Compensation .

 

2.1.         Salary .  As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $290,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”).  The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

2.2.         Annual Bonus .  For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by the Board or a committee thereof (the “ Performance Targets ”).  The Annual Bonus shall be prorated for any partial fiscal years occurring within the Employment Period.  The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period shall be equal to 60% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets.  The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 60 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15 th  of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided , that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.3.         Employee Benefits .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other senior executives of the Company, and shall receive an annual perquisite allowance equal to $20,000, payable in equal installments on each payroll date during the Employment Period.

 

2.4.         Business Expenses .  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement and in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time to time.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense

 

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or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following requirements:  (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year; (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred; (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.      Employment Termination .

 

3.1.         Termination of Employment .  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (subject to the longer notice requirements in connection with a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason as set forth in Section 3.2(b)(iii)) (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”).  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ”); provided , however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.

 

3.2.         Certain Terminations .

 

(a)                           Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .  If the Executive’s employment is terminated (i) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 12-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective and (B) a prorated portion of the Executive’s actual Annual Bonus, determined in accordance with Section 2.2 and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Annual Bonus determined by multiplying the actual Annual Bonus, if any, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 ((A) and (B) collectively, the “ Severance Amount ”).  In addition, the Company shall provide the Executive with continued

 

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medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the first anniversary of the Termination Date and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated senior executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”).  The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount and pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation shall be conditioned upon: (i) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement and (ii) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)                           Definitions .  For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)             “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following:  (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, (E) ongoing refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, or the deliberate and consistent refusal to conform to or follow any reasonable policy adopted by the Board, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)            “ Disability ” shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

(iii)           “ Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company or (B) a material breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct

 

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of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.

 

(c)                           Section 409A .  If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death.  For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A.  For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

3.3.         Exclusive Remedy .  The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.         Resignation from All Positions .  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of EWT Holdings I Corporation (“ Holdings ”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”).  The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

3.5.         Cooperation .  Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.                    Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights.

 

4.1.         Unauthorized Disclosure .  The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer

 

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and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”).  Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information.  The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible.  This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction.  Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.          Non-Competition .  By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for one year following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided , that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof.  For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers.  In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of

 

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services and/or products .  For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not be limited to:  XXXXXX.  During the Restriction Period, upon request of the Company, the Executive shall notify the Company of the Executive’s then-current employment status.

 

4.3.          Non-Solicitation of Employees .  During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group.

 

4.4.          Interference with Business Relationships .  During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.          Extension of Restriction Period .  The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.          Proprietary Rights .  The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments ”).  Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement.  The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer.  Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group.  These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.  In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest

 

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in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the date hereof.  If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

4.7.          Confidentiality of Agreement .  Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further.  Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.          Remedies .  The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive.  The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive.  The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses.  In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive.

 

Section 5.      Representations .  The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6.      Non-Disparagement .  From and after the Effective Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to become public,

 

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or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders.

 

Section 7.      Withholding .  All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law.  The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

Section 8.      Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.          Indemnification .  To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period.  This indemnity shall not apply to the Executive’s acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence.  The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other officers.

 

8.2.          Amendments and Waivers .  This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided , that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.         Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void.  Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4.  The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

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8.4.         Notices .  Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be in writing.  Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

If to the Company:

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

c/o AEA Investors LP

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th FL

New York, NY  10103

Attn: General Counsel

 

with a copy to:

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

One New York Plaza

New York, NY  10004

Attention:  Jeffrey Ross, Esq.

e-mail: Jeffrey.Ross@friedfrank.com

 

If to the Executive:                                        Malcolm B. Kinnaird, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received.  Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

8.5.          Governing Law .  This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.          Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this

 

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Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction.  In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.          Entire Agreement .  From and after the Effective Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

8.8.          Counterparts .  This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.         Survivorship .  Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.       Binding Effect .  This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.       General Interpretive Principles .  The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.  Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations.  Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Hope Martin-Palmer

 

 

By: Hope Martin-Palmer

 

 

Date: 9/30/2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Malcolm B. Kinnaird

 

 

Malcolm B. Kinnaird

 

 

Date: 4/14/14

 

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

Release of Claims

 

1.             In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of April    , 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), to which Malcolm B. Kinnaird (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) are parties, the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company and each of its and their subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Affiliated Group ”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Company Released Parties ”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“ Title VII ”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ ADA ”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ ADEA ”) and any other similar or analogous state statute, including, without limitation, the Massachusetts General Laws and the Massachusetts Wage Act, excepting only:

 

(A)                                      rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;

 

(B)                                      the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law;

 

(C)                                      claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

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(D)                                      rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force;

 

(E)                                       any matters which expressly survive the execution of this Release as set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(F)                                        rights granted to Executive during his employment related to the purchase of equity of Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

 

2.             The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

 

3.             This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

4.             The Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided , however , that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

 

5.             The Executive acknowledges that he has been given but not utilized a period of 21 days to consider whether to execute this Release.  If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, he may thereafter, for a period of seven days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release.  If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed.  If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Benefits Continuation (as defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

 

6.             The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

7.             The Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.

 

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8.             The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

 

9.             The Executive acknowledges that the Severance Amount he is receiving in connection with this Release and his obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

 

10.          Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

11.          This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

12.          The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

 

13.          This Release may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

14.          This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.

 

15.           Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of                     .

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Malcolm B. Kinnaird

 

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Exhibit 10.19

 

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT,

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, AND

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT (the “ Amendment ”) is entered into this 6 th  day of September, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and among Malcolm B. Kinnaird (the “ Executive ”), Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”, and together with the Executive and the Company, collectively, the “ Parties ” and individually, a “ Party ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Employment Agreement dated April 14, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the terms of the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this Amendment but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree to amend the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement as follows:

 

PART I: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

1.               Section 1.1. Term .  The following shall be added to the last sentence of Section 1.1, between the word “Period” and the parenthetical:

 

“(such non-extension, a “ Non-Renewal ”)”

 

2.               Section 3.1. Termination of Employment .

 

a.               The following shall be added to the first sentence of Section 3.1 following the word “reason” in both places in which it appears:

 

“(including due to a Non-Renewal)”

 



 

b.               The following shall be added as the last sentence of Section 3.1:

 

“For all purposes under this Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.”

 

3.               Section 3.2 (a). Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability .

 

a.               Section 3.2(a) is amended such that the section heading shall read “ Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Company due to Non-Renewal; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .”

 

b.               Section 3.2(a) is amended to provide that the Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth thereunder (in addition to the termination events included therein) upon (i) a termination of employment by the Company due to a Non-Renewal, and (ii) a termination by the Executive for Good Reason.

 

c.                The following shall be added as the penultimate sentence of Section 3.2(a):

 

“The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.4 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement services for the Executive exceed $15,000.”

 

4.               Section 3.2(b)(ii). Definition of Cause . Section 3.2(b)(ii) is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“(ii) “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.”

 

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5.               Section 3.2(b)(iii). Definition of Good Reason . Section 3.2(b) is hereby amended to add the following definition as Section 3.2(b)(iii):

 

“(iii) “ Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement, provided , however , the Executive shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment pursuant to subsection (A) above if the Company is acquired in a strategic transaction, after which the Executive continues to report to the most senior executive (“ Evoqua Head ”) of the division, unit or sector of the post-transaction organization in which the Evoqua business is resident, or to any individual senior to the Evoqua Head.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.”

 

PART II: STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

6.               Stockholders’ Agreement Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Stockholders’ Agreement, Holdings acknowledges and agrees that in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.3 or 2.4 of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to sign any agreement that subjects the Executive to non-competition or non-solicitation obligations that have a duration or scope in excess of the duration or scope of the Executive’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

PART III: REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

7.               Registration Rights Agreement Tag-Along Rights . Holdings agrees that the last paragraph of Section 2.3(a) of Registration Rights Agreement (which begins with the phrase, “Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary”) shall not apply to the Executive, other than in connection with an “IPO” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

8.               Registration Rights Agreement Form S-8 Registration Statement . Holdings agrees that following an IPO, Holdings shall register a number of shares equal to the number of then-outstanding options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan pursuant to one or more registration statements on Form S-8, provided, that, the Executive agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding the registration of any of the shares underlying the Executive’s outstanding options, the Executive shall remain subject to the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 2.7 of the Registration Rights Agreement), and to any agreed upon lock-up arrangement, in each case, with respect to any such shares registered on Form S-8.

 

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PART IV: MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.               Surviving Terms . Except as set forth in this Amendment, the terms of this Employment Agreement, and, insofar as either relates to the Executive, the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  In the event of a conflict between, on the one hand, this Amendment and, on the other hand, this Employment Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall prevail.

 

10.        Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment on the date and year first above written.

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDINGS

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

/s/ Malcolm B. Kinnaird

 

Malcolm B. Kinnaird

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT — KINNAIRD]

 




Exhibit 10.20

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 14, 2016 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and Kenneth Rodi (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as President, Neptune-Benson and wishes to be assured of his services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company as President, Neptune-Benson and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                    Employment .

 

1.1.                             Term .  The initial term of the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will commence on the Closing Date as defined in the SPA(1) (the “ Effective Date ”) and end on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided , however , that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (and on each anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 90 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (the Initial Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2.                             Duties .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as President, Neptune-Benson and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company that are commensurate with the Executive’s position as President, Neptune-Benson as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or any designee who is a manager on the Executive Leadership Team (the “ Reporting Person ”).  In his position of President, Neptune-Benson, the Executive shall perform duties that are commensurate with the Executive’s position as President, Neptune-Benson assigned to him by the Reporting Person.

 


(1)                                  SPA ” shall mean the STOCK AND LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated March 14, 2016, by and among: (i) the Sellers (as defined in the SPA); (ii) NB Filtration Holdings, LLC; and (iii) Neptune-Benson Holding Corp. on the one hand; and (iv) EWT Holdings III Corp., on the other hand.

 



 

1.3.                             Exclusivity .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Reporting Person.  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided , that the Executive may (a) serve any civic, charitable, educational or professional organization and (b) manage his personal investments, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2.                    Compensation .

 

2.1.                             Salary .  As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $350,000.00, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”).  The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

2.2.                             Annual Bonus .  For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by senior management of the Company (the “ Performance Targets ”), provided that (i) the Annual Bonus, if any, for the period ending on September 30, 2016 shall be calculated based upon Executive’s 2016 Neptune-Benson bonus plan, with the performance targets defined by the 2016 Neptune-Benson business plan, through September 30, 2016, delivered to Evoqua’s Chief Executive Officer, and (ii) the 2016 Annual Bonus payment shall be prorated to reflect such 9-month period.  Beginning on October 1, 2016, the Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year thereafter that ends during the Employment Period shall be equal to 60% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets.  The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 90 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15 th  of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided , that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.3.                             Initial Stock Option Grant and Equity Purchase Opportunity . As soon as practicable following the Commencement Date, (i) Holdings shall grant to the Executive an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock of Holdings at an exercise price of $175.00 per share, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in an option agreement between Holdings and the Executive, with such option agreement to be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B , (ii) Executive shall purchase common stock of Holdings pursuant to a subscription agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C , and with an aggregate purchase price of an amount equal to 30% of all proceeds received by the Executive,

 

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on an after tax basis, as a result of the closing of the transaction contemplated by the SPA, and at a purchase price of $175.00 per share.

 

2.4.                             Employee Benefits .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other executives of the Company.

 

2.5.                             Business Expenses .  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement and in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time to time.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following requirements:  (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year; (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred; (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.                    Employment Termination .

 

3.1.                             Termination of Employment .  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”).  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.5 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ”); provided , however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.

 

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3.2.                             Certain Terminations .

 

(a)                                                                                  Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason . If the Executive’s employment is terminated (X) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (Y) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 12-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective, and (B) a prorated portion of the Executive’s actual Annual Bonus, determined in accordance with Section 2.2 and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Annual Bonus determined by multiplying the actual Annual Bonus, if any, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 ((A) and (B) collectively, the “ Severance Amount ”).  In addition, the Company shall, subject to the Executive electing COBRA, provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the date that is 12 months immediately following the Termination Date and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”).  The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.5 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement services for the Executive exceed $15,000.  The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount, pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation and provide outplacement assistance shall be conditioned upon: (i) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement and (ii) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)                                                                                  Definitions .  For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)                                      Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following:  (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, (E) ongoing refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, or the deliberate and consistent refusal to conform to or follow any reasonable policy adopted by the Board, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the

 

4



 

termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   Disability ” shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

(iii)                                Good Reason ” shall mean (A) a material diminution of the Executive’s Base Salary; (B) a material diminution of the Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities other than any such authorities, duties or responsibilities assigned at any time which are by their nature, or which are identified at the time of assignment, as being temporary or short term or (C) the Company’s delivery to the Executive of its election under Section 1.1 not to renew the Employment Period at the expiration of the Initial Employment Period or the then-current Renewal Period; provided, however, no condition enumerated in the preceding will be deemed to be Good Reason unless, with respect to subsections (A) and (B), within 30 days of the initial existence of such condition, the Executive shall have given the Company written notice thereof specifically describing the condition giving rise to Good Reason and allowing the Company a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of the notice to remedy such situation; and provided further, however, in no event will a condition give rise to Good Reason hereunder unless, within 60 days after the initial existence of said condition, the Executive will have actually terminated his employment.

 

(c)                                                                                   Section 409A .  If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death.  For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A.  For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

3.3.                             Exclusive Remedy .  The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.                             Resignation from All Positions .  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the

 

5



 

date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of EWT Holdings I Corporation (“ Holdings ”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”).  The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

3.5.                             Cooperation .  Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (which cooperation shall not unreasonably interfere with any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company shall compensate the Executive for all services that the Executive provides pursuant to this Section 3.5 at a per diem rate equal to the Executive’s Base Salary as of the date of termination, divided by 365, and shall be reimbursed for travel and other documented business expenses incurred in connection with such cooperation.

 

Section 4.                    Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights .

 

4.1.                             Unauthorized Disclosure .  The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”).  Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information.  The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible.  This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction.  Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any

 

6



 

copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.                             Non-Competition .  By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for one year following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided , that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof.  For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future (through the Termination Date) to its customers.  In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products.  For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not be limited to:  XXXXXX.

 

4.3.                             Non-Solicitation of Employees .  During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group; provided , however, that the Executive will not be in violation of his obligations set forth in this Section 4.3  by reason of general advertising or solicitation not specifically targeted at any employee of any member of the Company Group so long as the Executive is not personally involved in the recruitment of any such person subsequent to such general advertisement or solicitation.

 

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4.4.                             Interference with Business Relationships .  During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.                             Extension of Restriction Period .  The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.                             Proprietary Rights .  The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments ”).  Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement.  The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer.  Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group.  These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.  In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the Effective Date.  If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

4.7.                             Confidentiality of Agreement .  Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the

 

8



 

terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further.  Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.                             Remedies .  The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive.  The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive.  The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses.  In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive and the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments relating to the Severance Amount or any other benefits (including reimbursement for outplacement services) pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 5.                    Representations .  The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6.                    Non-Disparagement .  From and after the Effective Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders. The Company shall instruct the members of the Board and its senior officers that, from and after the date hereof and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, they shall not make any statement that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Executive.

 

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Section 7.                    Withholding .  All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law.  The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

Section 8.                    Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.                             Indemnification .  To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period. This indemnity shall not apply to the Executive’s acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other officers.

 

8.2.                             Amendments and Waivers .  This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided , that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.                             Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void.  Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4.  The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

8.4.                             Notices .  Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be in writing.  Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight

 

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delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

 

If to the Company:

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

 

181 Thorn Hill Road

 

Warrendale, PA 15086

 

Attn: VP Human Resources

 

 

 

with a copy to:

 

 

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

 

One New York Plaza

 

New York, NY 10004

 

Attention: Jeffrey Ross, Esq.

 

e-mail: Jeffrey.Ross@friedfrank.com

 

 

If to the Executive:

Kenneth Rodi, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received.  Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

8.5.                             Governing Law .  This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.                             Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction.  In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such

 

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provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.                             Entire Agreement .  From and after the Effective Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, the employment agreement by and between the Executive and Neptune-Benson, LLC effective as of December 9, 2013, and any offer letters addressed to the Executive.

 

8.8.                             Counterparts .  This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.                             Survivorship .  Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.                      Binding Effect .  This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.                      General Interpretive Principles .  The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.  Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations.  Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron C. Keating

 

 

Name:

Ron C. Keating

 

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kenneth Rodi

 

 

Name:

Kenneth Rodi

 

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

Release of Claims

 

1.                                       In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of March 14, 2016 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), to which Kenneth Rodi (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) are parties, the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company and each of its and their subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Affiliated Group ”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Company Released Parties ”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“ Title VII ”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ ADA ”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ ADEA ”), and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only:

 

(A)                                      rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;

 

(B)                                      the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law;

 

(C)                                      claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

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(D)                                      rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force  and any rights for contribution in the event of the entry of judgment against Executive as a result of any act or failure to act for which both Executive and the Company and jointly responsible;

 

(E)                                       any matters which expressly survive the execution of this Release as set forth in the Employment Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Executive’s rights to severance payments and benefits thereunder), the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(F)                                        rights granted to Executive during his employment related to the purchase of equity of Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement) and otherwise as an equityholder in Holdings or any other member of the Company Group.

 

2.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

 

3.                                       This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

4.                                       The Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided , however , that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

 

5.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been given but not utilized a period of 21 days to consider whether to execute this Release.  If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, he may thereafter, for a period of seven days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release.  If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed.  If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Benefits Continuation (as defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

 

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6.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

7.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.

 

8.                                       The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

 

9.                                       The Executive acknowledges that the Severance Amount he is receiving in connection with this Release and his obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

 

10.                                Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

11.                                This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

12.                                The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

 

13.                                This Release may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

14.                                This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.

 

15.                                 Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

A- 3



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of                     .

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:  Kenneth Rodi

 

A- 4




Exhibit 10.21

 

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT,

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, AND

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT (the “ Amendment ”) is entered into this 6 th  day of September, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and among Kenneth Rodi (the “ Executive ”), Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”, and together with the Executive and the Company, collectively, the “ Parties ” and individually, a “ Party ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Employment Agreement dated March 14, 2016 (the “ Employment Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the terms of the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this Amendment but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree to amend the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement as follows:

 

PART I: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

1.               Section 1.1. Term .  The following shall be added to the last sentence of Section 1.1, between the word “Period” and the parenthetical:

 

“(such non-extension, a “ Non-Renewal ”)”

 

2.               Section 3.1. Termination of Employment .

 

a.               The following shall be added to the first sentence of Section 3.1 following the word “reason” in both places in which it appears:

 

“(including due to a Non-Renewal)”

 



 

b.               The following shall be added as the last sentence of Section 3.1:

 

“For all purposes under this Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.”

 

3.               Section 3.2(a). Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability .

 

a.               Section 3.2(a) is amended such that the section heading shall read “ Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Company due to Non-Renewal; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .”

 

b.               Section 3.2(a) is amended to provide that the Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth thereunder (in addition to the termination events included therein) upon (i) a termination of employment by the Company due to a Non-Renewal, and (ii) a termination by the Executive for Good Reason.

 

4.               Section 3.2(b)(ii). Definition of Cause . Section 3.2(b)(ii) is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“(ii) “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.”

 

5.               Section 3.2(b)(iii). Definition of Good Reason . Section 3.2(b) is hereby amended to add the following definition as Section 3.2(b)(iii):

 

“(iii) “ Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the

 

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Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement, provided , however , the Executive shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment pursuant to subsection (A) above if the Company is acquired in a strategic transaction, after which the Executive continues to report to the most senior executive (“ Evoqua Head ”) of the division, unit or sector of the post-transaction organization in which the Evoqua business is resident, or to any individual senior to the Evoqua Head.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.”

 

PART II: STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

6.               Stockholders’ Agreement Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Stockholders’ Agreement, Holdings acknowledges and agrees that in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.3 or 2.4 of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to sign any agreement that subjects the Executive to non-competition or non-solicitation obligations that have a duration or scope in excess of the duration or scope of the Executive’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

PART III: REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

7.               Registration Rights Agreement Tag-Along Rights . Holdings agrees that the last paragraph of Section 2.3(a) of Registration Rights Agreement (which begins with the phrase, “Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary”) shall not apply to the Executive, other than in connection with an “IPO” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

8.               Registration Rights Agreement Form S-8 Registration Statement . Holdings agrees that following an IPO, Holdings shall register a number of shares equal to the number of then-outstanding options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan pursuant to one or more registration statements on Form S-8, provided, that, the Executive agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding the registration of any of the shares underlying the Executive’s outstanding options, the Executive shall remain subject to the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 2.7 of the Registration Rights Agreement), and to any agreed upon lock-up arrangement, in each case, with respect to any such shares registered on Form S-8.

 

PART IV: MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.               Surviving Terms . Except as set forth in this Amendment, the terms of this Employment Agreement, and, insofar as either relates to the Executive, the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  In the event of a conflict between, on the one hand, this Amendment and, on the other hand, this Employment Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall prevail.

 

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10.        Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment on the date and year first above written.

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

HOLDINGS

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

/s/ Kenneth Rodi

 

Kenneth Rodi

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT — RODI]

 




Exhibit 10.22

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of January 20, 2016 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and Anthony Webster (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as Chief Human Resources Officer and wishes to be assured of his services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company as Chief Human Resources Officer and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.   Employment .

 

1.1.                             Term .  The initial term of the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will commence on February 22, 2016 (the “ Effective Date ”) and end on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided , however , that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (and on each anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (the Initial Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2.                             Duties .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Chief Human Resource Officer and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (the “ Reporting Person ”) or his designee. In his position of Chief Human Resources Officer, the Executive shall perform duties assigned to him by the Reporting Person or his designee.

 

1.3.                             Exclusivity .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Reporting Person or his designee. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided , that the Executive may (a) serve any

 



 

civic, charitable, educational or professional organization and (b) manage his personal investments, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2.   Compensation .

 

2.1.                             Salary .

 

(a) Base Salary .  As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $350,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”). The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

(b) Annual Bonus .  For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by senior management of the Company (the “ Performance Targets ”). The Annual Bonus shall be prorated for any partial fiscal years occurring within the Employment Period. The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period shall be equal to 50% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 120 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15th of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided , that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.2.                             Employee Benefits .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other executives of the Company.

 

2.3.                             Business Expenses.  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement and in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following requirements: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any

 

2



 

calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year; (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred; (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in­ kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.   Employment Termination .

 

3.1.                             Termination of Employment .  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.1(b)), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.3 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ”); provided , however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.1(b) in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.

 

3.2.                             Certain Terminations .

 

(a)                                                          Termination by the Company other than for Cause. Death or Disability . If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 12-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective, and (B) a prorated portion of the Executive’s actual Annual Bonus, determined in accordance with Section 2.1(b) and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Annual Bonus determined by multiplying the actual Annual Bonus, if any, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 ((A) and (B) collectively, the “ Severance Amount ”). In addition, the Company shall, subject to the Executive electing COBRA, provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the date that is six months immediately following the Termination Date and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”). The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for

 

3



 

outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.3 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement services for the Executive exceed $15,000. The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount, pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation and provide outplacement assistance shall be conditioned upon: (i) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement and (ii) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)                                                          Definitions .  For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)                                      Cause ”  shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, (E) ongoing refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, or the deliberate and consistent refusal to conform to or follow any reasonable policy adopted by the Board, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment. However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   Disability ”  shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

(c)                                                           Section 409A .  If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which is non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules

 

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under Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

3.3.                             Exclusive Remedy .  The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.                             Resignation from All Positions .  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an ·officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of EWT Holdings I Corporation (“ Holdings ”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”). The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

3.5.                             Cooperation .  Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.                    Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights .

 

4.1.                             Unauthorized Disclosure .  The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”). Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information. The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible. This confidentiality

 

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covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.                             Non-Competition .  By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for one year following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided , that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof. For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers. In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products. For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not be limited to: XXXXXX.

 

4.3.                             Non-Solicitation of Employees .  During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact,

 

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induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group.

 

4.4.                             Interference with Business Relationships .  During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.                             Extension of Restriction Period .  The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.                             Proprietary Rights .  The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments” ). Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement. The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group. These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives. In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the Effective Date. If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

7


 

4.7.                             Confidentiality of Agreement . Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further. Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.                             Remedies . The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive. The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive. The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses. In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive and the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments relating to the Severance Amount or any other benefits (including reimbursement for outplacement services) pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 5 .                    Representations . The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6 .                    Non-Disparagement . From and after the Effective Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders.

 

Section 7 .                    Withholding . All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law. The Executive shall be solely responsible for the

 

8



 

payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

Section 8 .                    Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.                             Indemnification . To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period. This indemnity shall not apply to the Executive’s acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other officers.

 

8.2.                             Amendments and Waivers . This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided , that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.                             Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void. Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4. The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

8.4.                             Notices . Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

9



 

If to the Company:

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

181 Thorn Hill Road

Warrendale, PA 15086

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

 

with a copy to:

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver  & Jacobson LLP

One New York Plaza

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Jeffrey Ross, Esq.

e-mail: Jeffrey.Ross@friedfrank.com

 

If to the Executive:                                        Anthony Webster, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received. Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

8.5.                             Governing Law . This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.                             Severability . Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction. In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.                             Entire Agreement . From and after the Effective Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of

 

10



 

dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, any offer letters addressed to the Executive.

 

8.8.                             Counterparts . This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.                             Survivorship . Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.                      Binding Effect . This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.                      General Interpretive Principles . The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof. Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations. Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

[signature page follows]

 

11



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron C. Keating

 

 

Name:

Ron C. Keating

 

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Anthony Webster

 

 

Name:

Anthony Webster

 

 




Exhibit 10.23

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT,

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, AND

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AMENDMENT (the “ A&R Amendment ”) is entered into this 13th day of October, 2017, effective as of September 6, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among Anthony J. Webster (the “ Executive ”), Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”, and together with the Executive and the Company, collectively, the “ Parties ” and individually, a “ Party ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Amendment to Employment Agreement, Stockholders’ Agreement, and Registration Rights Agreement dated the Effective Date (the “ Original Amendment ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend and restate the terms of the Original Amendment in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Employment Agreement dated January 20, 2016 (the “ Employment Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the terms of the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this A&R Amendment but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree to amend the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement as follows:

 

PART I: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

1.               Section 1.1. Term .  The following shall be added to the last sentence of Section 1.1, between the word “Period” and the parenthetical:

 

“(such non-extension, a “ Non-Renewal ”)”

 



 

2.               Section 3.1. Termination of Employment .

 

a.               The following shall be added to the first sentence of Section 3.1 following the word “reason” in both places in which it appears:

 

“(including due to a Non-Renewal)”

 

b.               The following shall be added as the last sentence of Section 3.1:

 

“For all purposes under this Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.”

 

3.               Section 3.2(a). Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability .

 

a.               Section 3.2(a) is amended such that the section heading shall read “ Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Company due to Non-Renewal; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .”

 

b.               Section 3.2(a) is amended to provide that the Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth thereunder (in addition to the termination events included therein) upon (i) a termination of employment by the Company due to a Non-Renewal, and (ii) a termination by the Executive for Good Reason.

 

c.                The second sentence of Section 3.2(a) is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“In addition, the Company shall provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the first anniversary of the Termination Date and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated senior executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”).”

 

4.               Section 3.2(b)(i). Definition of Cause . Section 3.2(b)(i) is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“(i) “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of

 

2



 

such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.”

 

5.               Section 3.2(b)(iii). Definition of Good Reason . Section 3.2(b) is hereby amended to add the following definition as Section 3.2(b)(iii):

 

“(iii) “ Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement, provided , however , the Executive shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment pursuant to subsection (A) above if the Company is acquired in a strategic transaction, after which the Executive continues to report to the most senior executive (“ Evoqua Head ”) of the division, unit or sector of the post-transaction organization in which the Evoqua business is resident, or to any individual senior to the Evoqua Head.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.”

 

PART II: STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

6.               Stockholders’ Agreement Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Stockholders’ Agreement, Holdings acknowledges and agrees that in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.3 or 2.4 of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to sign any agreement that subjects the Executive to non-competition or non-solicitation obligations that have a duration or scope in excess of the duration or scope of the Executive’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

PART III: REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

7.               Registration Rights Agreement Tag-Along Rights . Holdings agrees that the last paragraph of Section 2.3(a) of Registration Rights Agreement (which begins with the phrase, “Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary”) shall not apply to the Executive, other than in connection with an “IPO” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

8.               Registration Rights Agreement Form S-8 Registration Statement . Holdings agrees that following an IPO, Holdings shall register a number of shares equal to the number of then-outstanding

 

3



 

options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan pursuant to one or more registration statements on Form S-8, provided, that, the Executive agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding the registration of any of the shares underlying the Executive’s outstanding options, the Executive shall remain subject to the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 2.7 of the Registration Rights Agreement), and to any agreed upon lock-up arrangement, in each case, with respect to any such shares registered on Form S-8.

 

 

PART IV: MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.               Surviving Terms . Except as set forth in this A&R Amendment, the terms of this Employment Agreement, and, insofar as either relates to the Executive, the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  In the event of a conflict between, on the one hand, this A&R Amendment and, on the other hand, this Employment Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this A&R Amendment shall prevail.

 

10.        Counterparts . This A&R Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this A&R Amendment on the date and year first above written.

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ronald C. Keating

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDINGS

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

/s/ Anthony J. Webster

 

Anthony J. Webster

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO A&R AMENDMENT — WEBSTER]

 




Exhibit 10.24

 

BONUS AGREEMENT

 

BONUS AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) dated effective as of March 1, 2016, by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with its successors, the “ Company ”) and Anthony Webster (the “ Grantee ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide the Grantee a cash bonus payment, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual undertakings set forth in this Agreement, the Company and the Grantee agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Grant of Bonus . Subject to the Grantee’s continued employment with the Company or an affiliate upon the first to occur of a “Change in Control” (within the meaning of the EWT Holdings I Corp. Stock Option Plan) or an initial public offering of the common stock of EWT Holdings I Corp. or a parent or subsidiary (an “ IPO ”), the Grantee will be entitled to a bonus payment (the “ Bonus ”) determined as the product of 12,700 (the “ Bonus Multiplier ”) multiplied by the amount by which the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) of a share of common stock of EWT Holdings I Corp. and any other securities into which such shares are changed or for which such shares are exchanged (each, a “ Share ”) exceeds $125 (the “ Base Per Share Value ”), but only to the extent the Fair Market Value does not exceed $175 (the “ Maximum Per Share Value ”). For purposes of the foregoing, “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean: (i) in the case of a payment upon a Change in Control, the closing cash consideration per Share, as calculated by the Company in its reasonable good faith discretion, or (ii) in the case of a payment upon an IPO, the closing price of a Share, as listed on the principal exchange on which such Shares are traded, as of the first trading day during which the Shares may be traded following any underwriters’ lockup entered into in connection with the IPO that is binding upon the Company’s senior management (the “ IPO Valuation Date ”).

 

2.                                       Time of Payment . In the case of a Change in Control, the Bonus shall be paid within 30 days following such Change in Control. In the case of an IPO, the Bonus shall be paid on the first payroll date following the IPO Valuation Date.

 

3.                                       Form of Payment . In the case of a Change in Control, the Bonus shall be paid in cash. In the case of an IPO, the Bonus shall be paid in cash, in Shares or in any combination thereof (as determined by the Company in its discretion).

 

4.                                       Equitable Adjustments . The Company shall be entitled, in its sole discretion, to make equitable adjustments to the Bonus Multiplier, Base Per Share Value and the Maximum Per Share Value in the event that, by reason of a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, spin-off, split-up, issuance of warrants, rights or debentures, stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split, cash dividend, property dividend, combination or exchange of Shares, repurchase of Shares, change in corporate structure or any similar corporate event or transaction, any of the following occurs: (i) an increase or reduction in the number of Shares; (ii) any change (including, but not limited to, in the case of a spin-off, dividend or other distribution in respect of Shares, a change in value) in the Shares or (iii) any exchange of Shares for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of EWT Holdings I Corp. or another corporation.

 

5.                                       Termination . The Company’s obligations hereunder shall terminate upon the termination of the Grantee’s employment for any reason (regardless of whether a Change in Control or IPO has occurred prior to such termination).

 



 

6.                                       Complete Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements, oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

7.                                       Nonassignability . No right granted to the Grantee under this Agreement shall be assignable or transferable (whether by operation of law or otherwise and whether voluntarily or involuntarily).

 

8.                                       Unfunded Arrangement . The obligations under this Agreement shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay. The Grantee shall have no rights under this Agreement other than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

9.                                       Withholding . All amounts paid to the Grantee under this Agreement shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law.

 

10.                                Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors and assigns of the Company.

 

11.                                Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the choice of laws principles thereof.

 

12.                                Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed by .pdf or facsimile signatures and in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron C. Keating

 

 

Name: Ron C. Keating

 

 

Title: CEO

 

 

 

 

 

GRANTEE

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Anthony Webster

 

Anthony Webster

 

2




Exhibit 10.25

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 22, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and Edward N. May (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as Chief Supply Chain Officer and wishes to be assured of his services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company as Chief Supply Chain Officer and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.           Employment .

 

1.1.                            Term . The initial term of the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will commence on September 15, 2014 (the “ Effective Date ”) and end on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided , however , that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (and on each anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (the Initial Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2.                            Duties . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Chief Supply Chain Officer and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (the “ Reporting Person ”) or his designee. In his position of Chief Supply Chain Officer, the Executive shall perform duties assigned to him by the Reporting Person or his designee.

 

1.3.                           Exclusivity . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Reporting Person or his designee. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such

 



 

activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided , that the Executive may (a) serve any civic, charitable, educational or professional organization and (b) manage his personal investments, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2.           Compensation .

 

2.1.                           Salary . As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $285,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”). The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

2.2.                            Annual Bonus .

 

(a)                                 Annual Bonus for 2014 Fiscal Year . The Executive shall not be entitled to an Annual Bonus for 2014 Fiscal Year.

 

(b)                                 Annual Bonus Following 2014 Fiscal Year . For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period (other than the 2014 fiscal year), the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by senior management of the Company (the “ Performance Targets ”). The Annual Bonus shall be prorated for any partial fiscal years occurring within the Employment Period (excluding the 2014 fiscal year). The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period (other than the 2014 fiscal year) shall be equal to 50% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 90 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15 th  of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided , that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.3.                           Sign-On Bonus . In connection with commencing employment with the Company, the Executive shall be eligible to receive a signing bonus equal to $84,000 (the “ Sign-On Bonus ”), with such Sign-On Bonus to be paid within 30 days of the Effective Date. In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for any reason, in each case prior to the date that is 18 months following the Effective Date, the Executive shall be required to repay the Sign-On Bonus (gross of any required withholding) no more than 10 days following the Termination Date (as defined below).

 

2.4.                           Employee Benefits . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee

 

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benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other executives of the Company.

 

2.5.                            Business Expenses . The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement and in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following requirements: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year; (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred; (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.            Employment Termination .

 

3.1.                           Termination of Employment . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.5 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ”); provided , however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.

 

3.2.                            Certain Terminations .

 

(a)                                                                               Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability . If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to one-half of his Base Salary at the rate in effect

 

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immediately prior to the Termination Date in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 6-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective, (B) an amount equal to 50% of the Executive’s Target Annual Bonus Opportunity, payable on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective and (C) a prorated portion of the Executive’s actual Annual Bonus, determined in accordance with Section 2.2 and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Annual Bonus determined by multiplying the actual Annual Bonus, if any, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 ((A), (B) and (C) collectively, the “ Severance Amount ”). In addition, the Company shall, subject to the Executive electing COBRA, provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the date that is six months immediately following the Termination Date and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”). The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.5 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement services for the Executive exceed $15,000. The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount, pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation and provide outplacement assistance shall be conditioned upon: (i) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement and (ii) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)                                                                               Definitions .                                     For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)                                                   Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, (E) ongoing refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, or the deliberate and consistent refusal to conform to or follow any reasonable policy adopted by the Board, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment. However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may

 

4



 

provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)                                                      Disability ” shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

(c)                                                                               Section 409A . If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

3.3.                            Exclusive Remedy . The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.                           Resignation from All Positions . Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of EWT Holdings I Corporation (“ Holdings ”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”). The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

3.5.                            Cooperation . Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.      Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights .

 

4.1.                            Unauthorized Disclosure . The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and

 

5


 

marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”). Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information. The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible. This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.                  Non-Competition . By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for one year following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided , that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof. For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company

 

6



 

to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers. In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products. For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not be limited to: XXXXXX.

 

4.3.                   Non-Solicitation of Employees . During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group.

 

4.4.                   Interference with Business Relationships . During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.                  Extension of Restriction Period . The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.                  Proprietary Rights . The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments ”). Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement. The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any

 

7



 

Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group. These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives. In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the Effective Date. If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

4.7.                   Confidentiality of Agreement . Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further. Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.                  Remedies . The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive. The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive. The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses. In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any

 

8



 

portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive and the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments relating to the Severance Amount or any other benefits (including reimbursement for outplacement services) pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 5.               Representations . The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6.               Non-Disparagement . From and after the Effective Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders.

 

Section 7.               Withholding . All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law. The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

Section 8.               Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.                   Indemnification . To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period. This indemnity shall not apply to the Executive’s acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other officers.

 

8.2.                   Amendments and Waivers . This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided , that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such

 

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party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.                    Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void. Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4. The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

8.4.                   Notices . Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

 

 

If to the Company:

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

 

 

181 Thorn Hill Road

 

 

Warrendale, PA 15086

 

 

Attn: VP Human Resources

 

 

 

 

 

with a copy to:

 

 

 

 

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

 

 

One New York Plaza

 

 

New York, NY 10004

 

 

Attention: Jeffrey Ross, Esq.

 

 

e-mail: Jeffrey.Ross@friedfrank.com

 

 

 

If to the Executive:

 

Edward N. May, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received. Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to

 

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which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

8.5.                             Governing Law . This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.                                    Severability . Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction. In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.                                  Entire Agreement . From and after the Effective Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, any offer letters addressed to the Executive.

 

8.8.                                  Counterparts . This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.                                 Survivorship . Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.                         Binding Effect . This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.                         General Interpretive Principles . The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof. Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes”

 

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and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations. Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gary A. Cappeline

 

 

Name:

Gary A. Cappeline

 

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Edward N. May

 

 

Name:

Edward N. May

 

 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

Release of Claims

 

1.                                              In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), to which Edward N. May (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ’’ and collectively, the “ Parties ”) are parties, the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company and each of its and their subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Affiliated Group ”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Company Released Parties ”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“ Title VII ”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ ADA ”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ ADEA ”), and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only:

 

(A)                                    rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;

 

(B)                                    the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law;

 

(C)                                    claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of BRISA) of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

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(D)                                    rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force;

 

(E)                                     any matters which expressly survive the execution of this Release as set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(F)                                      rights granted to Executive during his employment related to the purchase of equity of Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

 

2.                                               The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

 

3.                                               This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

4.                                              The Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided , however , that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

 

5.                                             The Executive acknowledges that he has been given but not utilized a period of 21 days to consider whether to execute this Release. If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, he may thereafter, for a period of seven days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release. If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed. If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Benefits Continuation (as defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

 

6.                                            The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

7.                                           The Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.

 

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8.                                                 The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

 

9.                                                The Executive acknowledges that the Severance Amount he is receiving in connection with this Release and his obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

 

10.                                        Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

11.                                        This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

12.                                       The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

 

13.                                      This Release may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

14.                                      This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.

 

15.                                     Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of              .

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Edward N. May

 

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Exhibit 10.26

 

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT,

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, AND

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT (the “ Amendment ”) is entered into this 6 th  day of September, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and among Edward May (the “ Executive ”), Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”, and together with the Executive and the Company, collectively, the “ Parties ” and individually, a “ Party ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Employment Agreement dated August 22, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is party to that certain First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the terms of the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this Amendment but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree to amend the Employment Agreement and, insofar as it relates to the Executive, each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement as follows:

 

PART I: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

1.               Section 1.1. Term .  The following shall be added to the last sentence of Section 1.1, between the word “Period” and the parenthetical:

 

“(such non-extension, a “ Non-Renewal ”)”

 

2.               Section 3.1. Termination of Employment .

 

a.               The following shall be added to the first sentence of Section 3.1 following the word “reason” in both places in which it appears:

 

“(including due to a Non-Renewal)”

 



 

b.               The following shall be added as the last sentence of Section 3.1:

 

“For all purposes under this Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.”

 

3.               Section 3.2(a). Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability .

 

a.               Section 3.2(a) is amended such that the section heading shall read “ Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Company due to Non-Renewal; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .”

 

b.               Section 3.2(a) is amended to provide that the Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth thereunder (in addition to the termination events included therein) upon (i) a termination of employment by the Company due to a Non-Renewal, and (ii) a termination by the Executive for Good Reason.

 

c.                Subsection 3.2(a)(A) is amended to provide that the Executive will be entitled to receive an amount equal to 100% of the Executive’s Base Salary during a 12-month period following the Termination Date, payable and otherwise subject to the terms set forth therein.

 

d.               Subsection 3.2(a)(B) is deleted in its entirety and all references in Section 3.2(a) shall be appropriately updated to reflect the deletion of Subsection 3.2(a)(B).

 

e.                Section 3.2(a) is amended to provide that the Executive will be entitled to receive the Benefits Continuation until the earlier of the first anniversary of the Termination Date and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, subject to the terms set forth therein.

 

4.               Section 3.2(b)(ii). Definition of Cause . Section 3.2(b)(ii) is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“(ii) “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within

 

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60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.”

 

5.               Section 3.2(b)(iii). Definition of Good Reason . Section 3.2(b) is hereby amended to add the following definition as Section 3.2(b)(iii):

 

“(iii) “ Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement, provided , however , the Executive shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment pursuant to subsection (A) above if the Company is acquired in a strategic transaction, after which the Executive continues to report to the most senior executive (“ Evoqua Head ”) of the division, unit or sector of the post-transaction organization in which the Evoqua business is resident, or to any individual senior to the Evoqua Head.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.”

 

PART II: STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

6.               Stockholders’ Agreement Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Stockholders’ Agreement, Holdings acknowledges and agrees that in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.3 or 2.4 of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to sign any agreement that subjects the Executive to non-competition or non-solicitation obligations that have a duration or scope in excess of the duration or scope of the Executive’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

PART III: REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

7.               Registration Rights Agreement Tag-Along Rights . Holdings agrees that the last paragraph of Section 2.3(a) of Registration Rights Agreement (which begins with the phrase, “Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary”) shall not apply to the Executive, other than in connection with an “IPO” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

8.               Registration Rights Agreement Form S-8 Registration Statement . Holdings agrees that following an IPO, Holdings shall register a number of shares equal to the number of then-outstanding options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan pursuant to one or more registration statements on Form S-8, provided, that, the Executive agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding the registration of any of the shares underlying the Executive’s outstanding options, the Executive shall remain subject to the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 2.7 of

 

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the Registration Rights Agreement), and to any agreed upon lock-up arrangement, in each case, with respect to any such shares registered on Form S-8.

 

PART IV: MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.               Surviving Terms . Except as set forth in this Amendment, the terms of this Employment Agreement, and, insofar as either relates to the Executive, the Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  In the event of a conflict between, on the one hand, this Amendment and, on the other hand, this Employment Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall prevail.

 

10.        Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment on the date and year first above written.

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDINGS

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

/s/ Edward May

 

Edward May

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT — MAY]

 




Exhibit 10.27

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of September 6, 2017 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and Vincent Grieco (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) and solely for the purposes of Section 2.3 herein, EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive as General Counsel and Secretary of the Company and wishes to be assured of his continued services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company as General Counsel and Secretary and to continue to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                    Employment.

 

1.1.                             Term .  As of the date hereof (the “ Effective Date ”), the Company shall continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to serve the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The term of the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will commence as of the Effective Date and end on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided , however , that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (and on each anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (such non-extension, a “ Non-Renewal ”) (the Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2.                             Duties .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to Chief Executive Officer.  In his position of General Counsel and Secretary, the Executive shall perform duties customary for the General Counsel and Secretary of a company similar to the Company’s size and nature, plus such additional duties, consistent with the foregoing, as the Chief Executive Officer or his designee may reasonably assign.

 



 

1.3.                             Exclusivity .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Chief Executive Officer, consistent with Section 1.2 hereof.  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided , that the Executive may (a) serve any civic, charitable, educational or professional organization, (b) manage his personal investments and (c) serve on the board of directors of one other for-profit enterprise, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2.                    Compensation.

 

2.1.                             Salary .  As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $250,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”).  The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

2.2.                             Annual Bonus .  For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by the Board or a committee thereof (the “ Performance Targets ”). The Annual Bonus shall be prorated for any partial fiscal years occurring within the Employment Period. The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period shall be equal to 50% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets.  The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 60 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15 th  of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided , that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.3.                             Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement .  With respect to each of the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”), and the First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), to which the Executive is a party:

 

(a)          Stockholders’ Agreement Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Stockholders’ Agreement, Holdings acknowledges and agrees that in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.3 or 2.4

 

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of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to sign any agreement that subjects the Executive to non-competition or non-solicitation obligations that have a duration or scope in excess of the duration or scope of the Executive’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

(b)          Registration Rights Agreement Tag-Along Rights . Holdings agrees that the last paragraph of Section 2.3(a) of Registration Rights Agreement (which begins with the phrase, “Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary”) shall not apply to the Executive, other than in connection with an “IPO” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

(c)           Registration Rights Agreement Form S-8 Registration Statement . Holdings agrees that following an IPO, Holdings shall register a number of shares equal to the number of then-outstanding options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan pursuant to one or more registration statements on Form S-8, provided, that, the Executive agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding the registration of any of the shares underlying the Executive’s outstanding options, the Executive shall remain subject to the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 2.7 of the Registration Rights Agreement), and to any agreed upon lock-up arrangement, in each case, with respect to any such shares registered on Form S-8.

 

(d)          Surviving Terms .  Other than as set forth in this Section 2.3, the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement insofar as either relates to the Executive shall remain in full force and effect. In the event of a conflict between, on the one hand, this Employment Agreement, and, on the other hand, the Stockholders’ Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this Employment Agreement shall prevail.

 

2.4.                             Employee Benefits .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other executives of the Company.  During the Employment Period, the Executive will be eligible for Paid Time Off (“ PTO ”) per the Company’s PTO policy at 25 days per calendar year.

 

2.5.                             Business Expenses .  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement and in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time to time.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following requirements: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year

 

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following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred, (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit, and (iv) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.                    Employment Termination.

 

3.1.                             Termination of Employment .  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason (including due to a Non-Renewal) during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason (including due to a Non-Renewal) during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (subject, in each case, to the longer notice requirements in connection with a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason as set forth in Section 3.2(b)(iii)) (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”).  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.5 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ”); provided , however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.  For all purposes under this Employment Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.

 

3.2.                             Certain Terminations .

 

(a)                                                                                  Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Company due to Non-Renewal; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .  If the Executive’s employment is terminated (i) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, (ii) by the Company due to a Non-Renewal, or (iii) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date, in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 12-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective, and (B) a prorated portion of the Executive’s actual Annual Bonus, determined in accordance with Section 2.2 and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Annual Bonus determined by multiplying the actual Annual Bonus, if any, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 ((A) and (B), collectively, the

 

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Severance Amount ”).  In addition, the Company shall provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier of the first anniversary of the Termination Date, and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated senior executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”).  The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.5 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement services for the Executive exceed $15,000. The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount and pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation shall be conditioned upon: (x) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement, and (y) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)                                                                                  Definitions .  For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)                                      Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   Disability ” shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

5



 

(iii)                                Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement, provided , however , the Executive shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment pursuant to subsection (A) above if the Company is acquired in a strategic transaction, after which the Executive continues to report to the most senior executive (“ Evoqua Head ”) of the division, unit or sector of the post-transaction organization in which the Evoqua business is resident, or to any individual senior to the Evoqua Head.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.

 

(c)                                                                                   Section 409A .  If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date, and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death.  For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A.  For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

3.3.                             Exclusive Remedy .  The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.                             Resignation from All Positions .  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of EWT Holdings I Corporation (“ Holdings ”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”).  The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing, but the Executive shall be treated for all purposes as having so resigned upon termination of the Executive’s employment, regardless of when or whether the Executive executes any such documentation.

 

3.5.                             Cooperation .  Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters

 

6



 

arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries, and the Company shall reimburse the Executive for any expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive in providing any assistance to the Company pursuant to this Section 3.5, including attorneys fees.

 

Section 4.                    Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights .

 

4.1.                             Unauthorized Disclosure .  The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”).  Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information.  The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible.  This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction.  Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.                             Non-Competition .  By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for the one year period following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage,

 

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operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided , that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof.  For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers.  In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products.  For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not be limited to:  XXXXXX.  During the Restriction Period, upon request of the Company, the Executive shall notify the Company of the Executive’s then-current employment status.

 

4.3.                             Non-Solicitation of Employees .  During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group.

 

4.4.                             Interference with Business Relationships .  During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.                             Extension of Restriction Period .  The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.                             Proprietary Rights .  The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments ”).  Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17

 

8



 

U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement.  The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer.  Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group.  These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.  In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the date hereof.  If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

4.7.                             Confidentiality of Agreement .  Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further.  Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.                             Remedies .  The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive.  The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive.  The Executive and the Company further agree that the

 

9



 

provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses.  In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive.

 

Section 5.                    Representations .  The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6.                    Non-Disparagement .  From and after the Effective Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders.

 

Section 7.                    Withholding .  All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law.  The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

Section 8.                    Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.                             Indemnification .  To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period.  This indemnity shall not apply to the Executive’s acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other officers.

 

8.2.                             Amendments and Waivers .  This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided , that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or

 

10


 

remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.                             Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void.  Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4.  The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

8.4.                             Notices .  Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be in writing.  Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

If to the Company:

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

c/o AEA Investors LP

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th FL

New York, NY  10103

Attn: Senior VP Human Resources

 

with a copy to: Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

 

If to the Executive:                                        Vincent Grieco, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received.  Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

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8.5.                             Governing Law .  This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.                             Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction.  In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.                             Entire Agreement .  From and after the Effective Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

8.8.                             Counterparts .  This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.                             Survivorship .  Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.                      Binding Effect .  This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.                      General Interpretive Principles .  The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.  Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations.  Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

12



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

 

 

Name: Ron Keating

 

 

 

Title: CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

 

 

Name: Ron Keating

 

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Vincent Grieco

 

 

Vincent Grieco

 

 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

Release of Claims

 

1.                                       In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2017 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), to which Vincent Grieco (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) are parties, the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company and each of its and their subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Affiliated Group ”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Company Released Parties ”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“ Title VII ”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ ADA ”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ ADEA ”), and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only:

 

(A)                                      rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;

 

(B)                                      the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law;

 

(C)                                      claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

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(D)                                      rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force;

 

(E)                                       any matters which expressly survive the execution of this Release as set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(F)                                        rights granted to Executive during his employment related to the purchase of equity of Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

 

2.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

 

3.                                       This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

4.                                       The Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided , however , that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

 

5.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been given but not utilized a period of 21 days to consider whether to execute this Release.  If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, he may thereafter, for a period of seven days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release.  If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed.  If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Benefits Continuation (as defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

 

6.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

7.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.

 

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8.                                       The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

 

9.                                       The Executive acknowledges that the Severance Amount he is receiving in connection with this Release and his obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

 

10.                                Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

11.                                This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

12.                                The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

 

13.                                This Release may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

14.                                This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.

 

15.                                 Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of                     .

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Vincent Grieco

 

A- 4




Exhibit 10.28

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of September 6, 2017 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and James M. Kohosek (the “ Executive ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ,” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) and solely for the purposes of Section 2.3 herein, EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive as President, Products & Technologies Division of the Company and wishes to be assured of his continued services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company as President, Products & Technologies Division and to continue to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                    Employment .

 

1.1.                             Term .  As of the date hereof (the “ Effective Date ”), the Company shall continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to serve the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The term of the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will commence as of the Effective Date and end on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Employment Period ”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided , however , that the Employment Period will automatically be extended for a one-year period on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (and on each anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter) (the “ Renewal Period ”), unless either the Executive or the Company provides the other Party with written notice at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current Employment Period of his or its intention not to further extend the Employment Period (such non-extension, a “ Non-Renewal ”) (the Employment Period and each subsequent Renewal Period, if any, shall constitute the “ Employment Period ”, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 of this Employment Agreement).

 

1.2.                             Duties .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Business Operations of the Company, and such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such affiliates of the Company as the Company shall determine from time to time, and shall report directly to Chief Executive Officer.  In his position of Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Business Operations, the Executive shall perform duties customary for the President, Products & Technologies Division of a company similar to the Company’s size and nature, plus such additional duties, consistent with the foregoing, as the Chief Executive Officer or his designee may reasonably assign.

 



 

1.3.                             Exclusivity .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Chief Executive Officer, consistent with Section 1.2 hereof.  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided , that the Executive may (a) serve any civic, charitable, educational or professional organization, (b) manage his personal investments and (c) serve on the board of directors of one other for-profit enterprise, in each case so long as any such activities do not (x) violate the terms of this Employment Agreement (including Section 4) or (y) materially interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

Section 2.                    Compensation .

 

2.1.                             Salary .  As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $275,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies (the “ Base Salary ”).  The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted upward (but not downward) by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) (or a committee thereof) in its discretion.

 

2.2.                             Annual Bonus .  For each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible for potential awards of additional compensation (the “ Annual Bonus ”) to be based upon the achievement of one or more performance goals established by the Board or a committee thereof (the “ Performance Targets ”). The Annual Bonus shall be prorated for any partial fiscal years occurring within the Employment Period. The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period shall be equal to 60% of Base Salary (the “ Target Annual Bonus Opportunity ”), with the actual Annual Bonus, if any, to be based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Performance Targets.  The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash within 60 days of the fiscal year end, assuming the delivery of the relevant financial statements in a timely manner, but in no event later than March 15 th  of the year following the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus, if any, is earned; provided , that, except as set forth in Section 3, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the applicable fiscal year.

 

2.3.                             Stockholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement .  With respect to each of the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”), and the First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Holdings and certain other parties dated as of December 11, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), to which the Executive is a party:

 

(a)          Stockholders’ Agreement Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Stockholders’ Agreement, Holdings acknowledges and agrees that in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.3 or 2.4

 

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of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to sign any agreement that subjects the Executive to non-competition or non-solicitation obligations that have a duration or scope in excess of the duration or scope of the Executive’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

(b)          Registration Rights Agreement Tag-Along Rights . Holdings agrees that the last paragraph of Section 2.3(a) of Registration Rights Agreement (which begins with the phrase, “Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary”) shall not apply to the Executive, other than in connection with an “IPO” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

(c)           Registration Rights Agreement Form S-8 Registration Statement . Holdings agrees that following an IPO, Holdings shall register a number of shares equal to the number of then-outstanding options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan pursuant to one or more registration statements on Form S-8, provided, that, the Executive agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding the registration of any of the shares underlying the Executive’s outstanding options, the Executive shall remain subject to the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 2.7 of the Registration Rights Agreement), and to any agreed upon lock-up arrangement, in each case, with respect to any such shares registered on Form S-8.

 

(d)          Surviving Terms .  Other than as set forth in this Section 2.3, the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement insofar as either relates to the Executive shall remain in full force and effect. In the event of a conflict between, on the one hand, this Employment Agreement, and, on the other hand, the Stockholders’ Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this Employment Agreement shall prevail.

 

2.4.                             Employee Benefits .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance and other employee benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other executives of the Company.  During the Employment Period, the Executive will be eligible for Paid Time Off (“ PTO ”) per the Company’s PTO policy at 25 days per calendar year.

 

2.5.                             Business Expenses .  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that the Executive incurs during the Employment Period in performing his duties under this Employment Agreement and in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof) and in effect from time to time.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Employment Agreement shall meet the following requirements: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year

 

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following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred, (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit, and (iv) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

 

Section 3.                    Employment Termination .

 

3.1.                             Termination of Employment .  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason (including due to a Non-Renewal) during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Executive (other than in the event of a termination by the Company for Cause), and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason (including due to a Non-Renewal) during the Employment Period upon not less than 15 days’ written notice to the Company (subject, in each case, to the longer notice requirements in connection with a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason as set forth in Section 3.2(b)(iii)) (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”).  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (i) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any fiscal year completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) unused vacation days paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate, (iv) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (v) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.5 hereof (collectively, the “ Accrued Amounts ”); provided , however , that if the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, then any Annual Bonus earned pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a prior fiscal year, but not yet paid or due to be paid, shall be forfeited.  For all purposes under this Employment Agreement and any agreement related to stock or stock options purchased by or granted to the Executive, a termination of the Executive’s employment upon expiration of the Employment Period following a notice provided by the Company pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be treated as a termination by the Company other than for Cause.

 

3.2.                             Certain Terminations .

 

(a)                                                                                  Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Company due to Non-Renewal; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason .  If the Executive’s employment is terminated (i) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, (ii) by the Company due to a Non-Renewal, or (iii) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to (A) the payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date, in equal installments on the Company’s regular payment dates occurring during the 12-month period beginning on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release has become effective, and (B) a prorated portion of the Executive’s actual Annual Bonus, determined in accordance with Section 2.2 and payable at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, with the prorated Annual Bonus determined by multiplying the actual Annual Bonus, if any, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year and the denominator of which is 365 ((A) and (B), collectively, the

 

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Severance Amount ”).  In addition, the Company shall provide the Executive with continued medical and dental insurance coverage until the earlier the first anniversary of the Termination Date, and the date upon which the Executive becomes eligible for medical and dental insurance coverage from a new employer, with such insurance coverage to be provided at the same cost to the Executive as to similarly situated senior executives of the Company during such period (“ Benefits Continuation ”).  The Company shall also reimburse the Executive for outplacement assistance during the 6-month period beginning on the Termination Date, with any such reimbursement to be consistent with Section 2.5 of this Employment Agreement and in no event shall the aggregate reimbursement of outplacement services for the Executive exceed $15,000. The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount and pay premiums relating to Benefits Continuation shall be conditioned upon: (x) the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Employment Agreement, and (y) the Executive’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims (the “ Release ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , within 45 days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

(b)                                                                                  Definitions .  For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(i)                                      Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the business, standing or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder, (C) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to the Company, (D) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (E) ongoing and deliberate refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties as contemplated by this Employment Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Company to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure, provided that for the avoidance of doubt a failure to meet performance expectations shall not in of itself constitute Cause.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment.  However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide the Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Employment Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   Disability ” shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental ill health, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

 

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(iii)                                Good Reason ” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material and adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an employee of the Company, (B) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment without the Executive’s consent, or (C) a breach by the Company of a material term of this Employment Agreement, provided , however , the Executive shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment pursuant to subsection (A) above if the Company is acquired in a strategic transaction, after which the Executive continues to report to the most senior executive (“ Evoqua Head ”) of the division, unit or sector of the post-transaction organization in which the Evoqua business is resident, or to any individual senior to the Evoqua Head.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 30 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct.  The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.

 

(c)                                                                                   Section 409A .  If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 which non-qualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A shall commence on the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date, and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death.  For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A.  For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Employment Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

 

3.3.                             Exclusive Remedy .  The foregoing payments and benefits continuation upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits continuation due the Executive upon a termination of his employment.

 

3.4.                             Resignation from All Positions .  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the date of such termination, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the board of directors (and any committee thereof) of EWT Holdings I Corporation (“ Holdings ”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Group ”).  The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing, but the Executive shall be treated for all purposes as having so resigned upon termination of the Executive’s employment, regardless of when or whether the Executive executes any such documentation.

 

3.5.                             Cooperation .  Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters

 

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arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company and its subsidiaries, and the Company shall reimburse the Executive for any expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive in providing any assistance to the Company pursuant to this Section 3.5, including attorneys fees.

 

Section 4.                    Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights .

 

4.1.                             Unauthorized Disclosure .  The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive has been and will be exposed to and has and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company Group, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company Group and other forms of information considered by the Company Group to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “ Confidential Information ”).  Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information.  The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “ Person ”) without the prior written consent of the Company and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with his employment with the Company, unless required by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as possible.  This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction.  Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during or prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company, and any copies thereof in his (or reasonably capable of being reduced to his) possession; provided that nothing in this Employment Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent the Executive from retaining and utilizing: documents relating to his personal benefits, entitlements and obligations; documents relating to his personal tax obligations; his desk calendar, rolodex, and the like; and such other records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.

 

4.2.                             Non-Competition .  By and in consideration of the Company’s entering into this Employment Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information of the Company Group, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Employment Period and for the one year period following the Executive’s Termination Date (the “ Restriction Period ”), directly or indirectly, own, manage,

 

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operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided , that in no event shall ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a stockholder thereof.  For purposes of this paragraph, “ Restricted Enterprise ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers.  In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products.  For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Enterprise shall include, but not be limited to:  XXXXXX.  During the Restriction Period, upon request of the Company, the Executive shall notify the Company of the Executive’s then-current employment status.

 

4.3.                             Non-Solicitation of Employees .  During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such solicitation was, an employee of any member of the Company Group.

 

4.4.                             Interference with Business Relationships .  During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out his responsibilities for the Company Group), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of any member of the Company Group to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with any member of the Company Group, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between any member of the Company Group and any of their customers or clients so as to cause harm to any member of the Company Group.

 

4.5.                             Extension of Restriction Period .  The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Sections 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

 

4.6.                             Proprietary Rights .  The Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company Group (the “ Developments ”).  Except to the extent any rights in any Developments constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17

 

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U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by a member of the Company Group, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of his right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement.  The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company as the Executive’s employer.  Whenever requested to do so by the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company Group.  These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements or copyrightable works initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.  In connection with his execution of this Employment Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest in any inventions or intellectual property rights that he holds as of the date hereof.  If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

4.7.                             Confidentiality of Agreement .  Other than with respect to information required to be disclosed by applicable law, the Executive agrees not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement to any Person; provided the Executive may disclose this Employment Agreement and/or any of its terms to the Executive’s immediate family, financial advisors and attorneys, so long as the Executive instructs every such Person to whom the Executive makes such disclosure not to disclose the terms of this Employment Agreement further.  Anytime after this Employment Agreement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency by the Company and becomes a public record, this provision shall no longer apply.

 

4.8.                             Remedies .  The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company Group for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Executive to return any portion of the Severance Amount paid by the Company to the Executive.  The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive.  The Executive and the Company further agree that the

 

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provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company Group because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and his material participation in the operation of such businesses.  In the event that the Executive willfully and materially breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, then in addition to any injunctive relief, the Executive will promptly return to the Company any portion of the Severance Amount that the Company has paid to the Executive.

 

Section 5.                    Representations .  The Executive represents and warrants that (i) he is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits his ability to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement and (ii) he is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform his obligations under this Employment Agreement.

 

Section 6.                    Non-Disparagement .  From and after the Effective Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees not to make any statement, whether direct or indirect, whether true or false, that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Company Group, any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders.

 

Section 7.                    Withholding .  All amounts paid to the Executive under this Employment Agreement during or following the Employment Period shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law.  The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on him relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

 

Section 8.                    Miscellaneous .

 

8.1.                             Indemnification .  To the extent provided in the Company’s By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for losses or damages incurred by the Executive as a result of all causes of action arising from the Executive’s performance of duties for the benefit of the Company, whether or not the claim is asserted during the Employment Period.  This indemnity shall not apply to the Executive’s acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company maintains for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s directors and other officers.

 

8.2.                             Amendments and Waivers .  This Employment Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the parties hereto; provided , that, the observance of any provision of this Employment Agreement may be waived in writing by the party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or

 

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remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

8.3.                             Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Employment Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void.  Nothing in this Employment Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Employment Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Employment Agreement, except (i) the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive and (ii) any member of the Company Group may enforce the provisions of Section 4.  The Company is authorized to assign this Employment Agreement to a successor to substantially all of its assets.

 

8.4.                             Notices .  Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be in writing.  Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt (ii) e-mail (with electronic return receipt), (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

 

If to the Company:

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

 

c/o AEA Investors LP

 

666 Fifth Avenue, 36th FL

 

New York, NY 10103

 

Attn: Senior VP Human Resources

 

 

 

with a copy to: General Counsel

 

 

If to the Executive:

James M. Kohosek, at his principal office and e-mail address at the Company (during the Employment Period), and at all times to his principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received.  Either party may change its facsimile number or its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

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8.5.                             Governing Law .  This Employment Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the laws of the State of New York hereto shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

8.6.                             Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Employment Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Employment Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction.  In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Employment Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

 

8.7.                             Entire Agreement .  From and after the Effective Date, this Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

8.8.                             Counterparts .  This Employment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.9.                             Survivorship .  Upon the expiration or other termination of this Employment Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, with respect to the Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4, shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Employment Agreement.

 

8.10.                      Binding Effect .  This Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

8.11.                      General Interpretive Principles .  The name assigned this Employment Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Employment Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.  Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations.  Any reference to a Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

 

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

 

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ron Keating

 

 

 

Name:

Ron Keating

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ James M. Kohosek

 

 

James M. Kohosek

 

 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

Release of Claims

 

1.                                       In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2017 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), to which James M. Kohosek (the “ Executive ”) and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”) are parties, the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company and each of its and their subsidiaries and affiliates (the “ Company Affiliated Group ”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Company Released Parties ”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“ Title VII ”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ ADA ”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ ADEA ”), and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only:

 

(A)                                      rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;

 

(B)                                      the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law;

 

(C)                                      claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

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(D)                                      rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force;

 

(E)                                       any matters which expressly survive the execution of this Release as set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(F)                                        rights granted to Executive during his employment related to the purchase of equity of Holdings (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

 

2.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

 

3.                                       This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

4.                                       The Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided , however , that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

 

5.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been given but not utilized a period of 21 days to consider whether to execute this Release.  If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, he may thereafter, for a period of seven days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release.  If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed.  If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Benefits Continuation (as defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

 

6.                                       The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.

 

7.                                       The Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.

 

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8.                                       The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

 

9.                                       The Executive acknowledges that the Severance Amount he is receiving in connection with this Release and his obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

 

10.                                Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

11.                                This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.

 

12.                                The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

 

13.                                This Release may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

14.                                This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.

 

15.                                 Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

A- 3



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of                     .

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

Name: James M. Kohosek

 

A- 4




Exhibit 10.29

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), effective as of the date of grant set forth on the signature page hereto (the “ Date of Grant ”), is between EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors, the “ Company ”), and the individual whose name is set forth on the signature page hereto (the “ Optionee ”).

 

Section 1.                                            Grant of Option .  The Company hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option (the “ Option ”) to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of such number of Shares (“ Option Shares ”) as is set forth on the signature page hereto (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7 of the EWT Holdings I Corp. Stock Option Plan (the “ Plan ”)) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan, a copy of which is being delivered to the Optionee concurrently herewith and is made a part hereof as if fully set forth herein.  The grant shall be effective upon the execution of this Agreement by both parties hereto which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the provisions applicable to Option Shares set forth in Annex A of the Plan.  Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.  The Option is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

Section 2.                                            Purchase Price .  The price (the “ Option Price ”) at which the Optionee shall be entitled to purchase Option Shares upon the exercise of the Option shall be the price per Share set forth on the signature page hereto (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7 of the Plan).

 

Section 3.                                            Term of Option .  The Option shall be exercisable to the extent and in the manner provided herein until the close of business on the day preceding the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the Date of Grant (the “ Term ”); provided , however , that the Option may be earlier terminated as provided in Section 6, 7 or 8 hereof.

 

Section 4.                                            Exercisability of Option .

 

4.1.                             Vesting .  For the purposes of this Section 4, the “Vesting Commencement Date” shall be [       ].  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan, the Option shall vest and become exercisable in accordance with the following schedule:

 

(a)                                  Prior to the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, the Option may not be exercised;

 

(b)                                  On or after the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date but before the second anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, the Option may be exercised to acquire up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate number of Option Shares;

 

(c)                                   On or after the second anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date but before the third anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, the Option may be exercised to acquire up to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate number of Option Shares, less any Option Shares previously acquired pursuant to the Option;

 



 

(d)                                  On or after the third anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date but before the fourth anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, the Option may be exercised to acquire up to seventy-five percent (75%) of the aggregate number of Option Shares, less any Option Shares previously acquired pursuant to the Option; and

 

(e)                                   On or after the fourth anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, the Option may be exercised to acquire up to one hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate number of Option Shares, less any Option Shares previously acquired pursuant to the Option.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control occurs, the Option shall become fully (100%) vested and exercisable.

 

The portion of the Option which has become vested and exercisable as described in this Section 4.1 is hereinafter referred to as the “ Vested Portion .”

 

Section 5.                                            Manner of Exercise and Payment .

 

5.1.                             Notice of Exercise .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the Option may be exercised by delivery of written notice in such form as the Committee may require from time to time (the “ Exercise Notice ”), from the Optionee to the Company.  The Exercise Notice shall state that the Optionee is electing to exercise the Option, shall set forth the number of Option Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised and shall be signed by the Optionee or, where applicable, by the Optionee’s legal representative.

 

5.2.                             Deliveries .  The Exercise Notice described in Section 5.1 shall be accompanied by payment of the full Option Price for the Option Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised, together with any withholding taxes that may be due as a result of the exercise of the Option, such payment to be made by delivery to the Company of (a) a certified or bank check payable to the order of the Company or (b) cash by wire transfer or other immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company.

 

5.3.                             Issuance of Shares .  Subject to Section 13.2 of the Plan, upon receipt of the Exercise Notice and full payment for the Option Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised, the Company shall take such action as may be necessary under applicable law to cause the issuance to the Optionee of the number of Option Shares as to which the Option was exercised and the Optionee shall cooperate to the fullest extent requested by the Company (including by executing such documents and providing such information) as may be necessary to effect the issuance of such Option Shares in compliance with all applicable law.  If the Optionee fails to make any of the deliveries required by Section 5.2 of this Agreement, the Optionee’s exercise shall not be given effect and the Shares shall not be issued to the Optionee.

 

5.4.                             Shareholder Rights .  The Optionee shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any Option Shares until:  (a) the Option shall have been exercised in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Optionee shall have paid the full Option Price for the number of Option Shares in respect of which the Option was exercised and any withholding taxes due, (b) the Company shall have issued the Option

 

2



 

Shares to the Optionee, (c) the Optionee’s name shall have been entered as a holder of record on the books of the Company and (d) the Optionee shall have entered into the Stockholders’ Agreement.  Upon the occurrence of all of the foregoing events, the Optionee shall have full ownership rights with respect to such Option Shares.

 

Section 6.                                            Termination .

 

6.1.                             Termination .  If the Optionee Terminates, (a) the Option, other than the Vested Portion of the Option, shall terminate and be of no further force and effect as of and following the close of business on the date of such Termination, and (b) the Vested Portion of the Option shall be exercisable by the Optionee during the Post-Termination Exercise Period (as defined below), but in no event after the expiration of the Term.  Any portion of the Vested Portion of the Option that, following the Optionee’s Termination, is not exercised prior to the expiration of the Post-Termination Exercise Period shall terminate at the end of the Post-Termination Exercise Period.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, the Option, whether or not exercisable, shall immediately terminate upon a Termination of the Optionee by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company for Cause.

 

6.2.                             Post-Termination Exercise Period ” shall mean the period commencing on the Optionee’s Termination and ending at the close of business on the forty-fifth (45th) day after the date of the Optionee’s Termination.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event of the Optionee’s death or Disability, the Post-Termination Exercise Period shall mean the period commencing on the Optionee’s death or Disability and ending at the close of business on the one-hundred and eightieth (180th) day after the date of the Optionee’s death or Disability.

 

Section 7.                                            Prohibited Activities .  In consideration of and as a condition to the grant of the Option, the Optionee agrees to the following covenants:

 

7.1.                             No Sale or Transfer .  The Optionee shall not sell, transfer, assign, grant a participation in, gift, hypothecate, encumber, mortgage, create any lien, pledge, exchange or otherwise dispose of the Option or any portion thereof other than to the extent permitted by Section 6.2(c) of the Plan.

 

7.2.                             Right to Terminate Option .  The Optionee understands and agrees that the Company has granted this Option to the Optionee to reward the Optionee for the Optionee’s future efforts and loyalty to the Company and its Affiliates by giving the Optionee the opportunity to participate in the potential future appreciation of the Company.  Accordingly, if (a) the Optionee breaches or violates the Optionee’s obligations relating to the non-disclosure or non-use of confidential or proprietary information under any Restrictive Agreement to which the Optionee is a party, including Exhibit A hereto, or (b) the Optionee breaches or violates the Optionee’s obligations relating to non-disparagement under any Restrictive Agreement to which the Optionee is a party, including Exhibit A hereto, or (c) the Optionee engages in any activity prohibited by Section 7.1 of this Agreement, or (d) the Optionee breaches or violates any non-solicitation obligations under any Restrictive Agreement to which the Optionee is a party, including Exhibit A hereto, or (e) the Optionee breaches or violates any non-competition obligations under any Restrictive Agreement to which the Optionee is a party, including Exhibit

 

3



 

A hereto, or (f) the Optionee is convicted of a felony against the Company or any of its Affiliates, then, in addition to any other rights and remedies available to the Company, the Company shall be entitled, at its option, exercisable by written notice, to terminate the Option (including the Vested Portion of the Option), or any unexercised portion thereof, which shall be of no further force and effect.

 

7.3.     Restrictive Agreement ” shall mean any (i) agreement between the Company or any Subsidiary and the Optionee that contains non-competition, non-solicitation, non-hire, non-disparagement, or confidentiality restrictions applicable to the Optionee or, (ii) if there is no such agreement with the Optionee, the terms of the restrictive covenants set forth on Exhibit A hereto, which the Optionee acknowledges and agrees to by executing this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, the terms of any individual agreement with an Optionee as referenced in clause (i) above that are more restrictive than those set forth on Exhibit A shall supersede the terms set forth on Exhibit A .

 

7.4.                             Remedies .  The Optionee specifically acknowledges and agrees that its remedies under this Section 7 shall not prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from seeking injunctive or equitable relief in connection with the Optionee’s breach of any Restrictive Agreement, including the covenants set forth on Exhibit A .  In the event that the provisions of this Section 7 should ever be deemed to exceed the limitation provided by applicable law, then the Optionee and the Company agree that such provisions shall be reformed to set forth the maximum limitations permitted.

 

Section 8.                                            Corporate Transaction .  The provisions of Section 8 of the Plan shall apply to this Option in the event of a Corporate Transaction.

 

Section 9.                                            Miscellaneous .

 

9.1.                             Acknowledgment .  The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof as the same may be amended from time to time.  The Optionee hereby acknowledges that the Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Agreement and understands the Optionee’s rights and obligations thereunder and hereunder.  The Optionee also acknowledges that the Optionee has been provided with such information concerning the Company, the Plan and this Agreement as the Optionee and the Optionee’s advisors have requested. The Optionee has filled out the Accredited Investor Questionnaire attached as Exhibit B stating whether the Optionee is an accredited investor.

 

9.2.     Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)          Governing Law .  This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws (excluding conflict of laws rules and principles) of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such State, including all matters of construction, validity and performance.

 

(b)          Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .  Any litigation against any party to this Agreement arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement shall be brought

 

4



 

in any federal or state court located in the State of New York and each of the parties hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such litigation; provided, that a final judgment in any such litigation shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Each party irrevocably and unconditionally agrees not to assert (a) any objection which it may ever have to the laying of venue of any such litigation in any federal or state court located in the State of New York, (b) any claim that any such litigation brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and (c) any claim that such court does not have jurisdiction with respect to such litigation.  To the extent that service of process by mail is permitted by applicable law, each party irrevocably consents to the service of process in any such litigation in such courts by the mailing of such process by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, at its address for notices provided for herein.  Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right to a trial by jury and agrees that either of them may file a copy of this paragraph with any court as written evidence of the knowing, voluntary and bargained-for agreement among the parties irrevocably to waive its right to trial by jury in any litigation .

 

9.3.                             Specific Performance .  Each of the parties agrees that any breach of the terms of this Agreement will result in irreparable injury and damage to the other parties, for which there is no adequate remedy at law.  Each of the parties therefore agrees that in the event of a breach or any threat of breach, the other parties shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach, threatened breach or continued breach, and/or compelling specific performance of the Agreement, without having to prove the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy or balancing the equities between the parties.  Such remedies shall be in addition to any other remedies (including monetary damages) to which the other parties may be entitled at law or in equity.  Each party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with any such equitable remedy.

 

9.4.                             Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law and if the rights or obligations of any party hereto under this Agreement will not be materially and adversely affected thereby, (a) such provision will be fully severable, (b) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, (c) the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom and (d) in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.

 

9.5.                             Notice .  Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices and other communications given or made pursuant hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made (a) as of the date delivered, if delivered personally or by email, (b) on the date the delivering party receives confirmation, if delivered by facsimile, (c) three (3) business days after being mailed by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) or (d) one (1) business day after being sent by overnight courier (providing proof of

 

5



 

delivery), to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section:

 

(a)                                  If to the Company:

 

EWT Holdings I Corp.

c/o AEA Investors LP

666 Fifth Avenue, 36 th  Floor

New York, NY  10103

Facsimile:  (212) 888-1459

Attention:  General Counsel

 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
One New York Plaza
New York, New York 10004
Facsimile: (212) 859-4000
Attention:  Jeffrey Ross, Esq.

 

(b)                                  If to the Optionee, at the most recent address and facsimile number contained in the Company’s records, and if to the Optionee’s legal representative, to such Person at the address of which the Company is notified in accordance with this Section 9.5.

 

9.6.                             Binding Effect; Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and any of their respective successors, personal representatives and permitted assigns who agree in writing to be bound by the terms hereof.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by the Optionee without the prior written consent of the Company.  In addition, the Investor Group shall be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce this Agreement.  In connection with the transfer of any securities of the Company held by the Investor Group, the Investor Group shall be entitled to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an Affiliate of any of the Investor Group and, to the extent permitted by the Plan, to a third party.

 

9.7.                             Amendments and Waivers . Subject to applicable law, this Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, modified, or supplemented, in whole or in part, only in a writing signed by all parties hereto.  The waiver by a party hereto of a breach by another party hereto of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach by such other party or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach by such other party, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in the writing evidencing such waiver. The waiver by a party hereto of a breach by any party hereto of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of such breach by any other party hereto except as otherwise explicitly provided for in the writing evidencing such waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at

 

6



 

law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

9.8.                             Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed by .pdf or facsimile signatures and in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed the same document.  All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

9.9.                             Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the parties, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral and written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

9.10.                      Withholding .  Whenever Option Shares are to be issued upon exercise of the Option, the Company shall have the right to require the Optionee to remit to the Company cash sufficient to satisfy all federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to issuance of the Shares and the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such Shares.  The Optionee agrees to indemnify the Company against any national, federal, state and local withholding taxes for which the Company may be liable in connection with the Optionee’s acquisition, ownership or disposition of any Option Shares.

 

9.11.                      No Right to Continued Employment or Business Relationship .  This Agreement shall not confer upon the Optionee any right with respect to continued employment or a continued business relationship with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate thereof to Terminate such Optionee at any time.

 

9.12.                      General Interpretive Principles .  Whenever used in this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, any noun or pronoun shall be deemed to include the plural as well as the singular and to cover all genders. The headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof. Unless otherwise specified, the terms “hereof,” “herein” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole (including the exhibits, schedules and disclosure statements hereto), and references herein to Sections refer to Sections of this Agreement.  Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations.

 

[signature pages follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement, effective as of the Date of Grant.

 

 

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Agreed and acknowledged as

 

 

of the Date of Grant:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Optionee’s Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Date of Grant:

 

 

 

 

 

Shares Subject to the Option:

 

 

 

 

 

Option Price:

 

 

 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

Restrictive Covenants

 

In consideration of and as a condition to the grant of the Option, the Optionee agrees to the following covenants:

 

a)              Proprietary Information .  The Optionee agrees that the Optionee will not at any time (i) disclose, directly or indirectly, any Proprietary Information to any person other than the Company or executives thereof at the time of such disclosure who, in the reasonable judgment of the Optionee, need to know such Proprietary Information or such other persons to whom the Optionee has been specifically instructed to make disclosure by the Board and in all such cases only to the extent required in the course of the Optionee’s service to the Company or (ii) use any Proprietary Information, directly or indirectly, for his own benefit or for the benefit of any other person or entity. At the Termination of his employment, the Optionee will immediately deliver to the Company all notes, letters, documents and records which may contain Proprietary Information which are then in his possession or control and will not retain any copies and summaries thereof.  All notes, letters, documents, records, tapes and other media of every kind and description relating to the business, present or otherwise, of the Company or its Affiliates and any copies, in whole or in part, thereof (collectively, the “ Documents ”), whether or not prepared by the Optionee, shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. The Optionee will safeguard all Documents and will surrender to the Company at the time his employment Terminates, or at such earlier time or times as the Board may specify, all Documents then in the Optionee’s possession or control.

 

b)              Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation .  The Optionee agrees that during employment and for the Restricted Period (as defined below), the Optionee shall not:

 

(i)              whether for compensation or without compensation, directly or indirectly, as an owner, principal, partner, member, shareholder, independent contractor, consultant, joint venture, investor, licensor, lender, employee or in any other capacity whatsoever, alone or in association with any other person or entity, carry on, be engaged or take part in, or render services or advice to, own, share in the earnings of, invest in the stocks, bonds or other securities of, or otherwise become financially interested in, any business, enterprise or other entity engaged directly or indirectly within the Territory (as defined below) in any Competitive Business (as defined below) activity; provided , however , that the Optionee shall be permitted to acquire a passive stock or equity interest in such a Competitive Business provided the stock or other equity interest acquired is not more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding interest in such business. Nothing herein shall prevent the Optionee from engaging in any activity with, or holding a financial interest in, a non-competitive division, subsidiary or affiliate of a Competitive Business; and

 

(ii)           directly or indirectly through any officer, director, employee, representative or other agent or otherwise, (A) solicit or do business with any customer or supplier of the Company of whose names he was aware during his employment term (x) in any manner that interferes with such person’s financial relationship with the Company, or (y) in an effort to obtain such person as a customer, supplier, consultant, salesman, agent or representative to any other business; or (B) solicit or interfere with or endeavor to entice away any employee, consultant, officer, director or executive of the Company who was engaged in such

 



 

relationship with the Company at any time during his employment term, (x) in any manner that interferes with such person’s employment or consulting relationship with the Company or (y) in an effort to obtain such person as a customer, supplier, consultant, salesman, agent or representative to any Competitive Business.

 

c)               Non-Disparagement .  The Optionee shall not at any time make (or cause to be made) to any person any knowingly disparaging, derogatory or other negative statement about the Company.  The foregoing shall not be violated by (i) truthful statements in response to legal process, required governmental testimony or filings, or administrative or arbitral proceedings (including, without limitation, depositions in connection with such proceedings), or (ii) statements that the Optionee in good faith believes are necessary or appropriate to make in connection with his or her good faith performance of their duties to the Company.

 

For purposes of this Exhibit A :

 

Competitive Business ” shall mean any business that is in competition with (a) the present products marketed or sold by the Company to its customers and as such products may be improved and/or modified, (b) the present services marketed, sold or provided by the Company to its customers and as such services may be improved and/or modified or (c) the products and/or services the Company develops, designs, manufactures, markets, produces or supplies in the future to its customers.  In the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, such businesses will include, but not be limited to, businesses that are associated with the treatment of intake water, process water or waste-water in industrial and municipal end markets through the provision of services and/or products.  For the avoidance of doubt, Competitive Business shall include, but not be limited to:  XXXXXX.

 

Proprietary Information ” shall mean confidential specifications, know-how, strategic or technical data, marketing research data, product research and development data, manufacturing techniques, confidential customer lists, sources of supply and trade secrets, all of which are confidential and may be proprietary and are owned or used by the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and shall include any and all items enumerated in the preceding sentence and coming within the scope of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates as to which the Optionee may have access, whether conceived or developed by others or by the Optionee alone or with others during the period of service to the Company, whether or not conceived or developed during regular working hours. Proprietary Information shall not include any records, data or information which (a) are in the public domain during or after the period of service by the Optionee provided the same are not in the public domain as a consequence of disclosure directly or indirectly by the Optionee in violation of this Agreement or (b) were known to the Optionee prior to commencing employment with the Company.

 

Restricted Period ” shall mean the twelve (12) month period after the Optionee’s Termination from the Company or a Subsidiary for any reason.

 

Territory ” shall mean the United States of America, Australia, Germany, Italy, Singapore, the United Kingdom and every other territory or country where the Company maintains employees, owns

 



 

property or otherwise conducts business during any time that the Optionee is employed by the Company or owns any Equity Securities (or rights to acquire Equity Securities).

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

ACCREDITED INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE

 

Please check any and all boxes that apply.  You must check at least one box:

 

o             (i) Your individual net worth, or joint net worth with your spouse, as of the date indicated below, exceeds $1,000,000;

 

For purposes of this paragraph (i), “net worth” means your assets (excluding the value of your primary residence) minus your liabilities (excluding any debt secured by your primary residence), provided that:

 

1)              if the amount of the debt secured by your primary residence is greater than the estimated fair market value of your primary residence, you must include such excess amount as a liability;

 

2)              if you borrowed any amount secured by your primary residence within the 60 day period prior to the date indicated below, you must include such amount as a liability, unless such borrowing results from the acquisition of your primary residence.  If you cease to have at least $1,000,000 in net worth for any reason between the date indicated below and the date of your equity purchase or the date your equity award is made, as applicable, including by reason of borrowing additional amounts secured by your primary residence, you must notify the company of your change in status.

 

o             (ii) You had individual income(1) in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years, or joint income with your spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years, and you have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year; or

 

o             (iii) None of the statements above apply.

 

Name (printed):

 

 

 

 

 

Name (signed):

 

 

 

 

 

State/Country of Residence:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 


(1) The term “individual income” means adjusted gross income as reported for federal income tax purposes, less any income attributable to a spouse or to property owned by a spouse, increased by the following amounts (but not including any amounts attributable to a spouse or to property owned by a spouse), and the term “joint income” means adjusted gross income as reported for federal income tax purposes, including any income attributable to a spouse or to a property owned by a spouse, increased by the following amounts (including any amounts attributable to a spouse or to property owned by a spouse):  (i) the amount of any interest income received which is tax exempt under section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code; (ii) the amount of losses claimed as a limited partner in a limited partnership (as reported on Schedule E of Form 1040); and (iii) any deduction claimed for depletion under section 611 et seq. of the Internal Revenue Code.

 




Exhibit 10.30

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

(Adopted as of [ · ], 2017)

 

1.                                       Purpose .

 

The purpose of the Plan is to assist the Company with attracting, retaining, incentivizing and motivating officers and employees of, consultants to, and non-employee directors providing services to, the Company and its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of the Company’s business by providing such participating individuals with a proprietary interest in the performance of the Company.  The Company believes that this incentive program will cause participating officers, employees, consultants and non-employee directors to increase their interest in the welfare of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to align those interests with those of the stockholders of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

2.                                       Definitions.  For purposes of the Plan :

 

2.1.                             Adjustment Event ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 12.1.

 

2.2.                             Award ” means, individually or collectively, a grant of an Option, Restricted Stock, a Restricted Stock Unit, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Performance Award, a Dividend Equivalent Right, a Share Award or any or all of them.

 

2.3.                             Award Agreement ” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the grant of an Award and setting forth the terms and conditions thereof.

 

2.4.                             Base Price ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.4.

 

2.5.                             Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.6.                             Cause ” shall mean (a) if a Participant is a party to an employment or a severance agreement with the Company or one of the Subsidiaries in which “Cause” is defined, the occurrence of any circumstances defined as “Cause” in such employment or severance agreement, or (b) if a Participant is not a party to an employment or severance agreement with the Company or one of the Subsidiaries in which “Cause” is defined, (i) the Participant’s indictment for, or conviction or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to (A) any felony or (B) any crime (whether or not a felony) involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, breach of trust or other similar acts, whether under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or any similar foreign law to which the Participant may be subject, (ii) the Participant’s being or having been engaged in conduct constituting breach of fiduciary duty, willful misconduct or gross negligence relating to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or the performance of the Participant’s duties, (iii) the Participant’s willful failure to (A) follow a reasonable and lawful directive of the Company or of the Subsidiary at which he or she is employed or provides services, or the Board or (B) comply with any written rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the Company or a Subsidiary at which he or she is employed or to which he or she provides services which, if not

 



 

complied with, would reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect (other than a de minimis adverse effect) on the business or financial condition of the Company, (iv) the Participant’s violation of his or her employment, consulting, separation or similar agreement with the Company or any non-disclosure, non-solicitation or non-competition covenant in any other agreement to which the Participant is subject, (v) the Participant’s deliberate and continued failure to perform his or her material duties to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (vi) the Participant’s violation of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

2.7.                             Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(a)                            An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any voting securities of the Company (the “ Voting Securities ”) by any Person, immediately after which such Person first acquires “Beneficial Ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty percent (50%) or more of the  combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to this Section 2.7(a), the acquisition of Voting Securities in a Non-Control Acquisition (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute a Change in Control.  A “ Non-Control Acquisition ” shall mean an acquisition by (i) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Company or (B) any corporation or other Person the majority of the voting power, voting equity securities or equity interest of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (for purposes of this definition, a “ Related Entity ”), (ii) the Company or any Related Entity or (iii) any Person in connection with a Non-Control Transaction (as hereinafter defined);

 

(b)                            The individuals who, as of the Effective Date are members of the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however , that if the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s common stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; provided further , however , that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a “ Proxy Contest ”) including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Proxy Contest;

 

(c)                             The consummation of:

 

(i)                                A merger, consolidation or reorganization (x) with or into the Company or (y) in which securities of the Company are issued (a “ Merger ”), unless such Merger is a Non-Control Transaction.  A “ Non-Control Transaction ” shall mean a Merger in which:

 

(A)                                the stockholders of the Company immediately before such Merger own directly or indirectly immediately following such Merger at

 

2



 

least a majority of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of (1) the corporation resulting from such Merger (the “ Surviving Corporation ”), if fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Surviving Corporation is not Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by another Person (a “ Parent Corporation ”), or (2) if there is one or more than one Parent Corporation, the ultimate Parent Corporation;

 

(B)                                the individuals who were members of the Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such Merger constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of (1) the Surviving Corporation, if there is no Parent Corporation, or (2) if there is one or more than one Parent Corporation, the ultimate Parent Corporation; and

 

(C)                                no Person other than (1) the Company or another corporation that is a party to the agreement of Merger, (2) any Related Entity, (3) any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) that, immediately prior to the Merger, was maintained by the Company or any Related Entity or (4) any Person who, immediately prior to the Merger, had Beneficial Ownership of Voting Securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding Voting Securities, has Beneficial Ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of (x) the Surviving Corporation, if there is no Parent Corporation, or (y) if there is one or more than one Parent Corporation, the ultimate Parent Corporation;

 

(ii)                             A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(iii)                          The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (other than (x) a transfer to a Related Entity or (y) the distribution to the Company’s stockholders of the stock of a Related Entity or any other assets).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “ Subject Person ”) acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of Voting Securities then outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person; provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company and, after such acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Voting Securities and such Beneficial Ownership increases the percentage of the then outstanding Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.

 

2.8.                             Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

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2.9.                             Committee ” means the Committee which administers the Plan as provided in Section 3.

 

2.10.                      Company ” means EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

 

2.11.                      Consultant ” means any consultant or advisor, other than an Employee or Director, who is a natural person and who renders services to the Company or a Subsidiary that (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital raising transaction and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

 

2.12.                      Corporate Transaction ” means (a) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other transaction or event having a similar effect on the Company’s capital stock or (b) a Change in Control.

 

2.13.                      Covered Employee ” means, for any Performance Cycle:

 

(a)                            an Employee who:

 

(i)                                as of the beginning of the Performance Cycle is an officer subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and

 

(ii)                             prior to determining Performance Objectives for the Performance Cycle pursuant to Section 9, the Committee designates as a Covered Employee for that Performance Cycle; provided that, if the Committee does not make the designation in clause (ii) for a Performance Cycle, all Employees described in clause (i) shall be deemed to be Covered Employees for purposes of this Plan, and

 

(b)                            any other Employee that the Committee designates as a Covered Employee for that Performance Cycle.

 

2.14.                      Director ” means a member of the Board.

 

2.15.                      Disability ” means, with respect to a Participant, a permanent and total disability as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3).  A determination of Disability may be made by a physician selected or approved by the Committee and, in this respect, the Participant shall submit to any reasonable examination(s) required by such physician upon request.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.15, in the event any Award is considered to be “deferred compensation” as that term is defined under Section 409A and the terms of the Award are such that the definition of  “disability” is required to comply with the requirements of Section 409A then, in lieu of the foregoing definition, the definition of “Disability” for purposes of such Award shall mean, with respect to a Participant, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.

 

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2.16.                      Division ” means any of the operating units or divisions of the Company designated as a Division by the Committee.

 

2.17.                      Dividend Equivalent Right ” means a right to receive cash or Shares based on the value of dividends that are paid with respect to Shares.

 

2.18.                      Effective Date ” means the date of the Plan’s approval by the Board, subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders.

 

2.19.                      Eligible Individual ” means any Employee, Director or Consultant.

 

2.20.                      Employee ” means any individual performing services for the Company or a Subsidiary and designated as an employee of the Company or the Subsidiary on its payroll records.  An Employee shall not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company or Subsidiary as an independent contractor, a consultant or an employee of an employment, consulting or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company or Subsidiary, without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified, as a common-law employee of the Company or Subsidiary during such period.  An individual shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or any Subsidiary, or between the Company and any Subsidiaries.

 

2.21.                      Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

2.22.                      Fair Market Value ” on any date means:

 

(a)                            if the Shares are listed for trading on a national securities exchange, the closing price at the close of the primary trading session of the Shares on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the common stock is listed or admitted to trading as officially quoted in the consolidated tape of transactions on such exchange or such other source as the Committee deems reliable for the applicable date, or if there has been no such closing price of the Shares on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was such a closing price;

 

(b)                            if the Shares are not listed for trading on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of the Shares as determined in good faith by the Committee, and, if applicable, in accordance with Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.

 

2.23.                      Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option satisfying the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.24.                      Nonemployee Director ” means a Director of the Board who is a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

2.25.                      Nonqualified Stock Option ” means an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

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2.26.                      Option ” means a Nonqualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.27.                      Option Price ” means the price at which a Share may be purchased pursuant to an Option.

 

2.28.                      Outside Director ” means a Director of the Board who is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m).

 

2.29.                      Parent ” means any corporation which is a “parent corporation” (within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) with respect to the Company.

 

2.30.                      Participant ” means an Eligible Individual to whom an Award has been granted under the Plan.

 

2.31.                      Performance Awards ” means Performance Share Units, Performance Units, Performance-Based Restricted Stock or any or all of them.

 

2.32.                      Performance-Based Compensation ” means any Award that, pursuant to Section 14.3, is intended to constitute “performance based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m).

 

2.33.                      Performance-Based Restricted Stock ” means Shares issued or transferred to an Eligible Individual under Section 9.2.

 

2.34.                      Performance Cycle ” means the time period specified by the Committee at the time Performance Awards are granted during which the performance of the Company, a Subsidiary or a Division will be measured.

 

2.35.                      Performance Objectives ” means the objectives set forth in Section 9.3 for the purpose of determining, either alone or together with other conditions, the degree of payout and/or vesting of Performance Awards.

 

2.36.                      Performance Share Units ” means Performance Share Units granted to an Eligible Individual under Section 9.1(b).

 

2.37.                      Performance Units ” means Performance Units granted to an Eligible Individual under Section 9.1(a).

 

2.38.                      Person ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.39.                      Plan ” means this EWT Holdings I Corp. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

2.40.                      Plan Termination Date ” means the date that is ten (10) years after the Effective Date, unless the Plan is earlier terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 15 hereof.

 

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2.41.                      Restricted Stock ” means Shares issued or transferred to an Eligible Individual pursuant to Section 8.1.

 

2.42.                      Restricted Stock Units ” means rights granted to an Eligible Individual under Section 8.2 representing a number of hypothetical Shares.

 

2.43.                      SAR Payment Amount ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.4.

 

2.44.                      Section 162(m) ” means Section 162(m) of Code, and all regulations, guidance, and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

 

2.45.                      Section 409A ” means Section 409A of Code, and all regulations, guidance, and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

 

2.46.                      Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

2.47.                      Share Award ” means an Award of Shares granted pursuant to Section 10.

 

2.48.                      Shares ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and any other securities into which such shares are changed or for which such shares are exchanged.

 

2.49.                      Stock Appreciation Right ” means a right to receive all or some portion of the increase, if any, in the value of the Shares as provided in Section 6 hereof.

 

2.50.                      Subsidiary ” means (a) except as provided in subsection (b) below, any corporation which is a subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code with respect to the Company and (b) in relation to the eligibility to receive Awards other than Incentive Stock Options and continued employment or the provision of services for purposes of Awards (unless the Committee determines otherwise), any entity, whether or not incorporated, in which the Company directly or indirectly owns at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding equity or other ownership interests.

 

2.51.                      Ten-Percent Shareholder ” means an Eligible Individual who, at the time an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted to him or her, owns (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.

 

2.52.                      Termination ”, “ Terminated ” or “ Terminates ” shall mean (a) with respect to a Participant who is an Employee, the date such Participant ceases to be employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries, (b) with respect to a Participant who is a Consultant, the date such Participant ceases to provide services to the Company and its Subsidiaries or (c) with respect to a Participant who is a Director, the date such Participant ceases to be a Director, in each case, for any reason whatsoever (including by reason of death, Disability or adjudicated incompetency).  Unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, (a) if a Participant is both an Employee and a Director and terminates as an Employee but remains as a Director, the Participant will be deemed to have continued in employment without interruption and shall be deemed to have Terminated

 

7



 

upon ceasing to be a Director and (b) if a Participant who is an Employee or a Director ceases to provide services in such capacity and becomes a Consultant, the Participant will thereupon be deemed to have been Terminated.

 

2.53.                      “Transition Period” means the period beginning with an Initial Public Offering and ending as of the earlier of:

 

(a)                            the date of the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Company at which Directors are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the Initial Public Offering occurs and

 

(b)                            the expiration of the “reliance period” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(f)(2).

 

3.                                       Administration .

 

3.1.                             Committee .  The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board.  The Committee shall consist of at least two Directors of the Board and may consist of the entire Board; provided , however, that (a) if the Committee consists of less than the entire Board, then, with respect to any Award granted to an Eligible Individual who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Nonemployee Directors and (b) to the extent necessary for any Award intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation to so qualify, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Outside Directors.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, if one or more members of the Committee is not a Nonemployee Director or an Outside Director but recuses himself or herself or abstains from voting with respect to a particular action taken by the Committee, then the Committee, with respect to that action, shall be deemed to consist only of the members of the Committee who have not recused themselves or abstained from voting.  The acts of a majority of the total membership of the Committee at any meeting, or the acts approved in writing by all of its members, shall be the acts of the Committee.  All decisions and determinations by the Committee in the exercise of its powers hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Participants and all other Persons having any interest therein.

 

3.2.                             Board Reservation and Delegation .

 

(a)                            Except to the extent necessary for any Award intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation to so qualify, the Board may, in its discretion, reserve to itself or exercise any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Committee hereunder.  To the extent the Board has reserved to itself or exercises the authority and responsibility of the Committee, the Board shall be deemed to be acting as the Committee for purposes of the Plan and references to the Committee in the Plan shall be to the Board.

 

(b)                            Subject to applicable law, the Board may delegate, in whole or in part, any of the authority of the Committee hereunder (subject to such limits as may be determined by the Board) to any individual or committee of individuals (who need not be Directors), including without limitation the authority to make Awards to Eligible Individuals who are not officers or directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries

 

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and who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.  To the extent that the Board delegates any such authority to make Awards as provided by this Section 3.2(b), all references in the Plan to the Committee’s authority to make Awards and determinations with respect thereto shall be deemed to include the Board’s delegate.

 

3.3.                             Committee Powers .  Subject to the express terms and conditions set forth herein, the Committee shall have all of the powers necessary to enable it to carry out its duties under the Plan, including, without limitation, the power from time to time to:

 

(a)                            determine those Eligible Individuals to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan and determine the number of Shares or amount of cash in respect of which each Award is granted, prescribe the terms and conditions (which need not be identical) of each such Award, including, (i) in the case of Options, the Option Price and the duration of the Option and (ii) in the case of Stock Appreciation Rights, the Base Price per Share and the duration of the Stock Appreciation Right, and make any amendment or modification to any Agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan;

 

(b)                            construe and interpret the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder, establish, amend and revoke rules, regulations and guidelines as it deems are necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, correcting any defect, supplying any omission or reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or advisable, including so that the Plan and the operation of the Plan comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, the Code to the extent applicable and other applicable law, and otherwise make the Plan fully effective;

 

(c)                             determine the duration and purposes for leaves of absence which may be granted to a Participant on an individual basis without constituting a Termination for purposes of the Plan;

 

(d)                            cancel, with the consent of the Participant, outstanding Awards or as otherwise permitted under the terms of the Plan;

 

(e)                             exercise its discretion with respect to the powers and rights granted to it as set forth in the Plan; and

 

(f)                              generally, exercise such powers and perform such acts as are deemed necessary or advisable to promote the best interests of the Company with respect to the Plan.

 

3.4.                             Non-Uniform Determinations .   The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among Persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards (whether or not such Persons are similarly situated).  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements, as to the Eligible Individuals to receive Awards under the Plan and the terms and provision of Awards under the Plan.

 

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3.5.                             Non-U.S. Employees .                              Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to Participants working outside the United States, the Committee may establish subplans, determine the terms and conditions of Awards, and make such adjustments to the terms thereof as are necessary or advisable to fulfill the purposes of the Plan taking into account matters of local law or practice, including tax and securities laws of jurisdictions outside the United States.

 

3.6.                             Indemnification .  No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action, failure to act, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any transaction hereunder.  The Company hereby agrees to indemnify each member of the Committee for all costs and expenses and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any liability incurred in connection with defending against, responding to, negotiating for the settlement of or otherwise dealing with any claim, cause of action or dispute of any kind arising in connection with any actions in administering the Plan or in authorizing or denying authorization to any transaction hereunder.

 

3.7.                             No Repricing of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights .  The Committee shall have no authority to (i) make any adjustment (other than in connection with an Adjustment Event, a Corporate Transaction or other transaction where an adjustment is permitted or required under the terms of the Plan) or amendment, and no such adjustment or amendment shall be made, that reduces or would have the effect of reducing the Option Price of an Option or Base Price of a Stock Appreciation Right previously granted under the Plan, whether through amendment, cancellation or replacement grants or other means, or (ii) cancel for cash or other consideration any Option whose Option Price is greater than the then Fair Market Value of a Share or Stock Appreciation Right whose Base Price is greater than the then Fair Market Value of a Share unless, in either case the Company’s stockholders shall have approved such adjustment, amendment or cancellation.

 

4.                                       Stock Subject to the Plan; Grant Limitations .

 

4.1.                             Aggregate Number of Shares Authorized for Issuance .  Subject to any adjustment as provided in the Plan, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan  shall not exceed [ · ] Shares, all of which may granted as Incentive Stock Options.  The Shares to be issued under the Plan may be, in whole or in part, authorized but unissued Shares or issued Shares which shall have been reacquired by the Company and held by it as treasury shares.

 

4.2.                             Individual Participant Limit .

 

(a)                                  With respect to Awards granted following the last day of the Transition Period (or, if later, the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders for purposes of Section 162(m)) to an Eligible Individual who is an Employee or Consultant, (x) the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan in any calendar year (or in respect of the calendar year during which the Transition Period expires, the remainder of such calendar year) may not exceed [ · ] Shares, (y) the aggregate number of Shares that may be the subject of Performance-Based Restricted Stock and Performance Share Units granted in any calendar year (or in respect of the calendar year during which the Transition Period expires, the remainder of such calendar year) may not exceed [ · ]

 

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Shares and (z) the maximum dollar amount of cash or the Fair Market Value of Shares that any individual may receive in any calendar year (or in respect of the calendar year during which the Transition Period expires, the remainder of such calendar year) in respect of Performance Units may not exceed $[ · ].

 

(b)                                  With respect to Awards granted to a Director, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan in any calendar year to an individual Director may not exceed that number of Shares representing a Fair Market Value equal to the positive difference, if any, between $700,000 and the aggregate value of any annual cash retainer paid to the Director (excluding the value any chairperson retainer or fee and meeting fees received by a Director in respect of such calendar year).

 

4.3.                             Calculating Shares Available . If an Award or any portion thereof that is granted under the Plan (i) expires or otherwise terminates without all of the Shares covered by such Award having been issued or (ii) is settled in cash (i.e., the Participant receives cash rather than Shares), such expiration, termination or settlement will not reduce (or otherwise offset) the number of Shares that may be available for issuance under the Plan.  If any Shares issued pursuant to an Award are forfeited and returned back to or reacquired by the Company because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such Shares in the Participant, then the Shares that are forfeited or reacquired will again become available for issuance under the Plan.  Any Shares tendered or withheld (i) to pay the Option Price of an Option or (ii) to satisfy tax withholding obligations associated with an Award granted under this Plan shall not become available again for issuance under this Plan.

 

5.                                       Stock Options .

 

5.1.                             Authority of Committee .  The Committee may grant Options to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of the grant of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Eligible Individuals who are employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted. Options shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

 

5.2.                             Option Price .  The Option Price or the manner in which the Option Price is to be determined shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however , that the Option Price shall not be less than the greater of (i) the par value of a Share and (ii) 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Shareholder).

 

5.3.                             Maximum Duration .  Options granted hereunder shall be for such term as the Committee shall determine; provided that an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted (five (5) years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Shareholder) and a Nonqualified Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted; provided, further, however , that unless the Committee provides otherwise, (i) an Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option) may, upon the death of the Participant prior to the expiration of the Option, be exercised for up to one (1) year following the date of the Participant’s death (but in no event beyond the date on which the Option otherwise would expire by its terms), and (ii) if, at the time an Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option) would otherwise expire at the end of its term, the exercise of the Option is prohibited by applicable law or the Company’s insider trading policy, the term shall be extended until thirty (30) days after the prohibition no longer applies.  The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any Option, extend the period within which the Option may be exercised (including following a Participant’s Termination), but in no

 

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event shall the period be extended to a date that is later than the earlier of the latest date on which the Option could have been exercised and the 10th anniversary of the date of grant of the Option, except as otherwise provided herein in this Section 5.3.

 

5.4.                             Vesting .  The Committee shall determine and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement the time or times at which an Option shall become vested and exercisable; provided that no Award granted to an Employee that vests solely based on the performance of services shall have a vesting period of less than one year.  To the extent not exercised, vested installments shall accumulate and be exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time after becoming

exercisable, but not later than the date the Option expires.  The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any Option or portion thereof at any time.

 

5.5.                             Limitations on Incentive Stock Options .  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of the grant) of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) granted under all other plans of the Company or its Subsidiaries (in either case determined without regard to this Section 5.5) are exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.  In applying the limitation in the preceding sentence in the case of multiple Option grants, unless otherwise required by applicable law, Options which were intended to be Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options according to the order in which they were granted such that the most recently granted Options are first treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

 

5.6.                             Method of Exercise .  The exercise of an Option shall be made only by giving notice in the form and to the Person designated by the Company, specifying the number of Shares to be exercised and, to the extent applicable, accompanied by payment therefor and otherwise in accordance with the Award Agreement pursuant to which the Option was granted. The Option Price for any Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid in any of, or any combination of, the following forms: (a) cash or its equivalent (e.g., a check) or (b) if permitted by the Committee, the transfer, either actually or by attestation, to the Company of Shares that have been held by the Participant for at least six (6) months (or such lesser period as may be permitted by the Committee) prior to the exercise of the Option, such transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee or (c) in the form of other property as determined by the Committee. In addition, (i) the Committee may provide for the payment of the Option Price through Share withholding as a result of which the number of Shares issued upon exercise of an Option would be reduced by a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the Option Price and (ii) an Option may be exercised through a registered broker-dealer pursuant to such cashless exercise procedures that are, from time to time, deemed acceptable by the Committee. No fractional Shares (or cash in lieu thereof) shall be issued upon exercise of an Option and the number of Shares that may be purchased upon exercise shall be rounded down to the nearest number of whole Shares.

 

5.7.                             Rights of Participants .  No Participant shall be deemed for any purpose to be the owner of any Shares subject to any Option unless and until (a) the Option shall have been exercised with respect to such Shares pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, (b) the Company shall have issued and delivered Shares (whether or not certificated) to the

 

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Participant, a securities broker acting on behalf of the Participant or such other nominee of the Participant and (c) the Participant’s name, or the name of his or her broker or other nominee, shall have been entered as a shareholder of record on the books of the Company.  Thereupon, the Participant shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such Shares, subject to such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

5.8.                             Effect of Change in Control .  Any specific terms applicable to an Option in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

6.                                       Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

6.1.                             Grant .  The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.  A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted (a) at any time if unrelated to an Option or (b) if related to an Option, either at the time of grant or at any time thereafter during the term of the Option.  Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to the following terms and provisions.

 

6.2.                             Terms; Duration .  Stock Appreciation Rights shall contain such terms and conditions as to exercisability, vesting and duration as the Committee shall determine, but in no event shall they have a term of greater than ten (10) years; provided , however , that unless the Committee provides otherwise, (i) a Stock Appreciation Right may, upon the death of the Participant prior to the expiration of the Award, be exercised for up to one (1) year following the date of the Participant’s death (but in no event beyond the date on which the Stock Appreciation Right otherwise would expire by its terms) and (ii) if, at the time a Stock Appreciation Right would otherwise expire at the end of its term, the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right is prohibited by applicable law or the Company’s insider trading policy, the term shall be extended until thirty (30) days after the prohibition no longer applies.  The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any Stock Appreciation Right, extend the period within which the Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised (including following a Participant’s Termination), but in no event shall the period be extended to a date that is later than the earlier of the latest date on which the Stock Appreciation Right could have been exercised and the 10th anniversary of the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right, except as otherwise provided herein in this Section 6.2.

 

6.3.                             Vesting .  The Committee shall determine and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement the time or times at which a Stock Appreciation Right shall become vested and exercisable.  To the extent not exercised, vested installments shall accumulate and be exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time after becoming exercisable, but not later than the date the Stock Appreciation Right expires.  The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any Stock Appreciation Right or portion thereof at any time.

 

6.4.                             Amount Payable .  Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount determined by multiplying (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the last business day preceding the date of exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right over the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Stock

 

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Appreciation Right was granted (the “ Base Price ”) by (ii) the number of Shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised (the “ SAR Payment Amount ”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may limit in any manner the amount payable with respect to any Stock Appreciation Right by including such a limit in the Award Agreement evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right at the time it is granted.

 

6.5.                             Method of Exercise .  Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercised by a Participant only by giving notice in the form and to the Person designated by the Company, specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised.

 

6.6.                             Form of Payment .  Payment of the SAR Payment Amount may be made in the discretion of the Committee solely in whole Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the SAR Payment Amount, solely in cash or in a combination of cash and Shares.  If the Committee decides to make full payment in Shares and the amount payable results in a fractional Share, payment shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Share.

 

6.7.                             Effect of Change in Control .  Any specific terms applicable to a Stock Appreciation Right in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

7.                                       Dividend Equivalent Rights .

 

The Committee may grant Dividend Equivalent Rights, either in tandem with an Award or as a separate Award, to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan.  The terms and conditions applicable to each Dividend Equivalent Right shall be specified in the Award Agreement evidencing the Award.  Amounts payable in respect of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be payable currently or may be deferred until the lapsing of restrictions on such Dividend Equivalent Rights or until the vesting, exercise, payment, settlement or other lapse of restrictions on the Award to which the Dividend Equivalent Rights relate.  In the event that the amount payable in respect of Dividend Equivalent Rights is to be deferred, the Committee shall determine whether such amount is to be held in cash or reinvested in Shares or deemed (notionally) to be reinvested in Shares.  Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or Shares or a combination thereof, in a single installment or multiple installments, as determined by the Committee.

 

8.                                       Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units .

 

8.1.                             Restricted Stock .  The Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.  Each Award Agreement shall contain such restrictions, terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine and (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) such Award Agreements may require that an appropriate legend be placed on Share certificates. With respect to Shares in a book entry account in a Participant’s name, the Committee may cause appropriate stop transfer instructions to be delivered to the account custodian, administrator or the Company’s corporate secretary as determined by the

 

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Committee in its sole discretion.  Awards of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

 

(a)                            Rights of Participant .  Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to an Award hereunder shall be issued in the name of the Participant as soon as reasonably practicable after the Award is granted provided that the Participant has executed an Award Agreement evidencing the Award and any other documents which the Committee may require as a condition to the issuance of such Shares.  At the discretion of the Committee, Shares issued in connection with an Award of Restricted Stock may be held in escrow by an agent (which may be the Company) designated by the Committee.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise and as set forth in the Award Agreement, upon the issuance of the Shares, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares.

 

(b)                            Terms and Conditions .   Each Award Agreement shall specify the number of Shares of Restricted Stock to which it relates, the conditions which must be satisfied in order for the Restricted Stock to vest and the circumstances under which the Award will be forfeited.

 

(c)                             Delivery of Shares .  Upon the lapse of the restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate or evidence of book entry Shares to be delivered to the Participant with respect to such Shares of Restricted Stock, free of all restrictions hereunder.

 

(d)                            Treatment of Dividends .  At the time an Award of Restricted Stock is granted, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the payment to the Participant of dividends, or a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on such Shares by the Company shall be paid currently or instead shall be (i) deferred until the lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such Shares and (ii) held by the Company for the account of the Participant until such time; provided , however , that a dividend payable in respect of Restricted Stock that vests based on the achievement of performance goals shall be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividends are payable.  In the event that dividends are to be deferred, the Committee shall determine whether such dividends are to be reinvested in Shares (which shall be held as additional Shares of Restricted Stock) or held in cash.  Payment of deferred dividends in respect of Shares of Restricted Stock (whether held in cash or as additional Shares of Restricted Stock), shall be made upon the lapsing of restrictions imposed on the Shares in respect of which the deferred dividends were paid, and any dividends deferred in respect of any Shares of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited upon the forfeiture of such Shares.

 

(e)                             Effect of Change in Control .  Any specific terms applicable to Restricted Stock in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

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8.2.                             Restricted Stock Unit Awards .  The Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.  Each such Award Agreement shall contain such restrictions, terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine.  Awards of Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

 

(a)                            Payment of Awards .  Each Restricted Stock Unit shall represent the right of the Participant to receive one Share upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit or on any later date specified by the Committee; provided , however , that the Committee may provide for the settlement of Restricted Stock Units in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares that would otherwise be delivered to the Participant (determined as of the date the Shares would have been delivered), or a combination of cash and Shares.  The Committee may, at the time a Restricted Stock Unit is granted, provide a limitation on the amount payable in respect of each Restricted Stock Unit.

 

(b)                            Effect of Change in Control .  Any specific terms applicable to Restricted Stock Units in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

9.                                       Performance Awards .

 

9.1.                             Performance Units and Performance Share Units .  The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Units and/or Performance Share Units to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.  Awards of Performance Units and Performance Share Units shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

 

(a)                            Performance Units .  Performance Units shall be denominated in a specified dollar amount and, contingent upon the attainment of specified Performance Objectives within the Performance Cycle and such other vesting conditions as may be determined by the Committee (including without limitation, a continued employment requirement following the end of the applicable Performance Cycle), represent the right to receive payment as provided in Sections 9.1(c) and (d) of the specified dollar amount or a percentage or multiple of the specified dollar amount depending on the level of Performance Objective attained.  The Committee may at the time a Performance Unit is granted specify a maximum amount payable in respect of a vested Performance Unit.

 

(b)                            Performance Share Units .  Performance Share Units shall be denominated in Shares and, contingent upon the attainment of specified Performance Objectives within the Performance Cycle and such other vesting conditions as may be determined by the Committee, (including without limitation, a continued employment requirement following the end of the applicable Performance Cycle), represent the right to receive payment as provided in Sections 9.1(c) and (d) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Performance Share Unit became vested or any other date specified by the Committee.  The Committee may at the time a Performance Share Unit is granted specify a maximum amount payable in respect of a vested Performance Share Unit.

 

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(c)                             Terms and Conditions; Vesting and Forfeiture .   Each Award Agreement shall specify the number of Performance Units or Performance Share Units to which it relates, the Performance Objectives and other conditions which must be satisfied in order for the Performance Units or Performance Share Units to vest and the Performance Cycle within which such Performance Objectives must be satisfied and the circumstances under which the Award will be forfeited.

 

(d)                            Payment of Awards .  Subject to Section 9.3(c), payment to Participants in respect of vested Performance Share Units and Performance Units shall be made as soon as practicable after the last day of the Performance Cycle to which such Award relates or at such other time or times as the Committee may determine that the Award has become vested. Such payments may be made entirely in Shares valued at their Fair Market Value, entirely in cash or in such combination of Shares and cash as the Committee in its discretion shall determine at any time prior to such payment.

 

9.2.                             Performance-Based Restricted Stock .  The Committee, may grant Awards of Performance-Based Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.  Each Award Agreement may require that an appropriate legend be placed on Share certificates.   With respect to Shares in a book entry account in a Participant’s name, the Committee may cause appropriate stop transfer instructions to be delivered to the account custodian, administrator or the Company’s corporate secretary as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Awards of Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

 

(a)                            Rights of Participant .  Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be issued in the name of the Participant as soon as reasonably practicable after the Award is granted or at such other time or times as the Committee may determine; provided, however , that no Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be issued until the Participant has executed an Award Agreement evidencing the Award, and any other documents which the Committee may require as a condition to the issuance of such Performance-Based Restricted Stock.  At the discretion of the Committee, Shares issued in connection with an Award of Performance-Based Restricted Stock may be held in escrow by an agent (which may be the Company) designated by the Committee.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise and as set forth in the Award Agreement, upon issuance of the Shares, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares.

 

(b)                            Terms and Conditions .   Each Award Agreement shall specify the number of Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock to which it relates, the Performance Objectives and other conditions which must be satisfied in order for the Performance-Based Restricted Stock to vest, the Performance Cycle within which such Performance Objectives must be satisfied and the circumstances under which the Award will be forfeited; provided, however , that no Performance Cycle for Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be less than one (1) year.

 

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(c)                             Treatment of Dividends .  At the time the Award of Performance-Based Restricted Stock is granted, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the payment to the Participant of dividends, or a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on Shares represented by such Award which have been issued by the Company to the Participant shall be (i) deferred until the lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such Performance-Based Restricted Stock and (ii) held by the Company for the account of the Participant until such time; provided , however , that a dividend payable in respect of Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Performance-Based Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividends are payable.  In the event that dividends are to be deferred, the Committee shall determine whether such dividends are to be reinvested in Shares (which shall be held as additional Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock) or held in cash.  Payment of deferred dividends in respect of Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock (whether held in cash or in additional Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock) shall be made upon the lapsing of restrictions imposed on the Performance-Based Restricted Stock in respect of which the deferred dividends were paid, and any dividends deferred in respect of any Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be forfeited upon the forfeiture of such Performance-Based Restricted Stock.

 

(d)                            Delivery of Shares .  Upon the lapse of the restrictions on Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock awarded hereunder, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate or evidence of book entry Shares to be delivered to the Participant with respect to such Shares, free of all restrictions hereunder.

 

9.3.                             Performance Objectives .

 

(a)                            Establishment .  With respect to any Performance Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, Performance Objectives for Performance Awards may be expressed in terms of: (i) net earnings; (ii) earnings per share; (iii) net debt; (iv) revenue or sales growth; (v) net or operating income; (vi) net operating profit; (vii) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, equity or sales); (viii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, distributable cash flow and free cash flow); (ix) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, amortization and/or rent; (x) share price (including, but not limited to growth measures and total stockholder return); (xi) expense control or loss management; (xii) customer satisfaction; (xiii) market share; (xiv) economic value added; (xv) working capital; (xvi) the formation of joint ventures or the completion of other corporate transactions; (xvii) gross or net profit margins; (xviii) revenue mix; (xix) operating efficiency; (xx) product diversification; (xxi) market penetration; (xxii) measurable achievement in quality, operation or compliance initiatives; (xxiii) quarterly dividends or distributions; (xxiv) employee retention or turnover; (xxv) sales; or (xxvi) any combination of or a specified increase in any of the foregoing.  With respect to Performance Awards not intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, Performance Objectives may be based on any of the foregoing or any other performance criteria as may be established by the Committee.  Performance Objectives may be in respect of the performance of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any of its Divisions or any combination thereof.  Performance Objectives may be absolute or relative (to

 

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prior performance of the Company or to the performance of one or more other entities or external indices) and may be expressed in terms of a progression within a specified range.  In the case of a Performance Award which is intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, the Performance Objectives with respect to a Performance Cycle shall be established in writing by the Committee by the earlier of (i) the date on which a quarter of the Performance Cycle has elapsed and (ii) the date which is ninety (90) days after the commencement of the Performance Cycle and in any event while the performance relating to the Performance Objectives remains substantially uncertain.

 

(b)                            Effect of Certain Events .  The Committee may, at the time the Performance Objectives in respect of a Performance Award are established, provide for the manner in which performance will be measured against the Performance Objectives to reflect the impact of specified events, including any one or more of the following with respect to the Performance Period (i) the gain, loss, income or expense resulting from changes in accounting principles or tax laws that become effective during the Performance Period; (ii) the gain, loss, income or expense reported publicly by the Company with respect to the Performance Period that are extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence; (iii) the gains or losses resulting from and the direct expenses incurred in connection with, the disposition of a business, or the sale of investments or non-core assets; (iv) the gain or loss from all or certain claims and/or litigation and all or certain insurance recoveries relating to claims or litigation; or (v) the impact of investments or acquisitions made during the year or, to the extent provided by the Committee, any prior year.  The events may relate to the Company as a whole or to any part of the Company’s business or operations, as determined by the Committee at the time the Performance Objectives are established.  Any adjustments based on the effect of certain events are to be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and standards, unless another objective method of measurement is designated by the Committee and, in respect of Performance Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, such adjustments shall be permitted only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) without adversely affecting the treatment of any Performance Award as Performance-Based Compensation.

 

(c)                             Determination of Performance .  Prior to the vesting, payment, settlement or lapsing of any restrictions with respect to any Performance Award, the Committee shall certify in writing that the applicable Performance Objectives have been satisfied to the extent necessary for such Award to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.  In respect of a Performance Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, (i) reduce the amount of cash paid or number of Shares to be issued or that have been issued and that become vested or on which restrictions lapse, and/or (ii) establish rules and procedures that have the effect of limiting the amount payable to any Participant to an amount that is less than the amount that otherwise would be payable under an Award granted under this Section 9. The Committee may exercise such discretion in a non-uniform manner among Participants.  The Committee shall not be entitled to exercise any discretion otherwise authorized hereunder with respect to any Performance Award intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation if the ability to exercise such discretion or the exercise of such discretion itself would cause

 

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the compensation attributable to such Awards to fail to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.

 

(d)                            Effect of Change in Control .  Any specific terms applicable to a Performance Award in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

10.                                Share Awards .

 

The Committee may grant a Share Award to any Eligible Individual on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.  Share Awards may be made as additional compensation for services rendered by the Eligible Individual or may be in lieu of cash or other compensation to which the Eligible Individual is entitled from the Company.

 

11.                                Effect of Termination of Employment; Transferability .

 

11.1.                      Termination.                           The Award Agreement evidencing the grant of each Award shall set forth the terms and conditions applicable to such Award upon Termination, which shall be as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine at the time the Award is granted or at anytime thereafter.

 

11.2.       Transferability of Awards and Shares .

 

(a)                            Non-Transferability of Awards .  Except as set forth in Section 11.2(c) or (d) or as otherwise permitted by the Committee and as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, either at the time of grant or at anytime thereafter, no Award (other than Restricted Stock or Performance-Based Restricted Stock with respect to which the restrictions have lapsed) shall be (i) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, (ii) pledged or otherwise hypothecated or (iii) subject to attachment, execution or levy of any kind; and any purported transfer, pledge, hypothecation, attachment, execution or levy in violation of this Section 11.2 shall be null and void.

 

(b)                            Restrictions on Shares .  The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired by a Participant under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, restrictions under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed or traded and restrictions under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.

 

(c)                             Transfers By Will or by Laws of Descent or Distribution .  Any Award may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent or distribution; provided, however , that (i) any transferred Award will be subject to all of the same terms and conditions as provided in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement; and (ii) the Participant’s estate or beneficiary appointed in accordance with this Section 11.2(c) will remain liable for any withholding tax that may be imposed by any federal, state or local tax authority.

 

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(d)                            Beneficiary Designation .  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may from time to time permit each Participant to name one or more individuals (each, a “ Beneficiary ”) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid or who may exercise any rights of the Participant under any Award granted under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit or exercises such Award.  Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime.  In the absence of any such designation or if any such designation is not effective under applicable law as determined by the Committee, benefits under Awards remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death and rights to be exercised following the Participant’s death shall be paid to or exercised by the Participant’s estate.

 

12.                                Adjustment upon Changes in Capitalization .

 

12.1.                      In the event that (a) the outstanding Shares are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of Shares or other stock or securities or other equity interests of the Company or another corporation or entity, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, substitution or other similar corporate event or transaction or (b) there is an extraordinary dividend or distribution by the Company in respect of its Shares or other capital stock or securities convertible into capital stock in cash, securities or other property (any event described in (a) or (b), an “ Adjustment Event ”), the Committee shall determine the appropriate adjustments to (i) the maximum number and kind of shares of stock or other securities or other equity interests as to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including the individual Participant limits set forth in Section 4.2), (ii) the maximum number and class of Shares or other stock or securities that may be issued upon exercise of Incentive Stock Options, (iii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities covered by any or all outstanding Awards that have been granted under the Plan, (iv) the Option Price of outstanding Options and the Base Price of outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights, and (v) the Performance Objectives applicable to outstanding Performance Awards.

 

12.2.                      Any such adjustment in the Shares or other stock or securities (a) subject to outstanding Incentive Stock Options (including any adjustments in the exercise price) shall be made in a manner intended not to constitute a modification as defined by Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Sections 422 and 424 of the Code, (b) subject to outstanding Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made in a manner intended not to adversely affect the treatment of the Awards as Performance-Based Compensation and (c) with respect to any Award that is not subject to Section 409A, in a manner intended not to subject the Award to Section 409A and, with respect to any Award that is subject to Section 409A, in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A.

 

12.3.                      If, by reason of an Adjustment Event, pursuant to an Award, a Participant shall be entitled to, or shall be entitled to exercise an Award with respect to, new, additional or different shares of stock or securities of the Company or any other corporation, such new, additional or different shares shall thereupon be subject to all of the conditions, restrictions and

 

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performance criteria which were applicable to the Shares subject to the Award prior to such Adjustment Event, as may be adjusted in connection with such Adjustment Event in accordance with this Section 12.

 

13.                                Effect of Certain Transactions .

 

13.1.                      Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in connection a Corporate Transaction, either:

 

(a)                            outstanding Awards shall, unless otherwise provided in connection with the Corporate Transaction, continue following the Corporate Transaction and shall be adjusted if and as provided for in the agreement or plan (in the case of a liquidation or dissolution) entered into or adopted in connection with the Corporate Transaction (the “ Transaction Agreement ”), which may include, in the sole discretion of the Committee or the parties to the Corporate Transaction, the assumption or continuation of such Awards by, or the substitution for such Awards of new awards of, the surviving, successor or resulting entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with such adjustments as to the number and kind of shares or other securities or property subject to such new awards, exercise prices and other terms of such new awards as the Committee or the parties to the Corporate Transaction shall agree, or

 

(b)                            outstanding Awards shall terminate upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction; provided, however , that vested Awards shall not be terminated without:

 

(i)                                in the case of vested Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (including those Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that would become vested upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction), (1) providing the holders of affected Options and Stock Appreciation Rights a period of at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the date of the consummation of the Corporate Transaction to exercise the Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, or (2) providing the holders of affected Options and Stock Appreciation Rights payment (in cash or other consideration upon or immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, or, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, on a deferred basis) in respect of each Share covered by the Option or Stock Appreciation Rights being cancelled an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the per Share consideration to be paid or distributed to stockholders in the Corporate Transaction (the value of any non-cash consideration, if not otherwise distributed to the Participant, to be determined by the Committee in good faith) over the Option Price of the Option or the Base Price of the Stock Appreciation Rights, or

 

(ii)                             in the case of vested Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (including those Awards that would become vested upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction), providing the holders of affected Awards payment (in cash or other consideration upon or immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, or, to the extent permitted by

 

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Section 409A, on a deferred basis) in respect of each Share covered by the Award being cancelled of the per Share consideration to be paid or distributed to stockholders in the Corporate Transaction, in each case with the value of any non-cash consideration, if not otherwise distributed to the Participant, to be determined by the Committee in good faith.

 

(c)                             For the avoidance of doubt, if the amount determined pursuant to clause (b)(i)(2) above is zero or less, the affected Option or Stock Appreciation Rights may be terminated without any payment therefor.

 

13.2.                      Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or being construed as requiring any such action, in connection with any such Corporate Transaction the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, cause any of the following actions to be taken effective upon or at any time prior to any Corporate Transaction (and any such action may be made contingent upon the occurrence of the Corporate Transaction):

 

(a)                            cause any or all unvested Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to become fully vested and immediately exercisable (as applicable) and/or provide the holders of such Options and Stock Appreciation Rights a reasonable period of time prior to the date of the consummation of the Corporate Transaction to exercise the Options and Stock Appreciation Rights;

 

(b)                            with respect to unvested Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are terminated in connection with the Corporate Transaction, provide to the holders thereof a payment (in cash and/or other consideration) in respect of each Share covered by the Option or Stock Appreciation Right being terminated in an amount equal to all or a portion of the excess, if any, of the per Share consideration to be paid or distributed to stockholders in the Corporate Transaction (the value of any non-cash consideration, if not otherwise distributed to the Participant, to be determined by the Committee in good faith) over the exercise price of the Option or the Base Price of the Stock Appreciation Right, which may, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, be paid in accordance with the vesting schedule of the Award as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction or at such other time or times as the Committee may determine;

 

(c)                             with respect to unvested Awards (other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) that are terminated in connection with the Corporate Transaction, provide to the holders thereof a payment (in cash and/or other consideration) in respect of each Share covered by the Award being terminated in an amount equal to all or a portion of the per Share consideration to be paid or distributed to stockholders in the Corporate Transaction (the value of any non-cash consideration, if not otherwise distributed to the Participant, to be determined by the Committee in good faith), which may, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, be paid in accordance with the vesting schedule of the Award as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction or at such other time or times as the Committee may determine.

 

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(d)                            For the avoidance of doubt, if the amount determined pursuant to clause (b) above is zero or less, the affected Option or Stock Appreciation Rights may be terminated without any payment therefor.

 

13.3.                      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan or any Agreement,

 

(a)                            the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide in the Transaction Agreement or otherwise for different treatment for different Awards or Awards held by different Participants and, where alternative treatment is available for a Participant’s Awards, may allow the  Participant to choose which treatment shall apply to such Participant’s Awards;

 

(b)                            any action permitted under this Section 13 may be taken without the need for the consent of any Participant.  To the extent a Corporate Transaction also constitutes an Adjustment Event and action is taken pursuant to this Section 13 with respect to an outstanding Award, such action shall conclusively determine the treatment of such Award in connection with such Corporate Transaction notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary (including Section 12).

 

(c)                             to the extent the Committee chooses to make payments to affected Participants pursuant to Section 13.1(b)(i)(2) or (ii) or Section 13.2(b) or (c) above, any Participant who has not returned any letter of transmittal or similar acknowledgment that the Committee requires be signed in connection with such payment within the time period established by the Committee for returning any such letter or similar acknowledgement shall forfeit his or her right to any payment and his or her associated Awards may be cancelled without any payment therefor.

 

14.                                Interpretation .

 

14.1.                      Section 16 Compliance .  The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the Committee shall interpret and administer the provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement in a manner consistent therewith.  Any provisions inconsistent with such Rule shall be inoperative and shall not affect the validity of the Plan.

 

14.2.                      Compliance with Section 409A .  All Awards granted under the Plan are intended either not to be subject to Section 409A or, if subject to Section 409A, to be administered, operated and construed in compliance with Section 409A.  Notwithstanding this or any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may amend the Plan or any Award granted hereunder in any manner or take any other action that it determines, in its sole discretion, is necessary, appropriate or advisable (including replacing any Award) to cause the Plan or any Award granted hereunder to comply with Section 409A and all regulations and other guidance issued thereunder or to not be subject to Section 409A.  Any such action, once taken, shall be deemed to be effective from the earliest date necessary to avoid a violation of Section 409A and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all Eligible Individuals and other individuals having or claiming any right or interest under the Plan.

 

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14.3.                      Section 162(m) .

 

(a)                                  Performance-Based Compensation Awards . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and subject to Section 14.3(b), each Performance Award granted to an Eligible Individual who is also a Covered Employee, and each Option and Stock Appreciation Right (whether or not granted to a Covered Employee), is intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation; provided, that no Award granted following the Transition Period shall be intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation unless the stockholder approval and other requirements of Section 162(m) to enable Awards to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation have been satisfied. If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement relating to an Award that is intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation does not comply or is inconsistent with Section 162(m), such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements and, in the case of any Performance Award, no provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be deemed to confer upon the Committee any discretion to increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable in connection with any such Award upon the attainment of the Performance Objectives.

 

(b)                                  Section 162(m) Transition Period .

 

(i)                                      With respect to Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock and Performance-Based Restricted Stock granted during the Transition Period (“Transition Awards”), the Company intends to rely, to the maximum extent possible, on the transition relief provided in Treas. Reg. §1.162-27(f). Accordingly, to the extent such relief from the application of Section 162(m) is available, the requirements in this Plan applicable to Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation shall not apply to Transition Awards which, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, include the provisions of Section 4.2 and those provisions of Sections 3.1(b), 3.3(a) and 9 that apply only to Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation.

 

(ii)                                   With respect to Awards other than Transition Awards granted during the Transition Period and which are not settled or paid prior to the end of the Transition Period, and with respect to all Awards granted following the Transition Period, the stockholder approval and other requirements of Section 162(m) must be satisfied with respect to any Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.

 

15.                                Term; Plan Termination and Amendment of the Plan; Modification of Awards .

 

15.1 .                       Term .  The Plan shall terminate on the Plan Termination Date and no Award shall be granted after that date.  The applicable terms of the Plan and any terms and conditions applicable to Awards granted prior to the Plan Termination Date shall survive the termination of the Plan and continue to apply to such Awards.

 

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15.2.                      Plan Amendment or Plan Termination .  The Board may earlier terminate the Plan and the Board may at any time and from time to time amend, modify or suspend the Plan; provided, however , that:

 

(a)                            except as otherwise provided in Section 14.2, no such amendment, modification, suspension or termination shall materially and adversely alter any Awards theretofore granted under the Plan, except with the consent of the Participant, nor shall any amendment, modification, suspension or termination deprive any Participant of any Shares which he or she may have acquired through or as a result of the Plan; and

 

(b)                            to the extent necessary under any applicable law, regulation or exchange requirement or as provided in Section 3.7, no other amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with applicable law, regulation or exchange requirement.

 

15.3.                      Modification of Awards .  No modification of an Award shall materially and adversely alter or impair any rights or obligations under the Award without the consent of the Participant.

 

16.                                Non-Exclusivity of the Plan .

 

The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed as amending, modifying or rescinding any previously approved incentive arrangement or as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

 

17.                                Limitation of Liability .

 

As illustrative of the limitations of liability of the Company, but not intended to be exhaustive thereof, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to:

 

(a)                            give any person any right to be granted an Award other than at the sole discretion of the Committee;

 

(b)                            limit in any way the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment of or the provision of services by any person at any time;

 

(c)                             be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied, that the Company will pay any person at any particular rate of compensation or for any particular period of time; or

 

(d)                            be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied, that the Company will employ any person at any particular rate of compensation or for any particular period of time.

 

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18.                                Regulations and Other Approvals; Governing Law .

 

18.1.                      Governing Law .  Except as to matters of federal law, the Plan and the rights of all persons claiming hereunder shall be construed and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

18.2.                      Compliance with Law .

 

(a)                            The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with respect to Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

 

(b)                            The Board may make such changes as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the rules and regulations of any government authority or to obtain for Eligible Individuals granted Incentive Stock Options the tax benefits under the applicable provisions of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(c)                             Each grant of an Award and the issuance of Shares or other settlement of the Award is subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign law.  Further, if at any time the Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any federal, state or foreign law, or that the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Shares, no Awards shall be or shall be deemed to be granted or payment made or Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions that are not acceptable to the Committee.  Any person exercising an Option or receiving Shares in connection with any other Award shall make such representations and agreements and furnish such information as the Board or Committee may request to assure compliance with the foregoing or any other applicable legal requirements.

 

18.3.                      Transfers of Plan Acquired Shares .  Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act and Rule 144 or other regulations promulgated thereunder.  The Committee may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Shares, to represent and warrant to the Company in writing that the Shares acquired by such individual are acquired without a view to any distribution thereof and will not be sold or transferred other than pursuant to an effective registration thereof under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption applicable under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  The certificates evidencing any of such Shares shall be appropriately amended or have an appropriate legend placed thereon to reflect their status as restricted securities as aforesaid.

 

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19.                                Miscellaneous .

 

19.1.                      Award Agreements .                                       Each Award Agreement shall either be (a) in writing in a form approved by the Committee and executed on behalf of the Company by an officer duly authorized to act on its behalf, or (b) an electronic notice in a form approved by the Committee and recorded by the Company (or its designee) in an electronic recordkeeping system used for the purpose of tracking Awards as the Committee may provide. If required by the Committee, an Award Agreement shall be executed or otherwise electronically accepted by the recipient of the Award in such form and manner as the Committee may require.  The Committee may authorize any officer of the Company to execute any or all Award Agreements on behalf of the Company.

 

19.2.                      Forfeiture Events; Clawback . The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, clawback or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events or as required by law, in addition to any otherwise applicable forfeiture provisions that apply to the Award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Award under the Plan shall be subject to the terms of any clawback policy maintained by the Company or as required by law, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

19.3.                      Multiple Agreements .  The terms of each Award may differ from other Awards granted under the Plan at the same time or at some other time.  The Committee may also grant more than one Award to a given Eligible Individual during the term of the Plan, either in addition to or, subject to Section 3.7, in substitution for one or more Awards previously granted to that Eligible Individual.

 

19.4.                      Withholding of Taxes .  The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may withhold from any payment of cash or Shares to a Participant or other Person under the Plan an amount sufficient to cover any withholding taxes which may become required with respect to such payment or take any other action it deems necessary to satisfy any income or other tax withholding requirements as a result of the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of any Award under the Plan.  The Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have the right to require the payment of any such taxes or to withhold from wages or other amounts otherwise payable to a Participant or other Person, and require that the Participant or other Person furnish all information deemed necessary by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to meet any tax reporting obligation as a condition to exercise or before making any payment or the issuance or release of any Shares pursuant to an Award.   If the Participant or other Person shall fail to make such tax payments as are required, the Company or its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Participant or other Person or to take such other action as may be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations.  If specified in an Award Agreement at the time of grant or otherwise approved by the Committee in its sole discretion, a Participant may, in satisfaction of his or her obligation to pay withholding taxes in connection with the exercise, vesting or other settlement of an Award, elect to (i) make a cash payment to the Company, (ii) have withheld a portion of the Shares then issuable to him or her or the cash otherwise payable to him or her pursuant to an Award or (iii) deliver Shares owned by the Participant prior to the exercise, vesting or other settlement of an Award, in each case having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the

 

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withholding taxes.  To the extent that Shares are used to satisfy withholding obligations of a Participant pursuant to this Section 19.4 (whether previously-owned Shares or Shares withheld from an Award), they may only be used to satisfy the minimum tax withholding required by law (or such other amount as will not have any adverse accounting impact as determined by the Committee).

 

19.5.                      Disposition of ISO Shares . If a Participant makes a disposition, within the meaning of Section 424(c) of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, of any Share or Shares issued to such Participant pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within the two-year period commencing on the day after the date of the grant or within the one-year period commencing on the day after the date of transfer of such Share or Shares to the Participant pursuant to such exercise, the Participant shall, within ten (10) days of such disposition, notify the Company thereof, by delivery of written notice to the Company at its principal executive office.

 

19.6.                      Plan Unfunded .  The Plan shall be unfunded. Except for reserving a sufficient number of authorized Shares to the extent required by law to meet the requirements of the Plan, the Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure payment of any Award granted under the Plan.

 

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Exhibit 10.31

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

2017 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

 

(Adopted as of [ · ], 2017)

 

1.               Purpose

 

The purpose of this EWT Holdings I Corp. Annual Incentive Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by motivating superior performance by executive officers and other key personnel with annual bonus opportunities based upon corporate and individual performance.

 

2.               Definitions

 

(a)          Award ” means an award granted to a Participant under the Plan subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish under the terms of the Plan.

 

(b)          Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(c)           Company ” means EWT Holdings I Corp. and its subsidiaries.

 

(d)          Participant ” means an employee of the Company who has been granted an Award under the Plan.

 

(e)           Performance Criteria ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(b) hereof.

 

(f)            Performance Goals ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

 

(g)           Plan ” means this EWT Holdings I Corp. 2017 Annual Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time.

 

(h)          Plan Administrator ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other committee of the Board that the Board shall designate from time to time to administer the Plan.

 

(i)              Plan Year ” means each fiscal year in which the Plan shall be in effect.

 

3.               Plan Administration

 

(a)          General . The Plan shall be administered by the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall have such powers and authority as may be necessary or appropriate for the Plan Administrator to carry out its functions as described in the Plan. No member of the Plan Administrator shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith by the Plan Administrator with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder. The Plan Administrator may delegate, to any appropriate officer or employee of the Company, responsibility for performing certain ministerial functions under this Plan.

 

(b)          Discretionary Authority . Subject to the express limitations of the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have authority in its discretion to determine the time or times at which Awards may be granted, the recipients of Awards, the Performance Criteria, the Performance Goals and all other terms of an Award. The Plan Administrator shall also have discretionary authority to interpret the Plan, to make all factual determinations under the Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Plan Administrator may prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and

 



 

regulations relating to the Plan. All interpretations, determinations, and actions by the Plan Administrator shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all parties.

 

4.               Eligibility and Participation

 

Employees of the Company who hold a position as an executive officer of the Company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan for a Plan Year on such basis and on such terms and conditions as determined by the Plan Administrator. In addition, any other employees of the Company designated by the Plan Administrator to receive an Award for a Plan Year shall become a Participant in the Plan with respect to such Plan Year.

 

5.               Awards

 

(a)          Amount of Awards . The Plan Administrator will determine in its discretion the amount of an Award, the Performance Criteria, the applicable Performance Goals relating to the Performance Criteria, and the amount and terms of payment to be made upon achievement of the Performance Goals for each Plan Year.

 

(b)          Performance Criteria . For purposes of Awards granted under the Plan, the “ Performance Criteria ” for a given Plan Year shall be one or any combination of the following, for the Company or any identified subsidiary or business unit, as may be selected by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of an Award: (i) net earnings; (ii) earnings per share; (iii) net debt; (iv) revenue or sales growth; (v) net or operating income; (vi) net operating profit; (vii) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, equity or sales); (viii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, distributable cash flow and free cash flow); (ix) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, amortization and/or rent; (x) share price (including, but not limited to growth measures and total stockholder return); (xi) expense control or loss management; (xii) customer satisfaction; (xiii) market share; (xiv) economic value added; (xv) working capital; (xvi) the formation of joint ventures or the completion of other corporate transactions; (xvii) gross or net profit margins; (xviii) revenue mix; (xix) operating efficiency; (xx) product diversification; (xxi) market penetration; (xxii) measurable achievement in quality, operation or compliance initiatives; (xxiii) quarterly dividends or distributions; (xxiv) employee retention or turnover; (xxv) sales; or (xxvi) any combination of or a specified increase in any of the foregoing, or such other Performance Criteria determined to be appropriate by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

(c)           Performance Goals . For purposes of Awards granted under the Plan, the “ Performance Goals ” for a given Plan Year shall be the levels of achievement relating to the Performance Criteria as may be selected by the Plan Administrator for the Award. The Plan Administrator may establish such Performance Goals relative to the applicable Performance Criteria as it determines in its sole discretion at the time of an Award. The Performance Goals may be applied on an absolute basis or relative to an identified index or peer group, as specified by the Plan Administrator. The Performance Goals may be applied by the Plan Administrator after excluding charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items and other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of accounting changes, and without regard to realized capital gains.

 

(d)          Payment of Awards . The payment of awards under the Plan shall be made at such time or times as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion and generally shall be made within two and one half months following the end of the applicable Plan Year.

 

(e)           Form of Payment . Awards under the Plan shall generally be made in cash. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, provide that a Participant receive all or a portion of an Award in

 

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stock units or other equity-based compensation to be granted under one or more equity incentive compensation plans sponsored or maintained by the Company from time to time.

 

(f)            Tax Withholding . Any payment under this Plan shall be subject to applicable income and employment taxes and any other amounts that the Company is required by law to deduct and withhold from such payment.

 

6.               Termination of Employment

 

(a)          General Rule . Subject to the provisions of Section 6(b) hereof, the obligation of the Company to satisfy payment of an Award to a Participant hereunder is conditioned upon the continued employment of the Participant with the Company at the time determined by the Plan Administrator for payment of an Award. If the employment of a Participant with the Company is terminated for any reason, at any time prior to the time determined by the Plan Administrator for payment of an Award hereunder, the Award shall be forfeited and automatically be cancelled without further action of the Company, unless otherwise provided by the Plan Administrator.

 

(b)          Exceptions . The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, provide for the payment of an Award in the event a Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason including, but not limited to, a termination by the Company without cause or as a result of the Participant’s death or disability. Such payment may be made on a pro-rated or accelerated basis as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

7.               General Provisions

 

(a)          Effective Date . The Plan shall be effective as of the date of the Plan’s approval by the Board, subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders.

 

(b)          Amendment and Termination . The Company may, from time to time, by action of the Board, amend, suspend or terminate any or all of the provisions of the Plan with respect to the then current Plan Year and any future Plan Year, without the requirement of obtaining the consent of the affected Participants.

 

(c)           No Right to Employment . Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give any Participant the right to remain employed by the Company or to limit, in any way, the right of the Company to terminate, or to change the terms of, a Participant’s employment at any time.

 

(d)          Governing Law . The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Delaware, without regard to the choice-of-law rules thereof.

 

(e)           Section 409A . The Company intends that that payments and benefits under this Plan will either comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “ Section 409A ”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Plan shall be interpreted to be exempt from Section 409A or in compliance therewith, as applicable. Nothing contained herein shall constitute any representation or warranty by the Company regarding compliance with Section 409A. The Company shall have no obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any additional income tax, interest or penalties under Section 409A on any person and the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and each of their respective employees or representatives, shall have no liability to any person with respect thereto. A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of the Plan providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits that are considered nonqualified deferred

 

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compensation under Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment, unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and the payment thereof prior to a “separation from service” would violate Section 409A. For purposes of any such provision of the Plan or relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment,” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” If an amount is paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan, any payment(s) of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) that are otherwise required to be made under the Plan to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A) as a result of his or her separation from service (other than a payment that is not subject to Section 409A) shall be delayed for the first six months following such separation from service (or, if earlier, until the date of death of the specified employee) and shall instead be paid on the day that immediately follows the end of such six-month period.

 

(f)            Section 162(m) Transition Relief . This Plan, having been adopted prior to the Company’s securities having become publicly held in connection with an initial public offering, is intended to satisfy the requirements for the transition relief under Treasury Regulation §1.162-27(f)(1) such that the deduction limit set forth in Treasury Regulation §1.162-27(b) does not apply to any remuneration paid pursuant to this Plan until the first meeting of the shareholders of the Company at which directors of the Company are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the initial public offering of the Company’s securities occurs.

 

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Exhibit 10.32

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), effective as of the grant date (the “ Date of Grant ”) set forth on Appendix A hereto, is between EWT Holdings I Corp., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors, the “ Company ”), and the individual whose name is set forth on Appendix A hereto (the “ Grantee ”).

 

1.                                       Grant of Restricted Stock Units .  The Company hereby grants to the Grantee a number of restricted stock units (the “ RSUs ”) equal to the quotient of (i) the amount set forth on Appendix A hereto as the “ Aggregate Grant Amount ,” divided by (ii) the closing price of one Share on the first day of trading following the IPO Date as reported on the principal nationally recognized stock exchange on which the Shares are traded on such date (such equation, the “ RSU Grant Formula ”). The Company is authorized to supply the number of RSUs set forth on Appendix A hereto following the Date of Grant based on the RSU Grant Formula.  Each RSU shall represent the right of the Grantee to receive one Share in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement.  The grant shall be effective upon the execution of this Agreement by both parties hereto; provided , however , that in the event that the Initial Public Offering does not occur within six months following the date hereof, the grant of RSUs hereunder shall be deemed null and void.

 

2.                                       Definitions .  For purposes of this Agreement:

 

2.1                                Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company or the compensation committee thereof.

 

2.2                                Cause ” means (a) if the Grantee is a party to an employment or a severance agreement with the Company or one of the Subsidiaries in which “cause” is defined, the occurrence of any circumstances defined as “cause” in such employment or severance agreement, or (b) if the Grantee is not a party to an employment or severance agreement with the Company or one of the Subsidiaries in which “cause” is defined, (i) the Grantee’s indictment for, or conviction or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to (A) any felony (or crime of similar classification in non-U.S. jurisdictions) or (B) any crime (whether or not a felony) involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, breach of trust or other similar acts, whether of the United States or any state thereof or any similar foreign law to which the Grantee may be subject, (ii) the Grantee being or having been engaged in conduct constituting breach of fiduciary duty, willful misconduct or gross negligence relating to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or the performance of the Grantee’s duties, (iii) the Grantee’s willful failure to (A) follow a reasonable and lawful directive of the Company or of the Subsidiary at which the Grantee is employed or to which the Grantee provides services, or the Board or (B) comply with any written rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the Company or a Subsidiary at which the Grantee is employed or to which the Grantee provides services which, if not complied with, would reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect (other than a de minimis adverse effect) on the business or financial condition of the Company, (iv) the Grantee’s violation of the Grantee’s employment, consulting, separation or similar agreement with the Company or any non-disclosure, non-solicitation or non-competition covenant in any other agreement to which the

 



 

Grantee is subject or (v) the Grantee’s deliberate and continued failure to perform the Grantee’s material duties to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

2.3                                Change in Capitalization ” means any increase or reduction in the number of Shares, any change (including, but not limited to, in the case of a spin-off, dividend or other distribution in respect of Shares, a change in value) in the Shares or any exchange of Shares for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company or another corporation, by reason of a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, spin-off, split-up, issuance of warrants, rights or debentures, stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split, cash dividend, property dividend, combination or exchange of shares, repurchase of shares, change in corporate structure or any similar corporate event or transaction.

 

2.4                                Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date: (a) if the Shares are not listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a nationally recognized stock exchange, the value of such Shares on that date, as determined by the Board in good faith; or (b) if the Shares are listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a nationally recognized stock exchange, the closing price of the Shares as reported on the principal nationally recognized stock exchange on which the Shares are traded on such date, or if no Share prices are reported on such date, the closing price of the Shares on the next preceding date on which there were reported Share prices.

 

2.5                                Initial Public Offering ” the consummation of the Company’s first public offering of Shares pursuant to a registration statement (other than a Form S-8 or successor forms) filed with, and declared effective by, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2.6                                IPO Date ” means the date upon which the registration statement pursuant to which the Company intends to undertake the Initial Public Offering is filed with, and declared effective by, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2.7                                Shares ” means shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of the Company and any other securities into which such shares are changed or for which such shares are exchanged.

 

2.8                                Subsidiary ” means any corporation (or other legal entity) which is a subsidiary corporation (or would be a subsidiary corporation if such entity were a corporation) within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with respect to the Company.

 

2.9                                Termination ”, “ Terminated ” or “ Terminates ” shall mean the Grantee ceasing to be employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason whatsoever (including by reason of death, disability or adjudicated incompetency).

 

2.10                         Vesting Date ” means the second anniversary of the IPO Date.

 

3.                                       Administration .  The Board shall have the power and duty to construe and interpret this Agreement and to determine all questions arising under it.  The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Agreement in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.  The Board’s interpretations and determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

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4.                                       Vesting; Settlement .  Upon the Vesting Date (subject to the Grantee’s employment with the Company or one of its Subsidiaries not having Terminated on or before such Vesting Date except as specifically provided herein), each RSU granted hereunder will vest and become settled by the delivery to the Grantee of one Share as of the Vesting Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the EWT Holdings I Corp. Stock Option Plan, effective March 6, 2014) prior to the Vesting Date (subject to the Grantee’s employment with the Company or one of its Subsidiaries not having Terminated on or before the date upon which such Change in Control occurs), each RSU granted hereunder shall immediately vest and settle in full as set forth above as of the date of such Change in Control.

 

5.                                       Termination .  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Grantee’s employment is Terminated by the Company without “Cause” prior to the Vesting Date, each RSU granted hereunder shall remain outstanding and eligible to vest and settle pursuant to Section 4 hereof as though the Grantee had remained employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries through such date.  If the Grantee’s employment Terminates for any other reason prior to the Vesting Date, each RSU granted hereunder shall be forfeited and canceled as of the date of such Termination for no consideration.

 

6.                                       Adjustment upon Changes in Capitalization .   In the event of a Change in Capitalization, the Board shall conclusively determine the appropriate adjustments, if any, to the number and class of Shares or other stock or securities (of the Company or any other corporation or entity), cash or other property which are subject to the RSUs in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights intended hereunder.  If, by reason of a Change in Capitalization, the Grantee shall be entitled to RSUs with respect to, new, additional or different shares of stock or securities of the Company or any other corporation, such new, additional or different shares shall thereupon be subject to all of the conditions and restrictions which were applicable to the Shares with respect to the RSUs prior to such Change in Capitalization.

 

7.                                       Shareholder Rights .  The Grantee shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any Shares unless and until the Grantee’s RSUs are settled in Shares.

 

8.                                       Non-transferability of Award .  The Grantee understands, acknowledges and agrees that, the RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise directly or indirectly encumbered or disposed of except other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

9.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

9.1                                Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

A.                                     Governing Law .  This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws (excluding conflict of laws rules and principles) of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such State, including all matters of construction, validity and performance.

 

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B.                                     Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .  Any litigation against any party to this Agreement arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement shall be brought in any federal or state court located in the State of New York in New York County and each of the parties hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such litigation; provided, that a final judgment in any such litigation shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Each party irrevocably and unconditionally agrees not to assert (a) any objection which it may ever have to the laying of venue of any such litigation in any federal or state court located in the State of New York in New York County, (b) any claim that any such litigation brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and (c) any claim that such court does not have jurisdiction with respect to such litigation.  To the extent that service of process by mail is permitted by applicable law, each party irrevocably consents to the service of process in any such litigation in such courts by the mailing of such process by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, at its address for notices provided for herein.  Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right to a trial by jury and agrees that either of them may file a copy of this paragraph with any court as written evidence of the knowing, voluntary and bargained-for agreement among the parties irrevocably to waive its right to trial by jury in any litigation .

 

9.2                                Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law and if the rights or obligations of any party hereto under this Agreement will not be materially and adversely affected thereby, (a) such provision will be fully severable, (b) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, (c) the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom and (d) in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.

 

9.3                                Binding Effect; Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and any of their respective successors, personal representatives and permitted assigns who agree in writing to be bound by the terms hereof.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by the Grantee without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

9.4                                Amendments and Waivers . Subject to applicable law, this Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, modified, or supplemented, in whole or in part, only in a writing signed by all parties hereto.  The waiver by a party hereto of a breach by another party hereto of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach by such other party or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach by such other party, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in the writing evidencing such waiver. The waiver by a party hereto of a breach by any party hereto of any

 

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provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of such breach by any other party hereto except as otherwise explicitly provided for in the writing evidencing such waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

 

9.5                                Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed by .pdf or facsimile signatures and in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed the same document.  All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

9.6                                Entire Agreement .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral and written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.  By signing the signature page hereto, the Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Grantee has no further rights under the retention bonus letter agreement by and between the Grantee and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, dated as of September 14, 2017, and that Evoqua Water Technologies LLC is an intended third party beneficiary hereof.

 

9.7                                Withholding .  The Company shall have the right to withhold from any amounts deliverable hereunder to the Grantee a number of Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such amount as shall be sufficient to satisfy all federal, state and local withholding tax requirements relating thereto.

 

9.8                                No Right to Continued Employment or Business Relationship .  This Agreement shall not confer upon the Grantee any right with respect to continued employment or a continued business relationship with the Company or any affiliate thereof, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any affiliate thereof to Terminate the Grantee at any time.

 

9.9                                General Interpretive Principles .  Whenever used in this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, any noun or pronoun shall be deemed to include the plural as well as the singular and to cover all genders. The headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof. Unless otherwise specified, the terms “hereof,” “herein” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole (including the exhibits, schedules and disclosure statements hereto), and references herein to Sections refer to Sections of this Agreement.  Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement, effective as of the Date of Grant.

 

 

EWT HOLDINGS I CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Agreed and acknowledged as
of the Date of Grant:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 



 

Appendix A

 

Grantee’s Name:

 

 

 

Date of Grant:

 

 

 

Aggregate Grant Amount:

 

 

 

Number of RSUs:

 

 




Exhibit 10.33

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of this [  ] day of [        ] 2017, by and between Evoqua Water Technologies Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and [            ] (“ Indemnitee ”).

 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance and adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he will be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee, intending to be legally bound, do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Definitions .  For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

(b)                                  Change in Control ” means a change in control of the Company occurring after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided , however , that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if after the Effective Date: (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than any “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) as of the date of this Agreement, becomes the “beneficial owner,” directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of liquidation or other reorganization as a consequence of which members of the Board in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board thereafter.

 

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(c)                                   Corporate Status ” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to a Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   Effective Date ” means [           ].

 

(f)                                    Expenses ” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other reasonable disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.

 

(g)                                   Independent Counsel ” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporate law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party; or (ii) any other party to a Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person, who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(h)                                  Proceeding ” includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except one (i) initiated by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement to enforce his rights under this Agreement or (ii) pending on or before the Effective Date.

 

Section 2.                                            Services by Indemnitee .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the Company, as applicable.  Indemnitee may, at any time and for any reason, resign from such position(s) (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position.  This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) and Indemnitee.  Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as an officer, director, agent and/or employee of the Company.

 

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Section 3.                                            Indemnification - General .  The Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this Agreement and (b) (subject to the provisions of this Agreement) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time.  The rights of Indemnitee provided under the preceding sentence shall include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.                                            Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company .  Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 4 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 5.                                            Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company .  Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 5 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 5, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided , however , that, if applicable law so provides, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the court in which such Proceeding shall have been brought or is pending shall determine that such indemnification may be made.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful .  In addition to indemnification authorized under any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in defense of such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.  The parties hereto shall make a reasonable allocation of those Expenses that relate to each such claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

3



 

Section 7.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 8.                                            Advancement of Expenses .  The Company shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.  Such statement or statements shall evidence the Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.

 

Section 9.                                            Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification.

 

(b)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 9(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change of Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, or (B) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Such determination shall be made as promptly as is reasonably practicable, taking into account all facts and circumstances.  Any reasonable costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) actually incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(c)                                   In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 9(c).  If a Change of Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice

 

4



 

to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change of Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 1 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within thirty (30) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 9(b) hereof.  The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and Expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 9(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and Expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 9(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

Section 10.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

 

If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 9(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

5



 

Section 11.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 9(b) of this Agreement within 90 days after receipt of the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 6 or 7 of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 11(a); provided , however , that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 6 of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 9(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11, the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 9(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 11, seeks a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, but only if he prevails therein.  If it shall be determined in said judicial adjudication or arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advancement of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be prorated accordingly between Indemnitee and the Company.

 

6



 

Section 12.                                     Selection of Counsel .  In the event the Company shall be obligated under this Agreement to pay the Expenses of any Proceeding against Indemnitee, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so.  After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same proceeding, provided that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his counsel in any such proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense; and (ii) if (A) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (C) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such proceeding, then the fees and Expenses of Indemnitee counsel shall be at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 13.                                     Mutual Acknowledgment .  Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances Federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the Company from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees and agents under this Agreement or otherwise.  Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the Company’s right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.

 

Section 14.                                     Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation .

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement or of any provision hereof in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall have the status as an insured under such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.

 

(c)                                   In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all actions necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

7



 

(d)                                  The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(e)                                   The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.

 

Section 15.                                     Duration of Agreement .  This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee served at the request of the Company (the “ Anniversary Date ”); or (b) the final termination of any Proceeding then pending on the Anniversary Date in respect of which Indemnitee is seeking rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement relating thereto.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his heirs, executors and administrators.

 

Section 16.                                     Severability .  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 17.                                     Exception to Right of Indemnification or Advancement of Expenses .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee, unless the bringing of such Proceeding or making of such claim shall have been approved by the Board.

 

Section 18.                                     Identical Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

8



 

Section 19.                                     Headings .  The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

Section 20.                                     Modification and Waiver .  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 21.                                     Notice by Indemnitee .  Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.

 

Section 22.                                     Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand or air courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, on the fifth (5th) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

If to Indemnitee, to:

 

[           ]
[           ]
[           ]

 

If to the Company, to:

 

Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.
210 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
Attention:  General Counsel

 

or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be, in accordance with the foregoing requirements.

 

Section 23.                                     Contribution .  To the fullest extent permissible under the applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding, and (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

9



 

Section 24.                                     Governing Law .  This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

 

Section 25.                                     Miscellaneous .  Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.

 

[Signatures follow on next page]

 

10



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.

 

INDEMNITEE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[                     ]

 

 

 

 

 

EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Its:

 

 

11




Exhibit 21.1

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Name of Subsidiary

 

Jurisdiction of
Incorporation

 

Ownership if Less Than
100%

 

 

 

 

 

ADI Systems North America, Inc.

 

Canada (Nova Scotia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delta Ultraviolet Corporation

 

Washington

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engineered Treatment Systems, LLC

 

Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Pension Trustees Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Treated Water Outsourcing Corp.

 

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

 

China (Shanghai)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies GmbH

 

Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

 

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies Ltd.

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies Membrane Systems Pty Ltd

 

Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies Pte. Ltd.

 

Singapore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies Pty Ltd

 

Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evoqua Water Technologies S.r.l.

 

Italy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EWT Holdings II Corp.

 

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EWT Holdings III Corp.

 

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geomembrane Technologies, Inc.

 

Canada (New Brunswick)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lange Containment Systems, Inc.

 

Colorado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAGNETO (Suzhou) special anodes Co., Ltd.

 

China

 

 

 



 

Magneto ARC Incorporated

 

Canada (Newfoundland Labrador)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAGNETO international B.V.

 

Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAGNETO special anodes B.V.

 

Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neptune-Benson Holding Corp.

 

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neptune-Benson Industrial, LLC

 

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neptune-Benson, LLC

 

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olson Irrigation Systems

 

California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCL International Trading Limited

 

Hong Kong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sonitec Vortisand Technologies, Inc

 

Canada (Nova Scotia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treated Water Outsourcing

 

Delaware

 

50%

 

 

 

 

 

Water Technologies Group C.V.

 

Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Technologies U.K. Ltd

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WTG Holdco Australia (Memcor) Pty Ltd

 

Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WTG Holdco Australia Pty Ltd

 

Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WTG HoldCo Germany Administration GmbH

 

Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WTG Holdco Germany GmbH & Co. KG

 

Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WTG Holdco I LLC

 

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WTG Holdco II LLC

 

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WTG Holdco Singapore Pte. Ltd

 

Singapore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WTG Holdings Cooperatief U.A.

 

Netherlands