RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Exhibit 10.16
RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
OPTION AGREEMENT
Unless otherwise specified herein, capitalized terms shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Reliant Pharmaceuticals, LLC Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan).
I. | NOTICE OF OPTION GRANT | |
Ernest Mario |
You (Participant) have been granted an option to purchase Class One Common Units (the Units) in the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. The terms of your grant are set forth below:
Date of Grant: | December 17, 2003 | |||||
Vesting Commencement Date: | April 29, 2003 | |||||
Exercise Price per Unit: | $20.00 | |||||
Units Granted: | 200,000 | |||||
Total Exercise Price: | $4,000,000 | |||||
Expiration Date: | December 17, 2013 |
Exercise and Vesting Schedule:
This Option is exercisable immediately, in whole, conditioned upon Participant entering into the Exercise Notice and Restricted Unit Agreement (the Restricted Unit Agreement) in the form set forth on Exhibit A. This Option shall vest and/or the Units purchased upon exercise of this Option shall be released from Repurchase, as set forth in the Restricted Unit Agreement according to the following schedule:
Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Units subject to the Option (rounded down to the next whole number of Units) shall vest on each anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, so that all of the Units shall be vested on the fourth anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing in the event of a Change of Control (as defined below) all Units subject to the Option shall be fully vested on the effective date of the Change of Control.
Change of Control shall mean (i) the sale, lease, exchange, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of Companys assets in one transaction or series of related transactions; (ii) a merger or consolidation as a result of which the holders of Companys issued and
outstanding voting securities immediately before such transaction own or control less than a majority of the voting securities of the continuing or surviving entity immediately after such transaction and/or; (iii) the acquisition (in one or more transactions) by any person or persons acting together or constituting a group under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), together with any affiliates thereof (other than members of the Company as of the date hereof and their respective affiliates) of beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under such Exchange Act) or control, directly or indirectly, of at least eighty percent (80%) of the total voting power of all classes of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of the Companys board of managers or similar governing body; provided that for the purposes of the immediately preceding clause (iii) neither a public offering of Companys securities nor any financing transaction or series of financing transactions shall constitute a Change of Control.
Termination Period:
This Option may be exercised for one hundred and twenty (120) days after Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, or such longer period as may be applicable upon the death or Disability as provided herein, (or, if not provided herein, then as provided in the Plan), but in no event later than the Term/Expiration Date as provided above.
II. AGREEMENT
1. Grant of Option. The Company hereby grants to the Participant an Option to purchase the number of Units set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price set forth in the Notice of Grant (the Exercise Price). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary anywhere else in this Option Agreement, this grant of an Option is subject to the terms, definitions and provisions of the Plan and the LLC Agreement, which are incorporated herein by reference.
The Company intends to convert from a limited liability company to a C-Corporation effective on or about March 31, 2004. Upon such conversion all references in this Agreement to Restricted Units shall refer to common stock into which the units will convert. Additionally, upon such conversion all references to LLC Agreement shall refer to any Stockholders Agreement which may be entered into in connection with such conversion.
2. Exercise of Option. This Option is exercisable as follows:
(a) Right to Exercise.
(i) This Option is exercisable in full upon the date it is granted.
(ii) This Option may be not be exercised for a partial Unit.
(iii) In no event may this Option be exercised after the Expiration Date as set forth in the Notice of Grant.
(b) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable by execution of the Restricted Unit Agreement, stating the number of Units for which the Option is being exercised, and such other representations and agreements with respect to such Units as may be required by
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the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Restricted Unit Agreement must be signed by the Participant and, shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to the Secretary of the Company. The Restricted Unit Agreement must be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price, including payment of any applicable withholding tax. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of the executed Restricted Unit Agreement accompanied by the Exercise Price and payment of any applicable withholding tax.
(c) Compliance with Applicable Law. No Units shall be acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless such acquisition and exercise comply with all relevant Applicable Law. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Units shall be considered transferred to the Participant on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to such Units.
3. Participants Representations. At the time this Option is exercised, Participant shall concurrently with the exercise of all or any portion of this Option, deliver to the Company his or her Investment Representation Statement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
4. Vesting. Participant shall vest in the Units issuable upon exercise of this Option as set forth in the Notice of Grant. For purposes of this Option Agreement, the Units subject to this Option shall vest based on Participants continued status as a Service Provider. The vested portion of the Units shall not be subject to Repurchase (as set forth in the Restricted Unit Agreement) but shall be subject to the Companys Right of First Refusal and Call Right as set forth in the Restricted Unit Agreement.
5. Method of Payment. Payment of the Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Participant:
(a) cash;
(b) check; or
(c) with the consent of the Committee, property of any kind (including the surrender of underlying Units) which constitutes good and valuable consideration.
6. Term of Option. To the extent that this Option is not vested at the date on which the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, or if the Participant does not exercise this Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate. This Option shall terminate on the date Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for Cause or by reason of his voluntary termination without Good Reason during the Employment Period. Except as provided in this Section 6, this Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant.
(a) Termination of Relationship. If Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, Participant may exercise the vested portion of this Option during the Termination Period set out in the Notice of Grant.
(b) Death or Disability of Participant. If Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of death or Disability, the vested portion of the Option as of the date on which such Participant ceased to be a Service Provider, shall be exercisable at any time within twenty-four (24) months from such date, but in no event later than the Expiration Date as set forth in the Notice of Grant.
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7. Restrictions on Exercise. If the purchase of the Unit upon such exercise or if the method of payment for such Units would constitute a violation of any Applicable Laws, then the Option may not be exercised. The Company may require Participant to make any representation and warranty to the Company as may be required by any Applicable Law or regulation before allowing the Option to be exercised.
8. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner except by will or by the laws of descent or distribution. It may be exercised during the lifetime of Participant only by Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing the Option may be transferred to the Participants Immediate Family and Participants and Participants Immediate Familys trusts, foundations, partnerships and other family entities; provided, however, that any such transfer is without payment of any consideration whatsoever, that no such transfer shall be valid unless first approved by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, and that any Option so transferred shall remain subject to the terms and conditions of this Option agreement. The terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors, heirs, successors and assigns of the Participant.
9. Restrictions on Units. Participant hereby agrees that the Units purchased upon the exercise of the Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the LLC Agreement, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, restrictions on the transferability of Units, the right of the Company to repurchase Units, and a right of first refusal in favor of the Company with respect to permitted transfers of Units. Such terms and conditions may, in the Committees sole discretion, be contained in the Restricted Unit Agreement or in such other agreement as the Committee shall determine and which the Participant hereby agrees to enter into at the request of the Company upon exercise of the Option.
10. Lock-Up Period. Participant hereby agrees that if so requested by the Company (or any successor thereto) or any representative of the underwriters (the Managing Underwriter) in connection with any registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as Amended (the Securities Act), Participant shall not sell or otherwise transfer any Units (or any securities of the Company in which such Units may be converted) or other securities of the Company during the 180-day period (or such longer period as may be requested in writing by the Managing Underwriter and agreed to in writing by the Company) (the Market Standoff Period) following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided, however, that such restriction shall apply only to the first registration statement of the Company to become effective under the Securities Act that includes securities to be sold on behalf of the Company to the public in an underwritten public offering under the Securities Act. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such Market Standoff Period.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one document.
RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC | ||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE OPTION HEREIN GRANTED CONTINUES TO BE EXERCISABLE ONLY FOR PERIODS DETERMINED WITH REFERENCE TO THE PERIOD OF CONTINUED CONSULTANCY OR EMPLOYMENT AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS OPTION OR ACQUIRING UNITS HEREUNDER). PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT, NOR IN THE COMPANYS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN WHICH IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, SHALL CONFER UPON PARTICIPANT ANY RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTANCY BY THE COMPANY, NOR SHALL IT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANTS RIGHT OR THE COMPANYS RIGHT TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANTS EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTANCY AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE OR NOTICE.
Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and the LLC Agreement and represents that he is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof. Participant hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. Participant has reviewed the Plan, the LLC Agreement and this Option in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option and fully understands all provisions of the Option. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Option. Participant further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.
Dated: December 31, 2003 | /s/ Ernest Mario | |
Ernest Mario | ||
Residence Address: | ||
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EXHIBIT A
RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
EXERCISE NOTICE AND RESTRICTED UNIT AGREEMENT
Reliant Pharmaceuticals, LLC
110 Allen Road
Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938
Attention: Secretary
1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, , , the undersigned (Participant) hereby elects to exercise Participants option to purchase Class One Common Units (the Units) in Reliant Pharmaceuticals, LLC (the Company) under and pursuant to the Reliant Pharmaceuticals, LLC Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan) and the Option Agreement dated , , (the Option Agreement), portion of the Units have not become vested under the vesting schedule set forth in the Option Agreement (Unvested Units). Upon termination of Purchasers status as a Service Provider, the Unvested Units shall be subject to Repurchase as set forth in Section 6 below. The vested portion of the Units (Vested Units) shall not be subject to Repurchase.
2. Representations of Participant. Participant acknowledges that he or she has received, read and understood the Plan, the Option Agreement, the LLC Agreement, this Exercise Notice and Restricted Unit Agreement and is familiar with their terms and provisions. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Companys Board of Managers or committee thereof that is responsible for the administration of the Plan (the Committee) upon any questions arising under this Agreement.
3. Rights and Obligations as a Member. Upon exercise of the Option in compliance and in accordance with the provisions of Section 8(b) and (c) of the Plan, the Participant shall become a Common Holder and, at the discretion of the Committee, have all rights of a Common Holder with respect to said Units as provided in the LLC Agreement. Participant, without further action on his or her part, by purchase of the Units agrees to be deemed a party to, a signatory of and bound by the LLC Agreement, and the Units shall be subject to such rights and restrictions as contained therein. Participant shall enjoy rights as a Common Holder and shall be subject to all of the limitations, restrictions and obligations contained in the LLC Agreement as a Common Holder, until such time as Participant disposes of the Units or the Company and/or its assignee(s) exercises the Right of First Refusal, Call Right or the Repurchase provided in this Agreement or otherwise in the LLC Agreement. Upon such exercise, Participant shall have no further rights as a holder of the Units so purchased except the right to receive payment for the Units so purchased in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the LLC Agreement.
The Company intends to convert from a limited liability company to a C-Corporation effective on or about March 31, 2004. Upon such conversion all references in this Agreement to Restricted Units shall refer to common stock into which the units will convert. Additionally, upon such conversion all references to LLC Agreement shall refer to any Stockholders Agreement which may be entered into in connection with such conversion.
4. Participants Rights to Transfer Units.
(a) Limitations on Transfer. Unvested Units (or any securities into which such Units may be converted) may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner; provided, however, that Unvested Units may, with the consent of the Committee, be (i) transferred to the Participants Immediate Family, and to Participants and Participants Immediate Familys trusts, foundations, partnerships and other family entities so long as such transfer is without receipt of any consideration therefore, or (ii) assigned or pledged to the Company as collateral on any loan used to acquire such Units as provided by the Plan, so long as any Unvested Unit so transferred, assigned or pledged shall remain subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Purchaser may transfer Vested Units (or any securities into which such Units may be converted), subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 4 and the LLC Agreement; provided however no Units may be transferred (A) to a direct competitor of the Company as determined by the Board or (B) for consideration other than cash.
(b) Companys Right of First Refusal. Before any Vested Units (or any securities into which such Vested Units may be converted) held by Participant or any permitted transferee (each, a Holder) may be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or otherwise disposed of (including transfer by gift or operation of law, collectively a Transfer or Transferred), the Company or its assignee(s) shall have a right of first refusal to purchase the Vested Units on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section (the Right of First Refusal).
(i) Notice of Proposed Transfer. The Holder of the Vested Units shall deliver to the Company a written notice (the Notice) stating: (i) the Holders bona fide intention to sell or otherwise Transfer such Vested Units; (ii) the name of each proposed Participant or other transferee (Proposed Transferee); (iii) the number of Vested Units to be Transferred to each Proposed Transferee; and (iv) the bona fide cash price for which the Holder proposes to Transfer the Vested Units (the Offered Price), and the Holder shall offer the Vested Units at the Offered Price to the Company or its assignee(s).
(ii) Exercise of Right of First Refusal. Within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Notice, the Company and/or its assignee(s) may elect in writing to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Vested Units proposed to be Transferred to any one or more of the Proposed Transferees. The purchase price will be determined in accordance with subsection (c) below.
(iii) Purchase Price. The purchase price (Purchase Price) for the Units repurchased under this Section shall be the Offered Price.
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(iv) Payment. Payment of the Purchase Price shall be made, at the option of the Company or its assignee(s), in cash (by check), by cancellation of all or a portion of any outstanding indebtedness of the Holder to the Company (or, in the case of repurchase by an assignee, to the assignee), or by any combination thereof within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Notice or in the manner and at the times set forth in the Notice.
(v) Holders Right to Transfer. If all of the Vested Units proposed in the Notice to be transferred to a given Proposed Transferee are not purchased by the Company and/or its assignee(s) as provided in this Section, then subject to any rights of first refusal or other restrictions on transfer contained in the LLC Agreement, the Holder may sell or otherwise Transfer such Units to that Proposed Transferee at the Offered Price or at a higher price, provided that such sale or other Transfer is consummated within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the Notice and provided further that any such sale or other Transfer is effected in accordance with any applicable securities laws and the Proposed Transferee agrees in writing that the provisions of this Section and shall continue to apply to the Vested Units in the hands of such Proposed Transferee. If the Vested Units described in the Notice are not Transferred to the Proposed Transferee within such period, a new Notice shall be given to the Company, and the Company and/or its assignees shall again be offered the Right of First Refusal as provided herein before any Vested Units held by the Holder may be sold or otherwise Transferred. The Companys Right of First Refusal as contained herein shall be in addition to and arise prior to any rights of first refusal contained in the LLC Agreement.
(c) Exception for Certain Family Transfers. Anything to the contrary contained in this Section notwithstanding, the Transfer of any or all of the Units during the Participants lifetime or on the Participants death by will or intestacy to the Participants Immediate Family or to Participants and Participants Immediate Familys trusts, foundations, partnerships and other family entities shall be exempt from the Right of First Refusal. In such case, the transferee or other recipient shall receive and hold the Units so Transferred subject to the provisions of this Section, Section 5, the Restricted Unit Agreement, and the LLC Agreement, as applicable, and there shall be no further Transfer of such Units except in accordance with the terms of this Section.
(d) Termination of Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal shall terminate as to all Units (and any securities into which such Units may be converted) ninety (90) days after a sale of common stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (a Public Offering).
5. Company Call Right.
(a) If Participant ceases to be a Service Provider (as defined in the Plan) for any reason, the Company shall have the right to purchase any or all of the Vested Units (or any securities into which such Vested Units may be converted) then owned by a Holder at a price equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of the Vested Units on the date on which the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider (the Call Right).
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(b) The Company may exercise the Company Call Right by delivering personally or by registered mail to Holder, within ninety (90) days of the date on which Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, a notice in writing indicating the Companys intention to exercise the Company Call Right and setting forth a date for closing not later than thirty (30) days from the mailing of such notice. The closing shall take place at the Companys office.
(c) At its option, the Company may elect to make payment for the Vested Units to a bank selected by the Company. The Company shall avail itself of this option by a notice in writing to Holder stating the name and address of the bank, date of closing, and waiving the closing at the Companys office.
(d) If the Company does not elect to exercise the Company Call Right conferred above by giving the requisite notice within ninety (90) days following the date on which Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, the Company Call Right shall terminate.
(e) The Company Call Right shall terminate as to all Vested Units (or any securities into which such Vested Units may be converted) ninety (90) days after a Public Offering.
6. Repurchase.
(a) If Participant ceases to be a Service Provider (as defined in the Companys Equity Incentive Plan) for any reason, the Company shall purchase all of the Participants Unvested Units from the Holder thereof, as of the date on which Participant ceases to be a Service Provider (the Repurchase) at the lesser of (i) the exercise price paid by the Participant for such Units in connection with the exercise of the Option or (i) the Fair Market Value thereof (the Repurchase Price). The Company shall deliver the Repurchase Price, to the Holder by check, cash or wire transfer within ninety (90) days of the date on which Participant ceases to be a Service Provider.
(b) The Unvested Units shall be released from Repurchase in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant until all Units are released from the Repurchase obligation.
7. Spousal Consent. As a further condition to the Companys and Participants obligations under this Agreement, the spouse of the Participant, if any, shall execute and deliver to the Company the Consent of Spouse attached hereto as Exhibit C.
8. Tax Consultation.
(a) Representations. Participant understands that he or she may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of his or her purchase or disposition of the Units. Participant has reviewed with his or her own tax advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of this investment and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Participant is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. Participant understands that he or she (and not the Company) shall be responsible for his or her own tax liability that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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(b) Section 83(b) Election. Participant hereby acknowledges that he or she has been informed that, with respect to the exercise of the Option for Unvested Units, that unless an election is filed by the Participant with the Internal Revenue Service and, if necessary, the proper state taxing authorities, within thirty (30) days of the purchase of the Units, electing pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code (and similar state tax provisions if applicable) to be taxed currently on any difference between the purchase price of the Units and their Fair Market Value on the date of purchase, there will be a recognition of taxable income to the Participant, measured by the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Units, at the time the Repurchase lapses over the purchase price for the Units. Participant represents that Participant has consulted any tax consultant(s) Participant deems advisable in connection with the purchase of the Units or the filing of the election under Section 83(b) and similar tax provisions. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS HIS OR HER SOLE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE COMPANYS TO FILE TIMELY THE ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b), EVEN IF PARTICIPANT REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE TO MAKE THIS FILING ON HIS OR HER BEHALF
9. Refusal to Transfer. The Company shall not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Units that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of the this Agreement or the LLC Agreement or (ii) to treat as owner of such Units or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any Participant or other transferee to whom such Units shall have been so transferred.
10. No Right to Employment. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE UNVESTED UNITS HEREIN GRANTED CONTINUE TO VEST ONLY FOR PERIODS DETERMINED WITH REFERENCE TO THE PERIOD OF CONTINUED CONSULTANCY OR EMPLOYMENT AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED OR ACQUIRING UNITS HEREUNDER). PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT, NOR IN THE COMPANYS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN WHICH IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, SHALL CONFER UPON PARTICIPANT ANY RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTANCY BY THE COMPANY, NOR SHALL IT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANTS RIGHT OR THE COMPANYS RIGHT TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANTS EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTANCY AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE OR NOTICE.
11. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and his or her heirs, executors, successors, and assigns.
12. Arbitration. Except as provided in Section 13 hereof, in the event that there shall be a dispute among the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof,
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the parties agree that such dispute shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration in Newark, New Jersey, administered by the American Arbitration Association (the AAA), in accordance with AAAs Commercial Arbitration Rules, to which shall be added the provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure relating to the Production of Evidence, and the parties agree that the arbitrators may impose sanctions in their discretion to enforce compliance with discovery and other obligations. Such arbitration shall be presided over by a single arbitrator. If the Participant, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, do not agree on the arbitrator within fifteen (15) days after a party requests arbitration, the arbitrator shall be selected by the Participant and the Company from a list of five (5) potential arbitrators provided by AAA. Such list shall be provided within ten (10) days of the request of any party for arbitration. The party requesting arbitration shall delete one name from the list. The other party shall delete one name from the list. This process shall then be repeated in the same order, and the last remaining person on the list shall be the arbitrator. This selection process shall take place within the two (2) business days following both parties receipt of the list of five (5) potential arbitrators. Hearings in the arbitration proceedings shall commence within twenty (20) days of the selection of the arbitrator or as soon thereafter as the arbitrator is available. The arbitrator shall deliver his or her opinion within twenty (20) days after the completion of the arbitration hearings. The arbitrators decision shall be final and binding upon the parties, and may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction by either of the parties. The arbitrator shall have the power to grant temporary, preliminary and permanent relief, including without limitation, injunctive relief and specific performance. Unless otherwise ordered by the arbitrator pursuant to this Agreement, the arbitrators fees and expenses shall be shared equally by the parties.
13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that state. The parties irrevocably agree that all actions to enforce an arbitrators decision pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement shall be instituted and litigated only in federal, state or local courts sitting in Newark, New Jersey and each of such parties hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such court and waives any objection based on forum non conveniens.
14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE, RELEASE AND RELINQUISH ANY AND ALL RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTIONS TO ENFORCE AN ARBITRATORS DECISION PURSUANT TO SECTION 10 OF THIS AGREEMENT.
15. Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, the other provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain enforceable.
16. Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States mail by certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party at its address as shown below beneath its signature, or to such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the other party. Participant further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.
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17. Further Instruments. The parties agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.
18. Delivery of Payment. Participant herewith delivers to the Company the full Exercise Price for the Shares, as well as any applicable withholding tax.
19. Entire Agreement. The Plan, Option Agreement, the Employment Agreement and LLC Agreement are incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement, the Plan, the Option Agreement, the Employment Agreement and the Investment Representation Statement, if applicable, constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Submitted by: | Accepted by: | |||
PARTICIPANT: | RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC | |||
/s/ Ernest Mario | By: | /s/ Joseph J. Krivulka | ||
Ernest Mario | Its: | President | ||
Address: | ||||
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EXHIBIT B
INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION STATEMENT
PARTICIPANT: | ERNEST MARIO | |
COMPANY : | RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC. | |
SECURITY : | CLASS ONE COMMON UNITS | |
AMOUNT : | _______ | |
DATE : | , |
In connection with the purchase of the above-listed Securities, the undersigned Participant represents to the Company the following:
(a) Participant is aware of the Companys business affairs and financial condition and has acquired sufficient information about the Company to reach an informed and knowledgeable decision to acquire the Securities. Participant has received and read the financial information provided by the Company and has had an opportunity to discuss the Companys business, management and financial affairs with the managers, officers and other management personnel of the Company. Participant has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the risks, terms and conditions of this investment.
(b) Participant (i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in these Securities, (ii) is able to bear the complete loss of his investment in these Securities, and (iii) is an accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).
(c) Participant is acquiring these Securities for investment purposes for Participants own account only and not with a view to distributing or resale of all or any part thereof in any transaction which would constitute a distribution within the meaning of the Securities Act. Participant acknowledges that none of the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act and, except as may be specifically agreed to by the Company, the Company is under no obligation to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to all or any part of such Securities.
Participant acknowledges and understands that the Securities constitute restricted securities under the Securities Act and have not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon a specific exemption therefrom, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of Participants investment intent as expressed herein. In this connection, Participant understands that, in the view of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the statutory basis for such exemption may be unavailable if Participants
representation was predicated solely upon a present intention to hold these Securities for the minimum capital gains period specified under tax statutes, for a deferred sale, for or until an increase or decrease in the market price of the Securities, or for a period of one year or any other fixed period in the future. Participant further understands that the Securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. Participant has been advised or is aware of the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, which permits limited resale of securities purchased in a private placement subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including, among other things: the availability of certain current public information about the Company, the resale occurring not less than one year after a party has purchased and paid for the security to be sold, the sale being through an unsolicited brokers transaction or in transactions directly with a market maker (as said term is defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and the number of shares being sold during any three-month period not exceeding specified limitations.
Signature of Participant: |
/s/ Ernest Mario |
Ernest Mario |
Date: , |
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EXHIBIT C
CONSENT OF SPOUSE
I, Mildred Mario, spouse of Ernest Mario have read and approve the foregoing Restricted Unit Agreement. In consideration of granting of the right to my spouse to purchase Class One Common Units of Reliant Pharmaceuticals, LLC as set forth in the Agreement, I hereby appoint my spouse as my attorney-in-fact in respect to the exercise of any rights under the Agreement and agree to be bound by the provisions of the Agreement insofar as I may have any rights in said Agreement or any shares issued pursuant thereto under the community property laws or similar laws relating to marital property in effect in the state of our residence as of the date of the signing of the foregoing Agreement.
Dated: ,
/s/ Mildred M. Mario |
Printed name: Mildred M. Mario |