Exhibit 10.31
EXECUTION COPY
This TRANSACTION AND MANAGEMENT FEE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of October 28, 2008 and is between Sky Merger Sub Corporation, a Delaware corporation (together with its successors, the “Company”), and Blackstone Management Partners V L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“BMP”).
BACKGROUND
1. The Company has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 18, 2008, as it may be amended, supplemented or modified (the “Merger Agreement”), by among Sky Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”), the Company, and Apria Healthcare Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Apria”).
2. In accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Company is merging with and into Apria (the “Merger”), with Apria surviving the Merger. As a result, Apria shall succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations of the Company in accordance with the Merger, including the obligations set forth in this Agreement. References in this Agreement to the Company encompass Apria after the Merger.
3. BMP has expertise in the areas of finance, strategy, investment, acquisitions and other matters relating to the Company, Apria and their business and has facilitated the Merger and certain other related transactions (collectively, the “Transactions”) through its provision of financial and structural analysis, due diligence investigations, other advice and negotiation assistance with all relevant parties to the Transactions. BMP has also provided advice and negotiation assistance with relevant parties in connection with the financing of the Transactions as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
4. The Company desires to avail itself, for the term of this Agreement, of BMP’s expertise in providing financial and structural analysis, due diligence investigations, corporate strategy, other advice and negotiation assistance, which the Company believes will be beneficial to it, and BMP desires to provide the services to the Company as set forth in this Agreement in consideration of the payment of the fees described below.
5. The rendering by BMP of the services described in this Agreement has been made and will be made on the basis that the Company will pay, or cause to be paid, the fees described below.
In consideration of the premises and agreements contained herein and of other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
SECTION 1. Transaction and M&A Management Fees. In consideration of BMP undertaking financial and structural analysis, due diligence investigations, corporate strategy and other advice and negotiation assistance necessary in order to enable the Transactions to be consummated, the Company will pay BMP at the closing of the Merger (the “Closing” and the date of such Closing, the “Closing Date”) a non-refundable and irrevocable transaction fee of $18,733,969.22.
SECTION 2. Appointment. The Company hereby engages BMP to render the Services (as defined in Section 3(a), below) on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.