Exhibit 10.1
FIRST
OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into effective this 27th day of August, 2002 (the "Effective Date"), by and
among Schultz PRG Liquidating Investments, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership
("Grantor") and PRG-Schultz International, Inc., a Georgia corporation
("Grantee").
Background
A. Grantor and its affiliates own shares of common stock, no par
value per share, of Grantee ("PRGX Shares").
B. Effective on the date hereof, Grantor and its affiliate sold
4,338,507 PRGX Shares to affiliates of Berkshire Partners LLC (collectively,
"Berkshire Buyer").
C. Grantee has assisted the Grantor to facilitate the sale of
PRGX Shares by Grantor to the Berkshire Buyer, which Grantor acknowledges that
Grantee was not required to do. Grantee has granted registration rights,
pursuant to a registration rights agreement, to Berkshire Buyer without which
the Berkshire Buyer would not have acquired the 4,338,507 PRGX Shares referred
to above.
Agreement
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises and
the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Option.
1.1 Grant of Option. Grantor hereby grants to Grantee an
irrevocable option (the "Option") to purchase all right, title and interest in
up to 1,446,168 PRGX Shares (the "Option Shares") in exchange for the payment
of a purchase price equal to $8.72 per share for each share which is the
subject of the Option exercise, together with interest (as additional purchase
price) on such amount from the date hereof until the date of payment at a rate
equal to eight percent (8%) per annum, computed on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed (the "Purchase Price"), free and clear of all liens and
encumbrances. The Grantee acknowledges that the Option Shares are currently
pledged to the Berkshire Buyer in connection with a Secured Promissory Note
(the "Note") and Pledge Agreement between Grantor and the Berkshire Buyer (the
"Berkshire Loan"), which pledge is subordinate to the rights of the Grantee
under this Option.
1.2 Exercise of Option. Subject to Section 1.3, Grantee
may, at any time and from time to time during the term of this Agreement,
exercise the Option in one or more increments of at least a number of shares
such that the Grantor's ownership of common stock of PRGX is reduced so as to
satisfy the requirements of Section 302(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, taking into account any attribution rules applicable in
determining Grantor's ownership of such stock, by delivering written notice of
exercise to Grantor (the "Exercise Notice") on or before a date 165 days after
the date hereof, setting forth the number of Option Shares that Grantee is
acquiring and designating a time and place at which the closing of such
purchase shall occur (the "Option Closing"), provided that the Option Closing
shall occur not later than five (5) days after the date of the Option Notice.
1.3 Manner of Purchase.
(a) At the Option Closing, Grantee shall pay to
Grantor the Purchase Price for the Option Shares to be purchased by cash, wire
transfer or other immediately available funds. If Grantee has received Notice
of an Event of Default (as defined in the Note) that is continuing, Grantee
shall be entitled to hold the Purchase Price in trust for the benefit of
Berkshire and/or Grantor until (a) Grantee has received joint instructions from
Berkshire and Grantor as to the payment of the Purchase Price, (b) there is a
final order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the parties as to
payment of the Purchase Price, or (c) Grantee deposits the Purchase Price for
the Option Shares with said court, pending a final decision of such
controversy. In any such event, the Option shall be deemed fully and properly
exercised and all rights to the Option Shares shall be vested in Grantee.
(b) Upon the receipt of the Purchase Price,
Grantor shall execute and deliver to Grantee such instruments as are necessary
and proper or may be required by Grantee's transfer agent to transfer full and
complete title to the Option Shares to be transferred to the Grantee, free and
clear of all liens and encumbrances. Grantor hereby agrees that upon receipt of
the Purchase Price, it shall promptly take all actions necessary or appropriate
as may be reasonably requested by Grantee or its transfer agent to effect the
transfer of record and beneficial ownership to such Option Shares so purchased
on the books and records of Grantee.
2. Restrictions on Transfer and Acquisition.
2.1 Option Shares. Grantor hereby covenants that, until
the expiration of the Option, it will make no transfer of any interest in the
Option Shares, other than the grant of the security interest under the Pledge
Agreement in connection with the Berkshire Loan. Grantor represents that there
are no contractual or other restrictions on the Grantor's ability to transfer
the Option Shares (other than those imposed by the Shareholder Agreement, as
amended, and applicable state and federal securities laws).
2.2 Additional Shares. Subject to Section 4.1 hereof,
Grantor covenants that it will not acquire any additional shares of PRGX Common
Stock prior to a date 271 days after the date hereof.
2.3 No Assignment. The Option granted hereunder may not
be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by
operation of law or otherwise), nor shall any such rights be subject to
execution, attachment or similar process.
3. Term and Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be
of no force and effect, unless extended in writing by all of the parties
hereto, on the date which is 180 days after the date hereof; provided that the
provisions of the second sentence of Section 1.3(a) and Section 4 shall
survive.
4. General Provisions.
4.1 Adjustment to Option Shares. If the outstanding
shares of common stock of PRGX are changed into or exchanged for a different
number or kind of shares or other securities of PRGX by reason of any
recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, stock dividend, combination,
subdivision or similar transaction, then, subject to any required action by the
stockholders of the PRGX, the number and kind of Option Shares subject to this
Option and the price per share of the Shares subject to the Option shall be
proportionately adjusted.
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4.2 GOVERNING LAWS. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED,
ADMINISTERED AND ENFORCED ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS.
4.3 Assignment; Successors. This Agreement and the
rights and obligations of the Grantor hereunder may not be transferred or
assigned by the Grantor to any other person or entity without the prior written
consent of the Grantee. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors
and assigns.
4.4 Notice. All notices, requests, demands, claims or
other communications hereunder will be in writing and shall be deemed duly
given if personally delivered, sent by telefax, sent by a recognized overnight
delivery service which guarantees next-day delivery ("Overnight Delivery") or
mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and
addressed to the intended recipient, as set forth below:
If to Grantor: Schultz PRG Liquidating Investments, Ltd.
9241 LBJ Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75243
Attention: Howard Schultz
Telefax: (972) 690-7564
with a copy to: Malouf, Lynch, Jackson & Swinson
600 Preston Commons East
8115 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75225
Attention: Curtis Swinson, Esq.
Telefax: (214) 273-0567
If to Grantee: PRG-Schultz International, Inc.
2300 Windy Ridge Parkway
Suite 100 North
Atlanta, GA 30339-8426
Attention: Clinton McKellar, Jr.
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Telefax: (770) 779-3034
with a copy to: Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
1201 West Peachtree Street, Suite 2800
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3400
Attention: Jonathan Golden, Esq.
Telefax: (404) 873-8701
or at such other address as any party hereto notifies the other parties hereof
in writing. The parties hereto agree that notices or other communications that
are sent in accordance herewith (i) by personal delivery or telefax, will be
deemed received on the day sent or on the first business day thereafter if not
sent on a business day (with written confirmation of receipt), (ii) by
Overnight Delivery, will be deemed received on the first business day
immediately following the date sent, and (iii) by certified U.S. Mail, return
receipt
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requested, will be deemed received three (3) business days immediately
following the date sent. For purposes of this Agreement, a "business day" is a
day on which U.S. national banks are open for business and shall not include a
Saturday or Sunday or legal holiday. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Agreement, no action shall be required of the parties hereto except on
a business day and in the event an action is required on a day which is not a
business day, such action shall be required to be performed on the next
succeeding day which is a business day.
4.5 Severability. In the event that any one or more of
the provisions or portion thereof contained in this Agreement shall for any
reason be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, the
same shall not invalidate or otherwise affect any other provisions of this
Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provision or portion thereof had never been contained herein.
4.6 Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement
expresses the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except
as set forth in writing and signed by all of the parties hereto.
4.7 Headings. Paragraph headings used herein are for
convenience of reference only and shall not be considered in construing this
Agreement.
4.8 Specific Enforcement. Each of the parties hereto
expressly agrees that the other parties will be irreparably damaged if this
Agreement is not specifically performed. Upon a breach of the terms, covenants
and/or conditions of this Agreement by any party, the other parties shall, in
addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, be
entitled to a temporary or permanent injunction, without showing any actual
damage, and/or a decree for specific performance, in accordance with the
provisions hereof. All such rights and remedies shall be cumulative.
4.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, and delivered by facsimile transmission or otherwise,
each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one
and the same instrument.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.
Signatures on following
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered
this Agreement as of the day and year first set forth above.
GRANTOR:
SCHULTZ PRG LIQUIDATING
INVESTMENTS, LTD.
By: SCHULTZ PRG LIQUIDATING
INVESTMENTS GP, LLC
Its: General Partner
By: /s/ Howard Schutlz
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Name: Howard Schultz
Its: Manager
GRANTEE:
PRG-SCHULTZ INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ Clinton McKellar, Jr.
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Its: General Counsel and Secretary
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