exv10w8







EXHIBIT 10.8




Execution Version




AGREEMENT




     THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into this 28th day of
December, 2005, by and between Stephanie L. Brown (the “Executive”) and LPL Holdings, Inc. (the
“Company”) to be effective upon the Closing (as defined below).



     WHEREAS, BD Investment Holdings Inc, (“Holdings”). BD Acquisition Inc. (“Merger Sub”) and the
Company have entered into an agreement captioned “Agreement and Plan of Merger,” dated as of
October 27, 2005 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will be merged with and
into the Company (the “Merger”); and



     WHEREAS, in accordance with the foregoing, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into
this Agreement to set forth the terms of the Executive’s continued employment with the Company,
effective as of the consummation of the Merger (the “Closing”).



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual promises, terms,
provisions and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree:



     1. Employment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby
accepts the terms of continued employment with the Company.



     2. Term. Subject to earlier termination as hereafter provided, the Executive’s
employment hereunder shall have an original term of three (3) years commencing on the date of the
Closing (the “Initial Term”) and shall automatically be renewed thereafter for successive terms of
one year each, unless the Company provides notice to the Executive at least ninety (90) days prior
to the expiration of the Initial Term or any renewal term that the Agreement is not to be renewed,
in which event this Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate at the
expiration of the then-current term. The term of this Agreement, as from time to time renewed, is
hereafter referred to as “the term of this Agreement” or “the term hereof.” In the event that the
Closing does not occur, this Agreement shall be void ab initio and of no force or effect.



     3. Capacity and Performance.



          a. During the term hereof, the Executive shall serve the Company as its Managing
Director and General Counsel, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the
“CEO”).




          b. During the term hereof, the Executive shall be employed by the Company on a full-time basis
and shall have such duties, authority and responsibilities as are commensurate with her position
and such other duties, consistent with her position, as may be designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).




 









 











          c. During the term hereof, the Executive shall devote her full business time
and her best efforts to the discharge of her duties and responsibilities hereunder; provided,
however, that, subject to Section 8 hereof, the foregoing shall not be construed to prevent the
Executive from attending to personal investments and community and charitable service, provided
that such activities do not unreasonably interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties to
the Company. In addition, the Executive may serve on boards of directors and similar governing
bodies, and committees thereof, subject to the approval of the Board, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, and subject to Section 8 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Executive may continue to serve on those boards and committees on which the Executive was serving
at the time of the Closing, which boards and committees are listed on
Schedule 1(A) of
this Agreement.




     4. Compensation and Benefits. As compensation for all services performed by the
Executive during the term hereof:



          a.
Base Salary. During the term hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive a base
salary at the rate per annum as set forth on Schedule 1(B) of this Agreement, payable in
accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Company for its executives and subject to
increase from time to time by the Board (or its compensation committee). The Executive’s base
salary may only be decreased with the approval of Mark S. Casady and then only in an
across-the-board salary reduction in which all executives and other employees are subject to an
equal percentage reduction. The Executive’s base salary, as from time to time increased or
decreased in accordance with Agreement, is hereafter referred to as
the “Base Salary.”




          b. Bonus Compensation.




               i. The Executive shall be eligible to receive a full bonus, without pro-ration, for
calendar year 2005, determined in accordance with the Company’s employee cash bonus plan as in
effect immediately prior to the Closing, as set forth in Schedule 1(C) hereto.



               ii. Each calendar year thereafter during the term hereof, the Executive shall be
eligible to participate in the cash bonus plan in effect for employees of the Company generally,
under which, subject to the next sentence, the plan elements described in clauses (A) and (C) below
shall be not be decreased from those applicable to the Executive under the bonus plan in effect
immediately prior to the Closing, and the plan element described in clause (B) below shall be
substantially consistent with past practice: (A) the target bonus, (B) the level of performance
required to reach target and (C) the opportunity to earn bonus compensation in excess of target,
with respect to clauses (A) and (C) as set forth on Schedule 1(D) hereto. Neither the
Executive’s target bonus nor the opportunity to earn bonus compensation in excess of target may be
subject to an adverse change and the level of performance required to reach target may not be
materially adversely changed except with the approval of Mark S. Casady and then only in an
across-the-board change which affects equally all employees participating in the bonus plan. Such
cash bonus shall be in addition to the Base Salary. The Executive’s target bonus under the
executive cash bonus plan is referred to hereafter as the “Target Bonus.” In clarification of the
foregoing, the actual bonus earned by the Executive for any given calendar








 









 










year, may be below, at or above the Target Bonus, based on actual performance. Subject to any
effective deferral election made available and elected by the Executive, each bonus earned by the
Executive hereunder shall be paid no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the end of
the calendar year for which the bonus was earned.




          c. Stock Option Grants. Pursuant to the following terms and conditions, the
Executive shall be eligible to participate in Holdings’ stock option plan and Holdings agrees as
follows:




               i. Holdings shall establish a stock option plan (“Stock Option Plan”) providing for
grants of options (the “Stock Options”) to purchase the common stock of BD Investment Holdings
Inc., par value $0.01 (the “Buyer Common Stock”) in amounts not less than (i) 2% of the Buyer
Common Stock (on a fully-diluted post-exercise basis) in the aggregate per year for all executives,
employees and financial advisors of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the Executive
selected by the Board after consultation with, and based on the recommendation of, the CEO, for the
calendar years beginning on January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2009 and (ii) 2.5% of the Buyer Common
Stock (on a fully-diluted post-exercise basis) in the aggregate per year for all executives,
employees and financial advisors of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the Executive,
selected by the Board after consultation with, and based on the recommendation of, the CEO, for the
calendar years beginning on January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011.



               ii. Beginning in January 2008, each annual Stock Option grant shall be made between the
first and fifteenth business day of the year, unless the CEO, in his sole discretion, shall agree
with the Board to a later date during such year (the “Default Date”). If the Board does not approve
Stock Option grants in the amounts set forth in Section 4(c)(i) by the Default Date, then Stock
Options in such amounts shall be granted pro-rata to existing option holders and employee
stockholders as of such date of grant, except that the CEO’s share of such Stock Option grants
shall be reduced by 75% and the other four most highly compensated executives’ share of such Stock
Option grants shall be reduced by 50%.



               iii. The per share exercise price of each Stock Option shall be equal to the Fair Market
Value of a share of Buyer Common Stock on the date of grant. Each Stock Option granted shall vest
in five equal tranches on each of the first five anniversaries of the date of grant subject to the
option holder’s continued employment as of each such vesting date; provided, however, that all
Stock Options shall automatically vest in full upon a “change in control” (as defined in the Option
Plan, it being understood that an IPO shall in no event constitute a change in control).
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
following an IPO, no additional
Stock Options shall be granted pursuant to the Stock Option Plan.



               iv. Upon termination of her employment, the portion of any Stock Option granted to the
Executive which has not yet vested shall terminate. In the event the Executive’s employment
terminates for any reason other than for Cause, the Executive may exercise any vested portion of
any Stock Option held by her on the date of termination provided that she does so prior to the
earlier of (A) ninety (90) days following termination of employment



 









 




and (B) the expiration of the scheduled term of the Stock Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
the Executive’s employment is terminated due to death or disability (as defined in Section 5(b)),
then the Executive or, as applicable in the event of death, her beneficiary or estate, may exercise
any vested portion of any Stock Option held by the Executive on the date employment terminates for
the shorter of (A) the period of twelve (12) months following the termination date and, (B) with
respect to each Stock Option individually, the expiration of the scheduled term of such Stock
Option. Upon a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause, all Stock
Options shall be forfeited immediately.




               v. Holdings, the Company and the Executive agree to cooperate to structure the Stock
Option Plan so as to minimize or avoid additional taxes and interest that would otherwise be
imposed on the Executive with respect to options granted under the Stock Option Plan pursuant to
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code as amended (the
“Code”); provided, however, that
the Company shall have no obligation to grant the Executive a “gross-up” or other “make-whole”
compensation for such purpose.



          d. Vacations. During the term hereof, the Executive shall be eligible for the number
of weeks of vacation per year set forth on Schedule 1(E) to this Agreement, subject to the
vacation policies of the Company generally applicable to its executives, as in effect from time to
time, provided that the Executive shall not be barred from taking up to the maximum number of weeks
of vacation in any given year solely by reason of the Executive’s failure to work for a specified
period of time during such year prior to the time of such vacation.




          e. Other Benefits. During the term hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate in any and all employee benefit plans from time to time in effect for executives and/or
employees of the Company generally, provided that the Executive shall receive benefits
pursuant to plans, programs and policies (other than any equity-based compensation plan or program)
that are comparable, and no less favorable in the aggregate, to those benefits offered to her
immediately prior to the Closing.




          f. Business Expenses. During the term hereof, the Company shall pay or reimburse the
Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred or paid by the Executive in the performance
of her duties and responsibilities hereunder, subject to such reasonable substantiation and
documentation as the Company may require and otherwise consistent with the Company’s policies
generally applicable to its executives, as in effect from time to time.




     5. Termination of Employment and Severance Benefits. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 2 hereof, the Executive’s-employment hereunder shall terminate prior to the
expiration of the term hereof under the following circumstances:



          a. Termination due to Death. In the event of the Executive’s death during the
term hereof, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall immediately and automatically terminate. In
such event, the Company shall pay to the Executive’s designated beneficiary or, if no beneficiary
has been designated by the Executive, to her estate, “Final Compensation” which shall
include all of the following: (i) the Base Salary earned but not paid through the date of
termination, (ii) pay for any vacation time earned but not used through the date of termination,









 









 










(iii) payment of any annual bonus earned but not paid for the year preceding that in which the date
of termination occurs, (iv) reimbursement for any business expenses incurred by the Executive and
reimbursable pursuant to Section 4(f) hereof but un-reimbursed on the date of termination (clauses
(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), collectively, the “Termination Entitlements”); (v) a bonus for the year
in which the date of termination occurs determined by multiplying the Target Bonus for that year by
a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive was employed during the year
in which the date of termination occurs, through the date of termination, and the denominator of
which is 365, (vi) a single lump-sum payment equal to the premium (including the additional amount
(if any) charged for administrative costs as permitted by the Federal law known as “COBRA”) of
continued health and dental plan participation under COBRA for the Executive (in the event of a
termination other than as a result of death) and for the Executive’s qualified beneficiaries (as
that term is defined under COBRA) for the one (1) year period immediately following the date of
termination and, and the Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive hereunder, other
than (A) obligations due to the Executive as of the date of termination but not yet satisfied, such
as, by way of example but not limitation, an uncorrected error in Base Salary or an outstanding
claim under one of the welfare plans or an uncorrected error in the Executive’s retirement plan
account, and (B) obligations which, whether or not due to the Executive as of the date of
termination, survive termination, such as, by way of example but not limitation, rights to exercise
vested stock options (all of the foregoing, under clauses (A) and (B) hereof, the “Surviving
Company Obligations”).




          b. Termination due to Disability. The Company may terminate the Executive’s
employment hereunder, upon notice to the Executive, in the event that the Executive becomes
disabled through any illness, injury, accident or condition of either a physical or psychological
nature and, as a result, is unable to perform substantially all of her duties and responsibilities
hereunder, notwithstanding the provision of any reasonable accommodation, for any period of six (6)
consecutive months. During any period in which the Executive is disabled but prior to the
Executive’s date of termination, the Executive shall continue to receive all compensation and
benefits under Section 4 hereof while her employment continues. If any question shall arise as to
whether during any period the Executive is disabled through any illness, injury, accident or
condition of either a physical or psychological nature so as to be unable to perform substantially
all of her duties and responsibilities hereunder, the Executive may, and at the request of the
Company shall, submit to a medical examination by a physician selected by the Company to whom the
Executive has no reasonable objection to determine whether the Executive is so disabled and such
determination shall for the purposes of this Agreement be conclusive of the issue. In the event of
termination by the Company due to the Executive’s disability, the Company shall provide the
Executive with the Final Compensation and the Company shall have no further obligation to the
Executive hereunder, other than the Surviving Company Obligations.




          c. Retirement. The Executive may elect to retire voluntarily on
thirty (30) days’ notice to the Company, provided that the Executive is then at least 65
years of age. In such event, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Final Compensation (other
than the benefits under clause (v) of the definition thereof (the “Accrued Compensation”)) and the
Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive hereunder, other than the Surviving
Company Obligations.




 









 





          d. Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company may terminate the
Executive’s employment at any time for “Cause,” which shall mean only (i) the intentional failure
to perform (excluding by reason of disability) or gross negligence or willful misconduct in the
performance of regular duties or other breach of fiduciary duty or material breach of this
Agreement which remains uncured after thirty (30) days’
notice specifying in reasonable detail the
nature of the failure, negligence, misconduct or breach and what is required of the Executive to
cure, (ii) conviction or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or (iii) fraud or embezzlement or
other dishonesty which has a material adverse effect on the Company. Before terminating the
Executive for Cause, (A) at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Board (excluding the
Executive, if a Board member) must conclude in good faith that, in their view, one of the events
described in subsection (i), (ii) or (iii) above has occurred and (B) such Board determination must
be made at a duly convened meeting of the Board (X) of which the Executive received written notice
at least ten (10) days in advance, which notice shall have set forth in reasonable detail the facts
and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for the Company’s belief that one of the events
described in subsection (i), (ii) or (iii) above occurred and, in the case of an event under
subsection (i), remains uncured at the expiration of the notice period, and (Y) at which the
Executive had a reasonable opportunity to make a statement and answer the allegations against the
Executive. In the event of the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause,
the Company shall pay to the Executive the Termination Entitlements and the Company shall have no
further obligation to the Executive hereunder, other than the Surviving Company Obligations. The
parties acknowledge and agree that this definition of “Cause” shall be applicable and controlling
with respect to the option agreements executed by the Executive under the 1999 Stock Option Plan
for Incentive Stock Options and/or 1999 Stock Option Plan for Non-Qualified Options, pursuant to
the terms of Section 14 of each such option agreement.




          e. Termination by the Company other than for Cause. The Company may
terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder other than for Cause at any time upon ten (10) days
notice to the Executive. Termination by the Company on or following expiration of the term hereof
(other than a termination due to the Executive’s death or disability or under circumstances that
would constitute “Cause” if this Agreement were still in effect) will be treated as a termination
other than for Cause under this Section 5(e). In the event of termination under this Section 5(e),
the Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Compensation, and, (ii) subject to
Executive’s continued compliance with her obligations under Sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof, (x) an
amount equal to the applicable Severance Multiplier multiplied by the sum of the Executive’s Base
Salary and Target Bonus for the year in which the date of termination occurs (or if no such Target
Bonus has been established for the Executive for the year in which the date of termination occurs,
the Target Bonus for the year immediately preceding the year in which the date of termination
occurs) and (y) for two years following the date of termination, continued participation of the
Executive and her qualified beneficiaries, as applicable, under the Company’s group life, health,
dental and vision plans in which the Executive was participating immediately prior to the date of
termination, subject to any premium contributions required of the Executive at the rate in effect
on the date of termination of her employment and the Company shall have no further obligation to
the Executive hereunder, other than the Surviving Company Obligations. For purpose of this
Agreement, the “Severance Multiplier” shall be (A) two (2) in the event of termination
under Section 5(e) or Section 5(f) (other than due to Good Reason resulting solely from notice of
non-renewal of the term of this Agreement), in each case, prior to









 









 










the expiration of the Initial Term; (B) one and one half (1.5) in the event of a termination under
Section 5(e) or Section 5(f), in each case, on or following the expiration of the Initial Term; (C)
one and one half (1.5) in the event of a termination at any time during the term of this Agreement
for Good Reason resulting solely from the provision by the Company of notice of non-renewal of the
term of this Agreement; and (D) one (1) in the event of a termination of the Executive under
Section 5(g) and pursuant to which the Company makes the election under Section 8(b) hereof. Any
payments due under Section 5(e), Section 5(f), Section 5(g) or Section 8(b), as
applicable, shall be payable in equal monthly installments over the number of years and/or portions
thereof equal to the applicable Severance Multiplier; and, subject to 

Section 5(h), shall begin at
the Company’s next regular payday following the effective date of termination.




          f. Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. The Executive may terminate
her employment hereunder for Good Reason and, in that event, subject to Executive’s continued
compliance with her obligations under Sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof, shall be entitled to all payments
and benefits which the Executive would have been entitled to receive under Section 5(e) hereof as
if termination had occurred thereunder and the Company shall have no further obligation to the
Executive hereunder, other than the Surviving Company Obligations. “Good Reason” shall mean only
(A) the occurrence, without the Executive’s express written consent (which may be withheld for any
or no reason) of any of the events or conditions described in the following subsections (i) through
(viii), provided that, except with respect to the event described in subsection (viii), the
Executive gives written notice to the Company of the occurrence of Good Reason within ninety (90)
days following the date on which the Executive first knew or reasonably should have known of such
occurrence and the Company shall not have fully corrected the situation within thirty (30) days
following such notice or (B) termination (for any or no reason) by written notice from the
Executive given within the thirty day period immediately following the twelve month anniversary of
a Change of Control occurring after the effective date of this Agreement. The following occurrences
shall constitute Good Reason for purposes of clause (A) of this Section 5(f): (i) a reduction in
the Executive’s Base Salary (other than as expressly permitted under Section 4(a) hereof); (ii) an
adverse change in the Executive’s bonus opportunity through reduction of the Target Bonus or the
maximum available bonus or a material adverse change in the goals or level of performance required
to achieve the Target Bonus (other than as expressly permitted under Section 4(b) hereof); (iii) a
failure by the Company to pay or provide to the Executive any compensation or benefits to which the
Executive is entitled hereunder; (iv) (A) a material adverse change in the Executive’s status,
positions, titles, offices, duties and responsibilities, authorities or reporting relationship from
those in effect immediately before such change; (B) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
or responsibilities that are substantially inconsistent with the Executive’s status, positions,
titles, offices or responsibilities as in effect immediately before such assignment; or (C) any
removal of the Executive from or failure to reappoint or reelect the Executive to any of such
positions, titles or offices; provided that termination of the Executive’s employment by
the Company for Cause, by the Executive other than for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(g) hereof,
or a termination as a result of the Executive’s death or disability shall not be deemed to
constitute or result in Good Reason under this subsection (iv); (v) (A) if the Executive was based
at the Company’s headquarter offices in Boston, Massachusetts as of the day immediately prior to
the Closing, the Company’s changing the location of such headquarter offices to a location more
than twenty-five (25) miles from the location of such offices, or the Company’s requiring








 









 







the Executive to be based at a location other than the Company’s Boston headquarter offices; (B) if
the Executive was based at the Company’s headquarter offices in San Diego, California as of the day
immediately prior to the Closing, the Company’s changing the location of such headquarter offices
to a location more than twenty-five (25) miles from the location of such offices, or the Company’s
requiring the Executive to be based at a location other than the Company’s San Diego headquarter
offices; or (C) if the Executive was not based at the Company’s headquarter offices in Boston, the
Company’s requiring the Executive to be based at any location which results in the Executive’s
regular commuting distance being twenty-five (25) or more miles greater than the Executive’s
regular commuting distance immediately prior to such relocation; provided that in all such cases
the Company may require the Executive to travel on Company business including being temporarily
based at other Company locations as long as such travel is reasonable and is not materially greater
or different than the Executive’s travel requirements before the Closing; (vi) any material breach
by the Company of this Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of the Closing, by and
among the Company, BD Investment Holdings Inc and the stockholder signatories thereto (the
“Stockholders’ Agreement”), the Indemnification Agreement, dated as of the Closing, by and
among the Executive and the Company (the “Indemnification Agreement), any option agreements
entered into by and between the Company and/or Holdings and the Executive; (vii) the failure by the
Company to obtain, before completion of a Change in Control, an agreement in writing from any
successor or assign to assume and fully perform under this Agreement; or (viii) the provision of
notice by the Company of non-renewal of this Agreement.




          g. By the Executive Other than for Good Reason. The Executive may terminate her
employment hereunder at any time upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Company. In the event of
termination by the Executive pursuant to this Section 5(g), the Board may elect to waive the period
of notice, or any portion thereof, and, if the Board so elects, the Company will pay the Executive
her Base Salary and prorated Target Bonus for the notice period (or for any remaining portion of
the period). The Company shall also provide the Employee the Accrued Compensation and the Company
shall have no further obligation to the Executive hereunder, other than the Surviving Company
Obligations. At the election of the Company, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of
Section 8(b) hereof and subject to the Executive’s continued compliance with her obligations under
Sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to all payments and benefits which the
Executive would have been entitled to receive under Section 5(e) hereof as if termination had
occurred thereunder, but with a Severance Multiplier of one (1).




          h. Timing of Payments. In the event that at the time the Executive
employment terminates the Company’s shares are publicly traded (as defined in Section 409A of the
Code) or the limitation on payments or provision of benefits imposed by Section 409A(a)(2)(B) would
otherwise be applicable, any amounts payable or benefits provided under Section 5 that would have
been payable during the six (6) months following the date of termination of employment with the
Company and would otherwise be considered deferred compensation subject to the additional twenty
percent (20%) tax imposed by Section 409A if paid within such six (6) month period shall be paid,
in a lump sum on the business day after the date that is the earlier of (x) six (6) months
following the date of termination, or (y) at such time as otherwise permitted by law that would not
result in such additional taxation and penalties








 









 







under Section 409A; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to grant
the Executive a “gross-up” or other “make-whole” compensation for any tax imposed under Section 409
A.





          i. No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any cash payment or the value of any benefit provided for in this Agreement by seeking
other employment, by seeking benefits from another employer or other source, or by pursuing any
other type of mitigation. No payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement shall be offset or
reduced by the amount of any cash compensation or the value of any benefit provided to the
Executive in any subsequent employment or from any other source. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
the Executive begins to participate in the group health plan of another employer which provides
benefits substantially similar to those provided by the Company pursuant to this Section 5, then
the Executive shall promptly notify the Company and the Company may discontinue the health plan
participation being provided the Executive pursuant to this Section 5.




     6. Confidential Information.



          a. The Executive acknowledges that the Company continually develops Confidential Information
(as defined in Section 12); that the Executive may develop Confidential Information for the
Company; and that the Executive may learn of Confidential Information during the course of
employment. The Executive shall not disclose to any Person or use, other than as required by
applicable law or for the performance of her duties and responsibilities to the Company, any
Confidential Information obtained by the Executive incident to her employment with the Company. The
Executive understands that this restriction shall continue to apply after her employment
terminates, regardless of the reason for such termination.




          b. All documents, records, tapes and other media of every kind and description containing
Confidential Information, and all copies, (the “Documents”), whether or not prepared by the
Executive, shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. The Executive shall return to
the Company no later than the time her employment terminates all Documents then in the Executive’s
possession or control.




     7. Assignment of Rights to Intellectual Property. The Executive shall promptly and
fully disclose all Intellectual Property (as defined in Section 12) to the Company. The Executive
hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company (or as otherwise directed by the Company) the
Executive’s full right, title and interest in and to all Intellectual Property. The Executive
agrees to execute any and all applications for domestic and foreign patents, copyrights or other
proprietary rights and to do such other acts (including without limitation the execution and
delivery of instruments of further assurance or confirmation) requested by the Company to assign
the Intellectual Property to the Company and to permit the Company to enforce any patents,
copyrights or other proprietary rights to the Intellectual Property. All copyrightable works that
the Executive creates in the performance of her duties hereunder shall be considered “work made for
hire.”








 









 












     8. Restricted Activities.



          a. While the Executive is employed by the Company and, except as otherwise provided in
Section 8(b) or 8(c) below, for the period of two (2) years following the termination of the
Executive’s employment for any reason (including retirement) or, in the event of a termination for
which the Executive is entitled to severance pay calculated with a Severance Multiplier of 1.5, for
a period of eighteen (18) months following such termination, (as applicable, the “Non-Competition
Period”), subject to the Company’s compliance with the post-employment terms of this Agreement, the
Executive will not engage or participate in, directly or indirectly, alone or as principal, agent,
employee, employer, consultant, investor or partner of, or assist in the management of, or provide
advisory or other services to, or own any stock or any other ownership interest in, or make any
financial investment in, any business or entity which is Competitive with the Company (as defined
below); provided, however, that it shall not be a violation of the foregoing (i) for the Executive
to own not more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding securities of any class of securities
listed on a national exchange or inter-dealer quotation system or (ii) following termination of the
Executive’s employment with the Company, for the Executive to provide services to any business or
entity that has a line of business, division, subsidiary or other affiliate that is Competitive
with the Company if the Executive is not employed in such line of business or division or by such
subsidiary or other affiliate and is not involved, directly or indirectly, in the management,
supervision or operations of such line of business, division, subsidiary or affiliate that is
Competitive with the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a business or entity shall be
considered “Competitive with the Company” if such business or entity provides or is engaged in, at
any time during the Non-Competition Period (A) asset management, brokerage, investment advisory and
insurance services, including services related to financial advisors for open end and closed end
public mutual funds, or (B) any other businesses in which the Company and its subsidiaries were
engaged, or any material products and/or services that the Company or its subsidiaries were
actively developing or designing, in each case under this clause (B) as of the date the Executive’s
employment with the Company terminated, provided that, prior to such termination, the Executive
knew of such other business or such material product or such service under active development or
design. In addition, during the Non-Competition Period, the Executive will not (other than when
acting on behalf of the Company during the Executive’s employment) (i) solicit, or attempt to
solicit, any existing or prospective customers, targets, suppliers, financial advisors, officers or
employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to terminate their relationship with the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) divert, or attempt to divert, from the Company or any of
its subsidiaries any of its customers, prospective customers, targets, suppliers, financial
advisors, officers or employees or (iii) hire or engage or otherwise contract with, or attempt to
hire or engage or otherwise contract with, any officers, employees or financial advisors of the
Company, whether to be an employee, officer, agent, consultant or independent contractor; provided,
however, that nothing in this Section 8(a) shall be deemed to prohibit the Executive from
soliciting a customer, prospective customer, target or supplier of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries during the Non-Competition Period if such action relates solely to a business which is
not Competitive with the Company. A customer, prospective customer, target, supplier, financial
advisor, officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is any one who was such
within the preceding twelve months, excluding, however, any prospective customer or target which
was solicited solely by mass mailing or general advertisement during




 









 




that period and any officer, employee or financial advisor whose relationship with the
Company was terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than for circumstances that
would constitute “cause” (within the meaning of any such definition applicable to such officer,
employee or financial advisor, or, if no such definition is applicable, “cause” as defined in
Section 14 of the form of option agreements under the 1999 Stock Option Plan for Incentive Stock
Options and/or 1999 Stock Option Plan for Non-Qualified Options) and provided further, with respect
to the Company’s subsidiaries, that the Executive during her employment with the Company was
introduced to, or otherwise knew of or should have known of the relationship of, such customer,
prospective customer, target, supplier, financial advisor or employee to the subsidiary.




          b. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the Executive terminates
her employment hereunder without Good Reason, the Executive shall, at the Company’s election,
which election shall be provided to the Executive prior to the date of termination, (1) receive the
payments and benefits specified in Section 5(e) with a Severance Multiplier of one (1) and be
subject to a Non-Competition Period which shall continue for two (2) years following the date of
termination of the Executive’s employment, or (2) receive no payments and benefits specified in
Section 5(e) and be subject to a Non-Competition Period which shall continue for one (1) year
following the date of termination of the Executive’s employment.




          c. The Executive may seek a waiver from the Company of her obligations pursuant to this
Section 8, which waiver shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. As of the date of the grant
of such waiver by the Company, all payments and benefits under the applicable provision of Section
5 shall cease (other than the payment of Final Compensation, excluding the payments and benefits
under clause (v) of the definition thereof which shall cease or be reimbursed by the Executive on a
pro-rata basis for the waived time period of the one (1) year Non-Competition Period, as
applicable) or Accrued Compensation, as applicable).




     9. Reasonableness; Enforcement. The Company and the Executive acknowledge that
the time, scope, geographic area and other provisions of Sections 6, 7 and 8 (the “Covenants”) have
been specifically negotiated by sophisticated parties and agree that all such provisions are
reasonable under the circumstances of the activities contemplated by this Agreement. The Executive
acknowledges and agrees that the terms of the Covenants: (i) are reasonable in light of all of the
circumstances, (ii) are sufficiently limited to protect the legitimate interests of the Company,
(iii) impose no undue hardship, (iv) are not injurious to the public, and (v) are essential to
protect the business and goodwill of the Company and its affiliates and are a material term of this
Agreement which has induced the Company to agree to provide for the payments and benefits described
in this Agreement and induced Holdings to enter into the Merger Agreement. The Executive further
acknowledges and agrees that the Executive’s breach of the Covenants will cause the Company and
Holdings irreparable harm, which cannot be adequately compensated by money damages. The Executive
and the Company agree that, in the event of an actual or threatened breach of Section 8, the
Company shall be entitled to injuactive relief for any actual or threatened violation of any of the
Covenants in addition to any other remedies it may have at law or equity, including money damages.








 









 











     10. Survival. Provisions of this Agreement shall survive any termination if so
provided herein or if necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of other surviving
provisions, including without limitation the obligations of the Executive under Sections 6, 7, 8
and 9 hereof and the obligations of the Company pursuant to Section 5 hereof.



     11. Conflicting Agreements. The Executive hereby represents and warrants that the
execution of this Agreement and the performance of her obligations hereunder will not breach or be
in conflict with any other agreement to which the Executive is a party or is bound and that the
Executive is not now subject to any covenants against competition or similar covenants or any court
order or other legal obligation that would affect the performance of her obligations hereunder. The
Executive will not disclose to or use on behalf of the Company any proprietary information of a
third party without such party’s consent.



     12. Definitions. Words or phrases which are initially capitalized or are within
quotation marks shall have the meanings provided in this Section and as provided elsewhere herein.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions apply:



          a. “Change in Control” means the consummation, after the date of Closing, of (i) any
consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person, or any other corporate
reorganization, transaction or transfer of securities of the Company by its stockholders, or series
of related transactions (including the acquisition of capital stock of the Company), whether or not
the Company is a party thereto, in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such
consolidation, merger, reorganization or transaction, own, directly or indirectly, capital stock
either (A) representing directly or indirectly through one or more entities, less than fifty
percent (50%) of the equity economic interests in or voting power of the Company or other surviving
entity immediately after such consolidation, merger, reorganization or transaction or (B) that does
not directly, or indirectly through one or more entities, have the power to elect a majority of the
entire board of directors or other similar governing body of the Company or other surviving entity
immediately after such consolidation, merger, reorganization or transaction, (ii) any transaction
or series of related transactions, whether or not the Company is party thereto, after giving effect
to which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s voting power is owned directly, or
indirectly through one or more entities, by any person and its “affiliates” or “associates” (as
such terms are defined in the Exchange Act Rules) or any “group” (as defined in the Exchange Act
Rules) other than, in each case, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company immediately following
the Closing, or (iii) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated
assets of the Company (each of the foregoing, a “Business Combination”), provided that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, the following transactions shall in no event constitute a Change in
Control: (A) a Business Combination following which the individuals or entities who were beneficial
owners of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the
Company immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly,
50% or more of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
of the resulting, surviving or acquiring corporation in such transaction or (B) an IPO.




          b. “Confidential Information” means any confidential proprietary information relating
to the business of the Company or its affiliates or their respective customers









 









 






or clients which has an economic value to the Company or its affiliates. Confidential Information
does not include any information that enters the public domain other than through a breach by the
Executive of her duties to the Company hereunder or which is obtained by the Executive from a third
party which has no obligation of confidentiality to the Company.




          c. “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the Board of Directors’ good
faith determination of the fair market value, taking into an account the most recent annual
valuation (which shall be required to be conducted by an independent appraiser at least annually)
and updated by the Company in good faith for the most recently ended quarter.




          d. “Initial Public  Offering” or “IPO” means the initial offering of stock to the public by
the Company or stockholders of the Company or Holdings requiring registration under the Securities
Act.




          e. “Intellectual Property” means any invention, formula, process, discovery,
development, design, innovation or improvement (whether or not patentable or registrable under
copyright statutes) made, conceived, or first actually reduced to practice by the Executive solely
or jointly with others, during her employment by the Company; provided, however, that, as used in
this Agreement, the term “Intellectual Property” shall not apply to any invention that the
Executive develops on her own time, without using the equipment, supplies, facilities or trade
secret information of the Company, unless such invention relates at the time of conception or
reduction to practice of the invention (a) to the business of the Company, (b) to the actual or
demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company or (c) results from any work
performed by the Executive for the Company.




          f. “Person” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a
partnership, an estate, a trust and any other entity or organization, other than the Company or any
of its subsidiaries.




     13. Withholding. All payments or other benefits, to the extent required by law,
made by the Company under this Agreement shall be reduced by any tax or other amounts required to
be withheld by the Company under applicable law.



 









 





     14. Legal Fees. The Company shall at its election either pay directly the joint legal
expenses incurred by the Executive and the other executives of the Company with whom the Company is
entering into employment agreements effective as of the Closing in the negotiation and preparation
of their employment agreements or reimburse the Executive for her portion of such joint legal
expenses. In addition, all reasonable costs and expenses that are reasonably documented (including
court and arbitration costs and reasonable legal fees and expenses that reflect common practice
with respect to the matters involved) incurred by the Executive as a result of any claim, action or
proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the contesting, disputing or enforcing of any
provision, right or obligation under this Agreement shall be paid, or reimbursed to the Executive,
if, in the final resolution of the dispute, the Executive either recovers material monetary damages
(in cash or in kind, such as benefits) or is the prevailing party on a material non-monetary claim
(such as a dispute regarding a restrictive covenant).



     15. Dispute Resolution.



          a. Except as provided in Section 9, any dispute, controversy or claim between the parties
arising out of this Agreement or the Executive’s employment with the Company or termination of
employment shall be settled by arbitration conducted in the city in which the Executive is located
administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Employment Dispute Resolution Rules
then in effect (except as modified by b. below).




          b. In the event that a party requests arbitration (the “Requesting Party”), it shall serve upon
the other party (the “Non-Requesting Party”), within one hundred and eighty (180) days of the date
the Requesting Party knew, or reasonably should have known, of the facts on which the controversy,
dispute or claim is based, a written demand for arbitration stating the substance of the
controversy, dispute or claim, the contention of the party requesting arbitration and the name and
address of the arbitrator appointed by it. The Non-Requesting Party, within sixty (60) days of such
demand, shall accept the arbitrator or appoint a second arbitrator and notify the other party of
the name and address of this second arbitrator so selected, in which case the two arbitrators shall
appoint a third who shall be the sole arbitrator to hear the case. In the event that the two
arbitrators fail in any instance to appoint a third arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the
appointment of the second arbitrator, either arbitrator or any party to the arbitration may apply
to the American Arbitration Association for appointment of the third arbitrator in accordance with
the Rules, which arbitrator shall be the sole arbitrator to hear the case. Should the
Non-Requesting Party (upon whom a demand for arbitration has been served) fail or refuse to accept
the arbitrator appointed by the other party or to appoint an arbitrator within sixty (60) days, the
single arbitrator shall have the right to decide alone, and such arbitrator’s decision or award
shall be final and binding upon the parties.




          c. The decision of the arbitrator shall be in writing; shall set forth the basis for the
decision; and shall be rendered within thirty (30) days following the hearing. The decision of the
arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties and may be enforced and executed upon in any
court having jurisdiction over the party against whom enforcement of such award is sought.




 









 





     16. No Withholding
of Undisputed Payments. During the pendency of any dispute or
controversy, the Company shall not withhold any payments or benefits due to the Executive, whether
under this Agreement or otherwise, except for the specific portion of any payment or benefit that
is the subject of a bona fide dispute between the parties.



     17. Assignment. Neither the Company nor the Executive may make any assignment of this
Agreement or any interest herein, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written
consent of the other. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company
and the Executive, their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted
assigns.



     18. Severability. If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be
 declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this
Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to
which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion
and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by
law.



     19. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in
writing and signed by the waiving party. The failure of either party to require the performance of
any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by either party of any breach of this
Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a
waiver of any subsequent breach.



     20. Notices. Any and all notices, requests, demands and other communications provided
for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective when delivered in person or the
next business day following consignment for overnight delivery to a reputable national overnight
courier service or five business days following deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid,
registered or certified, and addressed to the Executive at her last known address on the books of
the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its principal place of business, attention of the
Chairman of the Board, or to such other address as a party may specify by notice to the other
actually received. Copies of any notices, requests, demands and other communication to the Company
by the Executive shall be sent by the to the Investors at the following address: c/o Texas Pacific
Group, 301 Commerce Street, Suite 3300, Fort Worth, TX 76102, Attn: Richard Schifter (Fax:
415-743-1501) and c/o Hellman & Friedman LLC, One Maritime Plaza, 12th Floor, San
Francisco, CA 94111, Attn: Jeffrey Goldstein (Fax: 415-835- 5408)



     21. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Indemnification Agreement constitute the
entire agreement between the parties and supersede all prior communications, agreements and
understandings, written or oral, with respect to the terms and conditions of the Executive’s
employment including without limitation the Management Arrangements — Summary of Key Terms.



 









 







     22. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument
signed by the Executive and by an authorized representative of the Company subject to prior
approval by the Board.



     23. Headings. The headings and captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and
in no way define or describe the scope or content of any provision of this Agreement.



     24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.



     25. Governing Law. This is a Massachusetts contract and shall be construed and
enforced under and be governed in all respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.



[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]









 









 











     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as a sealed instrument by the
Company, by its duly authorized representative, and by the Executive, as of the date first above
written.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	THE EXECUTIVE	 	THE COMPANY
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Stephanie L. Brown
	 	By:
	 	/s/ Mark S. Casady
	 

	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name: Stephanie L. Brown
	 	 	 	Name: Mark S. Casady
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Title:





In addition, BD Investment Holdings Inc. agrees to be bound by the terms of Section 4(c) of
the Employment Agreement which is expressly applicable to BD Investment Holdings Inc.




	 	 	 	 	 

	BD INVESTMENT HOLDINGS INC. By:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Allen R. Thompson	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name: Allen R. Thorpe	 	 
	 

	 	Title: