Document:

Exhibit 10.12

 

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of                       , 2014 (the “Effective Date”) among Ares Management GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Ares Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), Ares Domestic Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares Domestic”), Ares Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares Holdings”), Ares Investments L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares Investments”), Ares Offshore Holdings L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (“Ares Offshore”), and Ares Real Estate Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares Real Estate” and, together with the Company, the Partnership, Ares Domestic, Ares Holdings, Ares Investments and Ares Offshore, the “Indemnitors”), and the indemnitee named on the signature pages hereto (“Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, it is contemplated that the Partnership will conduct an initial public offering of common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership and that the Company will act as the general partner of the Partnership;

 

WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee has been asked to serve as a director or an officer of the Company or in another capacity with the Company, any of the other Indemnitors or any of their respective affiliates, including as a director, officer, employee or agent, and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or proceedings arising as a result of his or her services to and activities on behalf of the Indemnitors and their subsidiaries and affiliates;

 

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Indemnitee to serve in such capacity(ies), the Indemnitors have agreed to indemnify and to advance expenses and costs incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings, to the maximum extent permitted by law; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification and the advancement of expenses.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the parties do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.              Indemnification.

 

To the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by applicable law, including Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (as it may be amended, the “DLLCA”), Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (as it may be amended, the “DRULPA”) and the Exempted Limited Partnership Law (2013 Revision) of the Cayman Islands:

 

(a)           The Indemnitors shall, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend, protect and hold harmless Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, as a witness or otherwise, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought by or in the right of any of the Indemnitors or otherwise), including any appeal therefrom, (i) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as, or has been appointed as, a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes of this Agreement, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, attorney, advisor, consultant, member, shareholder, representative, partner or manager or similar capacity) of any of the Indemnitors or their affiliates, in each case whether prior to, on or subsequent to the date of this Agreement, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted to be taken by Indemnitee in such capacity, whether prior to, on or subsequent to the date of this Agreement, or (ii) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of, or is or was or

 

 

has been appointed by, any Indemnitor or any of their affiliates as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise or entity (each such entity, a “Primary Obligor”), in each case whether prior to, on or subsequent to the date of this Agreement, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted to be taken by Indemnitee in such capacity. The indemnification of an Indemnitee of the type identified in clause (i) of this Section 1(a) shall, to the extent not in conflict with such policy, be secondary to any and all payment to which such person is entitled from any relevant insurance policy issued to or for the benefit of any Indemnitor or Indemnitee. The indemnification of an Indemnitee of the type identified in clause (ii) of this Section 1(a) shall be secondary to any and all indemnification to which such person is entitled from (x) the relevant Primary Obligor (including any payment made to such person under any insurance policy issued to or for the benefit of such Primary Obligor or the Indemnitee), and (y) the relevant Fund (if applicable) (including any payment made to such person under any insurance policy issued to or for the benefit of such Fund or the Indemnitee) (clauses (x) and (y) together, the “Primary Indemnification”), and will only be paid to the extent the Primary Indemnification is not paid or does not provide coverage (e.g., a self-insured retention amount under an insurance policy). No such Primary Obligor or Fund shall be entitled to contribution or indemnification from or subrogation against the Indemnitors. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnitors make an indemnification payment or advance expenses to such an Indemnitee, the Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the rights of such Indemnitee against the relevant Primary Obligor or Fund (if applicable) or under any insurance policy issued to or for the benefit of such Indemnitor, Primary Obligor, Fund or the Indemnitee; provided that the foregoing shall not in and of itself extinguish any unpaid or unsatisfied rights Indemnitee has against any third party or any Indemnitor.

 

(b)           The indemnification provided by this Section 1 shall be from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, demands, deficiencies, liabilities, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, penalties, interest and amounts paid in settlement or otherwise, including associated tax liabilities in respect of any of the foregoing (collectively “Losses”), in connection with, arising out of or related to any such action, suit or proceeding, including any appeals.

 

Section 2.              Advance Payment of Expenses. To the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by applicable law, including Section 18-108 of the DLLCA, Section 17-108 of the DRULPA and Cayman Islands law, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by Indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit or proceeding or in connection with an enforcement action as contemplated by Section 3(e), shall be paid by the Indemnitors in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding within 60 days after receipt by the Indemnitors of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time (which shall include invoices received by the Indemnitee in connection with such expenses, but in the case of invoices for legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditures made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law or court rules may be omitted), whether prior to or after final disposition of any action, suit or proceeding. The Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled under this Agreement to be indemnified by the Indemnitors in respect thereof, it being understood that Indemnitee may make any such payment in cash, through the delivery of equity interests in any of the Indemnitors or their affiliates (valued at fair value at the time of such delivery), or any combination thereof. Such undertaking shall be unsecured and accepted without reference to the financial ability of the Indemnitee to make repayment and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. No other form of undertaking shall be required of Indemnitee other than the execution of this Agreement. This Section 2 shall be subject to Section 3(b) and shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 6.

 

2

 

Section 3.              Procedure for Indemnification; Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)

 

(i)            Indemnitee shall notify the Indemnitors in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof or Indemnitee’s otherwise becoming aware thereof. The written notification to Indemnitors shall include a description of the nature of the action, suit or proceeding and the facts underlying such action, suit or proceeding, in each case to the extent known by Indemnitee. The failure to promptly notify the Indemnitors of the commencement of the action, suit or proceeding, or of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification, will not relieve the Indemnitors from any liability that they may have to Indemnitee hereunder, except to the extent the Indemnitors are actually and materially prejudiced in their defense of such action, suit or proceeding as a result of such failure.

 

(ii)           To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Indemnitors a written request therefor including such documentation and information as is reasonably available to or known by Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to enable the Indemnitors to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

(b)           With respect to any action, suit or proceeding of which the Indemnitors are so notified as provided in this Agreement, the Indemnitors shall, subject to the last two sentences of this paragraph, be entitled to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of their election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Indemnitors, the Indemnitors will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any subsequently-incurred fees of separate counsel engaged by Indemnitee with respect to the same action, suit or proceeding unless the employment of separate counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the Indemnitors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Indemnitee, based on the advice of his or her counsel, shall have reasonably concluded (with written notice being given to the Indemnitors setting forth the basis for such conclusion) that, in the conduct of any such defense, there is or is reasonably likely to be a conflict of interest or position between the Indemnitors and Indemnitee with respect to a significant issue, then the Indemnitors will not be entitled, without the written consent of Indemnitee, to assume such defense. In addition, the Indemnitors will not be entitled, without the written consent of Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of any of the Indemnitors.

 

(c)           To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including Section 18-108 of the DLLCA, Section 17-108 of the DRULPA and Cayman Islands law, the Indemnitors’ assumption of the defense of an action, suit or proceeding in accordance with paragraph 3(b) will constitute an irrevocable acknowledgement by the Indemnitors that any and all Losses in respect of any of the foregoing, including any appeals therefrom, are indemnifiable by the Indemnitors under Section 1 of this Agreement.

 

(d)           The determination whether to grant Indemnitee’s indemnification request shall be made promptly and in any event within 60 days following the Indemnitors’ receipt of a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 3(a)(ii). If the Indemnitors determine that Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification or, as contemplated by paragraph 3(c) the Indemnitors have acknowledged such entitlement, the Indemnitors will make payment to Indemnitee of the indemnifiable amount within 10 days after making such determination. If the Indemnitors are not deemed to have so acknowledged such entitlement or the Indemnitors’ determination of whether to grant Indemnitee’s indemnification request shall not have been made within such 60 day period, the requisite determination

 

3

 

of entitlement to indemnification shall, subject to Section 6, nonetheless be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(e)

 

(i)            In the event that (1) the Indemnitors determine in accordance with this Section 3 that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (2) the Indemnitors deny a request for indemnification, in whole or in part, or fail to respond or make a determination of entitlement to indemnification within 60 days following receipt of a request for indemnification as described above, (3) payment of indemnification is not made within 10 days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, (4) advancement of expenses is not timely made in accordance with Section 2, or (5) the Indemnitors or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in any court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses.

 

(ii)           Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration in Los Angeles, California, before one arbitrator, conducted by the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services/Endispute, Inc. (“JAMS”), or its successor.  Disputes shall be resolved in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§1—16, and JAMS’ Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect.  The arbitrator will have the same, but no greater, remedial authority than would a court of law and shall issue a written decision including the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award.  Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof.  Indemnitee shall commence a proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 3(e); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply to a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 3(g).

 

(iii)          Indemnitee’s expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with determining Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, in whole or in part, in any such proceeding or arbitration or otherwise shall also be indemnified by the Indemnitors to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (whether such efforts are successful or unsuccessful).

 

(f)            Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Agreement upon submission of a request therefor in accordance with Section 2 or Section 3 of this Agreement, as the case may be. The Indemnitors shall have the burden of proof in overcoming such presumption, and such presumption shall be used as a basis for a determination of entitlement to indemnification and advancement of expenses unless the Indemnitors overcome such presumption by clear and convincing evidence. No determination by the Indemnitors (including by directors or any independent counsel) that the Indemnitee has not satisfied any applicable standard of conduct shall be a defense to any claim by the Indemnitee for indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of expenses by the Indemnitors hereunder or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or with criminal intent.

 

4

 

(g)           If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Indemnitors for some portion of his or her Losses but not the total amount thereof, the Indemnitors shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

Section 4.              Insurance and Subrogation.

 

(a)           The Indemnitors may purchase or otherwise obtain coverage under a policy or policies of insurance, providing Indemnitee with coverage, subject to the terms and conditions of such policy or policies, for any liability asserted against, and incurred by, Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as, or is or was or has been appointed as, a director, officer, employee or agent of any of the Indemnitors or their affiliates, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of an Indemnitor or its affiliates as a director, officer, employee or agent of, or is or was or has agreed to otherwise be associated with, any Primary Obligor or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Indemnitors would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement. If the Indemnitors have such insurance in effect at the time the Indemnitors receive from Indemnitee any notice of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder, the Indemnitors shall give prompt notice thereof to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the policy or policies. The Indemnitors shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policy or policies.

 

(b)           In the event of any payment by the Indemnitors under this Agreement the Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy; provided that the foregoing shall not in and of itself extinguish any unpaid or unsatisfied rights Indemnitee has against any third party or any Indemnitor. Indemnitee shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, in each case reasonably requested by the Indemnitors, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Indemnitors to bring suit to enforce such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance policy. The Indemnitors shall, jointly and severally, pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.

 

(c)           The Indemnitors shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, and excise taxes with respect to an employee benefit plan or penalties) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under this Agreement or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 5.              Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a)           The term “action, suit or proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include the investigation (formal or informal), preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration, mediation and appeal of, and the giving of testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed investigation, inquiry, audit, claim, action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing or other proceeding or claim of any kind, whether civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory, legislative, investigative or otherwise, and whether or not formal or informal.

 

(b)           The term “by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of an Indemnitor, or while serving as a director or officer of

 

5

 

Indemnitor, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of an Indemnitor as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise or entity” (or any words of similar effect) shall be broadly construed and shall include any actual or alleged act or omission to act. The Indemnitors hereby agree that any service, act or omission by Indemnitee respecting the investing activities of one or more Indemnitors or one or more Funds or their respective affiliates is at the request and direction of and on behalf of one or more of the Indemnitors or one or more of the Funds or their respective affiliates.

 

(c)           The term “expenses” shall be broadly construed and shall include all direct and indirect costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including all attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, fees of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, facsimile transmission charges, secretarial services, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, appeal bonds, all other disbursements and other out-of-pocket costs of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or a witness, or otherwise participating in any action, suit or proceeding and reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which Indemnitee is not otherwise compensated by the Indemnitors or any third party), actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with either the investigation, defense or appeal of an action, suit or proceeding or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise incurred in connection with a claim that is indemnifiable hereunder.

 

(d)           “Fund” shall mean any fund, investment vehicle or account whose investments are managed or advised by an Indemnitor or any of its affiliates.

 

(e)           The term “judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement” shall be broadly construed and shall include all direct and indirect payments of any type or nature whatsoever (including all penalties and amounts required to be forfeited or reimbursed to the Indemnitors), as well as any penalties or excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan.

 

Section 6.              Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Indemnitors shall not be obligated pursuant to this Agreement:

 

(a)           Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance expenses to Indemnitee with respect to any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by Indemnitee, except with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by Indemnitee or an action, suit or proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification, advancement of expenses or contribution under this Agreement (which shall be governed by the provisions of Section 12 of this Agreement), unless such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the member, or board of directors, of the Company.

 

(b)           Section 16(b) Matters. To indemnify Indemnitee on account of any action, suit or proceeding in which Indemnitee agrees to or is liable for disgorgement of profits made from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(c)           Bad Faith or Criminal Intent. To indemnify Indemnitee on account of conduct by Indemnitee where such conduct has been determined by a final (not interlocutory) judgment or other adjudication of a court or arbitrator or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as to which there is no further right or option of appeal or the time within which an appeal must be filed has expired without

 

6

 

such filing to have been in bad faith or with criminal intent.

 

Section 7.              Certain Settlement Provisions. The Indemnitors shall have no obligation to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit or proceeding without the Indemnitors’ prior written consent.  The Indemnitors shall not settle any action, suit or proceeding in any manner that would impose any fine or other obligation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent. Neither the Indemnitors nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold his, her, its or their consent to any proposed settlement.

 

Section 8.              Savings Clause. If any provision or provisions (or portion thereof) of this Agreement shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Indemnitors shall nevertheless indemnify, defend, protect and hold harmless Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought by or in the right of any of the Indemnitors or otherwise), including appeals therefrom, (i) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as, or has been appointed as, a director, officer, employee or agent of any of the Indemnitors or their affiliates, in each case whether prior to, on or subsequent to the date of this Agreement, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted to be taken by Indemnitee in such capacity, whether prior to, on or subsequent to the date of this Agreement, or (ii) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of, or is or was or has been appointed by, any Indemnitor or any of their affiliates as a director, officer, employee or agent of a Primary Obligor, in each case whether prior to, on or subsequent to the date of this Agreement, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted to be taken by Indemnitee in such capacity from and against any and all Losses in connection with, arising out of or related to such action, suit or proceeding, including any appeals, to the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by applicable law.

 

Section 9.              Contribution.  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for herein is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part, it is agreed that, in such event, the Indemnitors shall, to the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by applicable law, contribute to the payment of all of Indemnitee’s Losses in connection with, arising out of or related to any action, suit or proceeding, including any appeals, in an amount that is just and equitable in the circumstances; provided, that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution shall not be required where such holding by the court is due to any limitation on indemnification set forth in Section 6 or 7 hereof.

 

Section 10.            Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand or overnight courier service and receipted for by the party to whom said notice, request, demand or other communication shall have been directed, on the day of such delivery, or (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

(i)            If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(ii)           If to any Indemnitor, to:

 

c/o Ares Management, L.P.

2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attn:  General Counsel

 

7

 

or to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

 

Section 11.            Nonexclusivity. The provisions for indemnification, advancement of expenses and contribution set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of, a substitute for or in abrogation of any other rights which Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, in any court in which a proceeding is brought, the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, or comparable organizational documents of the Indemnitors, other agreements or otherwise, and Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of Indemnitee. No amendment or alteration of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, or comparable organizational documents of the Indemnitors or any other agreement shall adversely affect the rights provided to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 12.            Enforcement. The Indemnitors shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable. Each of the Indemnitors agrees that its execution of this Agreement shall constitute a stipulation by which it shall be irrevocably bound in any court of competent jurisdiction in which a proceeding by Indemnitee for enforcement of his rights hereunder shall have been commenced, continued or appealed, that its obligations set forth in this Agreement are unique and special, and that failure of the Indemnitors to comply with the provisions of this Agreement will cause irreparable and irremediable injury to Indemnitee, for which a remedy at law will be inadequate. As a result, in addition to any other right or remedy Indemnitee may have at law or in equity with respect to breach of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to injunctive or mandatory relief directing specific performance by the Indemnitors of their respective obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 13.            No Construction as Employment Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained as a director or officer of the Company or in the employ of the Indemnitors. For the avoidance of doubt, the indemnification, advancement of expenses and contribution provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he may have ceased for any reason whatsoever to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, any other Indemnitor or any Primary Obligor, as the case may be.

 

Section 14.            Interpretation of Agreement. It is understood that the parties hereto intend this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to Indemnitee to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by applicable law.  In the event of any change in applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of Indemnitee to indemnification, advancement of expenses or contribution from an Indemnitor hereunder, such change, to the extent not otherwise required by such law, shall have no effect on this Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder.

 

Section 15.            Entire Agreement. Subject to Section 11, this Agreement and the documents expressly referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or agreements with respect to the matters covered hereby are expressly superseded by this Agreement.

 

Section 16.            Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, waiver or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof

 

8

 

 

(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement may not be terminated by the Indemnitors without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

Section 17.            Successor and Assigns. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. Each of the Indemnitors shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of such Indemnitor, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, to expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the such Indemnitor would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 18.            Service of Process and Venue. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agrees that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), (b) consents to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (c) appoints, to the extent such Indemnitor is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801 as its agent in the State of Delaware for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such Indemnitor with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such Indemnitor personally within the State of Delaware, (d) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (e) waives, and agrees not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 19.            Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules.  If a court of competent jurisdiction shall make a final determination that the provisions of the law of any state other than Delaware govern indemnification by the Indemnitors of Indemnitee, then the indemnification provided under this Agreement shall in all instances be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under such law, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary.

 

Section 20.            Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  One such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought shall be sufficient to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 21.            Interpretation.

 

(a)           Unless a clear contrary intention appears: (i) the defined terms herein shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of such terms; (ii) reference to any person includes such person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement, and reference to a person in a particular capacity excludes such person in any other capacity or individually; (iii) any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; (iv) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof; (v) reference to any law, rule or regulation means such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and reference to any section or other provision of any law, rule or

 

9

 

regulation means that provision of such law, rule or regulation from time to time in effect and constituting the substantive amendment, modification, codification, replacement or reenactment of such section or other provision; (vi) “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto,” and words of similar import shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular article, section or other provision hereof; (vii) numbered or lettered articles, sections and subsections herein contained refer to articles, sections and subsections of this Agreement; (viii) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term; (ix) “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or”; (x) references to documents, instruments or agreements shall be deemed to refer as well to all addenda, exhibits, schedules or amendments thereto; and (xi) reference to dollars or $ shall be deemed to refer to U.S. dollars.

 

(b)           All headings herein are inserted only for convenience and ease of reference and are not to be considered in the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

10

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
 
    	
ARES   MANAGEMENT GP LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ARES   MANAGEMENT, L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   ARES MANAGEMENT GP LLC,
    
	
 
    	
its   General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ARES   DOMESTIC HOLDINGS L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   ARES DOMESTIC HOLDINGS INC.,
    
	
 
    	
its   General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ARES   HOLDINGS L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   ARES HOLDINGS INC.,
    
	
 
    	
its   General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

 

 

	
 
    	
ARES   INVESTMENTS L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   ARES MANAGEMENT, L.P.,
    
	
 
    	
its   General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   ARES MANAGEMENT GP LLC, its General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ARES   OFFSHORE HOLDINGS L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   ARES OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LTD.,
    
	
 
    	
its   General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ARES   REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   ARES REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC,
    
	
 
    	
its   General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

 

 

	
 
    	
INDEMNITEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Address:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]Exhibit 10.17

 

FORM OF FAIR COMPETITION AGREEMENT

 

Fair Competition Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of                                               , 2014 (the “Effective Date”), by Ares Owners Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares Owners LP”), and [Name], an individual residing in [State of Residence] (“you”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ares Owners LP, dated on or about the Effective Date (the “Ares Owners LP Agreement”); provided that if any such term is also defined in the Unitization Letter (as defined below), such term shall have the meaning ascribed to thereto in the Unitization Letter.

 

WHEREAS, Ares Owners LP is a limited partner of (a) Ares Domestic Holdings L.P, a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares Domestic”), Ares Holdings L.P, a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares Holdings”), Ares Investments L.P, a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares Investments”), Ares Offshore Holdings, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (“Ares Offshore”), and Ares Real Estate Holdings L.P, a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares Real Estate” and, together with Ares Domestic, Ares Holdings, Ares Investments and Ares Offshore, the “Ares Operating Group Entities”), and (b) Ares Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Issuer”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to a letter agreement (the “Unitization Letter”), dated on or about the Effective Date, by, among others, Ares Owners LP and you, or an entity of which you are the Principal, you acknowledge receiving a number of partnership interests in Ares Owners LP designated in the Ares Owners LP Agreement as “Class IND Units,” “Class OG Units,” “Class PTP Units”, “Class T Units” or “Class T-IND Units” (collectively, the “Units”); and

 

WHEREAS, your entry into this Agreement is an essential inducement to Ares Owners LP to admit you, or an entity of which you are the Principal, as a Limited Partner.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of your admission as a Limited Partner or as the Principal of a Limited Partner, and intending to be legally bound, you agree as follows:

 

General

 

1.                                      No Conflicting Obligations.  You represent that (a) you do not have any contractual or other obligations that could conflict with (i) your continued employment by, or provision of services to, any Ares Company or (ii) your status as a Limited Partner or as the Principal of a Limited Partner, and (b) without limiting the foregoing, you are not bound by any agreement, understanding or other obligation (including any non-competition agreement) that prohibits you from continuing your employment by or provision of services to, or fully performing all your duties for, any Ares Company.

 

2.                                      [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

3.                                      Duties.

 

(a)                     Subject to paragraph 3(b) hereof, while you are employed by, or providing services to, any Ares Company, you shall at all times:

 

(i)                                     notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.3 of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Issuer, dated on or about the Effective Date, devote substantially all of your working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Ares Companies on a full-time basis, other than (1) service with a charitable organization or on an industry or charitable board,

 

 

panel or committee; (2) the management of certain existing investments listed on Schedule I hereto and any follow-on investments with respect thereto (“Legacy Investments”) or (3) the management of your assets or the assets of, or providing investment advice to, family members (including through a “family office”), any trust established for your benefit or the benefit of one or more of your family members or any private foundation established or controlled by you or one or more of your family members (including making direct or indirect investments in, or providing financing to, public or private companies, joint ventures and other commercial enterprises) (“Family Office Investments”); provided, that, in the case of (x) each of clauses (1), (2) and (3), such activities do not interfere in any material respect with the performance of your duties for the Ares Companies and (y) clauses (2) and (3), such investments or assets do not include a business whose principal business is raising, investing and managing the capital of Funds, and

 

(ii)                                  observe and comply in all material respects with all lawful rules, regulations, written policies and practices in effect or adopted by the Ares Companies that are generally applicable to employees or service providers (as applicable) of the Ares Companies at this time or in the future.

 

(b)                     For the avoidance of doubt, any periods of leave for your or any of your family member’s serious health condition shall not be considered “working time” under paragraph 3(a)(i).  You acknowledge that any Legacy Investments and Family Office Investments are subject to written policies and practices in effect or adopted by the Ares Companies that are generally applicable to employees or service providers (as applicable) of the Ares Companies at this time or in the future; provided that any such policies and practices shall not require that you devote substantially all of your working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Ares Companies on a full-time basis in a manner that prohibits investments or activities that are otherwise permitted by paragraph 3(a)(i).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (including paragraph 3(a) hereof), for the avoidance of doubt, no breach of this Agreement shall require you to forfeit any Units under the Unitization Letter or cause the loss of any rights provided to you under the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Ares Partners Holdco LLC (the “Ares Partners Holdco LP Agreement”).

 

4.                                      Corporate Opportunities. While you are employed by, or providing services to, any Ares Company, or remain a Limited Partner or the Principal of a Limited Partner, you shall at all times:

 

(a)                     promptly disclose to Ares Owners LP all Potential Ares Business Opportunities (as defined below), and

 

(b)                     not usurp or take advantage of any Potential Ares Business Activity personally or for the benefit of any other Person without first offering such opportunity to the Ares Companies.

 

“Potential Ares Business Opportunity” means a business opportunity that (i) you become aware of during your employment by, or provision of services to, any Ares Company and (ii) is of a substantially similar nature to an existing business of any of the Ares Companies or to a type of business that you have knowledge that an Ares Company is currently considering investing in or acquiring.

 

Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure

 

5.                                      Business Partner Confidences.  During the course of their businesses, the Ares Companies are entrusted with a variety of non-public information by their investors, portfolio companies, counter-parties and other Persons with whom or which they do business (collectively, “Business

 

2

 

Partners”).  The Business Partners expect that the Ares Companies will hold all such information, including the fact that such Business Partners are doing business with the Ares Companies and the specific matters on which such Business Partners are doing business, in the strictest confidence (“Business Partner Confidences”).

 

6.                                      Certain Definitions.

 

(a)                     “Confidential Information” means: (i) information developed by or on behalf of any of the Ares Companies or their Affiliates that is not generally known by persons not employed by the Ares Companies and that could not easily be determined or learned by someone outside the Ares Companies (including information concerning (A) clients, internal corporate policies and strategies, corporate opportunities, financial and sales information, personnel information (including personal, compensation, remuneration and bonus arrangements), forecasts, business and marketing plans, (B) the affairs or assets of the Ares Companies, private equity funds, accounts, or clients for which an Ares Company performs, directly or indirectly, services, any portfolio companies thereof or any prospective portfolio companies that are being actively considered, or (C) the nature and material terms of business opportunities, investment funds, portfolio investments, investors, business and investment proposals available to an Ares Company), (ii) Track Record (as defined below) and (iii) Business Partner Confidences. Confidential Information (x) includes both written information and information not reduced to writing, whether or not explicitly designated as confidential, (y) is of a special and unique nature and value to the Ares Companies, their Affiliates and their respective businesses and (z) provides the Ares Companies with a competitive advantage.

 

(b)                     “Track Record” means all information that is not available to the general public related to the investments and performance of the Ares Companies and their affiliated investment managers and the investment vehicles managed by them, including such information as is typically used in the compilation of an investment performance table including, with respect to each such investment and investment entity, to the extent applicable: (i) the name of the company invested in, (ii) the date of an investment, (iii) the dollar amount invested, the number and type of securities purchased and any other relevant terms of such purchase, (iv) the total dollar amount of proceeds realized, (v) the date of realization, (vi) the amount of any unrealized value, (vii) the multiple of investment cost, (viii) the internal rate of return, and (ix) any other data relevant to the performance of such investments and funds.  All Track Record is proprietary, confidential, and is the sole and exclusive property of the Ares Companies.

 

7.                                      Duty to Preserve Confidential Information.  In and as a result of your employment or other relationship with the Ares Companies, you will acquire and be making use of Confidential Information.  At all times during the existence of the Ares Companies, you shall, and shall cause your Representatives (which shall not include any Person solely because such Person is an employee or Representative of the Ares Companies or any of their respective Affiliates or any other Relevant Entity while you are an employee of the Ares Companies) to, maintain the confidentiality of, and not disclose to any person or use in any way, any Confidential Information other than your good faith disclosure (a) as is reasonably necessary and appropriate in the course of, and in furtherance of, the conduct of the business of the Ares Companies or any of its Affiliates or any other Relevant Entity, or (b) (i) as you reasonably believe (after consultation with counsel) to be required by law, court order or regulatory authority, (ii) to your legal, tax or other professional advisors or (iii) to any bank or other lender or to any family member, in each case, to the extent such Confidential Information is included in any financial statement of the holder of the Units.

 

3

 

8.                                      Company Documents.  All documents, in hard copy or electronic form, received, created or used by you in connection with your employment with, or provision of services to, an Ares Company are and will remain the property of the Ares Companies. Except as set forth in this paragraph 8, you shall return all such documents (including all copies) promptly upon the termination of your employment or service and agree that, during and after your employment or service, you will not, under any circumstances, disclose those documents to anyone outside the Ares Companies or use those documents for any purpose other than (a) the advancement of the interests of the Ares Companies or (b) your good faith disclosure (i) as you reasonably believe (after consultation with counsel) to be required by law, court order or regulatory authority, (ii) to your legal, tax or other professional advisors or (iii) to any bank or other lender or to any family member, in each case, to the extent such Confidential Information is included in any financial statement of the holder of the Units.  You are authorized to retain documents (1) related to the terms of your employment by any Ares Company, (2) related to your Units or other equity interests in the Ares Companies so long as you (or any of your Permitted Transferees) are a Limited Partner or the Principal of a Limited Partner or are entitled to any amounts with respect thereto, (3) related to amounts due to you pursuant to any agreement between you and any Ares Company or other Relevant Entity, (4) for any of the purposes set forth in clause (b) of this paragraph for so long as you reasonably believe retention of documents may serve any such purpose or (5) if such documents only contain information that is available to the general public.

 

Restrictive Covenants

 

9.                                      Notice of Intent to Resign.  If you wish to resign from your employment by, or cease providing services to, an Ares Company, you shall give such Ares Company 30 days advance written notice of your intent to do so (the “Termination Notice Period”).  After receipt of such notice,

 

(a)                     such Ares Company, in its sole discretion, may (i) require you to continue working or providing services during the Termination Notice Period or (ii) relieve you of some or all of your work responsibilities during the Termination Notice Period and, in each such case, you will be entitled to your normal base compensation and benefits through and including the last day of the Termination Notice Period, and

 

(b)                     Ares Owners LP may take any actions with respect to your Units that Ares Owners LP is entitled to take upon any such termination pursuant to the Ares Owners LP Agreement or an applicable Supplemental Agreement.

 

If your employment by, or provision of services to, an Ares Company is terminated for any reason, you, or the Limited Partner of which you are Principal, will be Dissociated from Ares Owners LP and thereafter shall have no further rights as a limited partner and continue to hold your Units as a Transferee, in each case as set forth in the Ares Owners LP Agreement.

 

10.                               Covenant Not To Compete.

 

(a)                     A Person shall be deemed to have engaged in a “Competitive Business Activity” if such Person (i) owns, manages, operates, controls, or participates in the ownership, management, operation, or control of, (ii) is employed by or (iii) renders services or advice to, or consults with, any other Person in any Competitive Business.  The foregoing shall not apply to (A) passive investments in up to 5% of any class of securities (x) listed on any national or regional securities exchange or registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or (y) in a private company made by you that have been approved by the compliance department of the Ares Companies (in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), so long as such Person does not otherwise

 

4

 

actively participate in the business activities of such enterprise), (B) Legacy Investments, (C) Family Office Investments  or (D) passive investments in any class of securities of a private Fund or private manager of a Fund, in each case, that has been approved by the general counsel of Ares Management GP LLC in writing (so long as such Person does not actively participate in the business activities of such enterprise).  “Competitive Area” means, as of the applicable date, the geographic area in which the Issuer, directly or indirectly through any other Ares Company or a Fund managed by an Ares Company, conducts business.  “Competitive Business” means, as of the applicable date, the business engaged in by the Issuer directly or indirectly through any other Ares Company or a Fund managed by an Ares Company but not including the business of a portfolio company in which a Fund holds an investment.  As of the date hereof, a Competitive Business includes creating Funds, and raising, investing and managing the capital of Funds.  “Non-Compete Period” means the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the first anniversary of the date when you or the Limited Partner of which you are Principal becomes Dissociated.  You acknowledge that the Ares Companies are in a highly competitive industry and that your participation in a Competitive Business during the Non-Compete Period may jeopardize the Confidential Information and relationships with the Business Partners.  If you resign from your employment by, or cease providing services to, an Ares Company, you will not, (i) while you are a Limited Partner or the Principal of a Limited Partner or (ii) after you or the Limited Partner of which you are a Principal become Dissociated, directly or indirectly, independently or in cooperation with any other Person, engage in a Competitive Business Activity in a Competitive Area (whether or not for compensation) during the Non-Compete Period.  You agree that this covenant is reasonable with respect to its duration, geographical area and scope, in light of the nature and worldwide scope of the business activities of the Ares Companies.

 

(b)                     Without limiting the foregoing, should you consider engaging in any activity that is or may be a Competitive Business Activity in a Competitive Area during the Non-Compete Period, you shall provide Ares Owners LP with two weeks advance written notice of your intention to do so and of the nature of your anticipated job responsibilities in sufficient detail to allow Ares Owners LP to meaningfully exercise its rights hereunder.

 

(c)                      Each of Ares Owners LP or the general counsel of Ares Management GP LLC may decide, in its sole discretion, to waive, modify or condition its rights (in a manner favorable to you) under this Section 10.  In particular, Ares Owners LP or the general counsel of Ares Management GP LLC may agree to waive or modify (in a manner favorable to you) this Section 10 if the work you will be performing for a competitor is different from the work you were performing during your employment with, or provision of services to, an Ares Company.

 

11.                               Non-Solicitation of Clients.  You have gained or will gain knowledge of the identity, characteristics and preferences of the Business Partners and other Confidential Information, which you may inevitably draw upon if you were to solicit or service the Business Partners on behalf of a Competitive Business.  Accordingly, until the expiration of the Restricted Period (whether while you are a Limited Partner or the Principal of a Limited Partner or after you or the Limited Partner of which you are a Principal become Dissociated), you shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on your own behalf or on behalf of another Person, (i) solicit investments from, solicit the business of or perform any services of the type you performed for actual or prospective Business Partners as to which (x) you performed services or had direct contact, or (y) you had access to Confidential Information, in each case, during the course of your employment by, or provision of services to, any Ares Company (a “Covered Business Partner”) or (ii) encourage or assist any Competitive Business to solicit or service any actual or prospective Covered Business Partner, or otherwise seek to encourage or induce any such Covered Business Partner to cease doing business with, or reduce the extent of its business dealings with, any Ares Company.  The prohibitions contained in this paragraph shall not apply to any Business Partner you developed a

 

5

 

relationship with without any substantial assistance from any Ares Company, provided you so demonstrate in writing during your employment with or provision of services to an Ares Company.  “Restricted Period” means the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the one-year anniversary of the Termination Date.  “Termination Date” means the date you become no longer employed by, and cease to provide services to, the Ares Companies at any time for any reason.

 

12.          Non-Solicitation of Employees.  Until the expiration of the Restricted Period (whether while you are a Limited Partner or the Principal of a Limited Partner or after you or the Limited Partner of which you are a Principal become Dissociated), you shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on your own behalf or on behalf of some other Person, (a) solicit, hire or seek to hire any person who is at that time (or was during the prior six months) an employee (other than an employee that was terminated by the Ares Companies without “cause”), of any Ares Company or (b) induce or encourage any employee, consultant, independent contractor, representative or other agent of any Ares Company to terminate or reduce his or her employment or other business relationship or affiliation with any of the Ares Companies.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, you shall not be in breach of this paragraph 12 due to any general solicitation that is not specifically targeted at any employees of any Ares Company.

 

13.          Non-Interference.

 

(a)      Until the expiration of the Restricted Period, you shall not while you are a Limited Partner or the Principal of a Limited Partner or after you or the Limited Partner of which you are a Principal become Dissociated (whether on your own behalf or on behalf of some other Person), directly or indirectly, induce or encourage any Person, including any provider of goods or services, to terminate or diminish its business relationship with any Ares Company.

 

(b)      Both during and after your employment or provision of services, you will not directly or indirectly, make or publish any disparaging or derogatory statements or otherwise disparage (even by making truthful statements) (i) any Ares Company or any Affiliate, director, officer, member, manager or partner thereof, (ii) any Person that you know to be (or have been) a Business Partner (in its capacity as such), or (iii) any Person that you know to have been a Representative of any Person included in the foregoing clause (ii) (in such Representative’s capacity as such), in each case, except (A) as may be required by applicable laws, court orders, regulatory authorities or listing exchanges or (B) in confidence to your legal or other professional advisors who need to know such information.

 

(c)       Both during and after your employment, the members of the management committee of the Ares Companies will not directly or indirectly, make or publish any disparaging or derogatory statements or otherwise disparage (even by making truthful statements) you, in each case, except (i) as may be required by applicable laws, court orders, regulatory authorities or listing exchange and (ii) that all such persons may discuss matters relating to you in confidence with Ares Owners LP’s or its Affiliates’ (A) Representatives or (B) partners, employees, officers, boards of directors or other governing bodies.

 

Intellectual Property

 

14.          During your employment with, or while you are providing services to, any of the Ares Companies, you shall fully and promptly disclose to the Ares Companies, without additional compensation, all ideas, original or creative works, inventions, discoveries, computer software or programs, trading strategies, statistical and economic models, improvements, designs, formulae, processes, production methods and technological innovations, in each case, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, which, during your employment with any Ares Company are made, conceived or created

 

6

 

by you, alone or with others, during or after usual working hours, either on or off your job, that (a) are related to the business of any of the Ares Companies or (b) relate in any way to tasks assigned to you by any Ares Company (collectively, “Intellectual Property”).  You acknowledge and agree that the Ares Companies own all such Intellectual Property rights as works made for hire to the fullest extent of the law, which in California excepts any invention that qualifies fully under California Labor Code section 2870.  Section 2870 provides that an employment invention assignment provision “shall not apply to an invention that the employee developed entirely on his or her own time without using the employer’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information except for those inventions that either: (1) relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to the employer’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the employer; or (2) result from any work performed by the employee for the employer” (collectively, “Excepted IP”).  For the avoidance of doubt, you hereby assign to the Ares Companies all Intellectual Property rights (other than Excepted IP) in any and all media now known or hereafter developed, along with all existing causes of action, known or unknown.  At any time, whether during or after your employment or provision of services, you shall sign all papers and do such other acts and things as any Ares Company deems necessary or desirable and may reasonably require of you to protect the rights of any of the Ares Companies to such Intellectual Property, including applying for, obtaining and enforcing patents or copyrights with respect to such Intellectual Property in any and all countries.

 

Other Terms

 

15.          [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

16.          Subject to Section 10(c), this Agreement may not be amended, waived or discharged except by a writing signed by both parties.

 

17.          Any notices permitted or required hereunder shall be given in the manner set forth in the Ares Owners LP Agreement.

 

18.          This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the respective heirs, successors, permitted assigns and legal representatives of the parties hereto.

 

19.          This Agreement, and any matter or dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement, shall be construed by, subject to and governed in accordance with the internal laws of California without giving effect to conflict of laws or other principles which may result in the application of laws other than the internal laws of California.

 

20.          If it shall be determined that any provision or wording of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not invalidate the entire Agreement.  In that case, this Agreement shall be construed so as to limit any term or provision so as to make it enforceable or valid within the requirements of any applicable law, and, in the event such term or provision cannot be so limited, this Agreement shall be construed to omit such invalid or unenforceable provisions.

 

21.          The exclusive remedy for determining any and all disputes, claims or causes of action, in law or equity, arising out of or related to this Agreement, or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity thereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be determined by final, binding and confidential arbitration in Los Angeles, California, before one arbitrator, conducted by the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services/Endispute, Inc. (“JAMS”), or its successor.  Disputes shall be resolved in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§1—16, and JAMS’ Comprehensive

 

7

 

Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect.  The arbitrator will have the same, but no greater, remedial authority than would a court of law and shall issue a written decision including the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award.  Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof.  This agreement to resolve any disputes by binding arbitration extends to claims by or against any of the Ares Companies or any of their respective past or present Representatives and applies to claims arising out of federal, state and local laws, including claims of alleged discrimination on any basis, as well as to claims arising under the common law.  The prevailing party in any such arbitration proceeding, as determined by the arbitrator, or in any proceeding to enforce the arbitration award, will be entitled, to the extent permitted by law, to reimbursement from the other party for all of the prevailing party’s costs (including but not limited to the arbitrator’s compensation), expenses and attorneys’ fees.  If no party entirely prevails in such arbitration or proceeding, the arbitrator or court shall apportion an award of such fees based on the relative success of each party.  In the event of a conflict between this provision and any provision in the applicable rules of JAMS, the provisions of this Agreement will prevail.

 

22.          The parties agree that (a) irreparable damage may occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, (b) the provisions of paragraph 21 shall not preclude any party from obtaining provisional relief, including injunctive relief, from a court of appropriate jurisdiction to protect its rights under this Agreement, and (c) the parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions thereof in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph 22, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.  No party seeking relief under this paragraph 22 shall be required to post a bond or prove special damages. Each party agrees and consents to personal jurisdiction, service of process and venue in any federal or state court within the State of California, County of Los Angeles, in connection with any action brought in connection with a request for any such provisional or injunctive relief, and in connection with any action to enforce this arbitration clause or an award in arbitration and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, that any action brought in any such court should be dismissed on grounds of forum non conveniens.  Each party to this Agreement consents to mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such arbitration or action by certified mail in the manner and to the addresses provided in Section 11.4 of the Ares Owners LP Agreement.

 

23.          You shall, upon Ares Owners LP’s request, execute such further documents and take such other actions as may be permitted or required by law to implement the purposes, objectives, terms, and provisions of this Agreement.

 

24.          As used herein:  (a) the defined terms herein shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of such terms; (b) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually; (c) any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; (d) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof; (e) reference to any law, rule or regulation means such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and reference to any section or other provision of any law, rule or regulation means that provision of such law, rule or regulation from time to time in effect and constituting the substantive amendment, modification, codification, replacement or reenactment of such section or other provision; (f) “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto,”  and words of similar import shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular article, section or other provision hereof; (g)

 

8

 

numbered or lettered articles, sections and subsections herein contained refer to articles, sections and subsections of this Agreement; (h) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term; (i) “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or”; (j) references to documents, instruments or agreements shall be deemed to refer as well to all addenda, exhibits, schedules or amendments thereto; and (k) reference to dollars or $ shall be deemed to refer to U.S. dollars.

 

25.          To the extent any provision of this Agreement expressly conflicts with any provision of the Ares Owners LP Agreement, this Agreement shall control. To the extent any provision of this Agreement expressly conflicts with any provision of the Ares Partners Holdco LP Agreement, the Ares Partners Holdco LP Agreement shall control.

 

26.          This Agreement may be executed and delivered in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic transmission), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute a single instrument.

 

27.          You acknowledge that you understand the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and have had adequate time to consider whether to agree to them and to consult a lawyer or other advisor of your choice if you wish to do so.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

9

 

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

 

	
 
    	
ARES   OWNERS HOLDINGS L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
ARES   PARTNERS HOLDCO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General   Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[Name]
    

 

10

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00229-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00229-of-00352.parquet"}]]