Document:

exv10w17

 

Exhibit 10.17

VOTING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT

     This Voting and Corporate Governance Agreement (“Agreement”) is made by and among NACG
Holdings Inc., a Canadian federal corporation (“Company”), certain of the persons or entities who
have committed to purchase Common Shares (as defined herein) on the Effective Date (as defined
herein) whose names appear on the signature page(s) of this Agreement under the caption “Holders”
(referred to hereinafter individually as an “Initial Holder” and collectively as the “Initial
Holders”) and the persons whose names appear on the signature pages of this Agreement under the
caption “Voting Representatives.”

     WHEREAS, the Initial Holders have committed to purchase Common Shares for purposes of
financing the North American Acquisition; and

     WHEREAS, as a condition to the purchase by the Initial Holders of Common Shares, this
Agreement is being entered into by the parties in order to ensure that for as long as certain
Holders (as defined herein) hold a minimum amount of the Shares, such Holders shall be entitled to
appoint members to the Board of Directors of the Company as set forth herein; and

     WHEREAS, the Initial Holders have agreed to vote the Shares held by them in furtherance of
their commitments to each other to effect the appointment of the requisite number of members to the
Board of Directors of the Company designated by certain Holders; and

     WHEREAS, as a condition to the purchase by the Initial Holders of Common Shares, this
Agreement is being entered into to set forth certain additional agreements relating to certain
corporate governance matters with respect to the Company;

     NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable considerations, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1. Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement.

          1.1 The term “Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in the Shareholders Agreement.

          1.2 The term “Approved Sale” shall have the meaning set forth in the Shareholders Agreement.

          1.3 The term “Associate” shall have the meaning set forth in the Shareholders Agreement.

          1.4 The term “Canadian Securities Legislation” shall mean the securities laws of each of the
provinces and territories of Canada and Canadian federal securities laws.

          1.5 The term “Capital Stock” shall mean Common Shares and any preferred shares or other equity
securities of the Company now or hereafter authorized.

 

 

          1.6 The term “Cause” shall mean the commission of an act involving the reckless disregard of
one’s duties to the Company, willful misconduct, fraud or the indictment for or conviction of any
felony under any applicable United States federal or state or Canadian federal or provincial
statute.

          1.7 The term “Common Shares” shall mean any and all classes of common shares of the Company
now or hereafter authorized.

          1.8 The term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and
“under common control with,” shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management or policies (whether through ownership of
securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise).

          1.9 The term “Designated Director” shall mean a director of the Company that is a designee of
an Eligible Designated Holder Group as provided in this Agreement.

          1.10 The term “Designated Holder Group” shall mean each of (i) the Genstar Holders Group, so
long as any Holder is included therein; (ii) the Perry Holders Group, so long as any Holder is
included therein; (iii) the Stephens Holders Group, so long as any Holder is included therein; and
(iv) the Sterling Holders Group, so long as any Holder is included therein.

          1.11 The term “Effective Date” shall mean the date of the closing of the North American
Acquisition.

          1.12 The term “Eligible Designated Holder Group” shall mean each of (i) the Genstar Holders
Group, so long as the Holders included in the Genstar Holders Group own in the aggregate at least
the Minimum Ownership Percentage; (ii) the Perry Holders Group, so long as the Holders included in
the Perry Holders Group own in the aggregate at least the Minimum Ownership Percentage; (iii) the
Stephens Holders Group, so long as the Holders included in the Stephens Holders Group own in the
aggregate at least the Minimum Ownership Percentage; and (iv) the Sterling Holders Group, so long
as the Holders included in the Sterling Holders Group own in the aggregate at least the Minimum
Ownership Percentage.

          1.13 The term “Engagement Letter” shall mean that certain Engagement Letter dated as of the
Effective Date among the Company, its subsidiaries and the sponsors named therein, as amended from
time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and this Agreement.

          1.14 The term “Genstar Holders Group” shall mean, at any particular time, all of the following
that are Holders at such time: (i) Genstar Capital Partners III, L.P., (ii) Stargen III, L.P.,
(iii) the Permitted Transferees of Genstar Capital Partners III, L.P. and Stargen III, L.P. and
(iv) any Permitted Transferee of a Holder then included in the Genstar Holders Group; provided,
that a Permitted Transferee under Section 6.1 of the Shareholders Agreement that is at the time of
such transfer then included in another Designated Holder Group shall not be included in the Genstar
Holders Group.

          1.15 The term “Genstar Holders Voting Representative” shall mean Jean-Pierre Conte or any
successor to Mr. Conte approved as a successor Genstar Holders Voting

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Representative by Majority
Approval of the Holders then included in the Genstar Holders Group as designated in written notice
by such Holders to the Company and the other Voting Representatives.

          1.16 The term “Holder” means any Person who beneficially owns Shares and is a party to this
Agreement or adopts this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof.

          1.17 The term “Independent Director” shall mean a director of the Company that was an
Independent Director Designee.

          1.18 The term “Independent Director Designee” shall mean an individual Person that is not a
Related Person of any Holder, that has not been removed from the Board for Cause and who is
designated as a nominee for election to the Board by the written approval of the Voting
Representative for each Eligible Designated Holder Group (acting as directed by Majority Approval
of the Holders included in such Eligible Designated Holder Group).

          1.19 The term “Initial Public Offering” shall mean an underwritten public offering of Common
Shares pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act or to a prospectus filed
and duly receipted under any Canadian Securities Legislation after the Effective Date wherein the
aggregate net proceeds (after deducting all costs, discounts, commissions and other expenses of the
offering) to the Company are at least CAD$100,000,000.00; provided, however, that the term “Initial
Public Offering” shall not include any registration statement or prospectus (i) relating to
warrants, options or shares of capital stock granted or to be granted or sold primarily to
employees, directors, or officers of the Company, (ii) filed pursuant to Rule 145 under the
Securities Act or any successor or similar provision, (iii) relating to any employee benefit plan
or interests therein, (iv) relating solely to any preferred shares or debt securities of the
Company, or (v) first filed prior to the Effective Date.

          1.20 The term “Majority Approval” shall mean the vote, consent or approval of the Holders
included in a Designated Holder Group then holding a majority of the Shares held by all Holders
included in such Designated Holder Group.

          1.21 The term “Minimum Ownership Percentage”, as to the Holders included in any Designated
Holder Group at any particular time, shall mean at least 50%
of the number of Shares initially issued to the Holders included in such Designated Holder
Group as of the Effective Date as set forth on the signature page(s) of this Agreement beside the
caption “Total Number of Shares To Be Owned By Group at Effective Date” under the name of such
Designated Holder Group (after giving effect, as to the Sterling Holders Group, to the issuances,
transfers or repurchases, if any, described in footnote 1 thereto).

          1.22 The term “North American Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition of all of the capital
stock of North American Construction Group Inc., an Alberta corporation and substantially all of
the assets and business and certain of the liabilities of North American Equipment Ltd, an Alberta
corporation, as contemplated in the Purchase Agreement dated October 31, 2003 among Norama Ltd. and
North American Equipment Ltd. (the “Sellers”),

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Martin Gouin and Roger Gouin (the “Principals”),
NACG Preferred Corp., and NACG Acquisition Inc. (the “Purchase Agreement”).

          1.23 The term “Permitted Transferee” shall mean any person or entity to which Shares may be
transferred pursuant to Sections 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.8 or 6.9 of the Shareholders Agreement.

          1.24 The term “Perry Holders Group” shall mean, at any particular time, all of the following
that are Holders at such time: (i) Perry Partners International, Inc., (ii) Perry Partners, L.P.,
(iii) the Permitted Transferees of Perry Partners International, Inc. and Perry Partners, L.P., and
(iv) any Permitted Transferee of a Holder then included in the Perry Holders Group; provided, that
any Permitted Transferee under Section 6.1 of the Shareholders Agreement that is at the time of
such transfer included in another Designated Holder Group shall not be included in the Perry
Holders Group.

          1.25 The term “Perry Holders Voting Representative” shall mean Peter Schweinfurth or any
successor to Mr. Schweinfurth approved as a successor Perry Holders Voting Representative by
Majority Approval of the Holders then included in the Perry Holders Group and designated by written
notice by such Holders to the Company and the other Voting Representatives.

          1.26 The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, joint venture, association,
partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, trust,
business or charitable organization, governmental or quasi-governmental authority or legal entity
of any kind.

          1.27 The term “Registration Rights Agreement” shall mean that certain Registration Rights
Agreement effective as of the Effective Date among the Company and the other parties named therein,
including the Holders executing this Agreement, as amended from time to time in accordance with
such agreement and this Agreement.

          1.28 The term “Related Person” shall mean, as to any Holder, any person or entity that (i) is
an Affiliate of such Holder, (ii) is an Associate of such Holder or any of its Affiliates, or (iii)
has been designated pursuant to Section 2.1 as a member
of the Board by the Designated Holder Group in which such Holder or any of its Associates,
Affiliates or Permitted Transferees is included under this Agreement.

          1.29 The term “Required Voting Percentage” shall mean, at any particular time, at least 75% of
the Common Shares outstanding and subject to this Agreement at such time. The Voting
Representative for each Designated Holder Group shall be exclusively authorized to act on behalf of
and as directed by each Holder included in such Designated Holder Group with respect to matters
requiring the consent, vote or approval of the Required Voting Percentage.

          1.30 The term “Seller Designated Director Designee” shall mean Martin Gouin, one of the
Principals. In no event shall any Person other than Martin Gouin be entitled to be a Seller
Designated Director Designee.

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          1.31 The term “Seller Designated Director Qualifications” shall mean (i) any Series A
Preferred Shares or Series B Preferred Shares issued by NACG Preferred Corp. are outstanding and
held by (a) Mr. Martin Gouin (“M. Gouin”), (b) a corporation controlled by M. Gouin, or (c) a
corporation of which at least 50% of the outstanding shares entitled to elect a majority of the
board of directors is owned beneficially by M. Gouin or a corporation controlled by M. Gouin; (ii)
M. Gouin has not been removed as a director of the Company for Cause or become disabled (in the
reasonable judgment of the Designated Directors); (iii) M. Gouin has not resigned as a director of
the Company or indicated his desire not to be re-elected as a director of the Company; (iv) M.
Gouin has satisfied all confidentiality requirements applicable to the directors of the Company and
has satisfied applicable security clearance requirements of governmental authorities; (v) M. Gouin
has agreed that he shall not be entitled to director’s fees, but shall be entitled to reimbursement
of reasonable expenses of attendance at board meetings; (vi) the Principals and the Sellers are not
in breach of and have performed all of their obligations under the Purchase Agreement and the
Principals are in compliance with the terms of the Non-Competition Agreements executed by them
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; and (vii) M. Gouin has agreed to recuse himself and has in fact
recused himself from any Company board meeting at which a possible conflict or dispute between the
Company or any of its subsidiaries and the holder(s) of any such Series A Preferred Shares or
Series B Preferred Shares or any Seller or any Principal may be discussed.

          1.32 The term “Shareholders Agreement” shall mean that certain Shareholders Agreement dated as
of the Effective Date among the Company and the Holders and the other parties thereto, as amended
from time to time in accordance with such agreement and this Agreement.

          1.33 The term “Shares” shall mean (i) all Capital Stock beneficially owned by a Holder at the
time such Holder becomes a party to this Agreement or adopts this Agreement pursuant to the terms
hereof; (ii) all Capital Stock hereafter issued by the Company to or otherwise acquired by any
Holder, whether in connection with a purchase, issuance, grant, stock split, stock dividend,
reorganization, warrant, option, convertible security, right to acquire or otherwise; and (iii) all
securities of the Company or any other
corporation or entity which any Holder acquires in respect of his, her or its Capital Stock in
connection with any exchange, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization
or other transaction to which the Company is a party. All references herein to the Shares owned by
a Holder include the community interest or similar marital property interest, if any, of the spouse
of such Holder in such Shares.

          1.34 The term “Stephens Holders Group” shall mean, at any particular time, all of the
following that are Holders at such time: (i) Stephens – NACG LLC, (ii) the Permitted Transferees
of Stephens – NACG LLC and (iii) any Permitted Transferee of a Holder then included in the Stephens
Holders Group; provided, that any Permitted Transferee under Section 6.1 of the Shareholders
Agreement that is at the time of such transfer included in another Designated Holder Group shall
not be included in the Stephens Holders Group.

          1.35 The term “Stephens Holders Voting Representative” shall mean Rick Turner or any successor
to Mr. Turner approved as a successor Stephens Holders Voting Representative by Majority Approval
of the Holders then included in the Stephens Holders

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Group as designated by written notice by such
Holders to the Company and the other Voting Representatives.

          1.36 The term “Sterling Holders Group” shall mean, at any particular time, all of the
following that are Holders at such time: (i) Sterling Group Partners I, L.P. (ii) the Permitted
Transferees of Sterling Group Partners I, L.P. and (iii) any Permitted Transferee of a Holder then
included in the Sterling Holders Group; provided, that any Permitted Transferee under Section 6.1
of the Shareholders Agreement that is at the time of such transfer included in another Designated
Holder Group shall not be included in the Sterling Holders Group.

          1.37 The term “Sterling Holders Voting Representative” shall mean William C. Oehmig or any
successor to Mr. Oehmig approved as a successor Sterling Holders Voting Representative by Majority
Approval of the Holders then included in the Sterling Holders Group as designated by written notice
by such Holders to the Company and the other Voting Representatives.

          1.38 The term “Voting Representative” shall mean each of the Genstar Holders Voting
Representative, the Perry Holders Voting Representative, the Stephens Holders Voting Representative
and the Sterling Holders Voting Representative at the time designated as such hereunder.

     2. Voting Agreement.

          2.1 Directors. Each Eligible Designated Holder Group (acting by Majority Approval of
the Holders included in such Eligible Designated Holder Group) shall be entitled to designate
through its Voting Representative one director of the Company who has not been removed as a
director of the Company for Cause for so long as the Holders included in such Eligible Designated
Holder Group own in the aggregate at least the Minimum Ownership Percentage, and each Holder agrees
to vote all Shares
held by such Holder (and to execute and deliver written consents in lieu thereof) in favor of
and approving the election of such designee as a director of the Company (subject to the provisions
of Sections 2.3 through 2.5). In addition, so long as the Holders included in the Sterling Holders
Group at any particular time hold in the aggregate at least 75% of the Shares initially issued to
the Holders included in the Sterling Holders Group as of the Effective Date as set forth on the
signature page(s) of this Agreement beside the caption “Total Number of Shares To Be Owned By Group
at the Effective Date” under the name “Sterling Holders Group” (after giving effect to the
issuances, transfers or repurchases, if any, described in footnote 1 thereto), the Sterling Holders
Group (acting by Majority Approval of the Holders included in the Sterling Holders Group) shall be
entitled to designate through the Sterling Holders Voting Representative an additional director of
the Company who has not been removed as a director of the Company for Cause, and each Holder agrees
to vote all Shares held by such Holder (and to execute and deliver written consents in lieu
thereof) in favor of and approving the election of such designee as a director of the Company
(subject to the provisions of Sections 2.3 through 2.5). In addition, each Holder agrees to vote
all Shares held by such Holder (and to execute and deliver written consents in lieu thereof) in
favor of and approving the election as a director of the Company of (a) each Independent Director
Designee, (b) the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and (c) for so long as the Seller

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Designated
Director Designee meets the Seller Designated Director Qualifications, the Seller Designated
Director Designee.

          2.2 Death, Resignation, Removal.

               (a) Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall not vote such Holder’s Shares (or execute a
written consent in lieu thereof) to remove (except for Cause) a Designated Director without the
consent of the Voting Representative of the Eligible Designated Holder Group that designated such
Designated Director (given pursuant to Majority Approval by the Holders included in such Eligible
Designated Holder Group). Any vacancy on the Board caused by the death, resignation or removal of
a Designated Director designated by an Eligible Designated Holder Group shall be filled by a
successor designee who has not been removed as a director of the Company for Cause designated by
such Eligible Designated Holder Group (acting by Majority Approval of the Holders included in such
Eligible Designated Holder Group) through its Voting Representative, and each Holder agrees to vote
all shares held by such Holder (and to execute and deliver written consents in lieu thereof) in
favor of and approving the election of such successor designee as a director of the Company
(subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 through Section 2.5).

               (b) Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall not vote such Holder’s Shares (or execute a
written consent in lieu thereof) to remove (except for Cause) an Independent Director without the
consent of the Holders of at least 75% of the Shares held by all Holders included in all Eligible
Designated Holder Groups. The Voting Representative of each Eligible Designated Holder Group shall
be exclusively authorized to act on behalf of and as directed by each Holder included in such
Eligible Designated Holder Group with respect to the giving or withholding of any such consent.
Any vacancy on the Board caused by the death, resignation or removal of an Independent
Director shall be filled by a successor Independent Director Designee and each Holder agrees
to vote all shares held by such Holder (and to execute and deliver written consents in lieu
thereof) in favor of and approving the election of such successor Independent Director Designee as
a director of the Company (subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 through Section 2.5).

               (c) Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall not vote such Holder’s Shares (or execute a
written consent in lieu thereof) to remove (except for Cause or the failure to meet the Seller
Designated Director Qualifications) the Seller Designated Director Designee. Any vacancy on the
Board caused by the death, resignation or removal of the Seller Designated Director Designee as a
director of the Company shall be filled by a successor Independent Director Designee and each
Holder agrees to vote all shares held by such Holder (and to execute and deliver written consents
in lieu thereof) in favor of and approving the election of such successor Independent Director
Designee as a director of the Company (subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 through Section
2.5)

          2.3 Removal at Request and For Cause.

               (a) Each Holder agrees to vote all Shares held by such Holder (and to execute and deliver
written consents in lieu thereof) in favor of and approving the removal as a director of the
Company of any Designated Director designated by the Voting Representative of

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an Eligible
Designated Holder Group pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2 upon written request of such Voting
Representative pursuant to Majority Approval by the Holders included in such Eligible Designated
Holder Group. Any director of the Company may be removed for Cause at any time in accordance with
the By-laws of the Company, and no Holder shall be required under this Agreement to vote against
any such removal. If a Designated Director designated by an Eligible Designated Holder Group is
removed for Cause, the provisions of Section 2.2(a) shall apply with respect to the designation of
such removed Designated Director’s successor by such Eligible Designated Holder Group through its
Voting Representative.

               (b) Each Holder agrees to vote all Shares held by such Holder (and to execute and deliver
written consents in lieu thereof) in favor of and approving the removal as a director of the
Company of any Independent Director upon written request of the Holders of at least 75% of the
Shares held by all Holders included in all Eligible Designated Holder Groups. The Voting
Representative of each Eligible Designated Holder Group shall be exclusively authorized to act on
behalf of and as directed by each Holder included in such Eligible Designated Holder Group with
respect to the giving or withholding of any such request. If an Independent Director is removed
for Cause, the provisions of Section 2.2(b) shall apply with respect to the designation of such
removed Independent Director’s successor.

               (c) Each Holder agrees to vote all Shares held by such Holder (and to execute and deliver
written consents in lieu thereof) in favor of and approving the removal as a director of the
Company of the Seller Designated Director Designee for Cause or for failure to meet the Seller
Designated Director Qualifications upon written request of the Holders of at least 75% of the
Shares held by all Holders included in all
Eligible Designated Holder Groups. The Voting Representative of each Eligible Designated
Holder Group shall be exclusively authorized to act on behalf of and as directed by each Holder
included in such Eligible Designated Holder Group with respect to the giving or withholding of such
request. If the Seller Designated Director Designee is removed for Cause or for failure to meet
the Seller Designated Director Qualifications, the provisions of Section 2.2(c) shall apply with
respect to the designation of such removed Seller Designated Director Designee’s successor.

          2.4 Cessation of Rights. When a Designated Holder Group ceases to be an Eligible
Designated Holder Group, the Holders in such Designated Holder Group and its Voting Representative
shall have no further rights hereunder to designate any director, but the Holders included in such
Designated Holder Group and its Voting Representative shall continue to have the other rights
hereunder and under the Shareholders Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement until such
time as there are no Holders in such Designated Holder Group.

          2.5 Procedures. The Company hereby agrees to deliver to the Voting Representatives a
written notice (“Election Notice”) at least fourteen (14) days prior to (i) sending notice to the
shareholders of the Company of any annual, special or other meeting of shareholders of the Company
at which directors are to be elected (including the filling of any vacancy on the Board) and (ii)
the delivery of any written consent to any shareholder of the Company to be utilized for the
election of directors (including filling any vacancy on the Board), unless the Election Notice is
waived by such Voting Representatives. The Election Notice, unless so waived, shall state the
time, place and date of any such shareholders meeting and the date notice of such shareholders
meeting will be sent to the shareholders of the Company (the

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“Meeting Notice Date”) or the first
date on which such written consent is to be delivered to any shareholder of the Company (the
“Consent Delivery Date”). At least two (2) days prior to the Meeting Notice Date or the Consent
Delivery Date, as the case may be, the Voting Representative for each Eligible Designated Holder
Group that is entitled to designate a director to fill a position on the Board to be filled at any
such shareholders meeting or pursuant to such written consent shall designate in writing to the
Company and the other Voting Representatives the designee of such Eligible Designated Holder Group
who is its nominee to fill such position, and the Voting Representatives of all Eligible Designated
Holder Groups shall designate in writing to the Company the Independent Director Designees they
have selected to fill the positions on the Board to be filled by Independent Directors at any such
shareholders meeting or pursuant to such written consent. If any such designation of a designee of
an Eligible Designated Holder Group is not so received by the Company by such time, the position on
the Board to be filled by the designee of such Eligible Designated Holder Group shall remain vacant
until such position is filled by a designee of such Eligible Designated Holder Group. If any such
designation of an Independent Director Designee is not so received by the Company by such time, the
position on the Board to be filled by such Independent Director Designee shall remain vacant until
such position is filled by an Independent Director Designee. With respect to all such designations
timely received by the Company, the Company shall include in the notice of such shareholders
meeting or in such written consent the name of each such designee and the name of the Eligible
Designated Holder Group that designated such designee and
identifying each Independent Director Designee. For so long as the Seller Designated Director
Designee meets the Seller Designated Director Qualifications and has not been removed for Cause,
the Company shall include in the notice of any shareholders meeting or in any written consent
pursuant to which the position on the Board held by the Seller Designated Director Designee is to
be filled the name of the Seller Designated Director Designee as nominee for such position.

          2.6 Agreement to Cooperate. In order to effectuate the provisions of this Section 2,
each Holder hereby agrees that when any consent or vote of the shareholders of the Company is
required to be taken or made in order to effect the election of any designee of any Eligible
Designated Holder Group, an Independent Director Designee or the Seller Designated Director
Designee as a director of the Company or the removal of any Designated Director, Independent
Director or the Seller Designated Director Designee pursuant to this Section 2, such Holder shall,
at the request of any Voting Representative, use such Holder’s reasonable commercial efforts
(including joining with other Holders) to call, or cause the Company and the appropriate officers
and directors of the Company to call, a special or annual meeting of shareholders of the Company,
or to deliver to the shareholders of the Company a consent in writing in lieu of any such meeting,
to effect such election or removal.

          2.7 Conflicting Provisions in Governing Instruments. Each Holder shall vote such
Holder’s Shares, and shall take all reasonable actions necessary, to ensure that the Company’s
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws do not, from time to time, conflict with the provisions of
this Agreement. In the event the provisions of this Agreement conflict with the Company’s Articles
of Incorporations or Bylaws, each Holder agrees that the provisions of this Agreement shall
control. If such conflict occurs, each Holder shall vote, and shall use its best reasonable
efforts to cause its Designated Director, if any, to vote, and each Holder and the Company shall
take all reasonable actions necessary, to amend the provisions of the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws that conflict with this Agreement to eliminate such conflict.

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     3. Size of Board; Committees. The number of directors on the Board as of the
Effective Date shall be 11. The size of the Board may not be increased above 13 or decreased below
eight without the written approval of the Voting Representative for each Eligible Designated Holder
Group (acting as directed by Majority Approval of the Holders included in such Eligible Designated
Holder Group). The Holders shall vote their Shares in favor of any change in the authorized number
of directors as may be approved in writing by the Voting Representative for each Eligible
Designated Holder Group (acting as directed by Majority Approval of the Holders included in such
Eligible Designated Holder Group).

          3.1 Board Committees. Each Designated Director shall be entitled to serve on such
committees of the Board as such Designated Director may request from time to time and each
Designated Director shall be offered the opportunity to serve any Board committee.

     4. Affiliated Transactions. Each Holder agrees that, without the prior written
approval of the Holders of at least 75% of the Common Shares outstanding and subject to this
Agreement held by all Holders other than such Holder and its Related Persons, such Holder shall
not, and shall not permit any of its Related Persons to, enter into, renew, extend or be a party to
any transaction or series of transactions (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any
property or the rendering of any service) with the Company or any of its subsidiaries except for
(i) issuance of Capital Stock pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock
options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board, (ii) the grant of share options or similar
rights to employees and directors pursuant to plans approved by the Board, (iii) loans or advances
to executive officers approved by the Board, (iv) the payment of reasonable fees to directors of
the Company and its subsidiaries who are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries in their
capacities as Board members or members of committees of the Board (in the same amounts and on the
same terms as to all such directors serving in such capacities) as may be approved by the Board (v)
any transaction between subsidiaries of the Company, and (vi) this Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement and the Engagement Letter and any amendments thereto
made in accordance with the provisions thereof and this Agreement and any transactions permitted
thereby.

     5. Rights to Participate in Management; Information. The Company agrees to permit any
authorized representatives designated by any Holder at its expense to visit and inspect any of the
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries and to inspect, copy and take extracts from its and
their books and records, including its and their financial and accounting records and other data
(including properties), and to consult and discuss with its and their officers regarding its and
their affairs, finances accounts and significant business issues, including operating plans, all
upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as
may reasonably be requested. In addition, during any period of time that Genstar Capital Partners
III, L.P. is not included in an Eligible Designated Holder Group, the Company shall send to a
Person designated by Genstar Capital Partners III, L.P. all materials sent by the Company to its
board of directors and such Holder shall have the right to designate and send a representative to
attend all meetings of the Company’s board of directors in a nonvoting observer capacity. The
foregoing rights are subject to any customary confidentiality requirements and subject to security
clearance requirements imposed by applicable governmental authorities. Subject to the receipt of a
customary confidentiality agreement from any Holder then holding at least ten percent (10%) of the
Shares subject to this Agreement held by such Holder on the

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Effective Date, the Company shall
deliver to such Holder, at such Holder’s request, all financial information of the Company (i)
distributed by the Company to members of the board of directors of the Company, at or about the
time delivered to such Board members, and (ii) provided by the Company pursuant to the requirements
of any senior secured loan agreement or indenture to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is a party, at or about the time delivered to the Persons entitled thereto under any such agreement
or indenture.

     6. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees that, so long as any
Holder is included in a Designated Holder Group, the Company shall comply with the covenants set
forth in this Section 6.

          6.1 Issuances of Capital Stock. Without the consent of the Holders of the Required
Voting Percentage, the Company shall not, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries not to, issue
any securities (or any rights or securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable
or exchangeable for securities) after the Effective Date except for issuances (i) in an Initial
Public Offering approved pursuant to Section 6.6, (ii) in an Approved Sale, (iii) upon the
conversion or exercise of securities convertible into or containing options or rights to acquire
Capital Stock of the Company (to the extent such securities were issued in compliance with the
provisions of this Section 6), (iv) approved by the Board to any employee, prospective employee,
director or prospective director of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, (v) of Series A
Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares (if any) by a subsidiary of the Company as provided
in the Purchase Agreement (including issuances of additional shares thereof in lieu of cash
dividends) and (vi) resulting in net proceeds to the Company of less than an aggregate of
US$5,000,000 during the term of this Agreement while this Section 6 is in effect.

          6.2 Acquisitions, Etc. Without the consent of the Holders of the Required Voting
Percentage, the Company shall not, and shall cause its subsidiaries not to (i) invest in or
purchase any material interest in any company, partnership or business (whether by a purchase of
assets, purchase of stock, merger, amalgamation or otherwise) or (ii) enter into any joint venture
or similar transaction outside the ordinary course of business or make any other investment, loan
or advance outside the ordinary course of business, except for (a) investments, purchases,
transactions, investments, loans and advances described in clauses (i) and (ii) that do not exceed
$US 25 million in the aggregate at any time during the term of this Agreement while this Section 6
is in effect, and (b) investments in and loans and advances to and among the Company and its
subsidiaries and cash management activities in the ordinary course of business.

          6.3 Capital Expenditures. Without the consent of the Holders of the Required Voting
Percentage, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, make capital
expenditures (including expenditures under capital leases), in any fiscal year in excess the amount
set forth in the Company’s annual budget for such fiscal year plus US $10 million.

          6.4 Dividends, Repurchases. The Company shall not, without the consent of the Holders
of the Required Voting Percentage, directly or indirectly, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire,
or declare or pay any dividends on, any Capital Stock or other equity securities (including,
without limitation, warrants, options and other rights to acquire such Capital Stock or other
equity securities), except (i) dividends on or any purchase or other acquisition of the Series A
Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares (if any) issued

-11-

 

pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (including any additional shares thereof issued in lieu of cash dividends), (ii) the
purchase of Capital Stock pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement, (iii) purchases, redemptions or
other acquisitions of Capital Stock issued to employees and directors, (iv) purchases, redemptions
and other acquisitions of Capital Stock so long as the cumulative total of all such purchases,
redemptions and other acquisitions under this clause (iv) does not exceed an aggregate of $US 5
million during the term of this Agreement during the time this Section 6 is in effect, and (vi)
during the six-month period after the Effective Date,
purchases, redemptions and other acquisitions of an aggregate number of shares of Capital
Stock from Sterling Group Partners I, L.P. not to exceed the number of shares of Capital Stock to
be issued by the Company to officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its direct or
indirect majority-owned subsidiaries at or about the same time as may be approved by the Board, at
the price paid for such shares of Capital Stock by Sterling Group Partners I, L.P. on the Effective
Date, all subject to such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Board; provided, that no
such officer, director or employee shall be included in a Designated Holder Group.

     6.5 Sale of Assets. Without the consent of the Holders of at least 662/3% of the
outstanding Common Shares subject to this Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall not permit
any of its subsidiaries to, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in any transaction or series of related
transactions. The Voting Representative for each Designated Holder Group shall be exclusively
authorized to act on behalf of and as directed by each Holder included in such Designated Holder
Group with respect to the giving or withholding of such consent.

          6.6 Significant Transactions. Without the consent of the Holders of at least 662/3% of
the outstanding Common Shares subject to this Agreement, the Company shall not (i) merge,
consolidate or amalgamate with any company or business other than any merger, consolidation or
amalgamation between the Company and a subsidiary in which the Company is the surviving corporation
and any merger, consolidation or amalgamation involving only subsidiaries of the Company, (ii)
commence substantive discussions with an investment banking firm regarding an Initial Public
Offering, or (iii) liquidate, dissolve, wind up, effect a voluntary, or take action which would
precipitate an involuntary, bankruptcy proceeding, recapitalization or reorganization in any form
of transaction (including, without limitation, any reorganization into a limited liability company,
a partnership or any other non-corporate entity which is treated as a partnership for federal
income tax purposes). The Voting Representative for each Designated Holder Group shall be
exclusively authorized to act on behalf of and as directed by each Holder included in such
Designated Holder Group with respect to the giving or withholding of such consent.

          6.7 No Commitments. Without the requisite consent of the Holders as set forth in
Section 6.1 through 6.6, the Company shall not commit to take any action prohibited under Sections
6.1 through 6.6.

     7. Several Representations and Covenants of Each Holder. Each Holder severally
represents and warrants to the Company and the other Holders that such Holder has the sole right
and power to vote and dispose of the Shares held in its name, except as contemplated by this
Agreement. Such Holder agrees not to enter into any voting arrangement or understanding,

-12-

 

whether
by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise, with respect to such Shares, other than this Agreement.

     8. Endorsement of Share Certificates. All certificates of Shares of the Company now
owned or that may hereafter be acquired by the Holders or any Permitted Transferee shall be
endorsed on the reverse side thereof substantially as follows:

          BY THE TERMS OF A VOTING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT, CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS HAVE
BEEN PLACED UPON THE VOTING OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE. THE COMPANY
WILL FURNISH A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT TO THE RECORD HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE WITHOUT
CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OR REGISTERED
OFFICE.

     9. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon (i) the dissolution
of the Company, (ii) the occurrence of any event which reduces the number of Holders to one, (iii)
the completion of an Initial Public Offering, (iv) the written approval of the Voting
Representative of each Designated Holder Group, if directed to do so by all of the Holders included
in such Voting Representative’s Designated Holder Group; provided that Section 5 shall not
terminate with respect Genstar Capital Partners III, L.P. until such time as Genstar Capital
Partners III, L.P. ceases to own any shares of Capital Stock.

     10. Voting Representatives. No Voting Representative shall have any liability to any
Holder relating to such Voting Representative’s acts or omissions in such capacity, except for
liabilities found by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further
appeal) to have resulted solely from the willful misconduct of such Voting Representative. By
Majority Approval of the Holders included in a Designated Holder Group, the Voting Representative
of such Designated Holder Group may be removed and replaced by a successor Voting Representative;
provided that no change in a Voting Representative shall be effective as against the Company or any
Holder or other Voting Representative until the Company and all other Voting Representatives have
received written notice thereof, including the name of the successor Voting Representative and its
address for purpose of notice under Section 11.5. The Company shall not be responsible for any
expenses incurred by any Voting Representative or any Holder included in a Designated Holder Group
in connection with the solicitation of any vote, consent or approval by Holders included in a
Designated Holder Group.

-13-

 

     11. Miscellaneous Provisions.

          11.1 Additional Parties. Any Permitted Transferee (and such Permitted Transferee’s
spouse, if any) of a Holder shall, and upon written approval of the Holders of the Required Voting
Percentage, any other Person or entity that acquires any Shares after the Effective Date shall,
become a party to this Agreement by executing an Adoption Agreement, in the form attached as
Exhibit “A” or in any other form satisfactory to the Required Voting Percentage, whereupon such
Permitted Transferee or other person or entity shall be deemed a “Holder,” and shall have all of
the rights and obligations of a “Holder” under this Agreement, and such Shares shall be subject to
the provisions of this Agreement.

          11.2 Spouses. The spouses of the individual Holders, by their execution of this
Agreement or an Adoption Agreement, (i) evidence that they are fully aware of, understand and fully
consent and agree to the provisions of this Agreement and its binding effect upon any community
property or similar marital property interests in the Shares that they may now or hereafter own,
and (ii) agree that the termination of their marital relationship with any individual Holder for
any reason shall not have the effect of removing any Shares otherwise subject to this Agreement
from the coverage hereof. Each individual Holder shall cause his or her spouse (and any subsequent
spouse) to execute and deliver, within thirty days after the request of the Required Voting
Percentage, a counterpart of this Agreement or an Adoption Agreement, in the form attached as
Exhibit A or in any other form satisfactory to the Required Voting Percentage.

          11.3 Appointment of Company. Each Holder and such Holder’s spouse, if any, to the
extent permitted by law (i) appoint the Company as their agent and attorney-in-fact to execute any
required Adoption Agreement on their behalf, and (ii) expressly bind themselves to the Company’s
execution of any such Adoption Agreement without further action on their part. Such
powers-of-attorney granted herein are deemed to be coupled with an interest in the Shares and to
the extent permitted by law shall survive the death, disability, bankruptcy or dissolution of such
Holder or such Holder’s spouse, if any.

          11.4 Changes in Shares. If there is any change in the Shares by way of stock split,
reverse stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, merger, amalgamation, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization, or any other means then all appropriate adjustments to the
provisions hereof shall be made so that the rights and obligations of the parties hereto under this
Agreement shall continue with respect to the Shares as so changed.

          11.5 Notices and Other Communications. All notices, requests and other communications
required or permitted to be given to the Company, any Holder or the spouse or legal representative
of a Holder or any Voting Representative in connection herewith (i) shall be in writing and (ii)
may be given either by (a) depositing the same in the United States mail, full postage prepaid,
certified or registered with return receipt requested, (b) delivering the same by a nationally
recognized air courier service requiring
acknowledgment of delivery, full delivery cost paid, (c) delivering the same in person, or (d)
sending a telecopy of the same (confirmed by appropriate answer back), confirmed with a copy
thereof delivered either by mail or air courier service or in person as provided herein. Notice
shall be deemed to have been duly given: (a) at the time delivered by hand, if personally
delivered; (b) upon actual receipt (or at the beginning of the recipient’s next business day if not
received during recipient’s normal business hours), if

-14-

 

telecopied; (c) upon actual receipt (or, if
not actually received, on the fifth business day following deposit with the U.S. Post Office), if
mailed; and (d) on the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery. For the purposes hereof, the addresses of the parties hereto are as follows:
(1) the Company c/o The Sterling Group, L.P., 8 Greenway Plaza, Suite 702, Houston, Texas 77046;
(2) the Holders, their spouses and legal representatives – the address of the Voting Representative
of such Holder’s Designated Holder Group; and (3) the Voting Representatives at their respective
addresses appearing beneath their signatures on the signature page(s) hereto. Any party hereto may
change such party’s address for the purposes hereof by giving written notice of such change of
address in accordance with this Section 11.5.

          11.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Shareholders Agreement and the Engagement Letter constitute the full understanding of the parties
and a complete and exclusive statement of the terms and conditions of their agreement relating to
the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements,
whether written or oral, between the parties, their Affiliates, their Associates and their
respective principals, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, consultants and agents with
respect thereto.

          11.7 Amendments and Waivers. No alteration, modification, amendment, change or waiver
of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective or binding on any party hereto unless the
same is in writing and is executed by the Company and the holders of the Required Voting Percentage
at the time thereof; provided, that in no event shall any amendment (i) adversely affect a Holder’s
rights and obligations hereunder in a manner different from any other Holder without such Holder’s
prior written consent; (ii) adversely affect the rights and obligations of a Designated Holder
Group, including its Voting Representative, in a manner different from any other Designated Holder
Group, including its Voting Representative, without the prior written consent of all Holders in
such Designated Holder Group; (iii) change Section 2, without the prior written consent of the
Voting Representative of each Eligible Designated Holder Group, acting as directed by Majority
Approval of all Holders included in such Eligible Designated Holder Group; (iv) change Section 9 or
this Section 11.7 without the prior written consent of the Voting Representative of each Designated
Holder Group, if directed to do so by all of the Holders included in such Voting Representative’s
Designated Holder Group; or (v) adversely affect a Voting Representative’s rights and obligations
hereunder without such Voting Representative’s prior written consent.

          11.8 Modification and Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction declares
that any provision of this Agreement is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, then such provision
shall be modified automatically to the extent necessary to make such provision fully legal, valid
or enforceable. If such court does not modify any such
provision as contemplated herein, but instead declares it to be wholly illegal, invalid or
unenforceable, then such provision shall be severed from this Agreement, this Agreement and the
rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be construed as if this Agreement did not
contain such severed provision, and this Agreement otherwise shall remain in full force and effect.

-15-

 

          11.9 Enforceability. This Agreement shall be enforceable by and against the Company,
the Holders, the Voting Representatives and their respective spouses, guardians, heirs, legatees,
executors, legal representatives, administrators, and permitted successors and assignees.

          11.10 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. No person or entity not a party to this Agreement
shall have any rights under this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise.

          11.11 Remedies. Each party acknowledges that a breach of this Agreement by such
party, (i) would be irreparably and immediately harmed by such breach, (ii) could not be made whole
by monetary damages, and (iii) shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctions (or their
functional equivalents) to prevent any such breach and/or to compel specific performance with this
Agreement, in addition to all other remedies to which such parties may be entitled at law or in
equity.

          11.12 Gender, Number and Person. As used herein, any reference to (i) the masculine,
feminine or neuter gender includes the other two genders, (ii) the singular or plural number
includes the other number, and (iii) a person or third party includes both natural persons and
entities.

          11.13 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed under, and
enforced in accordance with the laws of Delaware without reference to the conflict-of-laws
provisions thereof; provided that to the extent the laws of any Canadian jurisdiction apply, the
laws of Ontario shall govern this Agreement

          11.14 Multiple Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in
multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original for all purposes, and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

          11.15 Independent Legal Advice. Each of the Holders and their spouses, as applicable,
acknowledge that the Company has recommended to each of them that they obtain individual,
independent legal advice concerning the terms of this Agreement and the advisability of entering
into this Agreement prior to executing it.

          11.16 Limited Liability. Notwithstanding any provision hereof, none of the
obligations of any Holder or Voting Representative that is an entity or any of their respective
Associates that is an entity under this Agreement shall be an obligation of any officer, director,
member, limited partner or general partner of any of the foregoing entities. Any liability or
obligation of any Holder or Voting Representative that is an entity arising out of this Agreement
shall be limited to and satisfied only out of the assets of such Holder or Voting Representative.

          11.17 Termination Upon Termination of Purchase Agreement. This Agreement
shall be effective on the Effective Date. If the Purchase Agreement is terminated prior to the
closing of the transactions contemplated thereby, this Agreement shall terminate and be of no
further force or effect.

-16-

 

     This Agreement is executed by the Company, by each Holder, by the spouse (if any) of each
Holder and each Voting Representative to be effective as of the Effective Date.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Company:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	NACG HOLDINGS INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ John D. Hawkins	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	 

John D. Hawkins
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Vice President	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Date of execution: November 26, 2003	 	 

-17-

 

HOLDERS

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	Common Shares To Be Owned	 	 	 	Date of
	Name and Signature	 	 	 	at the Effective Date	 	 	 	Execution
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	GENSTAR HOLDERS GROUP	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Total Number of Shares To Be Owned
by Group at the Effective Date: The number of
Common Shares equal to the Canadian dollar
Equivalent of US$15,000,000 at the Effective Date,
Divided by 100	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Genstar Capital Partners III, L.P.	 	 	 	The number of Common Shares	 	 	 	November 26, 2003
	By: Genstar Capital III, L.P., General Partner	 	 	 	Equal to the Canadian Dollar	 	 	 	 
	By: Genstar III GP LLC, General Partner	 	 	 	equivalent of US$14,479,981 at the	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Jean-Pierre Conte
	 	 	 	Effective Date, divided by 100	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:

	 	Jean-Pierre Conte	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Title:

	 	Member	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Stargen III, L.P.	 	 	 	The number of Common Shares	 	 	 	November 26, 2003
	By: Genstar Capital III, L.P., General Partner	 	 	 	Equal to the Canadian Dollar	 	 	 	 
	By: Genstar III GP LLC, General Partner	 	 	 	equivalent of US$520,019 at the	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Effective Date, divided by 100	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Jean-Pierre Conte	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:

	 	Jean-Pierre Conte	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Title:

	 	Member	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	PERRY HOLDERS GROUP	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Total Number of Shares To Be Owned
by Group at the Effective Date: The number of
Common Shares equal to the Canadian dollar
Equivalent of US$15,000,000 at the Effective Date,
Divided by 100	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Perry Partners International, Inc.	 	 	 	The number of Common	 	 	 	12/22/03
	By: Perry Corp., Its Investment Manager	 	 	 	Shares equal to the Canadian	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Dollar equivalent of US$7,950,000	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	At the Effective Date, divided by 100	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	By:

	 	/s/ Randall Borkenstein	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Name:

	 	Randall Borkenstein	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Title:

	 	Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Perry Partners, L.P.	 	 	 	The number of Common	 	 	 	12/22/03
	By: Perry Corp., Its Managing General Partner	 	 	 	Shares equal to the Canadian	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Dollar equivalent of US$7,050,000	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	At the Effective Date, divided by 100	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	By:

	 	/s/ Randall Borkenstein	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Name:

	 	Randall Borkenstein	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Title:

	 	Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

-18-

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	STEPHENS HOLDERS GROUP	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Total Number of Shares To Be Owned
by Group at the Effective Date: The number of
Common Shares equal to the Canadian dollar
Equivalent of US$10,000,000 at the Effective Date,
Divided by 100	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Stephens-NACG LLC	 	 	 	The number of Common	 	 	 	November 26, 2003
	By:

	 	Stephens Group, Inc., Manager
	 	 	 	Shares equal to the Canadian
Dollar equivalent of US$10,000,000

At the Effective Date, divided by 100	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Jackson Farrow Jr.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:

	 	Jackson Farrow Jr.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Title:

	 	Vice President	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	STERLING HOLDERS GROUP	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Total Number of Shares Owned
by Group at the Effective Date: The number of
Common Shares equal to the Canadian dollar
Equivalent of US$25,000,000 at the Effective Date,
Divided by 100(1)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	Sterling Group Partners I, L.P.	 	 	 	The number of Common	 	 	 	November 26, 2003
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Shares equal to the Canadian
Dollar equivalent of US$25,000,000(1)

At the Effective Date, divided by 100	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	By: Sterling Group Partners I GP, L.P.,	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	General Partner	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	By:
	 	C. K. Garland, L.L.C.,	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	General Partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	By:
	 	/s/ C. Kevin Garland	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:
	 	 

C. Kevin Garland
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:
	 	Sole Member	 	 

 

			
	(1)	 	Subject to reduction by up to 20% in the aggregate at the discretion of
Sterling Group Partners I, L.P. for (a) issuances to management and directors of the Company,
employees of The Sterling Group, L.P. or any of its Associates and other financial investors on the
Effective Date and (b) transfers to employees and directors of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and employees of The Sterling Group, L.P. or any of its Associates within six months
after the Effective Date; provided, that in lieu of transfers under this clause (b) to employees
and directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company may repurchase Common Shares
from Sterling Group Partners I, L.P. at Sterling Group Partners I, L.P.’s cost and issue the same
number of Common Shares to any such Person .

-19-

 

Voting Representatives

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name and Signature	 	 	 	Date of Execution
	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Genstar Holders Voting Representative:	 	 	 	 
	 
	/s/ Jean-Pierre Conte	 	 	 	November 26, 2003
	 	 	 	 	 
	Jean-Pierre Conte	 	 	 	 
	Address:

	 	Four Embarcadero Center

Suite 1900

San Francisco, 
California 94111-4191	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Perry Holders Voting Representative:	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/ Peter Schweinfurth	 	 	 	11/24/2003
	 	 	 	 	 
	Peter Schweinfurth	 	 	 	 
	Address:

	 	599 Lexington Avenue	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	New York, NY 10022	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Stephens Holders Voting Representative:	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/ Rick Turner	 	 	 	November 26, 2003
	 	 	 	 	 
	Rick Turner	 	 	 	 
	Address:

	 	111 Center Street

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Sterling Holders Voting Representative:	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/ William C. Oehmig	 	 	 	November 26, 2003
	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:

	 	William C. Oehmig	 	 	 	 
	Address:

	 	c/o The Sterling Group, L.P.	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	8 Greenway Plaza, Suite 702	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Houston, Texas 77046	 	 	 	 

-20-

 

EXHIBIT “A”

ADOPTION AGREEMENT (form)

     This Adoption Agreement (“Adoption”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Voting and
Corporate Governance Agreement dated as of [                    ], 2003, a copy of which is attached
hereto and is incorporated herein by reference (the “Voting Agreement”), by the undersigned (“New
Holder”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, New Holder agrees as follows:

     1. Acknowledgment. New Holder acknowledges that New Holder is acquiring the Shares of
NACG Holding Inc., a Canadian corporation (the “Company”) described on Attachment I subject to the
terms and conditions of the Voting Agreement.

     2. Agreement. New Holder (i) agrees that the Shares of the Company described on
Attachment I acquired by New Holder shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Voting
Agreement, and (ii) hereby adopts the Voting Agreement with the same force and effect as if New
Holder were originally a party thereto, and (iii) agrees that New Holder is included in the
Designated Holder Group (as defined in the Voting Agreement) set forth on Attachment I, or is not
included in any Designated Holder Group, as specified in Attachment I.

     3. Notice. Any notice required or permitted by the Voting Agreement shall be given to
New Holder at the address listed beside New Holder’s signature below.

     4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned New Holder, if applicable, executes this
Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interests and to bind
such spouse’s community interest, if any, in any shares of the capital stock of the Company, to the
terms of the Shareholders Agreement.

     EXECUTED AND DATED this the                      day of                     , 20___.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	NEW HOLDER:
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Address:	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	SPOUSE:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 

 

 

     Agreed to on behalf of the Company and all Holders and their respective spouses pursuant to
Section 11.3 of the Voting Agreement.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	NACG HOLDING INC.

(for itself and as Attorney-in-Fact
for the Holders)	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 

-22-

 

ATTACHMENT I

	 	 	 
	Class of Shares

	 	Number of Shares
	 

	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	[Check one]
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	                    

	 	New Holder is included in the
	 	 	 	Holders Group
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	(designate name)	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	OR	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	                    	 	New Holder is not included in any Designated Holder Group

-23-exv10w18

 

Exhibit 10.18

November 21, 2003

NACG Holdings Inc.

c/o The Sterling Group, L.P.

8 Greenway Plaza, Suite 702

Houston, Texas 77046

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter agreement will confirm the agreement between The Sterling Group, L.P. (“Sterling”),
Genstar Capital, L.P. (“Genstar”), Perry Strategic Capital, Inc. (“Perry”) and Stephens Group, Inc.
(“Stephens”) (Sterling, Genstar, Perry and Stephens being individually referred to herein as a
“Sponsor” and collectively referred to herein as the “Sponsors”) on the one hand and NACG Holdings
Inc., (“Parent”), NACG Preferred Corp. (“Newco”), North American Energy Partners Inc. (“Holdco”)
and NACG Acquisition Inc. (“Acquisition Sub”) and each of their present and future direct and
indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Companies” and individually, a “Company”) on
the other hand, in connection with the acquisition by the Companies of substantially all of the
assets of North American Equipment Ltd. (“NAEL”) and all of the outstanding shares of North
American Construction Group Inc. (“NACGI”) (the “Acquisition”), and future services to be rendered
to the Companies as follows:

	1.	 	Services. The Sponsors have provided or will provide consulting services (the
“Services”) to the Companies in connection with the organization of the Companies, structuring
the Acquisition, structuring the financing and refinancing thereof and working capital and
other lines of credit, arrangements for outside consulting services, advice with respect to
employee benefit and compensation arrangements and other reasonable assistance when and as
requested by the Companies prior to and following the consummation of the Acquisition.

	2.	 	Fees and Expenses. 

	 	(a)	 	For their services in connection with the Acquisition, the Sponsors and BNP
Paribas (“BNP”) will be entitled to receive from the Companies at the consummation of
the Acquisition the fees described in Exhibit A hereto (the “Closing Fees”) and the
Sponsors will also be entitled to receive reimbursement of all out of pocket expenses
paid or incurred (including expenses of any consultant) by the Sponsors in connection
therewith.

 

 

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November 21, 2003

	 	(b)	 	For their Services performed from and after the consummation of the
Acquisition, the Active Sponsors as a group will be entitled to receive from the
Companies (i) the Initial Period Management Fee, payable at the closing of the
Acquisition and (ii) the Annual Management Fee payable annually on June 30 of each
year commencing June 30, 2004 through June 30, 2013. The Annual Management Fee
payable on each June 30 shall be shared among the Active Sponsors as of such June 30
in the percentage for each such Active Sponsor equal to the ownership interest in the
common equity securities of Parent owned by such Active Sponsor and its affiliated
designees on such June 30 divided by the aggregate ownership interests in the common
equity securities of Parent owned by all such Active Sponsors and their affiliated
designees on such June 30.
	 
	 	 	 	In addition, each Active Sponsor shall be entitled to receive reimbursement of all
out of pocket expenses paid or incurred (including expenses of any consultant) by
such Active Sponsor in connection with its Services to the Companies. Such
expenses shall be reimbursed to the Active Sponsor by the Companies promptly upon
request by such Active Sponsor.
	 
	 	(c)	 	For purposes hereof:

	 	(i)	 	The term “Active Sponsors” means all of the Sponsors whose
Services have not been terminated pursuant to Section 5.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	The term “Annual Fee Measurement Period” means each
twelve-month period beginning on April 1 and ending at the close of business
on the immediately subsequent March 31, commencing with the twelve-month
period that began April 1, 2003.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	The term “Annual Management Fee” means an amount equal to
the greater of C$400,000 or .5% of EBITDA for the Annual Fee Measurement
Period ending on the March 31 immediately prior to the June 30 on which
payment thereof is due.
	 
	 	(iv)	 	The term “Closing Date Credit Agreement” means the loan or
credit agreement pursuant to which Holdco has obtained senior secured
financing in connection with the financing of the Acquisition, as in effect as
of the closing of the Acquisition, and any amendment thereto or replacement
thereof containing a definition of EBITDA.
	 
	 	(v)	 	The term “EBITDA” shall have the meaning ascribed to such
term in the most recent Closing Date Credit Agreement containing a definition
of “EBITDA” at the time the calculation of EBITDA is made.

 

 

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Page 3 of 11

November 21, 2003

	 	(vi)	 	The term “Initial Period Management Fee” shall mean an amount equal to
C$400,000 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
days from the closing of the Acquisition through March 31, 2004, and the
denominator of which is 365.

	 	(d)	 	Holdco shall be primarily responsible for the payment of the Closing Fees,
the Initial Period Management Fee and the Annual Management Fees and expenses referred
to herein, it being agreed that the Services will primarily benefit Holdco. However,
in the event Holdco does not pay all or any portion of such Initial Period Management
Fee or any Annual Management Fee or any such expenses, each of the other Companies
shall be jointly and severally liable for the unpaid amount thereof and shall pay the
same on demand by any Active Sponsor.
	 
	 	(e)	 	In the event that the Acquisition is not consummated, the Sponsors shall
calculate the total amount of out of pocket expenses paid or incurred (including
expenses of any consultants) by all of the Sponsors related to the potential
Acquisition (the “Dead Deal Costs”). The Sponsors and BNP shall each contribute to
the payment of the expenses as set forth in Exhibit B. By separate letter, BNP has
agreed to pay its share of such expenses as set forth in Exhibit B.

	3.	 	Future Corporate Transactions. The Companies agree that if any of the Companies
determine, within ten years after the closing of the Acquisition, to acquire (regardless of
the form of such transaction, and whether directly or through one or more affiliated entities)
assets of a value of US$1 million or more (other than assets representing capital expenditures
in the ordinary course of business) or any business (each a “Future Corporate Transaction”),
each Designated Active Sponsor with respect to such Future Corporate Transaction is hereby
retained by the Companies in connection with such Future Corporate Transaction, to provide
services to the Companies of the same nature as the Services (to the extent required), and the
Companies will pay to all such Designated Active Sponsors acting as such with respect to such
Future Corporate Transaction, as a group, at the consummation of such Future Corporate
Transaction, a fee in the amount of one percent (1.0%) of the Project Value thereof and,
regardless of whether such Future Corporate Transaction is consummated, the Companies shall
reimburse each such Designated Active Sponsor for all expenses paid or incurred by such
Designated Active Sponsor in connection therewith. In addition, the Companies agree that if
any of the
Companies determine, within ten years after the closing of Acquisition, to offer
securities for sale to the public or in private placement or otherwise raise any debt or
equity financing other than the “Bridge Refinancing” as defined in the Purchase Agreement
for the Acquisition (each a “Future Securities Transaction”), each Designated Active
Sponsor with respect to such Future Securities Transaction is hereby retained by the
Companies, in connection with such Future Securities Transaction, to provide consulting
services to the Companies in connection therewith, and the Companies will pay to all such

 

 

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November 21, 2003

	 	 	Designated Active Sponsors acting as such with respect to such Future Securities
Transaction, as a group, at the consummation of such Future Securities Transaction, a
fee in the amount of one-half percent (0.5%) of the aggregate gross proceeds thereof to
the Companies, and regardless of whether such Future Securities Transaction is
consummated, the Companies shall reimburse each such Designated Active Sponsor for all
expenses paid or incurred by such Designated Active Sponsor in connection therewith.
	 
	 	 	If more than one Designated Active Sponsor is retained with respect to a Future Corporate
Transaction or a Future Securities Transaction, the fee payable as set forth above shall be
shared between or among them in such proportions as they shall agree or, in the absence of
such agreement, each such Designated Active Sponsor shall be entitled to that percentage of
the fee equal to the number of shares of common equity securities of Parent owned by such
Designated Active Sponsor and its affiliated designees divided by the number of shares of
common equity securities of Parent owned by all such Designated Active Sponsors and their
affiliated designees.
	 
	 	 	For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “Designated Active Sponsor” shall mean an
Active Sponsor that has been designated by the Board of Directors of Parent to act as a
Designated Active Sponsor for a particular transaction and identified by written notice to
all Active Sponsors and approved by the then Active Sponsors that, together with their
affiliated designees, hold at least
662/3% of the common equity securities of Parent then
owned by all of the Active Sponsors and their affiliated designees (the “Requisite
Approval”); provided that if the Board of Directors of Parent fails to designate at least
one Designated Active Sponsor approved by the Requisite Approval for any transaction, the
Active Sponsors shall designate from among themselves by the Requisite Approval one or more
Active Sponsors to act as Designated Active Sponsor(s) with respect to such transaction;
and (b) the term “Project Value” shall mean the aggregate consideration paid by any Company
to a third party to consummate an
acquisition plus the aggregate amount of all liabilities assumed by the acquiring
party in connection with an acquisition.
	 
	 	 	Holdco shall be primarily responsible for the payment of fees and expenses referred to in
this Section 3, it being agreed that the services of the Designated Active Sponsor(s) under
this Section 3 will primarily benefit Holdco. However, in the event Holdco does not pay
all or any portion of any such fee or expenses, each of the other Companies shall be
jointly and severally liable for the unpaid amount thereof and shall pay the same on demand
by the Designated Active Sponsor(s).
	 
	4.	 	Indemnification. The Companies, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold
harmless each Sponsor, its consultants, each of their respective controlling persons and each
director, officer, employee, principal, consultant, affiliate and agent thereof (each an
“Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all losses,

 

 

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Page 5 of 11

November 21, 2003

claims, damages and liabilities joint and several, to which any Indemnified Person may become subject relating to or arising
out of, or in connection with, any advice or services provided under this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Acquisition (including, without limitation,
the use of proceeds from the sale of securities and the financing of the Acquisition) or any
related transaction (including without limitation, that certain commitment letter among
Sterling, BNP and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. dated October 31, 2003 which letter relates to
the financing of the Acquisition, and the transactions contemplated thereby), and to reimburse
each Indemnified Person, promptly upon demand, for expenses (including reasonable counsel fees
and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, giving testimony
or furnishing documents for, preparation for or defense of any pending or threatened loss,
claim, damage or liability, or any litigation, proceeding or other action in respect thereof
(collectively, “Actions”), including any amount paid in settlement of any litigation,
proceeding or other action (commenced or threatened), to which Parent shall have consented in
writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), whether or not any Indemnified Person
is a party and whether or not liability resulted therefrom; provided, however, that the
indemnity contained in this Agreement will not apply to any Indemnified Person with respect to
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses that are found in a final judgment by
a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further appeal) to have resulted from the
willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person. In addition, the Companies will not, without
prior written consent of such Indemnified Person, settle, compromise or consent to the entry
of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened Action in respect
of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any
Indemnified Person is a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise, consent, or
termination, includes unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liabilities
arising out of such Action.

Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person of written notice with respect to the
commencement of any investigation, claim or other Action with respect to which such
Indemnified Person may seek indemnification hereunder, such Indemnified Person shall notify
Parent in writing at the address set forth on the first page hereof of such Action; but the
omission so to notify Parent shall not relieve the Companies from any liability that the
Companies may have hereunder to such Indemnified Person to the extent that such omission
does not materially prejudice or materially adversely affect the Companies. The
Indemnified Persons shall be entitled to retain separate counsel of their own choice;
provided that the Companies shall not be responsible for the fees and expenses of more than
one firm of attorneys (and local counsel, if appropriate) for all of the Indemnified
Persons in any single Action, unless the Indemnified Persons shall have been advised that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to any of them that may be different from
or additional to those available to the others, in which event

 

 

Letter Agreement

Page 6 of 11

November 21, 2003

each such Indemnified Person
shall be entitled to separate counsel at the expense of the Companies.

If indemnification is found in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction (not
subject to further appeal) for reason of public policy not to be available, the Companies
and the Sponsors agree to contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) for which such indemnification is held unavailable
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits to and fault the
Companies, on the one hand, and the Sponsors, on the other hand, in connection with the
matter giving rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Sponsor shall be obligated to
contribute any amount hereunder that exceeds the fees and expenses received by such Sponsor
hereunder. No person found liable for a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11 (f) of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who is not found liable for such fraudulent misrepresentation.

The Companies also agree, jointly and severally, that no Indemnified Person shall have any
liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to the Companies
for or in connection with advice or services rendered or to be rendered by any Indemnified
Person pursuant to this Agreement, the Acquisition, the financing thereof, the transactions
contemplated thereby or any Indemnified Person’s actions or inactions in connection with
any such advice, services or transactions except for liabilities that are determined by a
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further appeal) to have
resulted from such Indemnified Person’s willful misconduct in connection with any such
advice, actions, inactions or services.

If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Section is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void,
unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants
and restriction contained in the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

The provisions contained in this Section 4 shall remain in full force and effect (i)
whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, (ii) regardless
of the termination or completion of any Indemnified Person’s services hereunder, (iii)
notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement and (iv) notwithstanding any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Sponsors or any Indemnified Person.

     THE INDEMNIFICATION OF AND CONTRIBUTION RIGHTS OF AN INDEMNIFIED PERSON UNDER THIS
SECTION 4 EXPRESSLY SHALL APPLY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE DAMAGES TO BE INDEMNIFIED AGAINST OR
CONTRIBUTED TO ARISE, OR ARE ALLEGED TO ARISE, FROM SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON’S OWN NEGLIGENCE

 

 

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Page 7 of 11

November 21, 2003

(WHETHER SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT), GROSS NEGLIGENCE, NEGLIGENCE PER SE AND/OR STRICT LIABILITY;
PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION RIGHTS SHALL NOT APPLY TO DAMAGES THAT ARE
FOUND IN A FINAL JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION (NOT SUBJECT TO FURTHER APPEAL) TO
HAVE RESULTED FROM THE WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON.

	5.	 	Termination. Each Active Sponsor may terminate its Services hereunder at any time
and thereupon shall no longer be deemed to be an “Active Sponsor” hereunder. A Sponsor’s
Services shall automatically terminate and such Sponsor shall no longer be deemed to be an
“Active Sponsor” hereunder on the date such Sponsor and its affiliated designees cease to have
any equity ownership in Parent. Parent may terminate an Active Sponsor’s Services under this
Agreement only upon the terms set forth in the following paragraph.
	 
	 	 	If the Parent intends to terminate an Active Sponsor’s Services hereunder, it shall first
deliver to all Active Sponsors a written notice of intention to terminate such Active
Sponsor’s Services (“Notice of Termination”). Parent may not deliver a Notice of
Termination with respect to the termination of an Active Sponsor’s Services unless such
Active Sponsor has materially breached a material obligation of such Active Sponsor under
this Agreement. The Notice of Termination shall contain (i) a notice that Parent intends
to terminate such Active Sponsor’s Services, (ii) a detailed description of the material
breach of a material obligation alleged to have been committed by such Active Sponsor and
(iii) a notice that said termination of Services shall be effective thirty days after it is
received by such Active Sponsor unless within said thirty days after it is received by such
Active Sponsor, (A) in the case of a material breach that can reasonably be remedied within
such period, such Active Sponsor remedies the material breach, or (B) in the case of a
material breach that cannot reasonably be remedied within such period, such Active Sponsor
has instituted good faith measures to remedy such material breach. If such Active Sponsor
remedies such material breach (in the case of clause (A) of the immediately preceding
sentence) or institutes such good
faith measures to remedy such material breach (in the case of clause (B) of the immediately
preceding sentence), such Notice of Termination shall be deemed to be revoked, such
material breach shall be deemed to be remedied and Parent shall not have the right to
terminate such Active Sponsor’s Services due to such material breach.
	 
	6.	 	Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to choice of law doctrines requiring the
application of laws of any other jurisdiction.
	 
	7.	 	Limited Liability. Notwithstanding any provision hereof, none of the obligations of
any Sponsor or any of their respective affiliates that is an entity under this Agreement shall
be an obligation of any officer, director, member, limited partner or general partner of any
of the foregoing entities. Any liability or obligation of

 

 

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Page 8 of 11

November 21, 2003

any Sponsor arising out of this
Agreement shall be limited to and satisfied only out of the assets of such Sponsor.

If the foregoing meets with your approval and correctly expresses our agreement, please sign and
return the enclosed duplicate copy of this letter.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Very truly yours,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	THE STERLING GROUP, L.P.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:

Name:
	 	/s/ C. Kevin Garland
 

C. Kevin Garland
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Principal	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	GENSTAR CAPITAL, L.P	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	By: Genstar Management LLC.	 	 
	 

	 	By:

Name:
	 	/s/ Jean Pierre Conte
 

Jean Pierre Conte
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Member	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	PERRY STRATEGIC CAPITAL, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:

Name:
	 	/s/ Peter Schweinfurth
 

Peter Schweinfurth
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Managing Director	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	STEPHENS GROUP, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:

Name:
	 	/s/ Jackson Farrow Jr.
 

Jackson Farrow Jr.
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Vice President	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	NACG HOLDINGS INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By: 

Name:

	 	/s/ John D. Hawkins
 

John D. Hawkins
	 	 
	Title:

	 	Vice President	 	 

 

 

Letter Agreement

Page 9 of 11

November 21, 2003

	 	 	 	 	 
	NACG PREFERRED CORP.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By: 

Name:

	 	/s/ John D. Hawkins
 

John D. Hawkins
	 	 
	Title:

	 	Vice President	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By: 

Name:

	 	/s/ John D. Hawkins
 

John D. Hawkins
	 	 
	Title:

	 	Vice President	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	NACG ACQUISITION INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By: 

Name:

	 	/s/ John D. Hawkins
 

John D. Hawkins
	 	 
	Title:

	 	Vice President	 	 

 

 

Letter Agreement

Page 10 of 11

November 21, 2003

EXHIBIT A

Closing Fees

A. The Sterling Group, L.P. shall be entitled to a Closing Fee of US$3,000,000.

B. The four Sponsors and BNP as a group shall be entitled to an additional Closing Fee of
US$3,000,000 to be shared as follows:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name
	 	Percentage	 	Amount
	The Sterling Group, L.P.
	 	 	35.71	%	 	$	1,071,300	 
	Genstar Capital, L.P.
	 	 	21.43	%	 	 	642,900	 
	Perry Strategic Capital, Inc.
	 	 	21.43	%	 	 	642,900	 
	Stephens Group, Inc.
	 	 	14.29	%	 	 	428,700	 
	BNP Paribas
	 	 	7.14	%	 	 	214,200	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	100	%	 	$	3,000,000	 

 

 

Letter Agreement

Page 11 of 11

November 21, 2003

EXHIBIT B

The Dead Deal Costs shall be shared among the Sponsors and BNP in the following percentages:

	 	 	 	 	 
	The Sterling Group, L.P.
	 	 	67.855	%
	Genstar Capital, L.P.
	 	 	10.715	%
	Perry Strategic Capital, Inc.
	 	 	10.715	%
	Stephens Group, Inc.
	 	 	7.145	%
	BNP Paribas
	 	 	3.57	%
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Total
	 	 	100	%

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