Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 16 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated as of June 13, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), is among Select Energy Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the subsidiaries of the Borrower party hereto (collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), SES Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the parent company of the Borrower (the “Parent Company”; together with the Subsidiary Guarantors, collectively, the “Affiliate Guarantors”; and the Affiliate Guarantors together with the Borrower, collectively, the “Guarantors” and each a “Guarantor”), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), issuing lender (in such capacity, the “Issuing Lender”) and swing line lender (in such capacity, the “Swing Line Lender”), and the Lenders (as defined below).

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.            The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender and lenders party thereto from time to time (the “Lenders”) are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 3, 2011, as heretofore amended (as so amended, the “Credit Agreement”; the defined terms of which are used herein unless otherwise defined herein).

 

B.            On May 30, 2017, the Borrower acquired certain water transfer assets, and related intellectual property, from Data Automated Water System, LLC and JVH and Associates, LLC (the “Acquisition”). Such Acquisition was not in compliance with Section 6.4(c)(ii)(B) of the Credit Agreement (the “Existing Default”).

 

C.            Each Credit Party acknowledges that the Existing Default constitutes an Event of Default arising under the Credit Agreement.

 

D.            Furthermore, the Borrower has requested that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders agree to (i) permanently waive the Subject Defaults (as defined below) and (ii) amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement as set forth below.

 

THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the other parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.              Defined Terms; Other Definitional Provisions.  As used in this Agreement, each of the terms defined in the opening paragraph and the Recitals above shall have the meanings assigned to such terms therein.  Each term defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein without definition shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, unless expressly provided to the contrary. Article, Section, Schedule, and Exhibit references are to Articles and Sections of and Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified.  The words “hereof”, “herein”, and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  The term “including” means “including, without limitation,”.  Paragraph headings have been inserted in this Agreement as a matter of convenience for reference only and it is agreed that such paragraph headings are not a part of this Agreement and shall not be used in the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

 

 

Section 2.              Waiver.

 

2.1          Each Credit Party hereby acknowledges the existence of the Existing Default and each Default or Event of Default that may have arisen out of (a) any failure, if any, to deliver notice of the Existing Default (the “Notice Default”) and (b) any representation or warranty, if any, made by any Credit Party that no Default had occurred and was continuing (but only to the extent such representation or warranty was untrue solely due to the Existing Default or the Notice Default) (the “Representation Defaults”, and together with the Notice Defaults and the Existing Default, the “Subject Defaults”).  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders hereby permanently waive the Subject Defaults.

 

2.2          The waiver by the Lenders described in this Section 2 is limited to the Subject Defaults.  Such waiver is limited to the extent expressly described herein and shall not be construed to be a consent to, or, except to the extent set forth herein, a waiver of, noncompliance with Section 6.4 of the Credit Agreement, or any other terms, provisions, covenants, warranties or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or in any of the other Credit Documents.  The Lenders expressly reserve the right to exercise any rights and remedies available to them in connection with any other present or future Defaults with respect to the Credit Agreement or any other provision of any Credit Document other than the Subject Defaults.  The description herein of the Subject Defaults is based upon the information provided to the Lenders on or prior to the date hereof and shall not be deemed to exclude the existence of any other Defaults.  The failure of the Lenders to give notice to any Credit Party of any such other Defaults is not intended to be nor shall be a waiver thereof.  Each Credit Party hereby agrees and acknowledges that the Lenders require and will require strict performance by the Credit Parties of all of their respective obligations, agreements and covenants contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and no inaction or action by the Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender, or any Lender regarding any Default (including but not limited to the Subject Defaults) is intended to be or shall be a waiver thereof other than the waiver of the Subject Defaults expressly provided for in Section 2 of this Agreement.  Other than the waiver of the Subject Defaults expressly provided for in Section 2 of this Agreement, each Credit Party hereby also agrees and acknowledges that no course of dealing and no delay in exercising any right, power, or remedy conferred to any Lender in the Credit Agreement or in any other Credit Documents or now or hereafter existing at law, in equity, by statute, or otherwise shall operate as a waiver of or otherwise prejudice any such right, power, or remedy (collectively, the “Lender Rights”).  For the avoidance of doubt, each Credit Party also agrees and acknowledges that neither the waiver provided in this Agreement nor any other waiver provided by the Lenders prior to the date hereof shall operate as a waiver of or otherwise prejudice any of the Lender Rights other than the waiver of the Subject Defaults expressly provided for in Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.              Amendment to Credit Agreement.  Section 6.4(c)(ii) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(ii) after the satisfaction of the Covenant Changeover Condition: either (A) such Acquisition is an Equity Funded Acquisition or a Pipeline Acquisition, or (B) before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, Availability is no less than $25,000,000.

 

Section 4.              Borrower’s Representations and Warranties.  Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that: (a) after giving effect to this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement, and the representations and warranties contained in the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects (provided that to the extent any representation and warranty is qualified as to “Material Adverse Change” or otherwise as to “materiality”, such representation and warranty is true and correct in all respects) on and as of the

 

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Effective Date as if made on as and as of such date except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty is true and correct in all material respects (provided that to the extent any representation and warranty is qualified as to “Material Adverse Change” or otherwise as to “materiality”, such representation and warranty is true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date; (b) after giving effect to this Agreement, no Default has occurred and is continuing; (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within the corporate power and authority of the Borrower and have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action and proceedings; (d) this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of Borrower enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and general principles of equity; (e) there are no governmental or other third party consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity and enforceability of this Agreement; and (f) the Liens under the Security Documents are valid and subsisting and secure the Borrower’s obligations under the Credit Documents.

 

Section 5.              Guarantors Representations and Warranties.  Each Guarantor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that: (a) after giving effect to this Agreement, its representations and warranties contained in the Guaranty Agreement to which such Guarantor is a party and the representations and warranties contained in the other Credit Documents to which such Guarantor is a party are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date as if made on as and as of such date except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty is true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; (b) after giving effect to this Agreement, no Default has occurred and is continuing under any Credit Document to which such Guarantor is a party; (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within the corporate, limited liability company, or partnership power and authority of such Guarantor and have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate, limited liability company, or partnership action and proceedings; (d) this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and general principles of equity; (e) there are no governmental or other third party consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity and enforceability of this Agreement; and (f) the Liens under the Security Documents to which such Guarantor is a party are valid and subsisting and secure such Guarantor’s and the Borrower’s obligations under the Credit Documents.

 

Section 6.              Conditions to Effectiveness.  This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date and enforceable against the parties hereto upon the occurrence of the following conditions precedent on or before the Effective Date:

 

6.1          Agreement.  The Administrative Agent shall have received multiple original counterparts of this Agreement duly executed by the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders constituting the Majority Lenders.

 

6.2          Payment of Fees.  The Borrower shall have paid all fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent’s outside legal counsel and other consultants pursuant to all invoices presented for payment on or prior to the Effective Date.

 

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Section 7.              Acknowledgments and Agreements.

 

7.1          Borrower acknowledges that on the date hereof all outstanding Obligations are payable in accordance with their terms and Borrower waives any defense, offset, counterclaim or recoupment with respect thereto.

 

7.2          The failure of the Lenders to give notice to any Credit Party of any Default or Event of Default is not intended to be, nor shall it be, a waiver thereof.  Each Credit Party hereby agrees and acknowledges that the Secured Parties require and will require strict performance by the Credit Parties of all of their respective obligations, agreements and covenants contained in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and the other Credit Documents (including any action or circumstance which is prohibited or limited during the existence of a Default or Event of Default), and no inaction or action by any Secured Party regarding any Default or Event of Default is intended to be or shall be a waiver thereof.  Each Credit Party hereby also agrees and acknowledges that no course of dealing and no delay in exercising any right, power, or remedy conferred to any Secured Party in the Credit Agreement or in any other Credit Documents or now or hereafter existing at law, in equity, by statute, or otherwise shall operate as a waiver of or otherwise prejudice any such right, power, or remedy.

 

7.3          The Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders hereby expressly reserve all of their rights, remedies, and claims under the Credit Documents.  Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a waiver or relinquishment of (a) any Default or Event of Default under any of the Credit Documents other than the waiver expressly provided in Section 2 above as to the Subject Defaults, (b) any of the agreements, terms or conditions contained in any of the Credit Documents, (c) any rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender or any Lender with respect to the Credit Documents, or (d) the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender or any Lender to collect the full amounts owing to them under the Credit Documents.

 

7.4          The Parent Company, the Borrower, each Guarantor, Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender and each other party hereto does hereby adopt, ratify, and confirm the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and acknowledges and agrees that the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, is and remains in full force and effect, and the Parent Company, the Borrower and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that their respective liabilities and obligations under the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and the Guaranty, as amended, are not impaired in any respect by this Agreement.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a novation or termination of the Obligations.

 

7.5          From and after the Effective Date, all references to the Credit Agreement and the Credit Documents shall mean the Credit Agreement and such Credit Documents as amended by this Agreement.  This Agreement is a Credit Document for the purposes of the provisions of the other Credit Documents.  Without limiting the foregoing, any breach of representations, warranties, and covenants under this Agreement shall be a Default or Event of Default, as applicable, under the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 8.              Reaffirmation of the Guaranty.  Each Guarantor hereby ratifies, confirms, acknowledges and agrees that its obligations under the Guaranty are in full force and effect and that such Guarantor continues to unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee the full and punctual payment of, when due, whether at stated maturity or earlier by acceleration or otherwise, all of the Guaranteed Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty), as such Guaranteed Obligations may have been amended by this Agreement, and its execution and delivery of this Agreement does not indicate or establish an approval or consent requirement by such Guarantor under the Guaranty in connection with the execution and delivery of

 

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amendments, consents or waivers to the Credit Agreement, the Notes or any of the other Credit Documents.

 

Section 9.              Reaffirmation of Security Documents.  Each Credit Party (a) represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that it has no defenses to the enforcement of any Security Document to which it is a party, (b) reaffirms the terms of and its obligations (and the Liens granted by it) under each Security Document to which it is a party (including, as to the Parent Company, Liens encumbering the Equity Interests of Affirm and Peak), and agrees that each such Security Document will continue in full force and effect to secure the Secured Obligations as the same may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified heretofore, hereby and from time to time hereafter, and such other amounts in accordance with the terms of such Security Document, and (c) acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that the liens and security interests granted by it pursuant to the Security Documents are valid and subsisting and create a security interest to secure the Secured Obligations and are first priority, fully enforceable, non-avoidable and duly perfected Liens as required therein.

 

Section 10.            Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which, taken together, constitute a single instrument.  This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature and all such signatures shall be effective as originals.

 

Section 11.            Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 12.            Invalidity.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 13.            Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be deemed a contract under, and shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of laws principles (other than Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York).

 

Section 14.            Patriot Act.  Each Lender that is subject to the PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Credit Party that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of such Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Credit Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.

 

Section 15.            Entire Agreement. THIS AGREEMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AS AMENDED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES, AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS CONSTITUTE THE ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDE ANY PRIOR AGREEMENTS, WRITTEN OR ORAL, WITH RESPECT THERETO.

 

THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

[The remainder of this page has been left blank intentionally.]

 

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EXECUTED to be effective as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
BORROWER:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SELECT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ John D. Schmitz
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
John D. Schmitz
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chief Executive   Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GUARANTORS:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
AFFIRM OILFIELD SERVICES, LLC
    
	
 
    	
INTERNATIONAL WESTERN   COMPANY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
LONE STAR LLC
    
	
 
    	
PEAK OILFIELD SERVICES, LLC
    
	
 
    	
SELECT WATER REUSE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
SELECT WESTERN COMPANY OF   TEXAS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
SES HOLDINGS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Each By:
    	
/s/ John D. Schmitz
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
John D. Schmitz
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chief Executive Officer
    
				

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT/LENDERS:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
WELLS FARGO BANK,
    
	
 
    	
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    
	
 
    	
as   Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender,
    
	
 
    	
Issuing   Lender, Revolving Lender, and
    
	
 
    	
Term   Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Timothy P. Gebauer
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Timothy   P. Gebauer
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Tyler Ellis
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Tyler   Ellis
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
ZB, N.A. DBA AMEGY BANK
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Rachel Pletcher
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Rachel   Pletcher
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
COMERICA BANK
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   David Balderach
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
David   Balderach
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
REGIONS BANK
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Lynn Johnston
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Lynn   Johnston
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Darren   Vanek
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Darren   Vanek
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
CITIBANK, N.A.
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
					

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Marcus Tarkington
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Marcus   Tarkington
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Peter Cucchiara
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Peter   Cucchiara
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Bryan J. Matthews
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Bryan   J. Matthews
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Peter   J. Winstanley
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Peter   J. Winstanley
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
CADENCE BANK, N.A.
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Tim Ashe
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Time   Ashe
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant   Vice President
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Kristan Spivey
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Kristan   Spivey
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)

 

 

	
 
    	
UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
    
	
 
    	
as a   Revolving Lender and Term Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Darlene Arias
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Darlene   Arias
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Houssem Daly
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Houssem   Daly
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Associate   Director
    

 

Signature Page to

Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

(Select Energy Services, LLC)Exhibit 10.1

 

[Whole Foods Market, Inc. Letterhead]

 

June 14, 2017

 

Keith Manbeck
 c/o Whole Foods Market, Inc.
 550 Bowie Street
 Austin, Texas  78703

 

Re:                             Qualifying Termination Upon or Following a Change of Control

 

Dear Keith:

 

Reference is made to the offer letter, dated May 2, 2017 (the “Offer Letter”), by and between Whole Foods Market, Inc. (the “Company”) and you.  This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) constitutes the “change of control agreement” referred to in the Offer Letter:

 

Severance.  If, upon or following a Change of Control (as defined in the Whole Foods Executive Retention Plan and Non-Compete Arrangement (the “Retention Plan”) as in effect on the date hereof), your employment is terminated (1) by the Company without “Cause” (as defined in the Retention Plan) or (2) by you with “Good Reason” (as defined below) (each of clauses (1) and (2) above, a “Qualifying Termination”), you shall be entitled to receive the following, subject to your execution and delivery of a general release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates in substantially the form attached to the Retention Plan (and non-revocation within the time period set forth therein):

 

·                                          A lump sum cash payment equal to $2 million, payable within 30 days following the date of your Qualifying Termination (subject to the paragraph entitled “Section 409A” below).

 

·                                          If a Qualifying Termination occurs prior to the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of its 2017 fiscal year, an additional lump sum cash payment of $975,000; if such Qualifying Termination occurs on or after the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of its 2017 fiscal year but prior to the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of its 2018 fiscal year, an additional lump sum cash payment of $650,000; and if such Qualifying Termination occurs on or after the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of the 2018 fiscal year but prior to the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of the 2019 fiscal year, an additional lump sum cash payment of $325,000; in each case, payable within 30 days following your Qualifying Termination (subject to the paragraph entitled “Section 409A” below).

 

 

·                                          To the extent any portion of the restricted stock award or option award granted to you pursuant to the Offer Letter remains unvested as of a Qualifying Termination, full accelerated vesting of such awards as of the Qualifying Termination.

 

·                                          To the extent any portion of the $400,000 cash compensation payable under the Offer Letter in respect of equity awards of a prior employer that you forfeited remains unpaid as of a Qualifying Termination, a lump sum cash payment equal to such unpaid portion, payable within 30 days following the date of the Qualifying Termination (subject to the paragraph entitled “Section 409A” below).

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” has the meaning set forth in the Retention Plan; provided, however, that, (a) notwithstanding clause (i) of such definition, any changes in your authority, position, duties, responsibilities, status, offices, title, or reporting requirements resulting solely the Company ceasing to be a public company by virtue of becoming a subsidiary or division of another public company upon and following a Change of Control shall not constitute Good Reason, and (b) clause (ii) of such definition shall be applied as though you were a participant in the Retention Plan as of the date of the applicable Change of Control.

 

Section 409A.  It is intended that this Agreement shall comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury Regulations relating thereto, or an exemption to Section 409A of the Code.  Any payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception or another exception under Section 409A of the Code shall be paid under the applicable exception.  For purposes of the limitations on nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, each payment of compensation under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation for purposes of applying the Section 409A of the Code deferral election rules and the exclusion under Section 409A of the Code for certain short-term deferral amounts.  All payments to be made upon a termination of employment under this Agreement may only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code.  In no event may you, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if you are considered a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the date of your termination of employment), any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that is otherwise due to you under this Agreement during the six-month period following your separation from service (as determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code) on account of your separation from service shall be accumulated and paid to you on the first business day of the seventh month following your separation from service (the “Delayed Payment Date”) to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code.  You shall be entitled to interest on any delayed cash payments from the date of termination to the Delayed Payment Date at a rate equal to the applicable federal short-term rate in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code for the month in which your separation from service occurs.  If you die during the postponement period, the amounts and entitlements delayed on account of Section 409A of the Code shall be paid to the personal

 

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representative of your estate on the first to occur of the Delayed Payment Date or 30 calendar days after the date of your death.

 

Miscellaneous.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by an agreement in writing signed by you and the Company.  This Agreement shall be binding upon any successor of the Company or its businesses (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise), in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be obligated under this Agreement if no succession had taken place.  The term “Company,” as used in this letter, shall mean the Company as defined above and any successor or assignee to the business or assets that by reason hereof becomes bound by this letter.  This letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas without reference to conflict of law rules.

 

*         *         *

 

We appreciate and value your dedicated service to the Company.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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Please confirm your agreement to the foregoing by executing this Agreement as indicated below.

 

	
 
    	
Sincerely,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
WHOLE   FOODS MARKET, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   John Mackey
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
John   Mackey
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief   Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Acknowledged   and Agreed:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
/s/   Keith Manbeck
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Keith   Manbeck
    	
 
    

 

[Signature Page to Change of Control Letter Agreement]

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00272-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00272-of-00352.parquet"}]]