NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT
(EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OPTION)
PURSUANT TO THE
RYAN SPECIALTY HOLDINGS, INC. 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
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Participant: [●]
Grant Date: [●]
Per Share Exercise Price: [●]
Number of Shares subject to this Option: [●]
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THIS NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT (together with any appendix hereto, this “Agreement”), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized in the State of Delaware (the “Company”), and the Participant specified above, pursuant to the Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as in effect and as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), which is administered by the Committee; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined under the Plan that it would be in the best interests of the Company to grant the Non-Qualified Stock Option provided for herein to the Participant.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby mutually covenant and agree as follows:
1.Acknowledgment of Restrictive Covenants. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that, as a condition of receiving the Option hereunder, the Participant will be bound by all of the restrictive covenants set forth in Appendix A of this Agreement, and that such restrictive covenants are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other restrictive covenants to which the Participant may be subject.
2.Incorporation By Reference; Plan Document Receipt. This Agreement is subject in all respects to the terms and provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, any amendments thereto adopted at any time and from time to time unless such amendments are expressly intended not to apply to the Award provided hereunder), all of which terms and provisions are made a part of and incorporated in this Agreement as if they were each expressly set forth herein. Any capitalized term not defined in this Agreement will have the same meaning as is ascribed thereto in the Plan. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a true copy of the Plan and that the Participant has read the Plan carefully and fully understands its content. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control. No part of the Option granted hereby is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.
3.Grant of Option. The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, a Non-Qualified Stock Option (this “Option”) to acquire from the Company at the Per
Share Exercise Price specified above, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock specified above (the “Option Shares”). Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, the Participant agrees and understands that nothing contained in this Agreement provides, or is intended to provide, the Participant with any protection against potential future dilution of the Participant’s interest in the Company for any reason. The Participant will have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by the Option unless and until the Participant has become the holder of record of such shares, and no adjustments will be made for dividends in cash or other property, distributions or other rights in respect of any such shares, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the Plan or this Agreement.
4.Vesting and Exercise.
(a)Vesting. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(c) and 4(d) hereof, the Option will vest and become exercisable as follows, which the parties agree represents vesting on specified anniversaries of the first day of the fiscal quarter immediately following the Grant date; provided that, the Participant has not incurred a Termination prior to each such vesting date:
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There will be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each vesting date and all vesting will occur only on the appropriate vesting date, subject to the Participant’s continued service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on each applicable vesting date. Upon expiration of the Option, the Option will be cancelled and no longer exercisable.
(b)Treatment of Unvested Options upon Termination. Except as set forth below, any portion of the Option that is not vested as of the date of the Participant’s Termination for any reason will terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4 to the contrary, (i) in the event the Participant incurs a Termination without Cause, then the portion of unvested Option eligible to vest on the vesting date immediately following such Termination shall vest as of such originally scheduled vesting date and (ii) in the event the Termination is due to Participant’s death or Disability, then vesting shall continue to occur on the vesting date in accordance with Section 4(a) following the date of Participant’s Termination.
(c)Committee Discretion to Accelerate Vesting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting of the Option at any time and for any reason.
(d)Expiration. Unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and/or this Agreement, all portions of the Option (whether vested or not vested) will expire and will no longer be exercisable on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date (such period, the “Term”).
5.Termination. Subject to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the Option, to the extent vested at the time of the Participant’s Termination, will remain exercisable until the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 4(d) except as follows:
(a)Voluntary Resignation. In the event of the Participant’s voluntary Termination, the vested portion of the Option will remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) 90 days from the date of such Termination, and (ii) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof.
(b)Termination for Cause. In the event of the Participant’s Termination for Cause or in the event of the Participant’s voluntary Termination after an event that would be grounds for a Termination
for Cause, the Participant’s entire Option (whether or not vested) will terminate and expire upon such Termination.
(c)Termination other than Voluntary Resignation or for Cause. In the event of the Participant’s Termination other than as set forth in Sections 5(a) and 5(b), the Option will remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof and (ii) (A) with respect to the portion of the Option that is vested as of the Participant’s Termination, the first anniversary of the Participant’s Termination and (B) with respect to the portion of the Option, if any, that is unvested as the Participant’s Termination, to the extent that any portion thereof vests following the Participant’s Termination, the first anniversary of such vesting date.
6.Forfeiture and Clawback. If the Participant incurs a Termination for Cause or a Restrictive Covenant Breach (as defined below) occurs and written notice of such Restrictive Covenant Breach is given to the Participant by the Company, then the Participant’s entire Option (whether vested or not vested) and any Shares or cash previously delivered on settlement of the Options shall be automatically forfeited to the Company for no consideration effective as of the date of such Termination for Cause or Restrictive Covenant Breach. In the event the Participant has sold or otherwise disposed of any Options or any such Shares, the Participant shall promptly (and in no event later than ten (10) days following the date of such Termination for Cause or such written notice of a Restrictive Covenant Breach) pay to the Company the Fair Market Value of such securities at the time of such sale or disposition. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Restrictive Covenant Breach” means a breach (as determined by the Board in its sole discretion) by Participant of the provisions of Appendix A, attached hereto, or any other non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other similar covenant made by Participant in favor of the Company or any of its Affiliates, whether now in effect or hereafter agreed.
7.Method of Exercise and Payment.
(a)To the extent that the Option has become vested and exercisable with respect to a number of shares of Common Stock as provided herein, the Option may thereafter be exercised by the Participant, in whole or in part, at any time (subject to the terms of this Section 7) or from time to time prior to the expiration of the Option as provided herein and in accordance with Sections 6.4(c) and 6.4(d) of the Plan, including, without limitation, by the filing of any written form of exercise notice as may be required by the Committee and payment in full of the Per Share Exercise Price specified above multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the portion of the Option exercised; [provided, that, the Option may only be exercised during the first 20 days of each month, subject to the Participant providing written notice to the Company at least five business days prior to any such exercise;] provided, further, that, the Option shall not be eligible to participate in any cashless exercise program the Company may provide from time to time unless any such program expressly permits the Option granted pursuant to this Agreement to participate in any such program. The Participant acknowledges and agrees to notify the Company in writing if he or she sells any shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to such exercise within one year of any such sale.
(b)If the Participant is subject to any Company “blackout” policy or other trading restriction imposed by the Company during a period when the Option would otherwise be exercisable pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof, the Company may decline to permit exercise of the Option until such time as the Participant is not subject to any such policy or restriction.
8.Non-Transferability. The Option, and any rights and interests with respect thereto, issued under this Agreement and the Plan will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant (or any beneficiary of the Participant), other than by
testamentary disposition by the Participant or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit the Option to be Transferred to a Family Member for no value, and the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit the Option to be Transferred to any other transferee; provided that, such Transfer will only be valid upon execution of a written instrument in form and substance acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion evidencing such Transfer and the transferee’s acceptance thereof signed by the Participant and the transferee; and, provided, further, that the Option may not be subsequently Transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or to another Family Member (as permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion) or to any other transferee as permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in accordance with the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, and will remain subject to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement. Any attempt to sell, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of or hypothecate in any way the Option, or the levy of any execution, attachment or similar legal process upon the Option, contrary to the terms and provisions of this Agreement and/or the Plan will be null and void and without legal force or effect.
9.Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the choice of law principles thereof. The parties agree to resolve any dispute relating to this Agreement using the provisions set forth in any agreement to arbitrate between Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, arising from Appendix A); provided, however, that either party may request injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction to address a breach of any provision contained in Appendix A, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 2 thereof.
10.Withholding of Tax. The Company, or an Affiliate, as applicable, will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, or an Affiliate, as applicable, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) which the Company, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the Option and, if the Participant fails to do so, the Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement. With the consent of the Committee, any minimum statutorily required withholding obligation incurred in connection with the exercise of its Option may be satisfied by reducing the amount of cash or shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the Option.
11.Entire Agreement; Amendment. Except as set forth in Section 1, this Agreement, together with the Plan, contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior agreements or prior understandings, whether written or oral, between the parties relating to such subject matter. The Committee will have the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or amend this Agreement from time to time in accordance with and as provided in the Plan. This Agreement may also be modified or amended by a writing signed by both the Company and the Participant. The Company will give written notice to the Participant of any such modification or amendment of this Agreement as soon as practicable after the adoption thereof.
12.Notices. Any notice hereunder by the Participant will be given to the Company in writing and such notice will be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof by the General Counsel of the Company. Any notice hereunder by the Company will be given to the Participant in writing and such notice will be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at such address as the Participant may have on file with the Company.
13.No Right to Employment. Any questions as to whether and when there has been a Termination and the cause of such Termination will be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. Nothing in this Agreement will interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time, for any reason and with or without Cause.
14.Transfer of Personal Data. The Participant authorizes, agrees and unambiguously consents to the transmission by the Company (or any Subsidiary) of any personal data information related to the Option awarded under this Agreement for legitimate business purposes (including, without limitation, the administration of the Plan). This authorization and consent is freely given by the Participant.
15.Compliance with Laws. The issuance of the Option (and the Option Shares upon exercise of the Option) pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to, and will comply with, any applicable requirements of any foreign and U.S. federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and in each case any respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law or regulation applicable thereto. The Company will not be obligated to issue the Option or any of the Option Shares pursuant to this Agreement if any such issuance would violate any such requirements.
16.Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Plan to the contrary, the Option is intended to be exempt from the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and will be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.
17.Binding Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns. The Participant will not assign (except in accordance with Section 8 hereof) any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.
18.Headings. The titles and headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and will not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement.
19.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all of which will constitute one and the same instrument.
20.Further Assurances. Each party hereto will do and perform (or will cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and will execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as either party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder.
21.Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement in any jurisdiction will not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or the validity, legality or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder will be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
22.Acquired Rights. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Company may terminate or amend the Plan at any time; (b) the award of the Option made under this Agreement is completely independent of any other award or grant and is made at the sole discretion of the Company;
(c) no past grants or awards (including, without limitation, the Option awarded hereunder) give the Participant any right to any grants or awards in the future whatsoever; and (d) any benefits granted under this Agreement are not part of the Participant’s ordinary salary, and will not be considered as part of such salary in the event of severance, redundancy or resignation.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
RYAN SPECIALTY HOLDINGS, INC.
By:
Name: Timothy W. Turner
Title: Chief Executive Officer
THE PARTICIPANT
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[Signature Page to Stock Option Agreement]
APPENDIX A
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
The terms of this Appendix A (collectively, the “Covenants,” and each separate covenant contained herein, a “Covenant”) are part of the Grant Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of the Grant Date, by and between the Participant and the Company, and are incorporated therein by reference. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement.
1.Definitions.
“Competing Services” means any services similar to the services Participant provides to or on behalf of Company to any Covered Ryan Division. For avoidance of doubt, “Competing Services” includes supervising employees who are either providing Competing Services or supervising, directing or evaluating the services of those who do.
“Competitor” means any Person that (i) is not an affiliate of the Company and (ii) competes with any Covered Business.
“Covered Account” means any account (including but not limited to any insured, consulting client, or financing customer) of a Covered Ryan Division (i) that had been serviced by a Covered Ryan Division during the Time in Question, and (ii) for which the Participant participated in the placement or servicing of such account, or received confidential information regarding such account, during the Time in Question.
“Covered Business” means (i) the business conducted by the members of a Covered Ryan Division at any time during the Employment Period, or (ii) the business proposed to be conducted by the members of a Covered Ryan Division if such proposed business became known to Participant in connection with Participant’s employment with the Company.
“Covered Delegated Authority” means any insurance carrier, Lloyd’s syndicate or other insurance market that has delegated the authority to bind coverage on such carrier’s, syndicate’s or market’s behalf to Participant or any individual who directly or indirectly reports to Participant or to whom Participant directly or indirectly reports and such delegation was in effect during the Time in Question.
“Covered Employee” means any Person who was an employee, independent contractor, consultant, or representative of any member of the Ryan Specialty Corporate Group during the Time in Question and with whom Participant had material contact during the Employment Period.
“Covered Ryan Division” means any Ryan Division on behalf of which the Participant performs (or, during the Time in Question, performed) a substantial portion of their services to the Company.
“Covered Umbrella Account” means any Umbrella Account of a Covered Ryan Division (i) with respect to which Non-renewing Business had been serviced by a Covered Ryan Division during the Time in Question, and (ii) for which the Participant participated in the placement or servicing of any Non-renewing Business from, through or related to such Umbrella Account, or received confidential information regarding any such Non-renewing Business, during the Time in Question.
“Employment Period” means the period of time during which the Participant is employed by the Company or any of its affiliates.
“Inventions” means (a) any and all ideas, concepts, inventions, discoveries, designs, developments, improvements, know-how, structures, protocols, formulas, algorithms, methods, techniques, products, software applications, processes, systems and technologies in any stage of development; (b) any and all improvements, modifications, derivative works from, other rights in and claims related to any of the foregoing; and (c) any and all
patents, patents pending, trade secrets, works of authorship, copyrights, moral rights, trademarks and any other intellectual property rights therein under the laws of any jurisdiction.
“Non-renewing Business” means (a) policies of insurance which, by their terms, are not subject to renewal, and (b) master policies of insurance which may be subject to renewal, but which cover risks (whether through addenda, certificates of insurance or other means) which are not, by their nature, subject to renewal. For example, and for the avoidance of doubt, the following lines of business shall be considered Non-renewing Business for all purposes of this Appendix A: transactional liability, builder’s risk, and special event insurance.
“Protected Information” means trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information, and all other knowledge, know how, information, documents or materials, owned, developed or possessed by the Company or by any member of Covered Ryan Division, whether in tangible or intangible form, pertaining to the Covered Business, including, but not limited to, the research, business relationships, products (including prices, costs, sales and content), plans for the development of new products, processes, techniques, finances, contracts, financial information or measures, business methods, business plans, databases, computer programs, designs, models, operating procedures, knowledge of the organization, marketing strategies and methods, suppliers, customer identities and lists, product history, resolicit lists, underwriting information, customer preferences and contact persons, and the identities and roles of the key Participants of, and other information owned, developed or possessed by Company or by any member of a Covered Ryan Division, or other non-public information which is or can reasonably be used by Participant or Participant’s future Company to poach or otherwise divert business away from the Company or any member of a Covered Ryan Division; provided, however, that Protected Information shall not include: (i) information that shall become generally known to the public at no cost without violation of Section 8, and (ii) information that is disclosed to Participant after the Employment Period by another party who is under no obligation of confidentiality and has a bona fide right to disclose the information.
“Restricted Geographic Area” means (i) the counties and/or parishes in which (A) Participant’s primary work location was located and (B) Participant’s clients’ primary work locations were located, in each case, during the Time in Question; and (ii) the counties and/or parishes contiguous thereto.
“Restricted Period” means the Employment Period and a period of twenty-four (24) calendar months immediately thereafter; provided, however, that if twenty-four (24) months is held to be unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator with authority to adjudicate such question, then it shall mean the Employment Period and a period of eighteen (18) calendar months immediately thereafter with respect to such Covenant; and further provided, however, that if eighteen (18) months is held to be unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator with authority to adjudicate such question, then it shall mean the Employment Period and a period of twelve (12) calendar months thereafter with respect to such Covenant.
“Ryan Division” means any business division, whether now operating or hereafter formed or acquired, of the Ryan Specialty Corporate Group, as such business division is generally thought of by the Company, including the historical operations of any businesses (including but not limited to Participant’s prior Company(s)) acquired by such Ryan Division. As of the date hereof, the Ryan Divisions are RT Specialty, Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers, Ryan Alternative Risk, Ryan Specialty Benefits, and Stetson Insurance Finance.
“Ryan Specialty Corporate Group” means the Company; Ryan Specialty, LLC; and their subsidiaries and affiliates.
“Termination Date” means the last day of the Employment Period.
“Time in Question” means the eighteen (18) month period immediately preceding the termination of the Employment Period or, in the event Participant violates this Agreement during the Employment Period, the eighteen (18) month period immediately preceding Participant’s alleged breach.
“Umbrella Account” means, with respect to Non-renewing Business, the sponsor, owner, referral source or other commercial relationship (other than an insurance broker) that has a recurring role in the placement of related or similar policies of insurance. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to any transactional liability policy, both the law firm and the private equity firm (if applicable) associated with such policy shall be deemed to be “Umbrella Accounts”; with respect to a builder’s risk policy, the developer or builder shall be deemed to be an “Umbrella Account”; and with respect to event insurance, the promoter or venue (whichever was involved in the provision of insurance) shall be deemed to be an “Umbrella Account.”
“Work Product” means the results and proceeds of Participant’s services for any member of the Ryan Specialty Corporate Group, whether or not copyrightable or patentable works, and all trade secrets, confidential information and know how, and all other Inventions or intellectual property rights that both (a) are conceived, reduced to practice, developed or made by Participant, whether alone or with others, during the Employment Period and (b) either (i) relate to a Covered Ryan Division’s actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services, or (ii) are conceived, reduced to practice, developed or made using any of equipment, supplies, facilities, assets or resources of the Company or any member of a Covered Ryan Division, or (iii) result from or are connected with work performed by Participant for a Covered Ryan Division.
2. Consideration. In consideration of the promises and mutual agreements set forth below, the benefits being provided to the Participant hereunder in connection with the grant of equity pursuant to this Agreement, the Company’s promise to provide and provision to Participant any Protected Information during the Employment Period, specialized training, and the opportunity to develop business relationships with the Company’s Participants, agents, customers, and business contacts, to which Participant would not otherwise have access but for Participant’s agreement to the promises set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree to the terms and conditions as set forth in this Appendix A. Participant agrees that these professional and financial benefits, which Participant will receive by virtue of Participant’s employment with the Company and the Company’s grant of equity pursuant to this Agreement, are alone sufficient consideration for this Agreement. Sections 3 through 7 shall therefore be enforceable even if Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated within two (2) years of its commencement.
3. Non-Solicit of Covered Employees. During the Restricted Period, Participant agrees that Participant shall not, except in the furtherance of Participant’s duties on behalf of the Company, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any other Person, actually or attempt to (a) solicit, entice, encourage or induce any Covered Employee to become an employee, consultant, agent or representative of any other Person or (b) approach any such Covered Employee for such purpose or authorize or knowingly approve the taking of such actions by any other Person or assist any such Person in taking such action; provided that nothing in this Section 3 shall prohibit Participant from receiving and considering any application for employment from any Covered Employee who has not been solicited, enticed, encouraged or induced in violation of this Section 3.
4. Non-Solicit of Book of Business. During the Restricted Period, Participant agrees that Participant shall not, except in the furtherance of Participant’s duties on behalf of the Company, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any Person other than a member of the Ryan Specialty Corporate Group, actually or attempt to:
(a) solicit, entice, encourage, or induce any Covered Account (i) to cease doing business with any Covered Ryan Division, (ii) to enter into any business relationship with any Person in connection with the conduct of any Covered Business other than a member of any Covered Ryan Division if such business relationship involves the provision of same or similar services that Participant provided for or on behalf of Company during the Time in Question, or (iii) in a manner that could reasonably be expected to interfere in any way with the relationship between any Covered Account and the members of any Covered Ryan Division, or, in each case, assist any other Person in taking any such actions;
(b) solicit, entice, encourage, or induce any Covered Umbrella Account (i) to cease doing business with any Covered Ryan Division, (ii) to enter into any business relationship with any Person in connection with the conduct of any Covered Business other than a member of any Covered Ryan Division if such business relationship
involves the provision of same or similar services that Participant provided for or on behalf of Company during the Time in Question, or (iii) in a manner that could reasonably be expected to interfere in any way with the relationship between any Covered Umbrella Account and the members of any Covered Ryan Division, or, in each case, assist any other Person in taking any such actions; or
(c) solicit, entice, encourage, or induce any Covered Delegated Authority (i) to cease doing business with any Covered Ryan Division, (ii) to enter into any business relationship with any Person in connection with the conduct of any Covered Business other than a member of any Covered Ryan Division if such business relationship involves the provision of same or similar services that Participant provided for or on behalf of Company during the Time in Question, or (iii) in a manner that could reasonably be expected to interfere in any way with the relationship between any Covered Delegated Authority and the members of any Covered Ryan Division, or, in each case, assist any other Person in taking any such actions.
5. Non-Service of Book of Business. During the Restricted Period, Participant agrees that Participant shall not, except in the furtherance of Participant’s duties on behalf of the Company, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any Person other than a member of the Ryan Specialty Corporate Group, actually or attempt to:
(a) accept or service any Covered Account, including, without limitation, in any way that would result in any Covered Account (i) not being placed with any member of a Covered Ryan Division or (ii) being moved to any Person other than a member of a Covered Ryan Division, or, in either case, assist any other Person in taking any such action;
(b) accept or service any Covered Umbrella Account, including, without limitation, in any way that would result in any future item of business from such Covered Umbrella Account (i) not being referred to any member of a Covered Ryan Division or (ii) being referred to any Person other than a member of a Covered Ryan Division, or, in either case, assist any other Person in taking any such action; or
(c) accept or exercise delegated binding authority from any Covered Delegated Authority, including, without limitation, in any way that would result in any future capital capacity of such Covered Delegated Authority (i) not being delegated to any member of a Covered Ryan Division or (ii) being delegated to any Person other than a member of a Covered Ryan Division, or, in either case, assist any other Person in taking any such action.
6. Garden Leave.
(a) Notwithstanding the terms of any other agreement between Employer and Employee previously entered into:
(i) If Employee voluntarily resigns employment with Employer, the Termination Date must be no less than six (6) months from the Notice Date, as defined below; provided, however, that within seven (7) days of the Notice Date, Employer may elect to set an earlier Termination Date by providing written notice thereof to the Employee.
(ii) Employer may terminate Employee’s employment with Employer on written notice to the Employee specifying a Termination Date no less than thirty (30) days and no more than six (6) months after the date of such notice; provided that Employer may terminate Employee’s employment immediately at any time for Cause, with or without notice, without further monetary obligation or consequence to Employer, except as specifically required by law.
(iii) For purposes of this Section 6, the date on which either party provides notice of their intent to terminate employment shall be referred to herein as the “Notice Date,” and period of time between the Notice Date and the Termination Date shall be referred to herein as “Garden Leave.”
(b) During Garden Leave, Employee shall continue to be an employee of the Employer. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that Employee shall continue to owe fiduciary duties to the Employer and the
Covered Ryan Division(s) during Garden Leave and shall continue to act in the best interests of the Employer and the Covered Ryan Division(s) during Garden Leave.
(c) Assuming Employee complies with the terms and conditions of this Appendix A, and the Employment Period is not terminated for Cause, then:
(i) During Garden Leave, Employer shall continue to pay Employee’s compensation in accordance with its standard payroll procedures. If Employee does not receive a base salary, then any annual advance or annualized hourly wage shall be treated as Employee’s base salary during Garden Leave.
(ii) The length of the Restricted Period shall be reduced by the length of Garden Leave.
(iii) The amount of any severance owing or payable by Employer to Employee shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the amount of compensation paid or payable to Employee during Garden Leave. Such severance amounts shall be paid at the end of Garden Leave.
7. Non-Compete. During the Restricted Period, Participant shall not, directly or indirectly, provide Competing Services anywhere in the Restricted Geographic Area to any Competitor. Nothing herein shall prohibit Participant from being a passive owner of not more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of any class of a Person that is publicly traded, so long as Participant has no active participation in the business of such Person. The Company hereby waives its right to specific performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this, and only this, Section 7, but all forfeiture and clawback provisions applicable to a restrictive covenant breach shall remain applicable. In the event of a breach of this Section 7, the Company shall be entitled to deem all vested and unvested equity as forfeited and to recover an amount equal to the aggregate fair market value of the Shares received by Participant pursuant to the Agreement, as well as the Company’s costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in enforcing a forfeiture and recovering such damages. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall limit the Company’s forfeiture and clawback rights.
8. Confidentiality.
(a) During the Employment Period and thereafter, except as provided in Section 8(b) through Section 8(d), Participant will not use, disclose or divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone, directly or indirectly, any Protected Information in any manner or for any purpose that is (i) in contravention of the Company’s policies or procedures or the policies or procedures of any member of a Covered Ryan Division; (ii) otherwise inconsistent with the Company’s measures to protect its interests, or the measures of a member of a Covered Ryan Division to protect its interests, in each case in its Protected Information; (iii) in contravention of any duty existing under law or contract, or (iv) without the prior written consent of the Chairman or the CEO.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8(a), in the event that Participant is required to disclose any Protected Information by court order or decree or in compliance with the rules and regulations of a governmental agency or in compliance with law, Participant will provide the Company with prompt notice of such required disclosure so that the Company and/or a member of any Covered Ryan Division may seek an appropriate protective order and/or waive Participant’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 8. If, in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, Participant is advised by Participant’s counsel that such disclosure is required to comply with such court order, decree, rule, regulation or law, Participant may disclose such information without liability hereunder.
(c) Participant further acknowledges that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8(a) or 8(b), nothing in this Agreement or any other agreement between Participant and Company: (i) limits Participant’s ability to communicate with any governmental enforcement agencies or regulators (“Agencies”) regarding matters within their jurisdiction or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by such Agencies; (ii) is intended to affect the rights and responsibilities of Agencies to enforce the laws within their jurisdiction,
including but not limited to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, or any other applicable Agencies, which means that, by signing this Agreement, Participant may still exercise Participant’s protected right to file an administrative charge with, or participate in an investigation or proceeding conducted by, such Agencies; (iii) restricts or impedes Employe from discussing the terms and conditions of Participant’s employment or otherwise exercising any rights Participant may have under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act; (iv) restricts Participant from discussing or disclosing information that is expressly prohibited from being the subject of Participant nondisclosure obligations under applicable law, such as information about unlawful acts in the workplace, including harassment or any other conduct that Participant has reason to believe is unlawful or in violation of public policy, or speaking with an attorney regarding the same; or (v) restricts Participant from testifying in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding regarding alleged criminal conduct or sexual harassment when Participant has been required or requested to attend a proceeding pursuant to court order, subpoena, or written request from an administrative agency or legislature. Notwithstanding, in making any such disclosures or communications, Participant agrees to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Confidential Information to any parties other than the Agencies. Participant further understands that Participant is not permitted to disclose Company’s attorney-client privileged communications or attorney work product.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8, the parties agree that nothing in this Agreement (including in this Appendix A) is intended to, nor shall, preclude or limit the application of (i) 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(1), which provides that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret under either of the following conditions: (x) where the disclosure is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (y) where the disclosure is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal, or (ii) 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(2), which provides that an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an Company for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (1) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (2) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.
9. Work Product Ownership.
(a) Ryan Specialty Corporate Group Property. Participant agrees that all memoranda, notes, records, papers or other documents and all copies thereof, computer disks, computer software programs and the like, including rating matrices (collectively, “documents”) relating to the operations of the Company, any member of a Covered Ryan Division and/or the Covered Business or their respective clients, customers or capital providers (even if prepared by the Participant) and involving Protected Information, in any way obtained by the Participant during their employment hereunder shall be the property of the Company or one of its Affiliates that is part of a Covered Ryan Division, as applicable. Except for use for the benefit of the Company and/or a Covered Ryan Division, Participant shall not copy or duplicate any of the aforementioned documents or objects, nor remove them from the Company’s and/or a Covered Ryan Division’s facilities. Participant shall comply with any and all procedures which the Company and/or any Covered Ryan Division may adopt from time to time to preserve the confidentiality of Protected Information and the confidentiality of property of the types described immediately above, whether or not such property contains a legend indicating its confidential nature. Upon termination of Participant’s employment with the Company for any reason whatsoever and at any other time upon the Company’s (or any member of a Covered Ryan Division’s) request, Participant (or Participant’s personal representative) shall deliver to the Company (or its designee) all property described in this Section 9 which is in Participant’s possession, custody or control. Participant hereby acknowledges that upon termination of Participant’s employment with the Company, the Company (or any member of a Covered Ryan Division) may deem it advisable to, and shall be entitled to, serve notice on Participant’s new Company that Participant has had access to or been exposed to
certain Protected Information and that Participant has continuing obligations under the terms of the Agreement (including this Appendix A) not to disclose such information.
(b) Work for Hire; Assignment. All Work Product shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company, whether or not copyrightable or patentable or in a commercial stage of development. Participant agrees that (i) all copyrightable Inventions created by or for Participant (whether alone or with others) on behalf of Company are “works made for hire” (as that term is used in the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §101. et seq.) by or for Participant for the benefit of Company, and shall be the sole and complete property of Company; and (ii) any and all copyrights to such Inventions shall belong exclusively and perpetually to Company throughout the world. With respect to all non-copyrightable Inventions and any copyrightable Inventions that may not be deemed works made for hire, Participant hereby irrevocably and exclusively assigns to Company in perpetuity, without further consideration, all right, title and interest (including, without limitation, all patents and patent applications, trademark rights, trade secret rights and other proprietary and/or intellectual property rights, and all renewals thereof) throughout the United States and in all other countries or jurisdictions, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, in and to all Work Product. Such assignment and transfer to Company shall be continuous during Participant’s employment as of the relevant time of development of each such Work Product. To the extent that (a) any Work Product is not deemed to be works made for hire or assignable as provided herein or (b) Participant retains any right, title and/or interest in and to any Work Product, Participant hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives the enforcement of such right, title and/or interest and all claims and causes of action of any kind against Company and its affiliates, and its and their officers, directors, Participants, agents, contractors, licensors, licensees, customers, members and delegates, with respect thereto, and hereby grant to Company a perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, fully transferable, sublicensable (through multiple levels of sublicensees), exclusive (even as to Participant), worldwide right and license, free from any liens or encumbrances, to reproduce, distribute, display and perform (whether publicly or otherwise), prepare derivative works of and otherwise modify, make, have made, sell, offer to sell, import and otherwise use and exploit (and have others exercise such rights on behalf of Company) all or any portion of such Work Product (to the full extent, if any, of Participant’s rights therein), in any form or media (now known or later developed), without any obligation to account to Participant or any third party. Participant shall promptly disclose all Work Product to the Chairman or the CEO and perform, at the expense of the Company, all actions reasonably requested by the Chairman and the CEO (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish and confirm the Company’s ownership of the Work Product (including assignments, consents, powers of attorney, applications and other instruments). Participant agrees to maintain adequate and current written records on the development of all Work Product, which shall also be and remain the sole property of Company. Participant is hereby advised that this Section 9 does not apply to (and Work Product shall not include) an invention for which no equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information of the Company or any member of any Covered Ryan Division was used and which was developed entirely on Participant’s own time, unless (x) the invention relates (1) to the Covered Business, or (2) to the Company’s or any member of a Covered Ryan Division’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (y) the invention results from or is connected with any work performed by Participant for a Covered Ryan Division. In addition, this Agreement does not apply to any Invention that qualifies fully for protection from assignment to the Company under any specifically applicable state or district law, regulation, rule or public policy, as more specifically described in Exhibit A to this Appendix A for Participants working in certain jurisdictions.
(c) Assistance with Registration. In the event any Work Product shall be deemed by Company to be copyrightable, patentable, trademarkable or otherwise registerable, Participant will assist Company (at its expense) in obtaining and maintaining letters patent or other applicable registrations and in vesting Company with full title. Should Company be unable to secure Participant’s signature on any document necessary to apply for, prosecute, obtain, or enforce any patent, copyright, trademark or other right or protection relating to any Work Product, due to Participant’s incapacity or any other cause, Participant hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes Company and each of its duly authorized officers and agents as Participant’s agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to do all lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution, issuance, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, or other rights or protection with the same force and effect as if performed by Participant, it being understood that such power is coupled with an interest and is therefore irrevocable.
10. Other Activities. Participant agrees that Participant’s employment hereunder is on an exclusive basis and that during the Employment Period, Participant will not engage in any other substantial business activity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the Agreement (including this Appendix A) shall preclude Participant from (i) serving on the governing bodies of other companies (subject to the approval of the Chairman or the CEO which shall not be unreasonably withheld), (ii) engaging in charitable, religious, and public service activities, or engaging in speaking and writing activities, or (iii) managing Participant’s personal investments, provided that such investments do not include any economic or ownership interest in any person, firm, corporation, business or entity which is a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or any member of a Covered Ryan Division (as determined in good faith by the Chairman or the CEO) (other than as a holder of less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding capital stock of a publicly traded corporation), and further provided that such activities under clauses (i) and (ii) are disclosed in writing to the Chairman or the CEO in a notice that references this provision and the Chairman or the CEO has not determined that the activities under clauses (i) and (ii) interfere with Participant’s availability or ability to perform Participant’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.
11. Important Legal Terms.
(a) State-specific Considerations.
(i) To the extent the Covenants are governed by the law of a jurisdiction that imposes required minimum income thresholds to obtain a validly enforceable restrictive covenant, each Covenant herein shall apply to Participant only during such times as Participant satisfies such threshold(s) or other legal requirements to support enforceability of such Covenant. If Participant’s income or such legal requirement changes during the Employment Period such that any such requirement is then satisfied (but was not prior to the change), then for the first fourteen (14) days following the date that such requirement is satisfied (such date, the “Employment Modification Date”) Participant may (i) accept the raise, promotion, or other change that caused the applicable income threshold or other legal requirement to be satisfied (the “Employment Modification”) and agree to be bound by the terms of the newly enforceable Covenant (the “Newly Enforceable Covenant”); (ii) decline the Employment Modification by providing written notice to the Company, in which case, the Newly Enforceable Covenant shall not apply but all other applicable Covenants shall continue to apply; or (iii) resign, in which case the Newly Enforceable Covenant shall not apply but all other applicable Covenants shall continue to apply. If Participant purports to accept the Employment Modification but reject the Newly Enforceable Covenant, such action may be treated as a voluntary resignation. If Participant accepts the Employment Modification and takes no other action, such action shall be treated as agreeing to be bound by the Newly Enforceable Covenant.
(ii) Louisiana Participants Only. If Participant resides and/or primarily works in Louisiana as of the Termination Date, Sections 4 and 5 of this Appendix A shall apply within East Baton Rouge Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, St. Bernard Parish, Ascension Parish, and each municipality or parish within the United States of America in which Participant performed work for, or on behalf of, the Ryan Specialty Corporate Group or over which Participant had job responsibilities, so long as the Ryan Specialty Corporate Group covers a like business therein.
(iii) Virginia and Wisconsin Participants Only. If Participant resides and/or primarily works in Virginia or Wisconsin as of the Termination Date, Section 8(a) of this Agreement shall apply only for the two (2) year period following the Termination Date, except that Participant’s obligation not to disclose or use trade secrets that are protected without time limitation under applicable law will continue indefinitely.
(iv) Virginia Participants Only. If Participant resides and/or primarily works in Virginia as of the Termination Date, Participant shall be eligible for the Company’s (or its Affiliates’) standard severance program applicable to similarly situated employees (the “Severance Plan”). As of the date hereof, and subject to change without notice, the Severance Plan provides for at least two weeks’ of severance pay per year of service for employees experiencing qualifying terminations, not to be less than eight (8) weeks nor more than twenty-six (26) weeks of pay.
(b) Participant understands the meaning and import of the terms and provisions of the Covenants, that the Company has not unfairly or unduly influenced Participant to sign the Covenants, and that Participant willingly and voluntarily enters into the Covenants as a condition of Participant’s employment and for fair and reasonable consideration.
(c) Participant has carefully considered the nature and extent of the restrictions upon Participant and the rights and remedies conferred upon the Company and any Covered Ryan Division under the Agreement (including this Appendix A), and hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) substantially all of Participant’s services hereunder shall be performed for the benefit of the Covered Ryan Division(s), (ii) the terms and conditions of the Agreement (including the Covenants) (A) are, in light of the circumstances, fair and reasonable as to type, scope and period of time, and are reasonably required for the protection of the Company and the Covered Ryan Division(s) and the goodwill associated with the Covered Business, (B) do not stifle the inherent skill and experience of Participant, (C) would not operate as a bar to Participant’s sole means of support or otherwise impose undue hardship on Participant, (D) do not confer a benefit upon the Company or any Covered Ryan Division disproportionate to the detriment to Participant or the benefits otherwise afforded them by the Agreement (including this Appendix A), (E) are necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company and the Covered Ryan Division(s) and their businesses, officers, directors and Participants, which they have developed and maintained at the significant time and expense of the Company and the Covered Ryan Division(s), and (F) are not injurious to the public, (iii) the Company and the Covered Ryan Division(s) have extensive trade secrets and other Protected Information with which Participant is or will become familiar as a necessary component of their job at the Company for the benefit of the Covered Ryan Division(s), (iv) the value of Company’s and any Covered Ryan Division’s trade secrets and other Protected Information arises from the fact that such information is not generally known in the marketplace, (v) the Company’s and any Covered Ryan Division’s trade secrets and other Protected Information will have continuing vitality throughout and beyond the Restricted Period, (vi) Participant will have such sufficient knowledge of the Company’s and any Covered Ryan Division’s trade secrets and other Protected Information that, if Participant were to service the Covered Accounts during the Restricted Period, Participant would inevitably rely (consciously or unconsciously) on such trade secrets and other Protected Information causing irreparable harm to the Company and the Covered Ryan Division(s), (vii) the Covenants are reasonable with respect to their duration, geographical area, and scope and are no broader than is necessary to protect the Company’s and any Covered Ryan Division’s legitimate business interests, and that those covenants do not impose an undue hardship on Participant or unduly restrain Participant’s ability to earn a livelihood and (viii) the Covenants are given in consideration for the equity, benefits, and other promises contemplated to be provided hereunder by the Company.
(d) It is the intent of Participant and the Company that the Covenants be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. Because Participant’s services are unique and because Participant has access to Protected Information and Work Product, the Parties hereto agree that money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the Covenants. Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of the Covenants, each of the Company and/or its successors or assigns and any member of a Covered Ryan Division (and their successors or assigns) may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security). In addition, in the event of a breach or violation by Participant of Sections 3 through 7, the Restricted Period shall be tolled with respect to such Section until such breach or violation has been duly cured. The Covenants are independent of the other obligations under this Agreement and the Company’s breach of any term of the Agreement (including this Appendix A) or any other agreement with Participant shall not have any effect on any of Participant’s obligations hereunder.
(e) Participant acknowledges and agrees that Participant has been given ample time and fair opportunity to review the Covenants and to ask any questions Participant might have, to consult with an attorney or other professional, and to suggest alternative provisions.
(f) Participant is hereby advised by Company to consult with an attorney before entering into this Agreement.
(g) The Covenants are essential to the Company entering into the Agreement, form an essential part thereof, and shall survive the termination of the Agreement, and Participant’s employment with the Company, irrespective of the reason therefore.
(h) If, at the time of enforcement of any provision of Sections 3 through 7, a court or arbitrator holds that the restrictions stated therein are unreasonable or unenforceable under circumstances then existing, Company and Participant agree that the maximum period, scope, or geographical area reasonable or permissible under such circumstances will be substituted for the stated period or scope. If any provision herein is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, it is the intent of the Company and Participant that this determination will not affect any other provision of this Appendix A and the provision in question will be modified by the court so as to be rendered enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, consistent with the intent of the parties.
RYAN SPECIALTY HOLDINGS, INC.
By: ______________________________________
Name: Timothy W. Turner
Title: Chief Executive Officer
PARTICIPANT
[●]
Exhibit A to APPENDIX A
JURISDICTION-SPECIFIC IP ASSIGNMENT NOTIFICATIONS (AS APPLICABLE)
For Illinois Participants Only
THIS IS TO NOTIFY you in accordance with Chapter 765 Section 1060/2 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes that the foregoing Agreement between you and Company does not require you to assign or offer to assign to Company any invention that you developed entirely on your own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information except for those inventions that either:
(1) Relate to Company’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of Company; or
(2) Result from any work performed by you for Company.
To the extent a provision in the foregoing Agreement purports to require you to assign an invention otherwise excluded from the preceding paragraph, the provision is against the public policy of this state and is void and unenforceable.
For New Jersey Participants Only
THIS IS TO NOTIFY you in accordance with Section 34:1B-265 of the New Jersey Statutes that the foregoing Agreement between you and Company will not apply to an invention that you developed entirely on your own time without using Company equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information, except for those inventions that either:
(1) Relate to Company’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development; or
(2) Result from any work performed by you on behalf of Company.
To the extent a provision in the foregoing Agreement purports to require you to assign an invention otherwise excluded from the preceding paragraph, the provision is against the public policy of this state and is void and unenforceable.
For Washington Participants Only
THIS IS TO NOTIFY you in accordance with Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 49.44.140 that the foregoing Agreement between you and Company does not require you to assign or offer to assign to Company any invention that you developed entirely on your own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information except for those inventions that either:
(1) Relate (i) directly to the business of Company, or (ii) to Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development; or
(2) Result from any work performed by you for Company.
To the extent a provision in the foregoing Agreement purports to require you to assign an invention otherwise excluded from the preceding paragraph, the provision is against the public policy of this state and is void and unenforceable. You will have the burden of establishing that any invention is excluded from assignment to Company by the preceding paragraph.
This limited exclusion does not apply to any patent or invention covered by a contract between Company and the United States or any of its agencies requiring full title to such patent or invention to be in the United States.
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OPTION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OPTION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of May 5, 2026, by and between Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Patrick G. Ryan and Shirley W. Ryan, as trustees (collectively, the “Trustee”) of the Ryan Stock Option Trust, dated April 28, 2026 (the “Seller”) controlled by Patrick G. Ryan (the “Trustee”). Each of the Company and the Seller shall be a “Party” and together, the “Parties” for purposes of this Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Seller holds 1,800,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Class A Stock”);
WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), pursuant to which the Company may grant Stock Options and other equity-based awards to Eligible Individuals (as such terms are defined in the Plan);
WHEREAS, on May 5, 2026 (the “Grant Date”), the Company granted Non-Qualified Stock Options (each, an “Executive Chairman Option” and collectively, the “Executive Chairman Options”) under the Plan to certain employees and other service providers of the Company and its Affiliates (each, an “Executive Chairman Optionholder”), all with a common per-share exercise price equal to the Strike Price (as defined below), covering an aggregate of 1,787,446 shares of Class A Stock (the “Total Executive Chairman Option Shares”);
WHEREAS, the Executive Chairman Options vest over a five- (5-) year period and have a maximum term of ten (10) years from the Grant Date, as more fully set forth in the applicable Award Agreements (as defined in the Plan);
WHEREAS, in connection with the grant of the Executive Chairman Options and as a “back-to-back” arrangement, the Seller desires to sell, and the Company desires to purchase, from time to time, shares of Class A Stock from the Seller in an amount equal to the full number of shares underlying each Executive Chairman Option that is exercised, at a purchase price per share of Class A Stock equal to the Strike Price, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (each such transaction, a “Repurchase”);
WHEREAS, upon consummation of each Repurchase, the shares of Class A Stock acquired by the Company from the Seller are intended to be cancelled and retired by the Company;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) and its audit committee have approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; and
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Parties that each Repurchase be a private sale of securities that is exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1.Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in the Plan.
“Aggregate Exercise Price” means, with respect to any Exercise Event, an amount equal to the Strike Price multiplied by the number of Exercise Shares relating to such Exercise Event.
“Award Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Plan.
“Board” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Wilmington, Delaware are authorized or required by law to close.
“Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in the Plan.
“Class A Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Delaware Courts” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.
“DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time.
“Eligible Individuals” has the meaning set forth in the Plan.
“Exercise Event” means each exercise of a Executive Chairman Option (in whole or in part) by a Executive Chairman Optionholder in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
“Exercise Notice” means a written notice delivered by (or on behalf of) the Company to the Seller promptly, and in any event within three (3) Business Days, following the Company’s receipt of a Executive Chairman Optionholder’s notice of exercise of an Executive Chairman Option, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.
“Exercise Shares” means, with respect to any Exercise Event, a number of shares of Class A Stock equal to the total number of shares of Class A Stock underlying the portion of
the Executive Chairman Option that is exercised by the Executive Chairman Optionholder in such Exercise Event (for the avoidance of doubt, this will be the full number of shares subject to the exercised portion of the Executive Chairman Option, and not the Net Shares).
“Grant Date” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Article VIII.
“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Article VIII.
“Liens” means any lien, pledge, claim, security interest, encumbrance, mortgage, assessment, charge, restriction or limitation of any kind, whether arising by agreement, operation of law or otherwise.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or could reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the ability of one or more Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.
“Net Shares” means the shares of Class A Stock delivered to an Executive Chairman Optionholder following an Exercise Event after reduction for shares sold in a Sell-to-Cover Transaction to fund the exercise price payable to the Company by the Executive Chairman Optionholder pursuant to the terms of the Plan and applicable tax withholding obligations.
“Non-Qualified Stock Options” has the meaning set forth in the Plan.
“Plan” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Repurchase” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Required Share Reserve” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“Restated Certificate” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as may be further amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Restricted Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).
“Seller” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Sell-to-Cover Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company, through a broker designated by the Company, sells on a mandatory basis on behalf of an exercising Executive Chairman Optionholder a number of shares of Class A Stock sufficient to generate cash proceeds to cover (a) the exercise price payable by the Executive Chairman Optionholder to the Company and (b) the Company’s applicable federal, state and local tax withholding obligations on behalf of the Executive Chairman Optionholder arising from the exercise of the Executive Chairman Option.
“Executive Chairman Option” and “Executive Chairman Options” have the meanings set forth in the Recitals.
“Executive Chairman Optionholder” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Stock Options” has the meaning set forth in the Plan.
“Strike Price” means $29.66 per share of Class A Stock, which is the common per-share exercise price of all Executive Chairman Options granted on the Grant Date, as determined in accordance with the Plan. The Strike Price shall not be adjusted without the prior written consent of Seller.
“Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
“Total Executive Chairman Option Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Transfer Agent” means Equinity Trust Company, LLC or any successor transfer agent of the Company.
“Trust Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
“Trustee” means Patrick G. Ryan, or such other trustee of the Seller as may be appointed under the terms of the Trust Agreement.
2.Purchase and Sale of Stock.
2.1Obligation to Sell and Purchase. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, upon the occurrence of each Exercise Event, the Seller agrees to sell to the Company, and the Company agrees to purchase from the Seller, a number of shares of Class A Stock equal to the Exercise Shares at the Aggregate Exercise Price. For the sake of clarity, the Company is required to purchase, and the Seller is required to sell the Exercise Shares on the terms and conditions set forth herein after each Exercise Event.
2.2Exercise Mechanics. Upon each Exercise Event, the following sequence shall occur:
(a)The Company shall deliver an Exercise Notice to the Seller promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days) following the Company’s receipt of valid notice of exercise from the Executive Chairman Optionholder to exercise the Executive Chairman Option in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
(b)The Company, through its designated broker, shall mandatorily execute a Sell-to-Cover Transaction on behalf of the exercising Executive Chairman Optionholder, selling a sufficient number of shares of Class A Stock to fund both the exercise price payable by the Executive Chairman Optionholder to the Company and the Executive Chairman Optionholder’s applicable withholding taxes.
(c)The Company shall deliver to the exercising Executive Chairman Optionholder the Net Shares remaining after the Sell-to-Cover Transaction.
(d)The Company shall deliver to the Seller cash in an amount equal to the Aggregate Exercise Price, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Seller in writing.
(e)The Seller shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Company (or to the Company’s Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company in the applicable Exercise Notice) the Exercise Shares, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens imposed by applicable federal and state securities laws and transfer restrictions imposed pursuant to Section 3.3 of this Agreement).
(f)Upon receipt of the Exercise Shares from the Seller, the Company shall promptly cancel and retire all such shares in accordance with Section 243 of the DGCL, and such shares shall resume the status of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Stock.
2.3Closing. The closing of each Repurchase (each, a “Closing”) shall take place on the next 25th day of the month following the date on which the Company delivered an Exercise Notice to the Seller, in accordance with Section 9.18 of this Agreement, or on such other date as the Company and the Seller may mutually agree in writing (the “Closing Date”). At each Closing:
(a)the Company shall pay to the Seller in cash the Aggregate Exercise Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as the Seller shall have designated in writing; and
(b)the Seller shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, the Exercise Shares to the Company or the Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company in the applicable Exercise Notice, together with any stock powers or other instruments of transfer reasonably requested by the Company or the Transfer Agent.
2.4Limited Obligation. The obligations and exercise mechanics detailed in this Article II shall only apply to an amount of Class A Stock held by the Seller equal to the number of Total Executive Chairman Option Shares corresponding to the Executive Chairman Options granted to the Executive Chairman Optionholders on the Grant Date. Nothing within this Agreement will create, or be construed to create, a Lien of any kind over any additional Class A Stock in excess of the number of Total Executive Chairman Option Shares or any other assets of the Seller.
2.5Executive Chairman Options. The terms of the Executive Chairman Options, including with respect to vesting, exercise and duration, shall not be amended without the prior written consent of the Seller.
3.Seller Covenants.
3.1Covenant to Retain Shares. The Seller covenants and agrees that, at all times during the Term, the Seller shall maintain beneficial ownership of a number of shares of Class A Stock (such number, the “Required Share Reserve”) that is at least equal to the aggregate number of shares of Class A Stock subject to all Executive Chairman Options that are then outstanding and unexercised (whether or not vested) granted on the Grant Date. During the Term, the Seller shall not pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of an amount of Class A Stock equal to the Required Share Reserve.
3.2Prohibition on Dissolution. The Seller covenants and agrees that, at all times during the Term, the Seller shall not, and shall not permit the Trustee, nor any of its beneficiaries or other authorized persons to take any action to dissolve, wind up, liquidate, or terminate the Seller, whether voluntarily or by consent of the beneficiaries, or to distribute the Seller’s assets in a manner that would render the Seller unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
3.3Transfer Restrictions and Legend.
(a)To enforce the covenant set forth in Section 3.1, the Seller hereby authorizes and directs the Company to instruct the Transfer Agent to impose a stop-transfer restriction (or comparable restriction in book-entry form) on a number of shares of Class A Stock held by the Seller in book-entry form at the Transfer Agent equal to the Required Share Reserve (the “Restricted Shares”). The Company shall promptly notify the Transfer Agent of any reduction in the Required Share Reserve resulting from the exercise, expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or other termination of outstanding Executive Chairman Options, and the Transfer Agent shall release the corresponding number of Restricted Shares.
(b)The Seller consents to the notation of such stop-transfer restriction on the books and records of the Transfer Agent and agrees to cooperate with the Company and the Transfer Agent in connection with the imposition and release of such restrictions, including by executing such additional documentation as may be reasonably required.
4.Representations and Warranties of the Seller.
The Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Company that, as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date:
4.1Organization and Existence. The Seller has been duly created and is validly existing under the laws of Florida pursuant to that certain trust agreement dated as of April 28, 2026 (as amended restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement has not been revoked, terminated, or amended in any manner that would materially impair the validity or existence of the Seller or the authority of the Trustee to act on behalf of the Seller. The Trustee is the duly appointed and currently acting trustee of the Seller and has full right, power, and authority under the Trust Agreement and
applicable law to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the sale, assignment, transfer and delivery of the Exercise Shares to be sold by the Seller hereunder, on behalf of the Seller. All consents, approvals, authorizations and orders necessary for the execution and delivery by the Seller of this Agreement, and for the sale and delivery of the Exercise Shares to be sold by the Seller hereunder, have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
4.2Authorization; Approval; Enforceability. The Seller has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Seller and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
4.3Ownership of Shares. The Seller has, and at each Closing Date will have, valid title to the Exercise Shares (and an amount of Class A Stock equal to or greater than the Required Share Reserve), free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens imposed by applicable federal and state securities laws and transfer restrictions imposed pursuant to Section 3.3). The Seller has good and marketable title to the Exercise Shares and the full power and authority to sell, transfer, convey, assign, and deliver to the Company the Exercise Shares, and upon payment by the Company of the Aggregate Exercise Price, the Company shall acquire valid and unencumbered title to the Exercise Shares.
4.4No Conflicts. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof on the part of the Seller will (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Seller pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Seller is a party or by which the Seller is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Seller, including any of the Exercise Shares, is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of the Seller or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute applicable to the Seller or any judgment, writ, injunction, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the Seller.
4.5Consents. To the knowledge of the Seller, no consent, waiver, approval, order, permit or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any person or entity is required on the part of the Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (other than consents obtained on or before the date hereof or the applicable Closing Date).
4.6Litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Seller’s knowledge, currently threatened that questions the validity of this Agreement, or the right of the Seller to enter into this Agreement, or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.7Sophistication of the Seller. The Seller (i) is a sophisticated investor familiar with transactions similar to those contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company to make an informed decision regarding the sale of the Exercise Shares, and (iii) has independently and without reliance upon the Company, or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, or service providers and based on such information and the advice of such advisors as the Seller has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. The Seller acknowledges that neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, or service providers are acting as a fiduciary or financial or investment adviser to the Seller, and has not given the Seller any investment advice, opinion or other information on whether the sale of the Exercise Shares is prudent. The Seller has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed decision with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.8Consideration. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement provide good, valuable, and sufficient consideration for every promise, duty, agreement, obligation, and right contained in this Agreement.
4.9No Reliance. The Seller acknowledges that it has not relied upon any express or implied representations or warranties of any nature made by or on behalf of the Company, whether any such representations, warranties or statements were made in writing or orally, except as expressly set forth for the benefit of the Seller in this Agreement.
5.Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Seller that, as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date:
5.1Organization and Good Standing. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. All consents, approvals, authorizations, and orders necessary for the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, and for the purchase of the Exercise Shares by the Company hereunder, have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
5.2Authorization; Approval; Enforceability. The Company has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
5.3No Conflicts. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof on the part of Company will (i) conflict
with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Certificate, the bylaws or similar organizational documents of the Company or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
5.4No Consent. To the knowledge of the Company, no consent, waiver, approval, order, permit or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any person or entity is required on the part of the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (other than consents obtained on or before the date hereof or the applicable Closing Date).
5.5Litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, currently threatened that questions the validity of this Agreement, or the right of the Company to enter into this Agreement, or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.6Solvency. Both immediately prior to and after giving effect to each Repurchase, (i) the Company and its Affiliates, taken as a whole, shall be able to pay their respective debts as they become due, own property which has a fair saleable value greater than the amounts required to pay their respective debts, and not have unreasonably small capital and (ii) the fair value and present fair saleable value of the Company’s assets exceed its total liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities) by an amount that exceeds the Company’s statutory capital. No transfer of property is being made and no obligation is being incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of the Company or its Affiliates.
5.7Cancellation and Retirement. The Company represents and covenants that, upon receipt of Exercise Shares at each Closing, the Company will promptly cancel and retire such shares in accordance with Section 243 of the DGCL.
5.8Plan Compliance. The Executive Chairman Options have been duly granted, as of the Grant Date, under the Plan in compliance with the terms thereof and all applicable laws. The Plan has been duly adopted by the Board and approved by the stockholders of the Company as required by applicable law.
5.9No Brokers. The Company has no liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for which the Seller could become liable or otherwise obligated, other than fees and commissions payable to the Company’s designated broker in connection with the Sell-
to-Cover Transactions, which shall be the sole responsibility of the applicable Executive Chairman Optionholder or the Company, if necessary.
5.10Consideration. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement provide good, valuable, and sufficient consideration for every promise, duty, agreement, obligation, and right contained in this Agreement.
5.11No Reliance. The Company acknowledges that it has not relied upon any express or implied representations or warranties of any nature made by or on behalf of the Seller, whether any such representations, warranties or statements were made in writing or orally, except as expressly set forth for the benefit of the Company in this Agreement.
5.12Section 16 Matters. This Agreement, including the Repurchases contemplated hereby, has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (or a committee thereof) in accordance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in order to exempt the Repurchases from Section 16(b) of such Act.
6.Conditions to Each Closing.
6.1Conditions to the Company’s Obligations. The obligation of the Company to purchase the Exercise Shares at each Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Company) of the following conditions:
(a)An Exercise Event shall have occurred, and the Company shall have received valid notice of exercise from the applicable Executive Chairman Optionholder to exercise the Executive Chairman Option in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
(b)The Seller is validly existing under the laws of Florida and the Trust Agreement has not been revoked, terminated, or amended in any manner that materially impairs the validity or existence of the Seller or the authority of the Trustee to act on behalf of the Seller. The Trustee is the duly appointed and currently acting trustee of the Seller and has full power, authority, and legal capacity under the Trust Agreement and applicable law to consummate the sale, assignment, transfer, and delivery of the Exercise Shares, on behalf of the Seller.
(c)The Seller shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants and agreements required to be performed or complied with by the Seller as of the Closing Date.
(d)The Exercise Shares to be delivered at such Closing shall be free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens imposed by applicable federal and state securities laws and restrictions imposed pursuant to Section 3.3).
(e)No order, injunction, decree or judgment of any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction shall be in effect that would prevent or prohibit the consummation of such Repurchase.
(f)Such Repurchase shall not result in a violation of the DGCL or any other applicable laws, statutes, or regulations.
6.2Conditions to the Seller’s Obligations. The obligation of the Seller to sell the Exercise Shares at each Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Seller) of the following conditions:
(a)An Exercise Event shall have occurred, and the Company shall have delivered an Exercise Notice to the Seller in accordance with Section 2.2(a).
(b)The Company is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has the requisite power and authority to consummate the purchase of the Exercise Shares from the Seller.
(c)The Company shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants and agreements required to be performed or complied with by the Company as of the Closing Date.
(d)The Company shall be prepared to pay the Aggregate Exercise Price to the Seller in immediately available funds at the Closing.
(e)No order, injunction, decree or judgment of any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction shall be in effect that would prevent or prohibit the consummation of such Repurchase.
7.Term and Termination.
7.1Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof and shall remain in full force and effect until the date that is thirty-five (35) days after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Grant Date (the “Term”), unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Article VII, or otherwise modified by the mutual written consent of both Parties.
7.2Early Termination. This Agreement shall terminate automatically prior to the expiration of the Term upon the earliest to occur of the following:
(a)the date on which all Executive Chairman Options have been exercised in full and the corresponding Repurchases have been consummated and settled in accordance with this Agreement;
(b)the date on which all Executive Chairman Options have expired, been forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminated without exercise, such that no further Exercise Events may occur;
(c)the mutual written consent of the Company and the Seller; or
(d)the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company or an Affiliate with any other entity that constitutes a Change in Control.
7.3Effect of Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1 or 7.2:
(a)all transfer restrictions imposed pursuant to Section 3.3 shall be released, and the Company shall promptly instruct the Transfer Agent to remove all stop-transfer restrictions on the Restricted Shares;
(b)neither Party shall have any further obligation under this Agreement, except that (i) Article IV and Article V (to the extent relating to any Closing that has occurred prior to termination), Article VIII and Article IX shall survive such termination, and (ii) each Party shall remain liable for any breach of this Agreement occurring prior to such termination; and
(c)for the avoidance of doubt, the termination of this Agreement shall not affect the rights or obligations of the Executive Chairman Optionholders under the Plan or their respective Award Agreements.
8.Indemnification. Each Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other Party and its affiliates and their respective representatives (the “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), judgments, fines, and losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon the Indemnified Party based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of: (i) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of the Indemnifying Party contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement; and (ii) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement, or obligation to be performed by the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement.
9.Miscellaneous.
9.1Tax Obligations. Each Party shall be solely responsible for paying any and all taxes and any tax-related penalties, fines, and interest related to sale of the Exercise Shares pursuant to this Agreement that the respective Party is responsible for under the law.
9.2Successors and Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by any of the Parties without the prior written consent of the other Party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein express or implied shall confer or shall be construed to confer any legal or equitable rights or remedies to any person other than the Parties to this Agreement and such successors and permitted assigns. For the avoidance of doubt, no Executive Chairman Optionholder shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.
9.3Governing Law. This Agreement and all disputes arising out of or related to this Agreement (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws.
9.4Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties hereto (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit itself to the sole and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, or, if the subject matter of the action is one over which exclusive jurisdiction is vested in the courts of the United States of America, a federal court sitting in the State of Delaware (collectively, the “Delaware Courts”) in connection with any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such litigation in any of the Delaware Courts, (c) agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in an inconvenient forum and agrees not otherwise to attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction or venue by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and (d) agrees that it will not bring any action in connection with any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in any court or other tribunal, other than any of the Delaware Courts. All actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be heard and determined in the Delaware Courts. Each of the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that service of process in connections with any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be made upon such Party by prepaid certified or registered mail, with a validated proof of mailing receipt constituting evidence of valid service, directed to such Party at the address specified in Section 9.18 hereof. Service made in such manner, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or prohibit service of process by any other manner as may be permitted by applicable law.
9.5Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
9.6Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Electronically executed and/or transmitted signature pages shall be accepted as originals for all purposes hereof.
9.7Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
9.8Finder’s Fee. The Seller represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finders’ fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finders’
fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than fees and commissions payable to the Company’s designated broker in connection with Sell-to-Cover Transactions. Each Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other Party from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finders’ fee (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which such Party or any of its directors, stockholders, trustees, employees or representatives is responsible.
9.9Amendment and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the written consent of the Company and the Seller. Any waiver by any Party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Agreement. The failure of a Party hereto to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that Party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.
9.10Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.
9.11Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties contained herein or made in writing by any Party in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including each Closing. Notwithstanding any knowledge of facts determined or determinable by any Party by investigation, each Party shall have the right to fully rely on the representations, warranties and covenants of the other Party contained in this Agreement or in any other documents or papers delivered in connection herewith. Each representation, warranty and covenant of the Parties contained in this Agreement is independent of each other representation, warranty and covenant. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Party has made any representation, warranty or covenant.
9.12Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreements, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings related to such subject matter.
9.13Expenses. Irrespective of whether any Closing is effected, each of the Company and the Seller shall pay all costs and expenses that such Party incurs with respect to the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
9.14Specific Performance. The Parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages will not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement, that any breach of the provisions of this Agreement shall cause the other Party
irreparable harm, and that either Party may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit) for specific performance or other injunctive relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions of this Agreement.
9.15Further Assurances. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each of the Parties hereto agrees to execute such additional documents, to use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other Party in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate or make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
9.16Mutuality of Drafting. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
9.17Publicity. Each of the Parties agrees that it shall not, and that it shall cause its affiliates and representatives not to, publish, release or file any press release or other public statement or announcement relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement before consulting with the other Party and providing such other Party with reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such public statement or announcement, except as may be required by applicable law or the rules of any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed.
9.18Notices. All notices, requests, consents, and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered (a) three (3) Business Days after being sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (b) one (1) Business Day after being sent via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service guaranteeing next Business Day delivery, or (c) on the date of delivery if delivered by hand, in each case to the intended recipient as set forth below:
If to the Company:
Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.
155 North Wacker Drive
Suite 4000
Chicago, IL 60606
Attention: General Counsel
Email: GeneralCounsel@RyanSG.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
333 W Wolf Point Plaza
Chicago, IL 60654
Attention: Robert Hayward, P.C.
Robert Goedert, P.C.
Email: robert.hayward@kirkland.com
robert.goedert@kirkland.com
If to the Seller:
Ryan Stock Option Trust
c/o Patrick G. Ryan
Ryan Enterprises Group, LLC
150 N. Michigan Ave., Ste 2100
Chicago, IL 60601
Attention: Mary Ignell
Email: mary@ryaneg.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
McDermott Will & Schulte LLP
444 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60606
Attention: Neil T. Kawashima
Email: nkawashima@mcdermottlaw.com
Any Party may change the address to which notices, requests, consents or other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Party notice in the manner set forth in this Section 9.18.
9.19Pre-Closing Rights. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way alter, limit or impair or be interpreted to alter, limit or impair the rights, privileges or obligations of the Seller with respect to the Seller’s ownership of shares of Class A Stock prior to any Closing; including the right of the Seller to receive any dividends payable on such shares or vote such shares with respect to any matters submitted for a stockholder vote, in each case subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 3.3.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE COMPANY:
RYAN SPECIALTY HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Timothy W. Turner
Name: Timothy W. Turner
Title: Chief Executive Officer
THE SELLER:
RYAN STOCK OPTION TRUST
By: /s/ Patrick G. Ryan
Name: Patrick G. Ryan
Title: Trustee
[Signature Page to Stock Repurchase Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF EXERCISE NOTICE
Date: [Date]
To: [Name and Address of the Ryan Trust]
Reference is made to that certain Executive Chairman Option Settlement Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2026 (the “Agreement”), by and between Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) and Patrick G. Ryan and Shirley W. Ryan as trustees of the Ryan Stock Option Trust, dated April 28, 2026 (the “Seller”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
This Exercise Notice is delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(a) of the Agreement to notify the Seller of the following Exercise Event:
| | | | | |
Item | Detail |
Date of Exercise: | [Date] |
Number of Exercise Shares: | [●] shares of Class A Stock |
Aggregate Exercise Price: | $[●] |
Closing Date: | [●] (determined in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Agreement) |
Wire Transfer Instructions: | [As previously designated / attached hereto] |
The Seller is hereby requested to deliver the Exercise Shares to the Company’s Transfer Agent in accordance with Section 2.3(b) of the Agreement, together with any required stock powers or instruments of transfer, on or prior to the Closing Date.
RYAN SPECIALTY HOLDINGS, INC.
By: ___________________________ Name:
Title: