Further Obligations of the Executive (1) During the Executive’s employment by the Companies, whether before or after the Employment Period, and after the termination of Executive’s employment by the Companies, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, disclose, disseminate, make available or use any confidential information or proprietary data of the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, except as reasonably necessary or appropriate for the Executive to perform the Executive’s duties for the Companies, or as authorized in writing by the Board or as required by any court or administrative agency (and then only after prompt notice to the Companies to permit the Companies to seek a protective order).
(2) For purposes of this Agreement, “confidential information or proprietary data” means information and data prepared, compiled, or acquired by or for the Executive during or in connection with the Executive’s employment by the Companies (including, without limitation, information belonging to or provided in confidence by any Customer, Supplier, trading partner or other Person to which the Executive had access by reason of Executive’s employment with the Companies) which is not generally known to the public or which could be harmful to the Companies or their Subsidiaries if disclosed to Persons outside of the Companies. Such confidential information or proprietary data may exist in any form, tangible or intangible, or media (including any information technology-related or electronic media) and includes, but is not limited to, the following information of or relating to the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, Customers or Suppliers:
(i) Business, financial and strategic information, such as sales and earnings information and trends, material, overhead and other costs, profit margins, accounting information, banking and financing information, pricing policies, capital expenditure/investment plans and budgets, forecasts, strategies, plans and prospects.
(ii) Organizational and operational information, such as personnel and salary data, information concerning the utilization or capabilities of personnel, facilities or equipment, logistics management techniques, methodologies and systems, methods of operation data and facilities plans.
(iii) Advertising, marketing and sales information, such as marketing and advertising data, plans, programs, techniques, strategies, results and budgets, pricing and volume strategies, catalog, licensing or other agreements or arrangements, and market research and forecasts and marketing and sales training and development courses, aids, techniques, instruction and materials.
(iv) Product and merchandising information, such as information concerning offered or proposed products or services and the sourcing of the same, product or services specifications, data, drawings, designs, performance characteristics, features, capabilities and plans and development and delivery schedules.
(v) Information about existing or prospective Customers or Suppliers, such as Customer and Supplier lists and contact information, Customer preference data, purchasing habits, authority levels and business methodologies, sales history, pricing and rebate levels, credit information and contracts.
(vi) Technical information, such as information regarding plant and equipment organization, performance and design, information technology and logistics systems and related designs, integration, capabilities, performance and plans, computer hardware and software, research and development objectives, budgets and results, intellectual property applications, and other design and performance data.
(b) All records, files, documents and materials, in whatever form and media, relating to the Companies’ or any of their Subsidiaries’ business (including, but not limited to, those containing or reflecting any confidential information or proprietary data) which the Executive prepares, uses, or comes into contact with, including the originals and all copies thereof and extracts and derivatives therefrom, shall be and remain the sole property of the Companies or their Subsidiaries. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, whether during or after the Employment Period, the Executive shall immediately return all such records, files, documents, materials and other property of the Companies and their Subsidiaries in the Executive’s possession, custody or control, in good condition, to the Companies.
(c) The Companies maintain, and Executive acknowledges and agrees, the Companies have and will entrust Executive with proprietary information, strategies, knowledge, customer relationships and know-how which would be detrimental to the Companies’ interest in protecting relationships with Customers and/or Suppliers if Executive were to provide services or otherwise participate in the operation of a competitor of the Companies. Therefore, during (i) the Executive’s employment by the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period, and (ii) the twenty-four (24) month period following the end of Executive’s employment with the Companies, the Executive shall not in any capacity (whether as an owner, employee, consultant or otherwise) at any time perform, manage, supervise, or be responsible or accountable for anyone else who is performing services -- which are the same as, substantially similar or related to the services the Executive is providing, or during the last two years of the Executive’s employment by the Companies has provided, for the Companies or their Subsidiaries -- for, or on behalf of, any other Person who or which is (1) a wholesaler of office products, including traditional office products, computer consumable products, office furniture, janitorial and/or sanitation products, food service paper/non-food products, audio/visual and business machines or such other products whether or not related to the foregoing provided by the Companies or their Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period, (2) a provider of services the same as or substantially similar to those provided by the Companies or their Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period, or (3) engaged in a line of business other than described in (1) or (2) hereinabove which is the same or substantially similar to the lines of business engaged in by the Companies or their Subsidiaries, or to any line of business which to the Executive’s knowledge is under active consideration or planning by the Companies and their Subsidiaries, during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period.
(1) During (i) the Executive’s employment by the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period, and (ii) the twenty-four (24) month period following the end of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, the Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, solicit any Customer for or on behalf of any Person other than the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries with respect to the purchase of (A) office products, including traditional office products, computer consumable products, office furniture, janitorial and/or sanitation products, food service paper/non-food products, audio/visual and business machines, or such other products whether or not related to the foregoing provided by the Companies or their Subsidiaries to such Customer during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period, (B) services the same as or substantially similar to those provided by the Companies or their Subsidiaries to such Customer during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period or (C) products or services from a line of business other than as described in (A) or (B) herein which are the same or substantially similar to the products and services provided to such Customer from a line of business engaged in by the Companies or their Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period. Without limiting the foregoing, (i) during the Executive’s employment by the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period, and (ii) insofar as the Executive may be employed by, or acting for or on behalf of, a Supplier at any time within the twenty-four (24) month period following the end of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, the Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, solicit any Customer to switch the purchase of the products or services described hereinabove from the Companies or their Subsidiaries to Supplier.
(2) For purposes of this Agreement, a “Customer” is any Person who or which has ordered or purchased by or from the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries (A) office products, including traditional office products, computer consumable products, office furniture, janitorial and/or sanitation products, food service paper/non-food products, audio/visual and business machines or such other products whether or not related to the foregoing, (B) services provided by or from the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries or (C) products or services from a line of business other than as described in (A) or (B) herein which are the same or substantially similar to the products and services from a line of business engaged in by the Companies or their Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Supplier” is any Person who or which has furnished to the Companies or their Subsidiaries for resale (A) office products, including traditional office products, computer consumable products, office furniture, janitorial and/or sanitation products, food service paper/non-food products, audio/visual and business machines or such other products whether or nor related to the foregoing (B) services provided by or from the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries or (C) products or services from a line of business other than as described in (A) or (B) herein which are the same or substantially similar to the products and services from a line of business engaged in by the Companies or their Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive’s employment with the Companies, whether during or after the Employment Period.
Covenants of the Executive In consideration of the acknowledgments by the Executive, and in consideration of the compensation and benefits to be paid or provided to the Executive by the Employer, the Executive covenants that he will not, directly or indirectly:
(a) during the Employment Period, except in the course of his employment hereunder, and during the Post-Employment Period, engage or invest in, own, manage, operate, finance, control, or participate in the ownership, management, operation, financing, or control of, be employed by, associated with, or in any manner connected with, lend the Executive's name or any similar name to, lend Executive's credit to or render services or advice to, any business whose products or activities compete in whole or in part with the products or activities of the Employer anywhere within the United States; provided, however, that the Executive may purchase or otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) one percent of any class of securities of any enterprise (but without otherwise participating in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or regional securities exchange or have been registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
(b) whether for the Executive's own account or for the account of any other person, at any time during the Employment Period and the Post-Employment Period, solicit business of the same or similar type being carried on by the Employer, from any person known by the Executive to be a customer of the Employer, whether or not the Executive had personal contact with such person during and by reason of the Executive's employment with the Employer;
(c) whether for the Executive's own account or the account of any other person (i) at any time during the Employment Period and the Post-Employment Period, solicit, employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, any person who is or was an employee of the Employer at any time during the Employment Period or in any manner induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Employer to terminate his employment with the Employer; or (ii) at any time during the Employment Period and for three years thereafter, interfere with the Employer's relationship with any person, including any person who at any time during the Employment Period was an employee, contractor, supplier, or customer of the Employer; or
(d) at any time during or after the Employment Period, disparage the Employer or any of its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, or agents.
