Acknowledgments by Executive Executive acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the services to be performed by Executive under this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary, and intellectual character; (b) the Company competes with other businesses that are or could be located in any part of the United States; and (c) the provisions of this Section 19 are reasonable and necessary to protect the Company’s business and lawful protectable interests, and do not impair Executive’s ability to earn a living.
Covenants by Executive 5.1 As of the Effective Date, Executive is a party to the Proprietary Information and Additional Covenants Agreement between Executive and Forge (the “PICA”). Subject to § 5.9 below, Executive shall comply with all applicable terms and conditions of the PICA throughout the Term hereof, and hereby agrees to execute and comply with any amendments to or updated versions of the PICA that Forge may require of its officers and employees from time to time. Future amendments or updated versions will be automatically incorporated into this Employment Agreement upon execution thereof and will revise or replace the previous PICA, each such amended or new version of the PICA subject to § 5.9 below, and all references to “PICA” in this Employment Agreement will be interpreted as referring to the then-current version of the PICA executed by the Executive; provided, however, references to “PICA” in § 4.2(c)(4) shall refer to the PICA in effect on the date hereof or any subsequent form of the PICA which Executive explicitly agrees to incorporate into § 4.2(c)(4). Capitalized terms used in this § 5 but not defined in this Employment Agreement will have the meaning provided in the PICA. If there is a conflict between this § 5 and the PICA, this § 5 will control but only with respect to the conflicting provisions and to the extent necessary to resolve the conflict.
5.2 Except as otherwise set forth below, Executive will be subject to a “Restricted Period” beginning on the effective date of the termination or expiration of this Employment Agreement and continuing for 18 months thereafter (or, in the case of Section 5.5, for a period of 12 months thereafter). For purposes of §§ 5.3-5.5 below, Forge expressly includes its successors and assigns, direct and indirect subsidiaries, or any other entity or person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, Forge. For the avoidance of doubt, the Restricted Period shall not apply for purposes of §§ 5.4‑5.5, below, if Executive resigns other than for Good Reason (excluding, however, terminations where the Board concludes that grounds for Cause exists).
Termination by Executive with Good Reason Executive may terminate his employment with Good Reason by providing the Company thirty (30) days’ written notice setting forth in reasonable specificity the event that constitutes Good Reason, which written notice, to be effective, must be provided to the Company within ninety (90) days of Executives knowledge of occurrence of such event. During such thirty (30) day notice period, the Company shall have a cure right, and if not cured within such period, Executive’s termination will be effective upon the expiration of such cure period, and Executive shall be entitled to the same payments and benefits as provided in Section 8(d) hereof for a termination by the Company without Cause, subject to the same conditions on payment and benefits as described in Section 8(d) hereof. Following such termination of Executive’s employment by Executive with Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 8(e), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive’s sole and exclusive remedy upon a termination of employment with Good Reason shall be receipt of the Severance Benefits.
Assistance by Executive During the period of Executive’s employment by Company and thereafter, Executive shall assist Company and its nominee, at any time, in the protection of Company’s (or its affiliates’) worldwide right, title and interest in and to Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries.
Representations by Executive Executive warrants that Executive is legally competent to execute this Agreement and that Executive has not relied on any statements or explanations made by the Company or its attorneys. Executive acknowledges that Executive has been afforded the opportunity to be advised by legal counsel regarding the terms of this Agreement, including the Release. Executive acknowledges that Executive has been offered at least 21 days to consider this Agreement. After being so advised, and without coercion of any kind, Executive freely, knowingly, and voluntarily enters into this Agreement. Executive acknowledges that Executive may revoke this Agreement within seven days after Executive has signed this Agreement and acknowledges understanding that this Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until seven days after Executive has signed this Agreement (the “Effective Date”), as evidenced by the date set forth below Executive’s signature on the signature page hereto. Any revocation must be in writing and directed to [_______________]. If sent by mail, any revocation must be postmarked within the seven-day period described above and sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Release by Executive (a) Except for any obligations or covenants of the Company pursuant to this Agreement and as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, Executive, for himself/herself and his/her heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, successors and agents (collectively, the “Executive’s Affiliates”) hereby fully and without limitation releases and forever discharges the Company and its Related Entities, and each of their respective agents, representatives, stockholders, owners, officers, directors, employees, consultants, attorneys, auditors, accountants, investigators, affiliates, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Company Releasees”), both individually and collectively, from any and all waivable rights, claims, demands, liabilities, actions, causes of action, damages, losses, costs, expenses and compensation, of whatever nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, which Executive or any of Executive’s Affiliates has or may have or may claim to have against the Company Releasees by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever, from the beginning of time to the Effective Date (“Claims”), arising out of, based upon, or relating to his/her employment or the termination of his/her employment with the Company and its Related Entities and/or his/her service as an officer of any of the Company Releasees, any agreement or compensation arrangement between Executive and any of the Company Releasees, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
(b) Executive specifically and expressly releases any Claims arising out of or based on: the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the National Labor Relations Act and the Equal Pay Act, as the same may be amended from time to time; the California common law on fraud, misrepresentation, negligence, defamation, infliction of emotional distress or other tort, breach of contract or covenant, violation of public policy or wrongful termination; state or federal wage and hour laws, and other provisions of the California Labor Code, to the extent these may be released herein as a matter of law; or any other state or federal law, rule, or regulation dealing with the employment relationship, except those claims which may not be released herein as a matter of law.
(c) Nothing contained in this Section 9 or any other provision of this Agreement shall release or waive any right that Executive has to indemnification and/or reimbursement of expenses by the Company and its Related Entities with respect to which Executive may be eligible as provided in California Labor Code section 2802, the Company’s and its Related Entities’ Certificates of Incorporation, Bylaws and any applicable directors and officers, errors & omissions, umbrella or general liability insurance policies, any indemnification agreements, including the Employment Agreement; or any other applicable source, nor prevent Executive from cooperating in an investigation of the Company by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”).
Termination by Executive other than for Good Reason Executive’s employment may be terminated by Executive without further liability on the part of Executive (other than with respect to those provisions of this Agreement expressly surviving such termination) by written notice to the Board of Directors at least sixty (60) days prior to such termination; provided, however, the Company may waive the notice period and accelerate the termination date without converting the Termination by Executive into a Termination by the Company.
Termination by Executive The Executive may terminate his employment hereunder at any time for any reason by giving the Company prior written notice not less than 30 days prior to such termination. Any termination pursuant to this paragraph 3(e) shall preclude a later claim that such termination was for Good Reason.
Termination by Executive without Good Reason The Executive may terminate his employment without Good Reason by providing the Company thirty (30) days’ written notice of such termination. In the event of a termination of employment by the Executive under this Section 6(g), the Executive shall be entitled only to the Accrued Obligations. In the event of termination of the Executive’s employment under this Section 6(g), the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, by written notice, accelerate such date of termination and still have it treated as a termination without Good Reason.
Resignation by Executive (a) Executive may resign from Executive’s employment with the Company at any time, in accordance with Section 6.6, by giving notice as described in Section 7.1.
(b) In the event Executive resigns from Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason other than Good Reason in accordance with Sections 6.1 or 6.2, Executive will not receive Severance Benefits, Change in Control Severance Benefits, or any other severance compensation or benefits, except that, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, the Company shall pay to Executive the Accrued Obligations.
