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).
Assignment by Executive This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's executor and/or administrators, heirs, devisees, and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amount would be payable to Executive hereunder had the Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's estate. Executive's rights hereunder shall not otherwise be assignable.
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.
No Assignment by Executive Executive warrants and represents that no portion of any of the matters released herein, and no portion of any recovery or settlement to which Executive might be entitled, has been assigned or transferred to any other person, firm or corporation not a party to this Agreement, in any manner, including by way of subrogation or operation of law or otherwise. If any claim, action, demand or suit should be made or instituted against the Company or any other Releasee because of any actual assignment, subrogation or transfer by Executive, Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and all other Releasees against such claim, action, suit or demand, including necessary expenses of investigation, attorneys’ fees and costs. In the event of Executive’s death, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Executive and Executive’s executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only upon Executive’s death by will or operation of law.
Acknowledgment by Executive The Executive acknowledges and confirms that (a) the restrictive covenants contained in this Article 6 are reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company, and (b) the restrictions contained in this Article 6 (including without limitation the length of the term of the provisions of this Article 6) are not overbroad, overlong, or unfair and are not the result of overreaching, duress or coercion of any kind. The Executive further acknowledges and confirms that his full, uninhibited and faithful observance of each of the covenants contained in this Article 6 will not cause him any undue hardship, financial or otherwise, and that enforcement of each of the covenants contained herein will not impair his ability to obtain employment commensurate with his abilities and on terms fully acceptable to him or otherwise to obtain income required for the comfortable support of him and his family and the satisfaction of the needs of his creditors. The Executive acknowledges and confirms that his special knowledge of the business of the Company is such as would cause the Company serious injury or loss if he were to use such ability and knowledge to the benefit of a competitor or were to compete with the Company in violation of the terms of this Article 6. The Executive further acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Article 6 are intended to be, and shall be, for the benefit of and shall be enforceable by, the Company’s successors and assigns.
Representations and Warranties by Executive The Executive represents and warrants that he is not a party to or subject to any restrictive covenants, legal restrictions or other agreements in favor of any entity or person which would in any way preclude, inhibit, impair or limit the Executive’s ability to perform his obligations under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, non-competition agreements, non-solicitation agreements or confidentiality agreements.
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.
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.
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”).
Breach by Executive Executive is obligated under this Agreement to render services of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary, and intellectual character, which give this Agreement particular value. The loss of these services cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated in damages in an action at law. Accordingly, in addition to other remedies provided by law or this Agreement, Employer shall have the right during the Term and any period of non-competition governed by this Agreement, to seek injunctive relief against breach or threatened breach of this Agreement by Executive or the performance of services, or threatened performance of services, by Executive in violation of this Agreement, or both. This Section is not meant to limit the damages the Employer may pursue and is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the relief available to the Employer.
