No Solicitation by Parent (a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, Parent will, and will cause its Subsidiaries and instruct and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives to immediately cease, and cause to be terminated, any discussion or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives with respect to a Parent Competing Proposal.
(b) Except as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.4, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, Parent will not, and will cause its Subsidiaries and will instruct and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage the making of a Parent Competing Proposal, (ii) engage in any discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to a Parent Competing Proposal, (iii) furnish any non-public information regarding Parent or its Subsidiaries, or access to the properties, assets or employees of Parent or its Subsidiaries, to any Person in connection with or in response to a Parent Competing Proposal, (iv) enter into any binding or nonbinding letter of intent or agreement in principle, or other agreement providing for a Parent Competing Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement as provided in Section 6.4(d)(ii)), or (v) withdraw, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to withdraw, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to the Company, the Parent Board Recommendation or publicly recommend the approval or adoption of, or publicly approve or adopt, any Parent Competing Proposal (the taking of any action described in clause (v) of this Section 6.4(b) being referred to as a “Parent Change of Recommendation”).
(c) From and after the date of this Agreement, Parent shall advise the Company of the receipt by Parent of any Parent Competing Proposal made on or after the date of this Agreement or any request for non-public information or data relating to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries made by any Person in connection with a Parent Competing Proposal or any request for discussions or negotiations with Parent or a Representative of Parent relating to a Parent Competing Proposal (in each case within two Business Days thereof), and Parent shall provide to the Company (within such two Business Day time frame) either (i) a copy of any such Parent Competing Proposal made in writing or by electronic transmission provided to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) a written summary of the material terms of such Parent Competing Proposal, if not made in writing or by electronic transmission. Parent shall keep the Company reasonably informed on a current basis with respect to the status and material terms of any such Parent Competing Proposal and any material changes to the status of any such discussions or negotiations.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent, directly or indirectly through one or more of its Representatives, may:
(i) make such disclosures as the Parent Board or any committee thereof determines in good faith are necessary to comply with Rule 14e-2(a), Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A and Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act or other applicable securities laws; provided, however, that none of Parent, the Parent Board or any committee thereof shall, except as expressly permitted by Section 6.4(d)(iii) or Section 6.4(e), effect a Parent Change of Recommendation in any disclosure document or communication filed or publicly issued or made in conjunction with the compliance with such requirements;
(ii) prior to the receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, engage in the activities prohibited by Sections 6.4(b)(ii) and 6.4(b)(iii) with any Person if (A) Parent receives a written, bona fide Parent Competing Proposal from such Person that was not solicited at any time following the execution of this Agreement and (B) such Parent Competing Proposal did not arise from a material breach of the obligations set forth in this Section 6.4; provided, however, that (1) no non-public information that is prohibited from being furnished pursuant to Section 6.4(b) may be furnished until Parent receives an executed confidentiality agreement from such Person containing limitations on the use and disclosure of nonpublic information furnished to such Person by or on behalf of Parent that are no less favorable to Parent in the aggregate than the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, as determined by the Parent Board in good faith after consultation with its outside legal counsel; provided, further, that such confidentiality agreement does not contain provisions that prohibit Parent from complying with the provisions of this Section 6.4, and (2) prior to taking any such actions, the Parent Board or any committee thereof determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that such Parent Competing Proposal is, or is reasonably expected to lead to, a Parent Superior Proposal;
(iii) prior to receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, in response to a bona fide written Parent Competing Proposal from a third party that was not solicited at any time following the execution of this Agreement and did not arise from a material breach of the obligations set forth in this Section 6.4, if the Parent Board so chooses, cause Parent to effect a Parent Change of Recommendation, if prior to taking such action (A) the Parent Board determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel that such Parent Competing Proposal is a Parent Superior Proposal (taking into account any adjustment to the terms and conditions of the Merger proposed by the Company in response to such Parent Competing Proposal); and (B) Parent shall have given notice to the Company that Parent has received such proposal in accordance with Section 6.4(c), specifying the material terms and conditions of such proposal, and, that Parent intends to take such action, and either (1) the Company shall not have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement prior to the earlier to occur of the scheduled time for the Parent Stockholders Meeting and the third Business Day after the date on which such notice is given to the Company, or (2) if the Company within the period described in the foregoing clause (1) shall have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement in a manner that would form a binding contract if accepted by Parent, the Parent Board, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, shall have determined in good faith that the Parent Competing Proposal remains a Parent Superior Proposal with respect to the Company’s revised proposal; provided, however, that each time material modifications to the financial terms of a Parent Competing Proposal determined to be a Parent Superior Proposal are made, the time period set forth in this clause (B) prior to which Parent may effect a Parent Change of Recommendation or terminate this Agreement shall be extended for two Business Days after notification of such change to the Company; and
(iv) prior to receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, seek clarification from (but not engage in negotiations with or provide non-public information to) any Person that has made a Parent Competing Proposal that was not solicited at any time following the execution of this Agreement solely to clarify and understand the terms and conditions of such proposal to provide adequate information for the Parent Board or any committee thereof to make an informed determination under Section 6.4(d)(ii).
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Parent Board shall be permitted, at any time prior to the receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, other than in response to a Parent Competing Proposal (which is addressed in Section 6.4(d)(iii)), to make a Parent Change of Recommendation if, prior to taking such action, (i) the Parent Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its legal duties as directors under applicable Law and (ii) Parent shall have given notice to the Company that Parent intends to effect a Parent Change of Recommendation (which notice will reasonably describe the reasons for such Parent Change of Recommendation), and either (A) the Company shall not have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement prior to the earlier to occur of the scheduled time for the Parent Stockholders Meeting and the third Business Day after the date on which such notice is given to the Company, or (B) if the Company within the period described in the foregoing clause (A) shall have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Parent Board, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, shall have determined in good faith that such proposed changes do not obviate the need for the Parent Board to effect a Parent Change of Recommendation and that the failure to make a Parent Change of Recommendation would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its legal duties as directors under applicable Law.
No Solicitation of Customers During the Executive’s employment with the Employer and for a period of 12 months thereafter, the Executive shall not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of the Employer), either directly or indirectly, on the Executive’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, (A) solicit, divert, or appropriate to or for a Competing Business, or (B) attempt to solicit, divert, or appropriate to or for a Competing Business, any person or entity that is or was a customer of the Employer or any of its Affiliates at any time during the 12 months prior to the date of termination and with whom the Executive has had material contact.
No Solicitation by the Company (a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.4, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the First Effective Time and the Termination Date, the Company agrees that it shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and its and their respective directors and officers not to, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its other Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any inquiry regarding, or the making or submission of any proposal, offer or indication of intent that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, a Company Alternative Proposal, (ii) engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations with any Person regarding a Company Alternative Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, a Company Alternative Proposal (except to notify such Person that the provisions of this Section 5.4 prohibit any such discussions or negotiations), (iii) furnish any nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with or for the purpose of facilitating a Company Alternative Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, a Company Alternative Proposal; (iv) recommend or enter into any other letter of intent, memorandum of understandings, agreement in principle, option agreement, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other similar agreement with respect to a Company Alternative Proposal (except for confidentiality agreements permitted under Section 5.4(b)); or (v) approve, authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing or otherwise knowingly facilitate any effort or attempt to make a Company Alternative Proposal.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.4 to the contrary, at any time prior to, but not after, obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, if the Company receives a bona fide, unsolicited Company Alternative Proposal that did not result from the Company’s violation of this Section 5.4, the Company and its Representatives may contact the third party making such Company Alternative Proposal to clarify the terms and conditions thereof. If (i) such Company Alternative Proposal constitutes a Company Superior Proposal or (ii) the Company Board determines in good faith after consultation with outside legal and financial advisors that such Company Alternative Proposal could reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Superior Proposal, the Company may take the following actions: (A) furnish nonpublic information to the third party making such Company Alternative Proposal (including its Representatives and prospective equity and debt financing sources) in response to a request therefor, if, and only if, prior to so furnishing such information, the third party has executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company having confidentiality and use provisions that, in each case, are not less restrictive in the aggregate to such third party than the provisions in the Confidentiality Agreement are to Parent (it being understood that such confidentiality agreement need not contain any “standstill” or similar provisions or otherwise prohibit the making or amendment of any Company Alternative Proposal), provided, however, that if the third party making such Company Alternative Proposal is a known competitor of the Company, the Company shall not provide any commercially sensitive non-public information to such third party in connection with any actions permitted by this Section 5.4(b) other than in accordance with customary “clean room” or other similar procedures designed to limit the disclosure of competitively sensitive information, and (B) engage in discussions or negotiations with the third party (including its Representatives) with respect to the Company Alternative Proposal. The Company shall promptly (and in any event within 48 hours) notify Parent in writing if: (i) any inquiries, proposals or offers with respect to a Company Alternative Proposal are received by the Company or any of its Representatives or (ii) any information is requested from the Company or any of its Representatives that, to the Knowledge of the Company, has been or is reasonably likely to have been made in connection with any Company Alternative Proposal, which notice shall identify the material terms and conditions thereof (including the name of the applicable third party and, if applicable, complete copies of any written requests, proposals or offers and any other material documents, including proposed agreements). It is understood and agreed that any contacts, disclosures, discussions or negotiations permitted under this Section 5.4(b), including any public announcement that the Company or the Company Board has made any determination contemplated under this Section 5.4(b) to take or engage in any such actions, shall not constitute a Company Change of Recommendation or otherwise constitute a basis for Parent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(c)(ii). The Company shall keep Parent reasonably informed on a reasonably current basis of any material developments regarding any Company Alternative Proposals or any material change to the terms of any such Company Alternative Proposal and any material change to the status of any such discussions or negotiations with respect thereto.
(c) Except as set forth in this Section 5.4, the Company Board, including any committee thereof, shall not (i) withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, the Company Recommendation, (ii) fail to include the Company Recommendation in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that is mailed by the Company to the stockholders of the Company; (iii) if any Company Alternative Proposal that is structured as a tender offer or exchange offer for the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock is commenced pursuant to Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act (other than by Parent or an Affiliate of Parent), fail to recommend, within ten Business Days after such commencement, against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders; (iv) approve, adopt, recommend or declare advisable any Company Alternative Proposal or publicly propose to approve, adopt or recommend, or declare advisable any Company Alternative Proposal; or (v) approve, adopt or recommend, or declare advisable or enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement (other than a confidentiality agreement referred to in and entered into compliance with Section 5.4(b)) with respect to any Company Alternative Proposal (any such action set forth in the foregoing clauses (i) through (v), a “Company Change of Recommendation”). Anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement notwithstanding, prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, the Company Board may, in response to a Company Superior Proposal, (x) make a Company Change of Recommendation and/or (y) cause the Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(c)(ii); provided, that the Company Board shall not be entitled to make such a Company Change of Recommendation or cause any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(c)(ii) (A) unless the Company shall have given Parent at least five Business Days’ written notice (a “Company Superior Proposal Notice”) advising Parent of its intention to make such a Company Change of Recommendation or terminate this Agreement, which Company Superior Proposal Notice shall include a description of the terms and conditions of the Company Superior Proposal that is the basis for the proposed action of the Company Board, the identity of the Person making the Company Superior Proposal and a copy of any proposed definitive agreement for such Company Superior Proposal, if any, and the Company shall have negotiated in good faith with Parent (to the extent Parent wishes to negotiate) to enable Parent to make such amendments to the terms of this Agreement as would permit the Company Board not to effect a Company Change of Recommendation or terminate this Agreement in connection with such Company Superior Proposal, and (B) unless, at the end of the five-Business Day period following the delivery of such Company Superior Proposal Notice (the “Company Superior Proposal Notice Period”), after taking into account any firm commitments made by Parent in writing to amend the terms of this Agreement and any other proposals or information offered by Parent during the Company Superior Proposal Notice Period, the Company Board concludes that the Company Superior Proposal giving rise to the Company Superior Proposal Notice continues to constitute a Company Superior Proposal if such amendments were to be given effect; provided, that any material modifications to the terms of the Company Superior Proposal (including any change in the amount or form of consideration) shall commence a new notice period pursuant clause (A) of three Business Days.
(d) Anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement notwithstanding, prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, but not after, the Company Board may, in response to a Company Intervening Event, make a Company Change of Recommendation if the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel, that the failure of the Company Board to take such action would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law; provided, that the Company Board shall not be entitled to make such a Company Change of Recommendation unless (i) the Company shall have given Parent at least five Business Days’ written notice (a “Company Intervening Event Notice”) advising Parent of its intention to make such a Company Change of Recommendation, which Company Intervening Event Notice shall include a description of the applicable Company Intervening Event and (ii) unless, at the end of the five-Business Day period following the delivery of such Company Intervening Event Notice (the “Company Intervening Event Notice Period”), after taking into account any firm commitments made by Parent in writing to amend the terms of this Agreement and any other proposals or information offered by Parent during the Company Intervening Event Notice Period, the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel, that the failure of the Company Board to make such Company Change of Recommendation would continue to be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law if such amendments were to be given effect.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company or the Company Board or any committee thereof from (i) complying with its disclosure obligations under applicable Law or rules and policies of the NYSE, including taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication to stockholders) or from issuing a “stop, look and listen” statement pending disclosure of its position thereunder or (ii) making any disclosure to its stockholders if the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel, that the failure of the Company Board to make such disclosure would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders under applicable Law.
No Solicitation The Stockholder shall, and shall cause its affiliates that it controls and its and its controlled affiliates’ respective directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, financial and other advisors or other representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, encourage, or induce the making, submission or announcement of, an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) furnish to any Person (other than Customers or any designees of Customers) any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or afford access to the business, properties, assets, books or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person (other than Customers), or take any other action intended to assist or facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) participate or engage in discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (other than to notify such Person as to the existence of this provision), (iv) approve, endorse or recommend an Acquisition Proposal, (v) enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other agreement, contract or arrangement contemplating or otherwise relating to an acquisition transaction, otherwise than pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, or (vi) terminate, amend or waive any rights under any “standstill” or other similar agreement between the Stockholder and any Person (other than Customers). The Stockholder shall immediately cease any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any persons (other than Customers and its affiliates and representatives) conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Stockholder acknowledges and hereby agrees that any violation of the restrictions set forth in this Section 6 by the Stockholder or any representatives of the Stockholder shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 6 by the Stockholder. The Stockholder shall not enter into any letter of intent or similar document or any agreement contemplating or otherwise relating to an Acquisition Proposal unless and until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to its terms.
No Solicitations From and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or termination of this Agreement pursuant to ARTICLE X, the Company will not nor will it authorize or permit any of its officers, directors, affiliates or employees or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative retained by it, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit or initiate the making, submission or announcement of any other acquisition proposal, (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public information with respect to any other acquisition proposal, (iii) engage in discussions with any Person with respect to any other acquisition proposal, except as to the existence of these provisions, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend any other acquisition proposal or (v) enter into any letter of intent or similar document or any contract agreement or commitment contemplating or otherwise relating to any other acquisition proposal.
No Solicitation or Negotiation At all times during the Pre-Closing Period, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not, and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause their respective directors, officers or other employees, controlled affiliates, and any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative (collectively, "Representatives") retained by any of them not to (and in any event neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall direct, authorize or permit any of such persons to), directly or indirectly:
(i) solicit or initiate, or knowingly encourage or induce, the making, submission or announcement of, an Acquisition Proposal;
(ii) furnish to any Person (other than Buyer, Offering Subsidiary, or any designees of Buyer or Offering Subsidiary) any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or afford access to the business, properties, assets, books or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person (other than Buyer, Offering Subsidiary, or any designees of Buyer or Offering Subsidiary), or take any other action, in any such case with the intent to assist or facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes or could lead to an Acquisition Proposal;
(iii) participate or engage in discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to an Acquisition Proposal;
(iv) adopt, approve, endorse or recommend an Acquisition Proposal;
(v) enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, merger, acquisition or other contract or agreement contemplating or otherwise relating to an Acquisition Proposal; or
(vi) terminate, amend or waive any rights under any "standstill" or other similar agreement between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any Person (other than Buyer).
Non-Solicitation of Customers The Executive agrees that, during the Restricted Period, he will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or attempt to solicit (i) any party who is a customer or client of the Company or its subsidiaries, who was a customer or client of the Company or its subsidiaries at any time during the twelve (12) month period immediately prior to the date the Executive's employment terminates or who is a prospective customer or client that has been identified and targeted by the Company or its subsidiaries for the purpose of marketing, selling or providing to any such party any services or products offered by or available from the Company or its subsidiaries, or (ii) any supplier or vendor to the Company or any subsidiary to terminate, reduce or alter negatively its relationship with the Company or any subsidiary or in any manner interfere with any agreement or contract between the Company or any subsidiary and such supplier or vendor.
Employee Non-Solicitation During the term of Executive's employment with the Company and for one (1) year thereafter, Executive shall not directly or indirectly encourage any Company employee to terminate his employment with the Company unless Executive does so in the course of performing his duties for the Company and such encouragement is in the Company's best interests. For purposes of this Article VII, the term “Company” means Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. and its parent companies, subsidiaries and other affiliates.
Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation (a) The Executive recognizes that in each of the highly competitive businesses in which the Company is engaged, personal contact is of primary importance in securing new customers and in retaining the accounts and goodwill of present customers and protecting the business of the Company. The Executive, therefore, agrees that during the Employment Period and, if the Date of Termination occurs by reason of the Executive terminating his employment for reasons other than Disability or Good Reason and other than during a Window Period, for a period of one year after the Date of Termination, he will not either within 20 miles of any geographic location of any Shale play with respect to which he has devoted substantial attention to the material business interests of the Company or any of its affiliated companies or with respect to any immediate geologic trends in any non-Shale plays, in either case, in which the Company or any of its affiliated companies have active leases or are actively pursuing leases through direct employee activity or hired brokers as of the Date of Termination, without regard, in either case, to whether the Executive has worked at such location (the "Relevant Geographic Area"), (i) accept employment or render service to any Person that is engaged in a business directly competitive with the business then engaged in by the Company or any of its affiliated companies in the Relevant Geographic Area, (ii) enter into or take part in or lend his name, counsel or assistance to any business, either as proprietor, principal, investor, partner, director, officer, executive, consultant, advisor, agent, independent contractor, or in any other capacity whatsoever, for any purpose that would be competitive with the business of the Company or any of its affiliated companies in the Relevant Geographic Area or (iii) regardless of whether it is in the Relevant Geographic Area, directly or indirectly, either as principal, agent, independent contractor, consultant, director, officer, employee, employer, advisor, stockholder, partner or in any other individual or representative capacity whatsoever, either for his own benefit or for the benefit of any other person or entity either (A) hire, contract or solicit, or attempt any of the foregoing, with respect to hiring any employee of the Company or its affiliated companies, or (B) induce or otherwise counsel, advise or encourage any employee of the Company or its affiliated companies to leave the employment of the Company or its affiliated companies (all of the foregoing activities described in (i), (ii) and (iii) are collectively referred to as the "Prohibited Activity"). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 10 to the contrary, the Prohibited Activity shall not be applicable to the state or federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico or outside of the United States except as to the area covered by any U.S. or foreign state or federal oil and gas lease, license or permit in which the Company owns a working interest which was acquired by the Company prior to or during the Employment Period and further limited to the depths in which the Company owns such working or operating rights interest. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 10 will not apply following a termination of the Executive's employment by the Company with or without Cause, by the Executive due to Disability or Good Reason or by the Executive during a Window Period.
(b) In addition to all other remedies at law or in equity which the Company may have for breach of a provision of this Section 10 by the Executive, it is agreed that in the event of any breach or attempted or threatened breach of any such provision, the Company shall be entitled, upon application to any court of proper jurisdiction, to a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction (without the necessity of (i) proving irreparable harm, (ii) establishing that monetary damages are inadequate or (iii) posting any bond with respect thereto) against the Executive prohibiting such breach or attempted or threatened breach by proving only the existence of such breach or attempted or threatened breach. If the provisions of this Section 10 should ever be deemed to exceed the time, geographic or occupational limitations permitted by the applicable law, the Executive and the Company agree that such provisions shall be and are hereby reformed to the maximum time, geographic or occupational limitations permitted by the applicable law.
(c) The covenants of the Executive set forth in this Section 10 are independent of and severable from every other provision of this Agreement; and the breach of any other provision of this Agreement by the Company or the breach by the Company of any other agreement between the Company and the Executive shall not affect the validity of the provisions of this Section 10 or constitute a defense of the Executive in any suit or action brought by the Company to enforce any of the provisions of this Section 10 or seek any relief for the breach thereof by the Executive.
(d) The Executive acknowledges, agrees and stipulates that: (i) the terms and provisions of this Agreement are reasonable and constitute an otherwise enforceable agreement to which the terms and provisions of this Section 10 are ancillary or a part of as contemplated by TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE XXX. Sections 15.50-15.52; (ii) the consideration provided by the Company under this Agreement is not illusory; and (iii) the consideration given by the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the provision by the Company of Confidential Information to the Executive as contemplated by Section 8, gives rise to the Company's interest in restraining and prohibiting the Executive from engaging in the Prohibited Activity within the Relevant Geographic Area as provided under this Section 10, and the Executive's covenant not to engage in the Prohibited Activity within the Relevant Geographic Area pursuant to this Section 10 is designed to enforce the Executive's consideration (or return promises), including, without limitation, the Executive's promise to not disclose Confidential Information under this Agreement.
No Solicitation or Hiring of Employees During the Non-Compete Period, the Executive shall not solicit, entice, persuade or induce any individual who is employed by the Company or the Company Affiliates (or who was so employed within twelve (12) months prior to the Executive’s action) to terminate or refrain from continuing such employment or to become employed by or enter into contractual relations with any other individual or entity other than the Company or the Company Affiliates, and the Executive shall not hire, directly or indirectly, for himself or any other person, as an employee, consultant or otherwise, any such person. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company agrees that (i) the Executive’s responding to an unsolicited request from any former employee of the Company for advice on employment matters; and (ii) the Executive’s responding to an unsolicited request for an employment reference regarding any former employee of the Company from such former employee, or from a third party, by providing a reference setting forth his personal views about such former employee, shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 7(c); in each case, to the extent the Executive does not encourage the former employee to become employed by a company or business that employs the Executive or with which the Executive is otherwise associated (including, but not limited to, association as a sole proprietor, owner, employer, partner, principal, investor, joint venturer, shareholder, associate, employee, member, consultant, contractor, director or otherwise).
