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.
Non-Solicitation of Clients During the Restricted Period, the Executive agrees not to solicit, directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person(s), any client of the Company to whom the Company had provided services at any time during the Executive’s employment with the Company in any line of business that the Company conducts as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment or that the Company is actively soliciting, for the purpose of marketing or providing any service competitive with any service then offered by the Company.
Non-Solicitation The Participant covenants and agrees that during his or her employment with the Company or its Affiliates and for a period of twelve (12) months subsequent to the Participant’s Termination of Employment for any reason, whether involuntary or voluntary, the Participant shall not directly or indirectly, as an owner, stockholder, director, employee, partner, agent, broker, or consultant recruit, hire or attempt to recruit or hire other employees of the Company or its Affiliates, nor shall the Participant contact or communicate with any other employees of the Company or its Affiliates for the purpose of inducing other employees to terminate their employment with the Company or its Affiliates. For purposes of this Section 5, “other employees” shall refer to employees who are still actively employed by or doing business with the Company or its Affiliates at the time of the attempted recruiting or hiring. In addition, Participant agrees not to hire or employ, either directly or indirectly, or aid in the hire or employ of any former employee of the Company or its Affiliates within 60 days of that former employee's separation date from the Company or its Affiliates. Participant acknowledges and agrees that the damage to Company and its Affiliates if Participant breaches this Section 5 or the non-solicitation provisions contained in any written agreement by and between the Participant and the Company will be extremely difficult to determine. Therefore, Participant agrees that if Participant violates this Section 5 or the non-solicitation provisions contained in any written agreement by and between the Participant and the Company, Participant will pay to the Company the value of the RSUs received and all costs incurred by Company, including its reasonable attorneys' fees, in any claim against Participant or to defend against any claim made by Participant related to the subject-matter herein. To the extent applicable, all Awarded Units shall immediately cease to vest as of the date of such breach, and any Vested RSUs that had not been converted into Shares prior to the date of such breach and any Unvested RSUs shall be immediately forfeited and this Agreement (other than the provisions of this Section 5) will be terminated on the date of such breach.
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.
Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Executive and the Company agree that the Company would suffer irreparable harm and incur substantial damage if Executive were to enter into Competition (as defined herein) with the Company. Therefore, in order for the Company to protect its legitimate business interests, Executive agrees as follows:
(i) Without the prior written consent of the Company, Executive shall not, during the period of employment with the Company, directly or indirectly, invest or engage in any business that is Competitive (as defined herein) with the Business of the Company or accept employment or render services to a Competitor (as defined herein) of the Company as a director, officer, agent, employee or consultant or solicit or attempt to solicit or accept business that is Competitive with the Business of the Company, except that Executive may own up to five percent (5%) of any outstanding class of securities of any company registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, the Company acknowledges that Executive currently engages in a number of activities set forth on Exhibit B as long as such permitted activities do not have a material adverse effect on the Executive’s performance or this Agreement.
(ii) Without the prior written consent of the Company and upon any termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, Executive shall not, either directly or indirectly, (x) invest or engage in any business that is Competitive (as defined herein) with the Business of the Company, except that Executive may own up to five percent (5%) of any outstanding class of securities of any company registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (y) accept employment with or render services to a Competitor of the Company as a director, officer, agent, employee or consultant unless he is serving in a capacity that has no relationship to that portion of the Competitor’s business that is Competitive with the Business of the Company, or (z) solicit, attempt to solicit or accept business Competitive with the Business of the Company from any of the customers of the Company at the time of his termination or within twelve (12) months prior thereto or from any person or entity whose business the Company was soliciting at such time.
(iii) Upon termination of his employment with the Company, and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, Executive shall not, either directly or indirectly, engage, hire, employ or solicit in any manner whatsoever the employment of an employee of the Company.
(iv) For purposes of this Agreement, a business or activity is in “Competition” or “Competitive” with the Business of the Company if it involves, and a person or entity is a “Competitor”, if that person or entity is engaged in, or about to become engaged in, the research, development, design, manufacturing, marketing or selling of a specific product or technology that resembles, competes, or is designed to compete, with, or has applications similar to any product or technology for which the Company has obtained or applied for a patent or made disclosures, or any product or technology involving any other proprietary research or development engaged in or conducted by the Company during the Term of Executive’s employment with the Company.
Non-Competition/Solicitation To the Company’s knowledge, no Respondent is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect such Respondent’s ability to be and act in the capacity of a director or officer of the Company, as applicable.
Non-Solicitation and Non-Compete The Executive agrees that:
(i) except as agreed by the Board, during the term hereof, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, either as a principal, agent, employee, employer, stockholder, co-partner or in any other capacity whatsoever, engage in any outside activity, whether or not competitive with the business of the Company, that could foreseeably give rise to a conflict of interest or otherwise interfere with his duties and obligations to the Company;
(ii) during the term hereof and for twelve (12) months after the term, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, either as a principal, agent, employee, employer, stockholder, co-partner or in any other capacity whatsoever, solicit, hire or attempt to hire, or assist others in soliciting, hiring or attempting to hire, any individual employed by the Company at any time while the Executive was also so employed, or encourage any such individual to terminate his or her relationship with the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6(g) shall be deemed to prohibit Executive from: (A) making general solicitations of employment published in newspapers, trade journals or other publications of general circulation; or (B) employing individuals who have terminated their employment with the Company;
(iii) during the term hereof and for twelve (12) months after the term, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, either as a principal, agent, employee, employer, stockholder, co-partner or in any other capacity whatsoever, engage in or undertake any planning for any activity which is competitive with the business of the Company, as conducted or under consideration at any time during his employment by the Company; provided that (A) an ownership interest by Executive of one percent (1%) or less in any outstanding equity securities of any company which is competitive with the business of the Company whose equity securities are listed on a national securities exchange, national or capital markets or traded in the over-the-counter bulletin board or (B) Executive’s employment by or otherwise association with a business or entity of which a subsidiary, division, segment, unit, etc. is in material direct competition with the Company or any parent corporation or subsidiary of the Company but as to which such subsidiary, division, segment, unit, etc. the Executive has no direct or indirect responsibility or involvement, so long as the Executive does not breach the confidentiality obligations hereunder, shall not be prohibited and shall not constitute activity which is competitive with the business of the Company.
Non-Solicitation of Executives During the Non-Compete Term, Executive will not, either directly or indirectly, call on, solicit or induce any other executive or officer of the Company or its affiliates with whom Executive had contact, knowledge of, or association with in the course of employment with the Company to terminate his employment, and will not assist any other person or entity in such a solicitation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to soliciting any executive or officer whose employment was terminated by the Company or its affiliates, or general solicitations for employment not targeted at current officers or employees of the Company or its affiliates, the foregoing restriction shall not apply.
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.
Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Because of the nature of the Company’s Business, and because, as a result of his employment with the Company, the Executive has been and will continue to be exposed to Confidential Information, the Executive acknowledges that the Company would sustain grievous harm in the event that he were to disclose Confidential Information, engage in business activities that compete with the Business, appropriate or divert business or customers of the Company or its affiliates and/or induce employees or consultants of the Company or its affiliates to leave the employment of the Company or its affiliates. The Executive acknowledges that the Company has a legitimate business interest in protecting itself from the aforementioned harm and in the protection and maintenance of the Confidential Information and of the good will and customer relationships of the Company and its affiliates. Therefore, the Executive hereby agrees and covenants to be bound by the non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions set forth herein below, which restrictions the Executive agrees and acknowledges are reasonable and necessary and do not impose undue hardship or burdens on the Executive.
a. The Executive agrees that, during his employment with the Company and for a period of three (3) years following the termination of his employment with the Company, he and his affiliates shall not directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, control, be employed by, consult for, be a shareholder of, be an officer of, participate in, contract with or be connected in any capacity or any manner with any person or entity whose business activities directly or indirectly (whether through related persons, entities or otherwise) compete with the Business anywhere in the United States, Canada and the People’s Republic of China, where the Company or its affiliates is engaged in the Business, PROVIDED HOWEVER, that the Executive shall not be prevented from owning an interest in a publicly traded company so long as the fair market value of such interest at the date of acquisition is less than US$100,000.
b. The Executive agrees that during the period of his employment with the Company and for a period of three (3) years following the termination of his employment with the Company, for any reason, he will not, within the United States, Canada and the People’s Republic of China, where the Company or its affiliates is engaged in the Business, directly or indirectly recruit, induce, divert, supervise, employ, manage, hire or entice, or cause to be recruited, induced, diverted, supervised, employed, managed, hired or enticed, any employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or its affiliates to leave or terminate the employment or other relationship thereof, for any reason.
c. The Executive agrees that during the period of his employment with the Company and for a period of three (3) years following the termination of his employment with the Company, he will not, within the United States, Canada and the People’s Republic of China, where the Company or its affiliates is engaged in the Business, directly or indirectly appropriate, call on, induce, divert or solicit, or assist another to appropriate, call on, induce, divert or solicit any actual or potential business or customer away from the Company or its affiliates, or attempt to do any of the foregoing, or otherwise induce or attempt to induce any actual or potential business or customer of the Company or its affiliates, to terminate or adversely modify its relationship with the Company or its affiliates, or to enter into a relationship with or conduct business with the Company or its affiliates, which actual or potential business or customer the Executive was involved with or had a relationship with or whose identity became known to the Executive in connection with the Executive’s employment with the Company.
d. If any of the restrictive covenants set forth in paragraphs 12(a), (b) and (c) of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable (in whole or in part), such restrictive covenant shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, and a court of competent jurisdiction shall have the power to modify, any such restrictive covenant to the extent necessary to render such provision enforceable, and the remaining restrictive covenant shall not be affected thereby.
e. In the event of a violation of any of the restrictive covenants set forth in paragraphs 12(a), (b) and (c) of this Agreement, if the Executive is prevented by a court or arbitrator from committing any further violation, whether by a temporary restraining order, injunction or otherwise, the time periods set forth in paragraphs 12(a), (b) and (c) of this Agreement shall be computed by commencing the periods on the date of the applicable court or arbitrators’ order and continuing them from that date for the full period provided.
f. The Executive shall have the right to request a waiver of all or part of the restrictive covenants contained in paragraphs 12(a), (b) and (c) of this Agreement by providing the Company with a written request for such a waiver that contains all relevant details. The Company may, in its sole discretion, waive all or part of the restrictive covenants contained in paragraphs 12(a), (b) and (c) of this Agreement on such terms and conditions, and to such extent, as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. Such waiver must be in writing.
g. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement would not have been entered into, that the benefits described in paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 would not have been promised to the Executive by the Company, in the absence of the Executive’s covenants and promises set forth in paragraphs 12(a), (b) and (c) of this Agreement.
