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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”).
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.
Nonsolicitation of Clients The Executive hereby agrees that during the Noncompete Restricted Period, the Executive shall not, in any manner, directly or indirectly, (a) Solicit a Client to transact business with a Competitive Enterprise or to reduce or refrain from doing any business with the Firm, to the extent the Executive is soliciting a Client to provide them with services that would be considered a Competing Activity if such services were provided by the Executive, or (b) interfere with or damage (or attempt to interfere with or damage) any relationship between the Firm and a Client. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Solicit” means any direct or indirect communication of any kind whatsoever, regardless of by whom initiated, inviting, advising, persuading, encouraging or requesting any person or entity, in any manner, to take or refrain from taking any action, and the term “Client” means any client or prospective client of the Firm, whether or not the Firm has been engaged by such Client pursuant to a written agreement; provided that an entity which is not a client of the Firm shall be considered a “prospective client” for purposes of this sentence only if the Firm made a presentation or written proposal to such entity during the 12-month period preceding the Date of Termination or was preparing to make such a presentation or proposal at the time of the Date of Termination.
