Restriction Against Competition Confidentiality Sample Clauses

Open Split View

Download

Share

Cite

Restriction Against Competition Confidentiality 

Sample 1Sample 2Sample 3See All (14)

Save

Copy

Related to Restriction Against Competition Confidentiality

• Covenant Against Competition During the period of Participant’s employment and for two (2) years after his or her Last Day of Employment, Participant acknowledges and agrees he or she will not, directly or indirectly, establish or engage in any business or organization, or own or control any interest in, be employed by, or act as an officer, director, consultant, advisor, or lender to, any of the following located in those geographic markets where Participant has had direct and substantial involvement in Company’s operations in such geographic markets: (a) any entity that engages in any business competitive with the business activities of Company including, without limitation, its assisted and digital (including software) tax services businesses (“Prohibited Companies”); (b) any financial institution or business where any of Participant’s duties or activities would relate to or assist in providing services or products to one or more of the Prohibited Companies for use in connection with products, services or assistance being provided to customers; or (c) any financial institution or business whose primary purpose is to provide services or products to one or more of the Prohibited Companies for use in connection with products, services or assistance being provided to customers. Without limiting clause (c), any financial institution or business whose profits or revenues from the provision of services or products to the Prohibited Companies exceeds 25% of total profits or revenues, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be covered by clause (c). For Participants whose primary place of employment as of the Last Day of Employment is in Puerto Rico or Arizona, the restrictions in this Section 2.2 shall be limited to one (1) year following Participant’s Last Day of Employment. The restrictions in this Section 2.2 shall not apply if Participant’s primary place of employment as of the Last Day of Employment is in California or North Dakota; provided, however, to the extent permitted under such states’ laws, Company nevertheless retains all rights and remedies set forth in Sections 2.8 and 2.9 in lieu of enforcing the restrictive covenant set forth in this Section 2.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Participant has a standalone employment agreement with Company and such employment agreement includes covenants against competition or non-solicitation of customers, the scope, but not the duration, of such covenants shall apply solely for purposes of Sections 2.2 and 2.4, but shall have no other effect on this Award Agreement. All other covenants contained in this Section 2 shall apply to Participant notwithstanding any covenants or other terms contained in any other agreement.

• Non Competition Confidentiality (a) Executive agrees and acknowledges that reasonable limits on his ability to engage in activities which are competitive with the Company are warranted in order to protect the Company's trade secrets and proprietary information and are warranted in order to protect the Company in developing and maintaining its reputation, good will and status in the marketplace. In that regard, during the 60 months following the Termination Date (the "Continuation Period"), the Executive will not directly or indirectly, on Executive's own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of any other individual or entity, either as a proprietor, employee, agent, independent contractor, consultant, director, officer, partner or stockholder (other than a stockholder of a corporation listed on a national securities exchange or whose stock is regularly traded in the over-the-counter market, provided that the Executive at no time owns, directly or indirectly, in excess of 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of any such corporation): (i) participate or engage in any activities or business developing, manufacturing, marketing or distributing any products or services offered by the Company as of the Effective Time (as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 14, 2000, by and among the Parent, Silversmith Acquisition Corp. and the Company), or any products or services offered by the Company subsequent to the Effective Time and in which the Executive actively participated, recognizing that the Company offers products and services globally ("Competitive Activities"), including, without limitation, (A) selling goods or rendering services of the type (or similar to the type) sold or rendered by the Company, whether by means of electronic, traditional or other form of commerce; (B) soliciting any person or entity that is a current or prospective customer or has been a customer, in each case, of the Company, while the Executive has been employed by the Company (provided that it shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement if the Executive solicits such customers for goods or services unrelated to the Competitive Activities) and (C) assisting any person in any way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by clauses (A) or (B) above; or (ii) solicit (other than pursuant to general, non-targeted advertisements) any employee of the Company, who was an employee at or prior to the Effective Time, to leave the employment of the Company. (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Executive may remain a director at those companies for which Executive is a director as of the Effective Time, and may engage in any activities or businesses for which the Company has given permission in writing, which shall not be unreasonably withheld (or delayed) following the expiration of three years from the date the Offer is consummated, provided Executive's engaging in such activities or business would not have a material adverse impact on any of the Company's lines of businesses. (i) The Executive shall not, without the written consent of the Company, disclose to any other person or use, whether directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined) relating to or used by the Company, whether in written, oral or other form. "Confidential Information" shall mean information about the Company, and its clients and customers that is not disclosed by the Company for financial reporting purposes and that was learned by the Executive in the course of employment with the Company, including (without limitation) any proprietary knowledge, product and service designs, trade secrets, manuals, technical information and plans, contracts, systems, procedures, databases, electronic files, disks and printouts, correspondence, internal reports, personnel files, information about Company employees relating to their education, experience, skills, abilities, compensation and benefits, and inter-personal relationships with suppliers to and customers of Company, sales and advertising material, business plans, marketing plans, financial data (including without limitation the revenues, costs or profits associated with services), customer and industry lists, customer information, customer lists coupled with product or service pricing, customer contracts, supplier contacts and other contact information, pricing policies, supplies, agents, risk analyses, engineering information and computer screen designs and computer input and output specifications, inclusive of any pertinent documentation, techniques, processes, technical information and know how. The Executive acknowledges that such Confidential Information is specialized, unique in nature and of great value to the Company, and that such information gives the Company a competitive advantage. The Executive's obligations under this Section 10(c) shall survive the termination of the Continuation Period.

• Non Competition and Confidentiality (a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary set forth elsewhere herein, the RSUs, the shares of common stock of the Company underlying the RSUs, or any proceeds received by the Key Person upon the sale of shares of common stock of the Company underlying the RSUs shall be forfeited by the Key Person to the Company without any consideration therefore, if the Key Person is not in compliance, at any time during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending nine months following the termination of the Key Person’s affiliation with the Company and/or its subsidiaries, with all applicable provisions of the Plan and with the following conditions: (i) the Key Person shall not directly or indirectly (1) be employed by, engage or have any interest in any business which is or becomes competitive with the Company or its subsidiaries or is or becomes otherwise prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company or its subsidiaries, (2) induce any customer of the Company or its subsidiaries to patronize such competitive business or otherwise request or advise any such customer to withdraw, curtail or cancel any of its business with the Company or its subsidiaries, or (3) solicit for employment any person employed by the Company or its subsidiaries; provided, however, that this restriction shall not prevent the Key Person from acquiring and holding up to two percent of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any corporation which is or becomes competitive with the Company or is or becomes otherwise prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company if such shares are available to the general public on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market; and (ii) the Key Person shall not use or disclose, except for the sole benefit of or with the written consent of the Company, any confidential information relating to the business, processes or products of the Company. (b) The Company shall notify in writing the Key Person of any violation by the Key Person of this Section 16. The forfeiture shall be effective as of the date of the occurrence of any of the activities set forth in (a) above. If the shares of common stock of the Company underlying the RSUs have been sold, the Key Person shall promptly pay to the Company the amount of the proceeds from such sale. The Key Person hereby consents to a deduction from any amounts owed by the Company to the Key Person from time to time (including amounts owed as wages or other compensation, fringe benefits or vacation pay) to the extent of the amounts owed by the Key Person to the Company under this Section 16. Whether or not the Company elects to make any set-off in whole or in part, the Key Person agrees to timely pay any amounts due under this Section 16. In addition, the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief for any violation by the Key Person of subsection (a)(ii) of this Section 16.

• Noncompetition and Confidentiality (a) The parties recognize that the employment of Executive with the Company has been and will continue to be special, unique and of an extraordinary character, and in connection with such employment Executive has and will continue to acquire special skill and training. The parties also recognize that the covenants of Executive contained in this Section 9 are an essential part of Executive’s engagement by the Company and that, but for the agreement of the Executive to comply with such covenants, the Company would not have entered into this Agreement. Executive accordingly agrees that, during the Term, (i) Executive shall not act or serve, directly or indirectly, as a principal, agent, independent contractor, consultant, director, officer, executive, employee or advisor or in any other position or capacity with or for, or acquire a direct or indirect ownership interest in or otherwise conduct (whether as stockholder, partner, investor, joint venturer, or as owner of any other type of interest), any Competing Business (defined below); provided, however, that this clause shall not prohibit the Executive from being the owner of (A) up to 5% of any class of outstanding securities of any entity if such class of securities is publicly traded or (B) any other securities owned by Executive on the date of this Agreement, and (ii) Executive shall not, in connection with or for the benefit of any person or entity engaged in the non-hazardous solid waste business, solicit, induce, divert or take away, any officer, employee or consultant of the Company. (b) From the date hereof, Executive shall hold in secrecy for the Company all trade secrets and other confidential information relating to the business and affairs of the Company that have come or may have come to his attention during his employment with the Company, including information concerning costs, profits, markets, sales, business development plans, lists of clients or customers, lists of acquisition targets and other information about such acquisition targets and other information of a similar nature (such categories of information being referred to herein as “Confidential Information”). Executive shall not use for his own benefit or disclose to any person any Confidential Information other than in the ordinary course of the Company’s business or in response to a court order, unless such use or disclosure has the prior written authorization of the Company. Executive shall deliver to the Company, upon request, all correspondence, memoranda, notes, records, plans, customer lists, product compositions and other documents and all copies thereof, whether in hard copy form or electronically or magnetically stored, made, composed, or received by the Executive, solely or jointly with others, that are in the Executive’s possession, custody or control and that are related in any manner to the past, present or anticipated business of the Company. (c) For the purposes of this Section 9, “Competing Business” shall mean an individual, business, corporation, association, firm, undertaking, partnership, joint venture, organization or other entity that operates non-hazardous solid waste landfills, non-hazardous solid waste collection businesses or similar facilities or businesses within a 50-mile radius of any of the landfills or similar facilities of the Company, Guarantor or any affiliate thereof. (d) Should any portion of this Section 9 be deemed unenforceable because of the scope, duration or territory encompassed by the undertakings of the Executive hereunder, and only in such event, then the Executive and the Company consent and agree to such limitation on scope, duration or territory as may be finally adjudicated as enforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction after the exhaustion of all appeals. (e) The covenants in this Section 9 shall be construed as an agreement ancillary to the other provisions of this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action of the Executive against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, other than a claim or cause of action based on the Company’s failure to pay Executive amounts payable to Executive hereunder, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of this covenant. (f) It is expressly recognized and agreed that the covenants set forth in this Section 9 are for the purpose of restricting the activities of the Executive only to the extent necessary for the protection of the legitimate business interests of the Company, and the Company and the Executive agree that said covenants are reasonable for that purpose and that such covenants do not and will not preclude Executive from engaging in activities sufficient for the purpose of earning a living.

• Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Confidentiality (a) For a period from the Closing Date until the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of any business, whether in corporate, proprietorship or partnership form or otherwise, engaged in the Business or that otherwise competes with the Business (a “Restricted Business”). The parties hereto specifically acknowledge and agree that the remedy at law for any breach of the foregoing will be inadequate and that Newco, in addition to any other relief available to it, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief without the necessity of proving actual damage or posting any bond whatsoever. (b) For a period from the Closing Date to the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall: (i) cause, solicit, induce or encourage any Employees of the Company to leave such employment or hire, employ or otherwise engage any such individual; or (ii) cause, induce or encourage any material actual or prospective client, customer, supplier or licensor of the Business (including any existing or former customer of the Company and any Person that becomes a client or customer of the Business after the Closing) or any other Person who has a material business relationship with the Business, to terminate or modify any such actual or prospective relationship. (c) The covenants and undertakings contained in this Section 6.7 relate to matters which are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and a violation of any of the terms of this Section 6.7 will cause irreparable injury to Newco, the amount of which will be impossible to estimate or determine and which cannot be adequately compensated. Accordingly, the remedy at law for any breach of this Section 6.7 will be inadequate. Therefore, Newco will be entitled to an injunction, restraining order or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in the event of any breach of this Section 6.7. The rights and remedies provided by this Section 6.7 are cumulative and in addition to any other rights and remedies which Newco may have hereunder or at law or in equity. (d) The parties hereto agree that, if any court of competent jurisdiction in a final nonappealable judgment determines that a specified time period, a specified geographical area, a specified business limitation or any other relevant feature of this Section 6.7 is unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, then a lesser time period, geographical area, business limitation or other relevant feature which is determined by such court to be reasonable, not arbitrary and not against public policy may be enforced against the applicable party. (e) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the agreement of the Subsidiaries of the Company to the provisions of this Section 6.7 in form and content reasonably satisfactory to Newco.

• Covenants Against Competition The covenant against competition herein described shall apply until the termination of the Executive’s employment as provided herein and until the earlier of (i) six months after such termination or (ii) a Change in Corporate Control (the “Restriction Period”). During the Restriction Period the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, control or participate in the ownership, management, or control of, or be employed or engaged by or otherwise affiliated or associated with, in an executive, senior management, strategic or professional capacity, whether as an employee, employer, consultant, agent, principal, partner, stockholder, corporate officer, director or in any other individual or representative capacity, that is similar to an engagement in an executive, senior management, strategic or professional capacity although otherwise named in any business or venture engaged in the Business; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Executive may own or participate in the ownership of any entity which the Executive owned or managed or participated in the ownership or management of prior to the Effective Date, which ownership, management or participation has been disclosed to the Board; (ii) the Executive may invest in securities of any entity, solely for investment purposes and without participating in the business thereof, if (A) such securities are traded on any national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or equivalent non-U.S. securities exchange, (B) the Executive is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such entity and (C) the Executive does not, directly or indirectly, own two percent (2%) or more of any class of securities of such entity; (iii) the Executive may own or participate in the ownership of the Second City private equity funds including Second City Capital Partners II, Limited Partnership, Second City Real Estate II, Limited Partnership, SC Principals Limited Partnership as well as their respective general partners, related companies and future Second City fund vehicle, which ownership, management or participation has been disclosed to the Board; and (iv) the Executive may, directly or indirectly, invest in commercial real estate or other assets so long as they are not Suitable Properties (as defined in Section 15(a)), and the Executive may own or participate in the ownership of Suitable Properties if such opportunity has been first provided to the Company and the Company has declined to acquire it in writing, providing that such ownership, management or participation has been disclosed to the Board. Further, the covenant against competition described herein shall not apply to the Executive with respect to any business or venture that competes with a New Business to the extent that the Executive’s actions or participation occurred before the Company became engaged in the New Business.

• Non Competition Non Solicitation and Confidentiality As a condition to the receipt of this Award, you must agree to the Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A by executing that Agreement. Failure to execute and return the Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement within 120 days of the Grant Date shall constitute your decision to decline to accept this Award.

• Confidentiality and Noncompetition (a) Executive acknowledges that, prior to and during the Term of this Agreement, the Company has furnished and will furnish to Executive Confidential Information which could be used by Executive on behalf of a competitor of the Company to the Company's substantial detriment. Moreover, the parties recognize that Executive during the course of his employment with the Company may develop important relationships with customers and others having valuable business relationships with the Company. In view of the foregoing, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the restrictive covenants contained in this Section are reasonably necessary to protect the Company's legitimate business interests and good will. (b) Executive agrees that he shall protect the Company's Confidential Information and shall not disclose to any Person, or otherwise use, except in connection with his duties performed in accordance with this Agreement, any Confidential Information; provided, however, that Executive may make disclosures required by a valid order or subpoena issued by a court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction, in which event Executive will promptly notify the Company of such order or subpoena to provide the Company an opportunity to protect its interests. Executive's obligations under this Section 4(b) shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement, provided that Executive may after such expiration or termination disclose Confidential Information with the prior written consent of the Chairman of the Board. (c) Upon the termination or expiration of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to deliver promptly to the Company all Company files, customer lists, management reports, memoranda, research, Company forms, financial data and reports and other documents supplied to or created by him in connection with his employment hereunder (including all copies of the foregoing) in his possession or control, and all of the Company's equipment and other materials in his possession or control. Executive's obligations under this Section 4(c) shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. (d) Upon the termination or expiration of his employment under this Agreement, Executive agrees that he shall not enter into or engage in the design, manufacture, marketing or sale of any products similar to those produced or offered by the Company or its affiliates in the area of North America, either as an individual, partner or joint venturer, or as an employee, agent or salesman, or as an officer, director, or shareholder of a corporation for a period of two (2) years from the date of his termination of employment. (e) Executive acknowledges that if he breaches or threatens to breach this Section 4, his actions may cause irreparable harm and damage to the Company which could not be compensated in damages. Accordingly, if Executive breaches or threatens to breach this Section 4, the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief, in addition to any other rights or remedies of the Company. The existence of any claim or cause of action by Executive against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of Executive's agreement under this Section 4(d). 5.

• Confidentiality and Non-Competition To the Company’s knowledge, no director, officer, key employee or consultant of the Company is subject to any confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer that could reasonably be expected to materially affect his ability to be and act in his respective capacity of the Company or be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

• Protection of Confidential Information; Non-Competition 4.1. Executive acknowledges that: (1) As a result of his current employment with the Company, Executive will obtain secret and confidential information concerning the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (referred to collectively in this Article 4 as the “Company”), including, without limitations, financial information, designs and other proprietary rights, trade secrets and “know-how,” customers and sources (“Confidential Information”). (2) The Company will suffer substantial damage which will be difficult to compute if, during the period of his employment with the Company or thereafter, Executive should enter a business competitive with the Company or divulge Confidential Information. (3) The provisions of this Agreement are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the business of the Company. 4.2. Executive agrees that he will not at any time, either during the term of this Agreement or thereafter, divulge to any person or entity any Confidential Information obtained or learned by him as a result of his employment with the Company, except (i) in the course of performing his duties hereunder, (ii) to the extent that any such information is in the public domain other than as a result of Executive’s breach of any of his obligations hereunder, (iii) where required to be disclosed by court order, subpoena or other government process or (iv) if such disclosure is made without Executive’s knowing intent to cause material harm to the Company. If Executive shall be required to make disclosure pursuant to the provisions of clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, Executive promptly, but in no event more than 72 hours after learning of such subpoena, court order, or other government process, shall notify, by personal delivery or by electronic means, confirmed by mail, the Company and, at the Company’s expense, Executive shall: (a) take reasonably necessary and lawful steps required by the Company to defend against the enforcement of such subpoena, court order or other government process, and (b) permit the Company to intervene and participate with counsel of its choice in any proceeding relating to the enforcement thereof. 4.3. Upon termination of his employment with the Company, Executive will promptly deliver to the Company all memoranda, notes, records, reports, manuals, drawings, blue-prints and other documents (and all copies thereof) relating to the business of the Company and all property associated therewith, which he may then possess or have under his control; provided, however, that the Executive shall be entitled to retain one copy of such documents for his personal use and records. 4.4. During the period commencing with the start date of employment under this agreement and terminating three years after termination of employment: (A) Executive, without the prior written permission of the Company, shall not, anywhere in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan, (i) enter into the employ of or render any services to any person, firm or corporation engaged in any business which is directly in competition with the Company’s principal existing business at the time of termination (“Competitive Business”); (ii) engage in any Competitive Business as an individual, partner, shareholder, creditor, director, officer, principal, agent, employee, trustee consultant, advisor or in any other relationship or capacity; (iv) employ, or have or cause any other person or entity to employ, any person who was employed by the Company at the time of termination of Executive’s employment by the Company (other than Executive’s personal secretary and assistant); or (v) solicit, interfere with, or endeavor to entice away from the Company, for the benefit of a Competitive Business, any of its customers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be precluded from investing and managing the investment of, his or his family’s assets in the securities of any corporation or other business entity which is engaged in a Competitive Business if such securities are traded on a national stock exchange or in the over-the-counter market and if such investment does not result in his beneficially owning, at any time, more than 5% of any class of the publicly-traded equity securities of such Competitive Business; provided, however, that for a period commencing with the start date of employment under this agreement and terminating three years after termination of Executive’s employment (except for investments in a class of securities trading on public markets), Executive shall refer to the Company for consideration (before any other party) any and all opportunities to acquire or purchase, or otherwise make equity or debt investments in, companies primarily involved in a Competitive Business if such opportunities becomes known to Executive while he is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. If the Company determines not to exploit any opportunity referred to in the foregoing sentence, the Company shall determine what, if anything, should be done with such opportunity. Executive shall not be entitled to any compensation, as a finder or otherwise, if either the Company or Executive introduces such opportunity to other persons, it being understood that all such compensation shall be paid to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company terminates this Agreement without “cause” or if Executive terminates this Agreement for Good Reason under Section 3.5 hereof, Executive’s obligations under this Section 4.4 shall terminate one month following termination. 4.5. If Executive commits a breach of any of the provisions of Sections 4.2 or 4.4, the Company shall have the right: (1) to have the provisions of this Agreement specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed by Executive that the services being rendered hereunder to the Company are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and that any breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to the Company and that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy to the Company; and (2) to require Executive to account for and pay over to the Company all monetary damages determined by a non-appealable decision by a court of law to have been suffered by the Company as the result of any actions constituting a breach of any of the provisions of Section 4.2 or 4.4, and Executive hereby agrees to account for and pay over such damages to the Company (up to the maximum of all payments made under the Agreement). 4.6. If Executive shall violate any covenant contained in Section 4.4, the duration of such covenant so violated shall be automatically extended for a period of time equal to the period of such violation. 4.7. If any provision of Sections 4.2 or 4.4 is held to be unenforceable because of the scope, duration or area of its applicability, the tribunal making such determination shall not have the power to modify such scope, duration, or area, or all of them and such provision or provisions shall be void ab initio.