Solicitations as Agent The Agents propose to solicit offers to purchase the Notes upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Prospectus and upon the terms communicated to the Agents from time to time by the Company and the Trust or the Purchasing Agent, as the case may be. For the purpose of such solicitation, the Agents are not authorized, without the prior written consent of the Company, to provide any written information relating to the Company and the Trust to any prospective purchaser other than the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented which has been most recently distributed to the Agents by the Company, and the Agents will solicit offers to purchase only as permitted or contemplated thereby and herein and will solicit offers to purchase the Notes only as permitted by the 1933 Act and the applicable securities laws or regulations of any jurisdiction. The Company and the Trust reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to suspend solicitation of offers to purchase the Notes commencing at any time for any period of time or permanently. Upon receipt of instructions (which may be given orally) from the Company and the Trust, the Agents will suspend promptly solicitation of offers to purchase until such time as the Company and the Trust has advised the Agents that such solicitation may be resumed. Unless otherwise instructed by the Company and the Trust, the Agents are authorized to solicit offers to purchase the Notes only in denominations of $1,000 or more (in multiples of $1,000). The Agents are not authorized to appoint subagents or to engage the services of any other broker or dealer in connection with the offer or sale of the Notes without the consent of the Company and the Trust. Each Agent shall have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, to reject any proposed purchase of Notes, as a whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of its agreements contained herein. The Company and the Trust agree to pay the Purchasing Agent, as consideration for soliciting offers to purchase Notes pursuant to the Selling Agent Agreement, a concession in the form of a discount equal to the percentages of the initial offering price of each Note actually sold as set forth in Exhibit Q hereto (the "Concession"); provided, however, that the Company, the Trust and the Purchasing Agent may agree also to a Concession greater than or less than the percentages set forth on Exhibit Q hereto. The actual aggregate Concession with respect to the Notes will be set forth in the related Pricing Supplement. The Purchasing Agent and the other Agents or Selected Dealers will share the above-mentioned Concession in such proportions as they may agree. Unless otherwise authorized by the Company and the Trust, all Notes shall be sold to the public at a purchase price not to exceed 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any. Such purchase price shall be set forth in the confirmation statement of the Agent or Selected Dealer responsible for such sale and delivered to the purchaser along with a copy of the Prospectus (if not previously delivered) and Pricing Supplement.
Lender’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact Debtor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Lender and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as Debtor’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of Debtor and in the name of Debtor or in Lender’s own name, from time to time in Lender’s discretion, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments that may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby grants to Lender the power and right, on behalf of Debtor, without notice to or assent by Debtor:
(a) To execute, file and record all such financing statements, certificates of title and other certificates of registration and operation and similar documents and instruments as Lender may deem necessary or desirable to protect, perfect and validate Lender’s security interest therein.
(b) Upon the occurrence and continuance of any event of default under paragraph 9 hereof, (i) to sign and indorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications and notices in connection with accounts and other documents relating to the Collateral; (ii) to commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any part thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral; (iii) to defend any suit, action or proceeding described above and, in connection therewith, to make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though Lender were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to do, at Lender’s option and Debtor’s expense, at any time or from time to time, all acts and things which Lender deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and Lender’s security interest therein, in order to effect the intent of this agreement, all as fully and effectively as Debtor might do. Debtor hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable. The powers conferred upon Lender hereunder are solely to protect its interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon Lender to exercise such powers and neither Lender nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to Debtor for any act or failure to act, except for Lender’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Solicitation of Customers During the periods in which the provisions of Section 8(a) shall be in effect, the Executive, directly or indirectly, will not seek nor accept Prohibited Business from any Customer (as defined below) on behalf of any enterprise or business other than the Company, refer Prohibited Business from any Customer to any enterprise or business other than the Company or receive commissions based on sales or otherwise relating to the Prohibited Business from any Customer, or any enterprise or business other than the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Customer” means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other entity to which the Company or any of its affiliates sold or provided goods or services during the 24-month period prior to the time at which any determination is required to be made as to whether any such person, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other entity is a Customer, or who or which was approached by or who or which has approached an employee of the Company for the purpose of soliciting business from the Company or the third party, as the case may be. Provided, however, the goods or services must be competitive in some respect to the Company’s business during such time.
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.
Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement Without the prior written consent of the Company, Employee shall not, during the term of this Agreement, or for a two (2) year period of time following the date of termination of this Agreement or the termination of Employee's employment with the Company:
a. Solicit business from, attempt to do business with, or do business with any customer of the Company which either: (1) Employee initially called on, initially serviced, initially did business with or had initial contact with during his/her employment at the Company; or (2) Employee became initially acquainted with or received Confidential Information regarding as a result of his/her employment at the Company. This restriction applies only to businesses that are within the scope of services or products provided by the Company.
b. Induce, solicit or attempt to solicit or induce any employee of the Company (or any affiliate of the Company) to leave their employment with the Company and/or accept employment elsewhere.
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 of Customers and Employees The Executive agrees that during the Term and for a period of two (2) years following the Termination of the Executive’s Employment, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, individually or jointly, (i) solicit in any manner, seek to obtain or service, or accept the business of any Customer for any product or service of the type offered by the Employer or competitive with the Company’s Business, (ii) solicit in any manner, seek to obtain or service, or accept the business of any Prospective Customer for any product or service of the type offered by the Employer or otherwise competitive with the Company’s Business, (iii) request or advise any Customer, Prospective Customer, or supplier of the Employer to terminate, reduce, limit, or change its business or relationship with the Employer, or (iv) induce, request, or attempt to influence any employee of the Employer to terminate his employment with the Employer.
Appointment of USBFS as Transfer Agent The Trust hereby appoints USBFS as transfer agent of the Trust on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and USBFS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement. The services and duties of USBFS shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against USBFS hereunder.
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.
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.
