AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the 10th day of October, 2006 by and between Xxxxxx Technologies, Inc., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Technologies of Tennessee, dba Xxxxxx Technologies Company, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (hereinafter Xxxxxx Technologies, Inc. and Xxxxxx Technologies of Tennessee, dba Xxxxxx Technologies Company are collectively referred to herein as "Xxxxxx") and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, residing at 0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 ("Executive").
1. TERMINATION: The following payments and benefits (hereinafter "Severance Benefits") will be provided to the Executive by Xxxxxx in the event of a Termination of Employment (as hereinafter defined) of the Executive:
A. Executive will continue to receive his annual base salary, based upon his annual base salary as of the date of his Termination of Employment (as hereinafter defined), for a period of eighteen (18) months (the "Severance Period"), with payroll to be made every two weeks, or at such other frequency based upon Xxxxxx'x normal payroll practice. Xxxxxx shall deduct from Executive's continuing payroll all normal tax withholdings and deductions which Xxxxxx is required by law to make.
B. On or before the Executive's last day of employment with Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx will pay to the Executive a lump sum payment in an amount equal to a pro rata bonus through the date of Termination of Employment (the "Pro-Rata Bonus"). For purposes of this paragraph "1.B.", the Pro-Rata Bonus shall be an amount equal to the highest bonus earned by the Executive in any calendar year within the three (3) calendar years immediately preceeding the date of Termination of Employment, pro rated for the period served during the year in which the Termination of Employment occurs. Xxxxxx shall deduct from this bonus payment all normal tax withholdings and deductions which Xxxxxx is required by law to make.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Xxxxxx shall not be obligated to pay the Pro-Rata Bonus to the Executive if as of the date of Termination of Employment (i) Xxxxxx is operating at a level of performance, on a year to date basis, below Xxxxxx'x net profit goals as established by Xxxxxx'x Budget (as hereinafter defined), or (ii) the Executive is acting at a level of performance, on a year to date basis, such that he has not achieved all of the performance criteria established by the Executive's Budget (as hereinafter defined). For purposes of this subparagraph "B", Xxxxxx shall prepare a profit and loss statement showing Xxxxxx'x total year to date net profit as of the close of business the day prior to the date of Termination of Employment, and as compared to the net profit under Xxxxxx'x Budget (the "Interim P&L").
C. On or before the Executive's last day of employment with Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx will pay to the Executive a lump sum payment for the Executive's unused vacation for the year in which the Termination of Employment occurs, equal to the number of prorata unused vacation days on the date of Termination of Employment, as determined in accordance with Xxxxxx'x standard vacation policy, multiplied by the Executive's daily base salary on the date of Termination of Employment. Xxxxxx shall deduct from this bonus payment all normal tax withholdings and deductions which Xxxxxx is required by law to make.
D. The Executive's participation in life, health and dental insurance, disability insurance, and any other benefits (the "Benefits") provided by Xxxxxx to the Executive as of the date of the Termination of Employment shall be continued, or essentially equivalent benefits provided by Xxxxxx, for the entire Severance Period or until otherwise terminated by the Executive, on the same terms, conditions and costs as if the Executive continued in the employ of Xxxxxx. If for any reason Xxxxxx is unable to continue any or all of the Benefits as required herein, Xxxxxx shall pay to the Executive a lump sum cash payment equal to the value of the Benefits that cannot be provided.
E. All stock options, stock appreciation rights, and any similar rights which the Executive holds on the date of Termination of Employment shall become fully vested and be exerciseable on the date of Termination of Employment, and shall remain exerciseable following the Termination of Employment until (i) expiration of the Severance Period, (ii) termination of Severance Benefits pursuant to paragraph "6" below, or (iii) expiration of the original term of the stock option, stock appreciation right or similar right, whichever first occurs.
F. In the event the Executive is terminated pursuant to paragraph "3.B." below, within ten (10) days after such termination, Xxxxxx will pay to the Executive a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the the amount that Executive's base salary was reduced during the period of the Executive's Disability (as defined below) pursuant to the provisions of paragraph "3" below.
G. For purposes of this agreement, the following definitions will apply:
(i) A "Termination of Employment" shall take place in the event that the Executive's employment is terminated (a) by Xxxxxx without Cause (as hereinafter defined) or (b) by the Executive within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of an event constituting Good Reason (as hereinafter defined).
(ii) "Cause" shall exist if the act(s) or conduct of the Executive make it unreasonable to require Xxxxxx to continue to retain Executive in its employment, such as, but not limited to, (a) the Executive's willful and continued refusal to perform, or the Executive's willful and continued neglect of, the substantive duties of his position, (b) any willful act or omission by the Executive constituting dishonesty, fraud or other malfeasance, (c) material nonconformance with Xxxxxx'x standard business practices and policies, including but not limited to violation of Xxxxxx'x Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or Xxxxxx'x Substance Abuse Policy, (d) any act or omission by the Executive which has a material adverse affect upon the financial condition or business reputation of Xxxxxx, (e) the Executive's conviction of a felony, or any crime involving moral turpitude, dishonesty or theft, under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or any other jurisdiction in which Xxxxxx conducts business, (f) breach of the provisions of paragraphs "4" or "5" of this agreement, (g) the resignation of Executive other than pursuant to the occurrence of an event constituting Good Reason (as hereinafter defined).
(iii) "Good Reason" shall mean (a) the Executive is assigned any duties or responsibilities, without his consent, that are materially inconsistent with his position, duties, responsibilities or status, (b) Xxxxxx requires the Executive, without his consent, to be based at a location which is more than fifty (50) miles from Xxxxxx'x corporate headquarters, currently located at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, (c) except as provided in paragraph "1.J." below, the Executive's annual base salary is reduced, except to the extent that the annual base salaries of all Named Executives (as defined below) are reduced due to the adverse financial condition of Xxxxxx and further providing that the Executive's annual base salary may not be reduced to a level that is less than ninety (90%) percent of the Executive's annual base salary as of the date herein, (d) the Executive's benefits are reduced, except to the extent that such reductions are made by Xxxxxx on a company-wide basis and affect all Named Executives that participate in such benefits, (e) except as provided in paragraph "1.J." below, the Executive experiences in any year a reduction in bonus compensation or other incentive compensation, or a reduction in the ratio of the Executive's incentive compensation, bonus or other such payments to his base compensation, or a reduction in the method of calculation of the Executive's incentive compensation, bonus or other such payments if these benefits or payments are calculated other than as a percentage of base salary, except to the extent such reduction applies equally or proportionally, as the case may be, to all Named Executives of Xxxxxx. An isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by Xxxxxx within ten (10) days after Xxxxxx'x receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not constitute Good Reason.
(iv) "Budget" shall mean (a) as to Xxxxxx, the projected annual and monthly revenues, expenses and net profit goals approved and accepted by Xxxxxx'x board of directors for the applicable fiscal year, and for each month individually in that fiscal year, and (b) as to Executive, all performance criteria capable of being measured on a month to month basis, if any, that have been established for the Executive under any bonus or other incentive compensation plan covering the applicable fiscal year.
(v) "Named Executive(s) shall mean Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx.
X. Xxxxxx'x obligation to pay the compensation and to make the arrangements provided in this paragraph "1" shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any offset, counterclaim, recoupment or other right which Xxxxxx may have against the Executive or anyone else, provided, however, that as a condition to payment of amounts under this paragraph "1", the Executive shall execute (i) a general release and waiver, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Xxxxxx, of all claims relating to the Executive's employment by Xxxxxx and the termination of such employment, including, without limitation, discrimination claims, employment-related tort claims, contract claims and claims under this Agreement (other than claims with respect to benefits under any tax-qualified retirement plans or continuation of coverage or benefits solely as required under ERISA), and (ii) an agreement expressly acknowledging and reaffirming the covenants and restrictions contained in paragraphs "4" and "5" below, and the remedies available to Xxxxxx under paragraph "6" below.
I. All amounts payable by Xxxxxx pursuant to this paragraph "1" shall be paid without notice or demand. The Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the amounts payable or arrangements made pursuant to this paragraph "1" and, except as provided in paragraph "6" below, the obtaining of any other employment shall not result in a reduction of Xxxxxx'x obligation to make the payments, benefits and arrangements required to be made under this paragraph "1".
J. Executive expressly acknowledges that the following shall not constitute "Good Reason" for purposes of this paragraph "1":
(i) Establishing a new or different bonus or incentive compensation plan(s) in any subsequent year based upon new or different criteria for calculating the applicability of, and the amount of any bonus or incentive compensation award due to the Executive, provided that any new or different bonus or incentive compensation plan, and any award under said plan, applies equally or proportionally, as the case may be, to all Named Executives; except that Xxxxxx may establish separate performance criteria and payment amounts for awards under such plan for each Named Executive that are reasonably achievable and reasonably related to such Executive's normal duties and responsibilities;
(ii) A reduction of the Executive's bonus compensation or other incentive compensation that (a) results from Xxxxxx operating at a level of performance below Xxxxxx'x Budget, (b) results from the Executive's failure or inability to attain, in whole or in part, any or all of the performance criteria established for the Executive under the said plan, (c) results from application of the terms of such bonus or incentive compensation plan, or (d) is based upon the Executive's performance, or non-performance, of his normal duties and responsibilities during the period covered by the bonus or incentive compensation plan including, without limition, due to the Executive's Disability (as defined herein);
(iii) A reduction of the Executive's annual base salary based upon the Executive's performance, or non-performance, of his normal duties and responsibilities, provided that the Executive's annual base salary may not be reduced to a level that is less than ninety (90%) percent of the Executive's annual base salary as of the date herein;
(iv) A reduction in the Executive's annual base salary pursuant to the provisions of paragraph "3" below.
2. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE: Xxxxxx may at any time terminate the employment of the Executive for Cause (as defined in paragraph "1" above) upon five (5) days prior written notice to Executive. If Executive is terminated for cause, he shall be entitled to no Severance Benefits and shall be entitled to no bonus payment that might otherwise be owed to him even if he worked for the entire year. In the event of termination under this section, Xxxxxx shall pay Executive all amounts which are then accrued but unpaid, including unpaid vacation as determined in accordance with Xxxxxx'x standard vacation policy, within thirty (30) days after the date of notice. Xxxxxx shall have no further or additional liability to Executive.
3. DISABILITY: A. If Executive is unable to perform his services by reason of illness, injury or incapacity (hereinafter "Disabled" or "Disability"), he will continue to receive his base salary and all benefits for a period of eight (8) weeks after the commencement of the Disability. If Executive is unable to perform his services by reason of his Disability for a period of more than eight (8) consecutive weeks, the Executive's annual base salary during the continued period of Disability shall be reduced by twenty-five (25%) percent. Executive's full compensation shall be reinstated upon his return to employment and the discharge of his full duties. Xxxxxx shall have the right to reduce the amount paid to the Executive pursuant to this paragraph "3" by an amount equal to any disability payments or benefits actually received by Executive under or pursuant to any disability program or supplemental disability insurance plan(s) provided by Xxxxxx at Xxxxxx'x expense.
B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Xxxxxx may terminate the employment of Executive at any time after Executive has been Disabled for a continuous period of more than 120 calendar days. Termination of the Executive after the said 120 calendar period shall not be deemed a Termination for Cause (as defined in paragraph "1" above") and shall entitle the Executive to receive the payments and benefits provided by Paragraph "1" upon Termination of Employment, except that, for purposes of such payments and benefits, the Severance Period shall be deemed to commence the date of the commencement of the Executive's Disability.
4. CONFIDENTIALITY: A. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees as follows:
(i) Xxxxxx expends a significant amount of funds annually on researching and developing solutions and proprietary techniques related to the products and services it offers or is seeking to offer, and has developed substantial confidential, proprietary, and trade secret information, and this confidential, proprietary, and trade secret information, if misused, disclosed, misappropriated or used by others, would be very injurious and result in irreparable harm to Xxxxxx.
(ii) Xxxxxx'x Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined) constitute valuable commercial assets of Xxxxxx and are not readily available to the general public or by any persons not employed by or otherwise associated in a position of trust with Xxxxxx. Xxxxxx keeps its Confidential Information confidential (other than to the extent filings are required for patents) by means of restrictions upon those to whom the information will become known prohibiting use or disclosure.
(iii) Executive's position with Xxxxxx will provide the Executive with access to or knowledge of Xxxxxx'x Confidential Information.
(iv) Xxxxxx'x Confidential Information has or will become known to Executive only as a result of his employment with Xxxxxx. To the extent that Executive was previously engaged, on his own or with others, in a business that provided the same or similar services as those provided by Xxxxxx, Executive further acknowledges that such prior business knowledge and experience, and any familiarity with entities that are actual or potential customers for the business, shall not permit or allow Executive to contend that Xxxxxx'x Confidential Information is not confidential or should not be protected from use or misappropriation.
B. In light of the foregoing, Executive understands, acknowledges, and agrees to the following terms and conditions regarding Confidential Information.
(i) All Confidential Information is the property of Xxxxxx, and Executive shall not, without the express written consent of Xxxxxx, directly or indirectly use, disseminate, disclose, or in any way reveal, either during Executive's employment or at any time thereafter, all or any part of the Confidential Information, other than to use such Confidential Information for the purposes authorized by Xxxxxx and only for the benefit of Xxxxxx.
(ii) Xxxxxx shall be the sole owner of, and Executive hereby assigns to Xxxxxx, any and all property rights to all Intellectual Property (as hereinafter defined) made, conceived, originated, devised, discovered, invented, or developed before, during, or after the term of Executive's employment with Xxxxxx, whether or not Executive was involved either alone or with others, if it was in whole or in part developed during the course of Executive's employment or by Executive's use of any property of Xxxxxx. This ownership provision does not apply to creations of the Executive which are made in the Executive's own time, without the use of any Xxxxxx resources, and which do not relate in any way to Xxxxxx'x business. Executive agrees to cooperate fully and assist Xxxxxx or its designee in the performance of any lawful acts that Xxxxxx at its discretion deems necessary, and to execute and deliver without charge any documents reasonably required by Xxxxxx to secure any patent, copyright, trademark and other protection for Intellectual Property and improvements thereon, and to assign to and vest in Hudson the entire interest therein in the United States and all foreign countries.
(iii) Upon request by Xxxxxx at any time, and upon termination from employment with Xxxxxx, whichever is sooner, Executive shall immediately deliver to Xxxxxx any and all information and property of Xxxxxx in whatever form it exists, including but not limited to all Confidential Information, and all copies thereof or materials containing or derived from Confidential Information.
C. As used in this agreement: "Confidential Information" means all information not publicly-available (but including information that is publicly available as a result of a breach by Executive of paragraphs "4" and "5") and not generally known or used by Xxxxxx'x competitors or in the industry, and which could be harmful to Xxxxxx if disclosed to persons outside of Xxxxxx and which includes, but is not limited to:
(i) Intellectual Property (as hereinafter defined;
(ii) Technical information, such as, but not limited to: Xxxxxx'x plant organization and designs; product formulation, manufacturing, performance and processing data; and research and development results and plans;
(iii) Product information, such as, but not limited to: non-public details of Xxxxxx'x products and services, including (but not limited to) its existing refrigerant, decontamination, reclamation and recovery products and services, as well as those being developed; specialized equipment and training; product plans, drawings and specifications; and performance capabilities, strengths and weaknesses;
(iv) Strategic information, such as, but not limited to: Xxxxxx'x material costs; supplier and vendor information; overhead costs; pricing; profit margins; banking and financing information; and market penetration initiatives and strategies;
(v) Organizational information, such as, but not limited to: Xxxxxx'x personnel and salary data; information concerning the utilization of facilities; merger, acquisition and expansion information; and equipment utilization information; Xxxxxx manuals, policies and procedures;
(vi) Marketing and sales information, such as, but not limited to: Xxxxxx'x licensing, marketing and sales techniques and data; customer lists; customer data, such as, but not limited to, their personnel, project, financial and account status, individual needs, historical purchases, contact information; product development and delivery schedules; market research and forecasts; and marketing and advertising plans, techniques and budgets; and
(vii) Advertising information, such as, but not limited to: Xxxxxx'x overall marketing policies; the specific advertising programs and strategies utilized by Xxxxxx; and the success or lack of success of those programs and strategies.
D. As used in this agreement, "Intellectual Property" means all information concerning the evaluation, design, engineering, construction, marketing, and sales of the products and services provided by Xxxxxx and which includes, but is not limited to: any and all patents, patents pendings, trademarks, copyrights, and any and all applications for same issued to and/or applied for by Xxxxxx; any and technological (including software), educational, operational, and financial innovations, discoveries, inventions, designs, and formulae; tests; performance data; processes or production methods; improvements to all such property; and all recorded material defining, describing, illustrating, or documenting in any fashion, all such property, whether written or not and whether stored in plain, code or other form; without regard to whether such property is patentable, copyrightable, or subject to trade/service xxxx protection, and if patentable, copyrightable, or subject to trade/service xxxx protection, without regard to whether a patent, copyright, or trademark or service xxxx has been sought or obtained.
A. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees as follows: Xxxxxx compensates its Executives, among other things, to develop and to pursue, on Xxxxxx'x behalf, good relationships and goodwill with all customers and potential customers, whether developed by Executive or others within the Xxxxxx organization; Xxxxxx'x Confidential Information, if used in competition with Xxxxxx, or disclosed to a competitor of Xxxxxx, would be very injurious to Xxxxxx, resulting in irreparable harm to Xxxxxx; by virtue of his position with Xxxxxx, Executive will be exposed to, acquire and develop knowledge of Confidential Information that Xxxxxx uses throughout the country and elsewhere in the world, not just in the area of Executive's employment, in particular Confidential Information related to Xxxxxx'x customers, operations, and its suppliers; Executive is able to be gainfully employed by other employers, within a reasonable distance of Executive's place of employment with Xxxxxx, in a variety of other industries and businesses that are engaged in businesses that do not involve and are not competitive with any part of Xxxxxx'x business.
B. In light of the foregoing, Executive agrees that, while Executive is employed by Xxxxxx, and continuing until the expiration of the Covenant Period (as hereinafter defined):
(i) Executive shall not compete with Xxxxxx, directly or indirectly, whether for Executive's own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any other person, persons, company, partnership, corporation or business entity, whether for profit or not-for-profit, by (a) being employed by, participating in, or otherwise being materially connected in the conduct of any business activity that involves providing services that are like or similar to, or competitive with, any one or more of the products or services provided by Xxxxxx, within the Restricted Territory (as hereinafter defined), or (b) calling upon, contacting, diverting, soliciting, or doing business for or with any "Client" of Xxxxxx (as defined below) for the purpose of offering or providing any business or service that involves services that are competitive with or would replace or be a substitute for any one or more of the products and services provided by Xxxxxx.
(ii) Executive shall not directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx, (a) induce, solicit, entice, or encourage any officer, director, employee or other individual to leave his or her employment with Xxxxxx, (b) induce, solicit, entice, or encourage any officer, director, employee or other individual to compete in any way with Xxxxxx, or to violate the terms of any employment, non-competition, confidentiality or similar agreement with Xxxxxx; or (c) employ, offer to employ, contract with, offer to contract with, or do business with any officer, director, employee or other individual who is employed by Xxxxxx.
C. For purposes of this paragraph "5", the Covenant period shall be eighteen (18) months after the Executive's last day of the employment with Xxxxxx, regardless of the reason underlying the termination of Executive's employment.
D. Executive acknowledges that many of Xxxxxx'x services are remedial in nature and, as such, its customers may utilize Xxxxxx'x services on an infrequent basis over an extended period of time, or following a protracted sales cycle. Executive also acknowledges that because of his position, he will likely have knowledge of all customers of Xxxxxx through access to the Confidential Information, whether or not located within the Restricted Territory (as hereinafter defined). Accordingly, for purposes of this paragraph "5", the term "Client" shall mean any (a) potential customer of Xxxxxx upon whom Executive called, or with whom Executive had contact, during the last eighteen (18) months of Executive's employment, (b) any potential customer as to whom Executive assisted in making an offer to provide services or as to whom Executive was involved in regard to planning, marketing, conducting, or overseeing the offer of Business Services to the potential customer, (c) any potential customer whose identity Executive learned during the last eighteen (18) months of Executive's employment with Xxxxxx, or learned from Confidential Information at any time, or (d) any customer for whom Xxxxxx has provided services or products to at any time during the thirty six (36) months preceding the last day of the Executive's employment with Xxxxxx and whose identity as a Xxxxxx customer Executive learned from Confidential Information at any time.
E. The Executive acknowledges that the nature of Xxxxxx'x business is such that it provides its services to customers over a large geographic area, and that Xxxxxx services customers within a geographical radius in excess of three hundred (300) miles from each of Xxxxxx'x locations. Accordingly, the "Restricted Territory" is defined as a three (300) mile radius of each of the Xxxxxx'x places of business located in the following cities: Pearl River, New York; Champaign, Illinois; Charlotte, North Carolina; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Seattle, Washington; Dallas, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona.
F. In order to assure Xxxxxx of the full eighteen (18) months of the covenant period within which to protect its goodwill and to prevent Executive from unfairly benefiting by violations of this paragraph "5", the provisions and requirements of this paragraph "5" shall be extended for a period of time beyond the Covenant Period equal in length to the total length of time during which Executive is in violation of any one or more provisions of this Section.
G. In the event it is determined by a Court or other authority of competent jurisdiction that any provision, or portion of a provision, of this paragraph "5" is not enforceable under the law governing this Agreement, the unenforceable provision or portion thereof may be stricken, and the remainder of the provision and of this paragraph "5" shall be valid and fully enforceable, in all respects. Further, if any provision of this Agreement is found to be overbroad or unenforceable, the court or other authority with competent jurisdiction is expressly authorized to conform the provision to the extent necessary to remedy any deficiency and render it valid and enforceable. No portion of this Agreement may be amended except in a form of writing signed by both parties or their representatives.
H. In addition to his continued employment and the provisions of paragraphs "1", "2" and "3" above, Xxxxxx has made a lump sum cash payment to Executive in the amount of three thousand, five hundred ($3,500.00) dollars, and has delivered to Executive 7,400 stock options issued under the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan, which options shall become exerciseable and vest immediately upon issuance and shall remain exerciseable following the Termination of Employment until (i) one year after the expiration of the Severance Period, (ii) one year after termination of Severance Benefits pursuant to paragraph "6" below, or (iii) expiration of the original term of the stock option, whichever first occurs. Executive hereby acknowledges receipt of that lump sum payment and of the stock options, and specifically acknowledges and agrees that the payment and the options constitute good, valuable and sufficient consideration for the covenants and restrictions contained in this paragraph "5".
6. REMEDIES:
A. In the event that Executive breaches any term or provision of paragraphs "4" or "5" of this Agreement, Xxxxxx shall be immediately, permanently and irreparably damaged and shall be entitled, in addition to, and without limiting Xxxxxx'x right to, any and all other legal and equitable remedies and damages, (i) to a temporary restraining order ex parte, to a preliminary injunction, and to a permanent injunction, to restrain Executive's actions or the actions of others acting on Executive's behalf, (ii) to terminate all future Severance Benefits through the remainder of the Severance Period, and (iii) to recover from the Executive all Severance Benefits actually paid to the Executive, including any costs or expenses actually incurred by Xxxxxx in providing such Severance Benefits. Executive agrees that Executive will not be damaged by enforcement of this covenant as Executive can obtain many other types of gainful employment without violating the provisions of paragraphs "4" or "5", so that no bond shall be required, and if the Court requires a bond to be posted, it shall not exceed $500.00.
B. All of Executive's covenants and obligations under paragraphs "4" and "5" of this Agreement shall survive, and shall remain enforceable, for so long as Executive is employed and after termination of employment for any reason, and shall survive despite future promotions, raises, changes in position or compensation, demotions, and the execution of new agreements with Xxxxxx, and shall inure to the benefit of Xxxxxx'x successors and assigns, unless Xxxxxx executes in writing an agreement expressly terminating the covenants of paragraphs "4" and "5".
X. Xxxxxx and Executive shall each bear and be responsible for their own attorneys' fees, expenses and disbursements incurred in any litigation brought by either party to enforce or interpret any provision contained in paragraphs "4" or "5" of this Agreement.
7. NOTICES: All notices required or permitted to be given under this agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Executive at his residence, and to Xxxxxx at its principal office located at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, attention Chief Executive Officer, or at such other address as any party specifies by giving proper notice.
8. SUCCESSORS: This agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Exective and his estate. Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder shall be assignable by the Employee.
This Agreement shall be freely assignable by Xxxxxx to, and shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, any successor corporation or affiliate of a successor corporation, and all references in this agreement to Xxxxxx shall include its subsidiaries and affiliates and any successors, affiliates of successors or assigns of Xxxxxx. As used herein, the term "successor" shall mean any person, firm, corporation or business entity or affiliate therof which at any time, whether by merger, purchase or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or the business of Xxxxxx, including any entity that shall be the surviving corporation in a merger with Xxxxxx.
9. EMPLOYMENT AT WILL; CONSEQUENCES OF TERMINATION: Nothing herein shall be deemed to create an agreement for employment of Executive for any specified term or period of time. Xxxxxx expressly agrees that at any time the Executive may resign or otherwise terminate his or her employment with Xxxxxx, for any reason or for no reason, subject to the provisions contained herein. Likewise, the Executive expressly agrees that at any time Xxxxxx may terminate the employment of the Executive for any reason or for no reason, subject to the provisions contained herein.
10. INDEMNIFICATION: In the event that any litigation shall be brought to enforce or interpret any provision contained in paragraphs "1", "2" or "3" of this Agreement, then, provided that the Executive prevails to any extent, Xxxxxx shall reimburse or indemnify the Executive for the Executive's reasonable attorneys' fees, expenses and disbursements incurred in such litigation, including the costs of enforcement.
11. CONTROLLING LAW: This Agreement and all other issues regarding the employment of the Employee shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflicts of law principles.
12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT: This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding of the parties regarding the employment of the Executive, and all prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, or understanding are expressly superseded by, and do not survive this Agreement. Executive has not relied upon any inducement, promise, representation, or assurance, other than those expressly set out herein. Except as expressly permitted herein, this Agreement may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by all parties hereto.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties have executed this agreement as of the date written above.
Xxxxxx Technologies, Inc. | Xxxxxx Technologies of Tennessee dba Xxxxxx Technologies Company |
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx | |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx |