EXHIBIT 10.4
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated as of February 10, 1998, by
and between Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx (the "Executive") and Xxxxxxxxxx Tank Lines, Inc.,
an Illinois corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the Executive is currently an employee of the Company;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, MTL Inc. and Sombrero Acquisition Corp. are entering into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), dated as of the date
hereof; and
WHEREAS, MTL Inc. and Sombrero Acquisition Corp. intend that the
Company continue the employment of the Executive pursuant to the terms and
conditions hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company hereby employs the Executive, and the
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Executive hereby accepts employment by the Company, upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth. The Executive's employment hereunder shall
commence, and shall be effective only upon, the occurrence of the "Effective
Time" of the Merger Agreement (the "Effective Date").
2. Term. Subject to the provisions for earlier termination as herein
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provided, the employment of the Executive hereunder will be for the period
commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of such
date. On the first anniversary of the Effective Date, and on each anniversary
thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended by an
additional one year unless, no later than 90 days prior to any such renewal
date, either the Company or the Executive gives written notice to the other that
the term will not be extended, in which case the Executive's employment
hereunder shall terminate upon the expiration of the then-current term. The
period of the Executive's employment under this Agreement, as it may be
terminated or extended from time to time as provided herein, is referred to
hereafter as the "Employment Period."
3. Duties and Responsibilities. The Executive will be employed by
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the Company in the same capacity as such Executive is currently employed by the
Company. The Executive will faithfully perform the duties and responsibilities
of such office, as they may be assigned from time to time by the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board")
or the Board's designee. The Executive shall devote full-time attention and
energy during all business hours during the Employment Period (subject to sick
leave and vacation time taken in accordance with Company policy) to the business
of the Company, and at all times the Executive shall use his best efforts to
serve and advance the business of the Company. During the Employment Period, the
Executive will not be engaged in any other business activity which, in the
reasonable judgment of the Board or its designee, conflicts with the duties of
the Executive hereunder, whether or not such activity is pursued for gain,
profit or other pecuniary advantage, except for such passive investments
permitted under Section 7(a)(i) hereof.
4. Compensation and Benefits.
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(a) Base Salary. The Company will pay to the Executive an annual base
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salary of not less than $192,238.80, payable in accordance with the Company's
normal payroll policy. The Executive's base salary shall be reviewed annually
by the Board and shall be subject to increase at the option and sole discretion
of the Board.
(b) Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive, at the sole
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discretion of the Board, an annual cash bonus based on pre-determined
performance standards established pursuant to the Company's Goal-Oriented
Compensation Achievement Plan on the date hereof, or such other annual bonus
plan as may be in effect from time to time. The Executive shall have a target
bonus of 42% of his base salary under such plan. The bonus target under such
plan for 1998 shall be based on the annual bonus targets that have been set
prior to the Effective Date hereof, but adjusted by the Compensation Committee
of the Board (in consultation with management) to reflect the effect on the
Company of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. In addition,
the Company will reserve an additional bonus amount equal to 18% of base salary,
payable in whole or in part based on guidelines established and evaluated by the
Compensation Committee of the Board (in consultation with management) relating
to extraordinary performance by the Company and Executive.
(c) Benefits. In addition to the salary and cash bonus referred to
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above, the Executive shall be entitled during the Employment Period to
participate in such employee benefit plans or programs of the Company, and shall
be entitled to such other fringe benefits, as are from time to time made
available by the Company generally to employees of the Executive's position,
tenure, salary, and other qualifications, on terms and conditions at least as
favorable as those provided to such similarly situated employees. The employee
benefits plans available to the Executive during the Employment Period shall be
comparable, in the aggregate, to those made available to the Executive by the
Company immediately prior to the Effective Date. The Executive acknowledges and
agrees that the Company does not guarantee the adoption of any particular
employee benefit plan or program or other fringe benefit during the Employment
Period, and participation by the Executive in any such plan or program shall be
subject to the rules and regulations applicable thereto.
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(d) Stock Options. Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated
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under the Merger Agreement, the Executive shall be granted options to purchase
25,500 shares of common stock of the Company under the terms of the Option Plan
described in Attachment A hereto (the "New Options"). In addition, the Executive
shall be eligible for such other awards, if any, under the Option Plan or any
other stock option or other equity-based incentive plan as shall be granted to
the Executive from time to time by the Board or its designee, in its sole
discretion.
(e) Expenses. The Company will reimburse the Executive, in accordance
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with the practices in effect from time to time for other officers or staff
personnel of the Company, for all reasonable and necessary business expenses
incurred by the Executive for or on behalf of the Company in the performance of
the Executive's duties hereunder, upon presentation by the Executive to the
Company of appropriate vouchers or documentation.
5. Termination. The Company reserves the right to terminate the
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Executive's employment hereunder at any time with or without Cause (as defined
herein), subject to the provisions of section 6(d) hereof. In addition, the
Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company under the
following circumstances:
(a) Death. The Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate upon
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his death.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to
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physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent from his duties
on a full-time basis for three consecutive months or for a period in excess of
six months within any twelve month period (whether or not consecutive), and
within thirty days after written notice of termination is given (which may occur
before or after the end of such absence period) shall not have returned to the
performance of his duties hereunder on a full-time basis, the Company may
terminate the Executive's employment hereunder on the basis of disability.
(c) For Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
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hereunder for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall have
"Cause" to terminate the Executive's employment hereunder if such termination
shall be the result of:
(i) the willful failure by the Executive to substantially perform
his duties hereunder (which shall be deemed to include, without limitation,
habitual absenteeism or dereliction of duty), which failure continues
following written notice to the Executive by the Company;
(ii) disobeying in a material respect any written and legally
appropriate directives of the Board that are specific in nature;
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(iii) a material breach of the Executive's fiduciary duty to the
Company or fraud, willful misconduct or material dishonesty in connection
with the Executive's performance hereunder;
(iv) the material breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section
7 hereof; or
(v) indictment or conviction for, or plea of guilty or nolo
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contendere to a charge of commission of a felony.
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Any termination of the Executive's employment for Cause by the Company shall be
communicated by a written notice of termination, indicating the specific
termination provision in the Agreement relied upon and setting forth the facts
that provide the basis for the Executive's termination. Such notice must be
given at least thirty days prior to termination, and the Executive shall have
the opportunity during such notification period to cure or correct any failure
or breach upon which the Executive's termination is based.
(d) Good Reason. The Executive may terminate his employment
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hereunder for "Good Reason." For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall
have "Good Reason" to terminate his employment if such termination shall be the
result of:
(i) a material diminution by the Company in the Executive's duties
and responsibilities as contemplated by Section 3 hereof;
(ii) a material breach by the Company of its compensation and benefit
obligations under Section 4 hereof; or
(iii) an involuntary relocation by more than 50 miles of the
Executive's principal place of business as of the Effective Date.
Any termination of the Executive's employment for Good Reason by the Executive
shall be communicated by a written notice of termination, indicating the
specific termination provision in the Agreement relied upon and setting forth
the facts that provide the basis for the Executive's termination. Such notice
must be given at least thirty days prior to termination, and the Company shall
have the opportunity during such notification period to cure or correct any
failure or breach upon which the Executive's termination is based.
6. Compensation Upon Termination.
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(a) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by his death,
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the Company shall pay to the Executive's legal representative (in accordance
with Section 18 hereof) (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of death and
for sixty days thereafter and (ii) a pro rata annual bonus as calculated in
accordance with Section 6(f) hereof. Except as provided in Section 6(g) hereof,
the Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive hereunder.
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(b) Disability. During any period that the Executive fails to perform
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his duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to disability as described
in Section 5(b) above, the Executive shall continue to receive his full salary
at the rate then in effect for such period until his employment is terminated
pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, provided that payments so made to the
Executive during the disability period shall be reduced by the sum of the
amounts, if any, paid to the Executive at or prior to the time of any such
payment under any disability benefit plans of the Company or under the Social
Security disability insurance program. The Executive shall also receive a pro
rata annual bonus for the year of termination as calculated in accordance with
Section 6(f) hereof.
(c) For Cause; Voluntary Termination, Etc. If the Executive's
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employment shall be terminated (i) by the Company for Cause, (ii) by the
Executive other than for Good Reason or (iii) by either party by providing
written notice of termination pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, the
Company shall pay the Executive his base salary through the final date of
employment and, except as provided in Section 6(g) hereof, the Company shall
have no further obligation to the Executive hereunder.
(d) Without Cause; Good Reason. In the event of termination of the
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Executive's employment hereunder by the Company without Cause (other than upon
death or disability) or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall be
entitled to the following severance pay and benefits:
(i) severance payments in the form of continuation of the
Executive's base salary as in effect immediately prior to such termination
over the then-remaining current term hereof (the "Severance Period");
(ii) continuation during the Severance Period of coverage under the
group medical benefits plan in which the Executive is participating at the
time of termination; provided, however, that the Company's obligation to
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provide such coverage shall be terminated if the Executive obtains
comparable substitute coverage from another employer at any time during the
Severance Period; and
(iii) a pro rata bonus as calculated in accordance with Section 6(f)
hereof.
(e) Sole Remedy. The parties agree that the foregoing shall
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constitute the Executive's sole and exclusive rights and remedies by reason of
termination pursuant to this Section 6, and that with respect to Section 6(d)
above, such amounts shall constitute an agreement between the parties of
liquidated damages for the Executive by reason of any such termination. It is
further understood that neither party hereto shall be entitled to punitive,
consequential or special damages with respect to any claim hereunder, and each
party waives all such rights and remedies if any.
(f) Pro Rata Bonus. If the Executive's employment is terminated under
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Section 5 hereof as a result of death, disability, by the Company without Cause
or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall receive a pro rata
portion of the
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annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs (based on the period
of service prior to such termination), with such amount calculated and paid
following the completion of the year based on the Company's performance
applicable under the terms of the bonus plan, to be applied on a basis
consistent with the methodology used for other plan participants.
(g) Other Benefits. The benefits payable to the Executive under this
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Agreement are not in lieu of any benefits payable under any employee benefit
plan, program or arrangement of the Company, and upon termination the Executive
will receive such benefits or payments, if any, as he may be entitled to receive
pursuant to the terms of such plans, programs and arrangements.
7. Restrictive Covenants.
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(a) Covenant Not to Compete.
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(i) During the Employment Period and until (A) the expiration of the
then-current remaining term of this Agreement, in the event the Executive
is terminated by the Company for Cause or the Executive voluntarily resigns
other than for Good Reason or (B) the expiration of the Severance Period,
if the Executive is terminated by the Company without Cause or resigns for
Good Reason (the "Restricted Period"), the Executive will not, within any
geographical area in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
affiliates or owner-operators conducts business, directly or indirectly
own, manage, operate, control, be employed by or participate in the
ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any
manner with, any entity that engages in the bulk transportation services
business or any related service in the bulk transportation services
industry in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is engaged on the
date of the Executive's termination of employment (the "BTS Business"),
except that the Executive shall be allowed to invest his assets in the
securities of public companies engaged in the BTS Business if such holdings
are passive investments which do not involve the Executive's holding with
respect to any such entity the position of officer, director, employee,
consultant or general partner, or owning directly or indirectly two percent
(2%) or more of the stock, whether voting or not, of any such entity, and
which do not involve the Executive becoming a secured or unsecured creditor
of any such entity.
(ii) At its sole option, the Company may extend by a period of up to
one year the Restricted Period applicable under Sections 7(a)(i) and (iii)
hereof by providing to the Executive the severance payments and benefits
referred to in Section 6(d)(i)-(ii) hereof for the duration of any such
extended period. The Company shall notify the Executive if it wishes to
exercise this option not later than 90 days prior to the expiration of the
then-current Restricted Period.
(iii) During the Restricted Period, the Executive agrees to refrain
from interfering with the employment relationship between the Company, its
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subsidiaries and its affiliates and their respective employees, members of
the Company's "Affiliate Program" (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or
other independent owner/operators by soliciting any of such individuals to
participate in independent business ventures, and the Executive agrees to
refrain from soliciting business from any client or prospective client of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for the Executive's
benefit or for any entity in which the Executive has an interest or is
employed.
(iv) In the event of a knowing, willful and material breach of the
restrictive covenants set forth in this Section 7(a), the Company shall
have the right, in its sole discretion, and in addition to its right of
enforcement under Section 8 hereof and any other right of enforcement or
recovery available to the Company at law or equity or under this Agreement,
to (a) suspend or cancel the Executive's right to exercise the New Options
(whether or not then otherwise exercisable), (b) suspend or cancel the
Executive's pending right to receive an issuance of shares in settlement of
any New Option exercise, and/or (c) either (1) cancel the shares issued
upon exercise of the New Options (with repayment to the Executive of the
full purchase price paid for such shares) or (2) require the Executive to
pay to the Company in cash an amount equal to the gain realized by the
Executive upon exercise of any New Option; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not apply to any New Options exercised more than six months
prior to the date of termination of employment. The Company shall provide
at least five days advance notice and opportunity to cure before exercising
this right.
(b) Intellectual Property. During the Employment Period, the
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Executive will disclose to the Company all ideas, inventions, creations,
business plans and other intellectual property developed by the Executive during
such period which relate directly or indirectly to the BTS Business, including,
without limitation, any process, operation, product or improvement which may be
patentable or copyrightable. The Executive agrees that such will be the property
of the Company and that the Executive will, at the Company's request and cost,
do whatever is necessary to secure the rights thereto by patent, copyright or
otherwise to the Company. The Executive shall be prohibited from making use of
or implementing any such ideas, inventions or business plans in connection with
his employment with a business that is considered a competitor under Section
7(a)(i) hereof.
(c) Confidentiality. During the Employment Period and at all times
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thereafter, the Executive agrees that he will not divulge to anyone (other than
the Company or any persons employed or designated by the Company) any knowledge
or information of any type whatsoever of a confidential nature relating to the
business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including,
without limitation, all types of trade secrets (unless readily ascertainable
from public or published information or trade sources), product design and
customer and supplier information. The Executive further agrees not to disclose,
publish or make use of any such knowledge or information for personal purposes
or for the benefit of any person, firm, corporation or other entity (other
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than the Company or any persons employed or designated by the Company) without
the prior written consent of the Company.
(d) Remedy for Breach. In addition to any remedies available to the
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Company at law or under this Agreement, the Executive hereby consents and agrees
that the Company shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in
any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any continuation of any violation
of the provisions of this Section 7 and the Executive hereby consents that such
restraining order or injunction may be granted.
8. Enforcement. It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto
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that the provisions of this Agreement be enforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public
policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought.
Accordingly, to the extent that a restriction contained in this Agreement is
more restrictive than permitted by the laws of any jurisdiction where this
Agreement may be subject to review and interpretation, the terms of such
restriction, for the purpose only of the operation of such restriction in such
jurisdiction, will be the maximum restriction allowed by the laws of such
jurisdiction and such restriction will be deemed to have been revised
accordingly herein.
9. Survival. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to
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the contrary, the provisions of Sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof will survive the
expiration or other termination of this Agreement until, by their terms, such
provisions are no longer operative.
10. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon
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consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and prior
thereto shall be of no force and effect. If the Merger Agreement shall be
terminated in accordance with its terms, this Agreement shall automatically be
deemed to have been terminated and shall thereafter be of no force or effect.
11. Notices. Notices and other communications hereunder will be in
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writing and will be delivered personally or sent by air courier or first class
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
if to the Executive: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
0000 X. Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
and if to the Company: Xxxxxxxxxx Tank Lines, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
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with a copy to: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
c/o Apollo Management, L.P.
1301 Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed to have been given on the
date of delivery, if personally delivered; on the business day after the date
when sent, if sent by air courier; and on the third business day after the date
when sent, if sent by mail, in each case addressed to such party as provided in
this Section 11 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such
party.
12. Arbitration. Except as specifically provided in Section 8 hereof,
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any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement
shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a single
arbitrator in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association
then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court
having jurisdiction. The attorney's fees and expenses of the prevailing party
shall be paid by the non-prevailing party, based on a determination made by the
arbitrator for this purpose as to which party is the prevailing party hereunder.
Arbitrators will be selected from the American Arbitration Association's panel
of arbitrators in the New York region and the location of the arbitration
proceeding shall be in Hillsborough County, Florida.
13. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed
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and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Florida, without
reference to conflict of law principles.
14. Waiver of Breach. The waiver by either party of a breach of any
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provision of this Agreement by the other party must be in writing and will not
operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by such other
party.
15. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement contains the entire
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agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements or understandings among the parties with respect
thereof. This Agreement may be amended only by an agreement in writing signed by
the parties hereto.
16. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are
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for reference purposes only and will not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
17. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited
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or unenforceable in any jurisdiction will, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction will not invalidate or render unenforceable
such provision in any other jurisdiction.
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18. Assignment; Successors. This Agreement is personal in its nature
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and the parties hereto shall not, without the consent of the other, assign or
transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder; provided, that
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(i) the provisions hereof will inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon,
each successor of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, transfer of all
or substantially all of its assets or otherwise and (ii) all of the Executive's
rights to compensation following his death shall inure to the benefit of his
heirs, estate, personal representatives or designees or other legal
representatives as the case may be.
19. Shareholders Agreement. The parties hereto shall use reasonable
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efforts to enter into a Shareholders Agreement effective as of the Effective
Date hereof substantially in accordance with the terms attached hereto as
Attachment B.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.
XXXXXXXXXX TANK LINES, INC.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxx, Xx.
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Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxx, Xx.
Vice President
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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