AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.22
AMENDED
AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement")
is
dated as of [________], 2008 and is entered into between Tailwind Financial
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx (the "Employee").
WHEREAS,
Asset Alliance Corporation, a Delaware Corporation ("AAC")
and
the Employee are party to that certain Employment Agreement dated as of October
31, 2000, as amended from time to time (the "Prior
Agreement");
WHEREAS,
the Company is party to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger
Agreement"),
dated
January 8, 2008, by and among the Company, Buyer Acquisition Corporation,
a
Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and AAC;
and
WHEREAS,
as a condition to the Company consummating the transactions contemplated
by the
Merger Agreement, the Employee and AAC have agreed to terminate the Prior
Agreement and the Employee has agreed to enter into this Agreement, all
effective upon and subject to the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the Agreement (the date of such consummation, the "Effective
Date").
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and
for
good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged,
the
parties, intending to be legally bound, agree, effective as of the Effective
Date, as follows:
1.
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Employment
and Term.
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(a)
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The
Employee shall serve on the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board")
and as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and
in such
other executive managerial position or positions with the Company
or its
subsidiaries or affiliates as shall hereafter be designated by
the Board,
to perform such managerial duties consistent with the usual duties
of an
officer of such status. Such employment shall be on the terms and
conditions set forth herein. The Employee agrees to devote substantially
all of the Employee's business time to the faithful and diligent
performance of the duties provided
herein.
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(b)
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Unless
earlier terminated in accordance with Section 3 hereof, the term
of the
Employee's employment by the Company (the "Term")
shall commence as of the Effective Date and continue for a period
of three
(3) years from such date (the "Initial
Employment Period"),
which Initial Employment Period shall be automatically extended
for an
additional one (1) year period on each anniversary of the Effective
Date
(such that the remaining term
as of each anniversary shall be three (3) years) unless either
the
Employee or the Company gives sixty (60) days notice that the Term
shall
not be extended, subject to the conditions of termination pursuant
to
Section 3 hereof.
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1
2.
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Compensation.
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(a)
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Salary.
The
Company shall compensate the Employee with a base salary of $600,000
per
annum, commencing
on the Effective Date and payable in accordance with the normal
payroll
practices of the Company. The base salary shall be reviewed annually
and
may be increased (but shall not be decreased) by the Board in its
sole
discretion.
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(b)
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Guaranteed
Annual Bonus. The
Company shall pay the Employee for each calendar year during the
Term a
guaranteed annual bonus of $200,000, payable in accordance with
normal
payroll practices of the Company but in no event later than the
15th day
of the third month following
the year for
which such bonus is paid.
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(c)
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Incentive
Bonus. The
Company shall pay Employee for each calendar year during the Term
an
incentive bonus determined by reference to the Company's consolidated
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization
("EBITDA")
before executive incentive and other executive discretionary compensation,
in each case including the results of AAC and its subsidiaries
from not
later than January 1, 2008, but that for the purposes of calculating
EBITDA, earnings should exclude gain/loss associated with certain
items
such as impairment or valuation allowance for long-lived assets
and
gain/loss on separation from affiliates (as so adjusted, "Adjusted
EBITDA").
The incentive bonus (the "Incentive
Bonus")
that the Employee shall receive shall be 4.44% of Adjusted EBITDA,
provided that no Incentive Bonus shall be payable for a particular
year
unless the Company's Adjusted EBITDA is greater than twelve million
dollars ($12,000,000). Seventy-five percent (75%) of the Incentive
Bonus
shall be paid no later than the 30th day after the year for which
such
Incentive Bonus was earned, and the remainder of the Incentive
Bonus shall
be paid no later than the 15th day of the third month following
the end of
the year for which such Incentive Bonus was
earned.
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(d)
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Discretionary
Bonus. Employee
may be eligible to receive a discretionary annual bonus in such
amount and
based on special achievement, in each case as determined by the
Board in
its sole discretion.
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(e)
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Option
Plan. Employee
shall be eligible to participate in the Company's employee option
pool
(the "Employee
Option Pool")
and on the Effective Date shall be granted an option to purchase
800,000
shares of the Company's common stock with an exercise price equal
to the
closing price of the Company's common stock on the Effective Date.
Unless
otherwise provided in applicable agreement, payment of the exercise
price
and any other payment required may be made in on a net-settlement
basis
with the Company withholding the amount of common stock sufficient
to
cover the exercise price and tax withholding obligation. Such options
will
vest and become exercisable on the Effective Date.
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(f)
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Benefits.
The
Employee shall be entitled to participate in any Company sponsored
401(k)
plan and any other retirement plan, deferred compensation plan
and any
other executive compensation plan, and any Company sponsored group
health,
medical, hospitalization, disability, accident and life insurance
plans,
all on such terms as the Board shall determine in establishing
such
benefit programs as promptly as is reasonably practicable after
the
Effective Date, and such other employee benefits as the Board may
hereafter make available to the executives of the Company, provided
that
in no event shall such benefits be less favorable in the aggregate
than
those in effect immediately before the Effective Date unless otherwise
agreed to by the Employee in writing. The Company agrees to pay
to the
Employee an amount equal to the premiums on (i) the personal life
insurance policy for the Employee providing death benefits for
the
Employee's designated beneficiaries and (ii) the personal disability
policy for the benefit of the Employee, each as in effect at the
time of
termination.
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(g)
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Expenses.
The
Company shall pay or reimburse the Employee for all expenses normally
reimbursed by the Company and reasonably incurred by the Employee
in
furtherance of the Employee's duties hereunder, including, without
limitation, expenses for a Company leased automobile, gas, insurance,
parking, and related expenses consistent with the Company's automobile
policies as adopted by the Board, and for traveling, meals, hotel
accommodations , car service and driver, and the like upon submission
by
the Employee of vouchers or an itemized list thereof prepared in
compliance with such rules relating thereto as the Board may, from
time to
time, adopt and as may be required in order to permit such payments
as
proper deductions to the Company under the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"),
and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto now or hereafter
in
effect; provided,
however,
that to the extent required to comply with the provisions of Section
409A
of the Code, no reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Employee
during
any taxable year shall be made after the last day of the following
taxable
year, and the right to reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation
or exchange for another benefit.
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(h)
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Vacations.
During
each year of employment, the Employee shall be entitled to paid
vacations
and personal days for the greater of (A) a minimum of four (4)
weeks, or
(B) such period as may be provided from time to time in the Company's
vacation policy; provided, however, that any unused vacation at
the end of
the year may be carried over to following years so long as no more
than
eight (8) weeks of unused vacation may be carried over to a following
year.
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(i)
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Continuation
of Life Insurance Policy. The
Company shall continue that certain life insurance policy on the
Employee's life for $10 million purchased by the Company (the
"Life
Insurance Policy").
The Company shall continue to be the beneficiary of the Life Insurance
Policy, and shall pay the premiums due on such policy during the
Term. Any
dividends on the Life Insurance Policy prior to its maturity or
the death
of the Employee shall inure to the benefit of the Company.
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3
In
the
event that the Employee's death occurs during the Term, subject to applicable
law, including but not limited to the requirements of any stock exchange
on
which the Company is listed, the Company shall use the proceeds of the Life
Insurance Policy as follows: (1) to purchase, and the estate of the Employee
shall be obligated to sell, shares of capital stock of the Company then held
by
the Employee's estate (the "Shares"),
at a
price per Share equal to the average of the closing prices for the Company's
common stock for the 20 trading days ending immediately prior to the date
of the
Employee's death, for an amount of Shares equal to the lesser of (x) all
of such
Shares and (y) the quotient obtained by dividing $8 million by such average
price; and (2) if less than $8 million is used by the Company to repurchase
Shares, the excess of $8 million in proceeds over the amount used to repurchase
Shares shall be paid to the Employee's estate.
Within
sixty (60) days after termination of this Agreement, the Xxxxxx Xxxxx Insurance
Trust of 1996 or its designee, may, at its option, purchase the Life Insurance
Policy for a price not to exceed the cash surrender value and unearned premiums
as of the date of the termination of this Agreement, less any indebtedness
thereon; provided,
however,
that if
the Life Insurance Policy is a term policy, the price shall be the unearned
portion of the premium paid. The Company shall not cause or permit the Life
Insurance Policy to lapse except upon termination of this Agreement and
following sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Employee.
3.
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Termination.
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(a)
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This
Agreement may be terminated at any time by the Company with or
without
Cause, upon Permanent Disability, by the Employee for Good Reason
or by
the Employee for any other reason (with thirty (30) days notice),
and
shall terminate upon death.
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(b)
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In
the event that the Employee's employment with the Company is terminated
by
the Company without Cause or is terminated by the Employee for
Good
Reason, then during the period from the effective date of termination
through the date on which the then current term of this Agreement
was to
expire, the Employee shall, in accordance with the Company’s normal
payroll practices, continue to receive the full amount of the Employee's
then current base salary plus all other benefits to which the Employee
is
entitled to receive pursuant to Section 2 hereof and otherwise
(including,
without limitation, the continued vesting and exercisability during
such
period of all stock options held by the Employee) and in a single
lump sum
within five (5) days after the date of the Employee's employment
is
terminated three (3) times the average of the Incentive Bonus paid
or
payable to the Employee in the last two (2) years; provided, however,
that
if such termination is the result of a Change of Control, then
all
unvested options or restricted shares shall vest immediately and
(as
applicable) become exercisable upon the date the Employee's employment
is
terminated and remain exercisable for a period of not less than
ninety
(90) days following termination (but not beyond their expiration
date),
and the full amount which would be payable to the Employee under
this
subparagraph (b) during the foregoing period through the end of
the
then-current term of this Agreement will be paid to the Employee
in a
single lump sum within five (5) days after the date the Employee's
employment is terminated
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(c)
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For
purposes of this Agreement, termination of employment means the
Employee
has incurred a "separation from service" within the meaning of
Section
409A of the Code and applicable guidance issued
thereunder.
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(d)
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In
the event the Employee's employment with the Company is terminated
upon
the Employee's death or Permanent Disability, the Employee or the
Employee's legal representative shall continue to receive the Employee's
then current base salary for a two (2) year period and all stock
options
held by Employee shall, to the extent vested, continue to be exercisable
during such period.
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(e)
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In
the event the Employee's employment with the Company is terminated
by the
Company for Cause, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the
Employee
any compensation or benefits after the date of termination, any
unvested
stock options held by the Employee will expire immediately, and
any vested
stock options will remain exercisable for a period of ninety (90)
days
following termination (but not beyond their expiration
date).
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(f)
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For
purposes hereof, "Cause"
shall mean any of the following: (i) the continued, intentional
failure,
neglect or refusal of the Employee to substantially fulfill the
Employee's
material duties as an employee after ninety (90) days' notice of
breach
has been provided by the Company; (ii) a material breach of any
fiduciary
duty or other material dishonesty by the Employee with respect
to the
Company or any affiliate thereof resulting in actual material harm
to the
Company or such affiliate; or (iii) the conviction of the Employee
for a
felony.
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(g)
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For
purposes hereof, "Permanent
Disability"
shall mean the total incapacitation of the Employee so as to preclude
performance of the duties of the Employee's employment hereunder
for an
aggregate period of six (6) months in any twelve (12) month
period.
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(h)
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For
purposes hereof, "Good
Reason"
means one or more of the following: (i) a material diminution in
the
Employee's compensation; (ii) a material diminution in the Employee's
authority, duties, or responsibilities; (iii) a material adverse
change in
reporting responsibilities; (iv) a material change in the geographic
location at which the Employee must perform the services (including,
without limitation, a relocation outside Manhattan, New York that
results
in a material adverse change in commute); or (v) any other action
or
inaction that constitutes a material breach of the terms of this
Agreement
(expressly including, without limitation, a reduction in benefits
in
violation of Section 2(f) hereof). The Employee shall provide notice
of
the existence of the Good Reason condition within ninety (90) days
of the
date he learns of the condition, and the Company shall have a period
of
thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the condition, and
in case of
full remedy such condition shall not be deemed to constitute Good
Reason
hereunder.
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5
(i)
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For
purposes hereof, a "Change
of Control"
of the Company shall have occurred if (a) any "person" (as such
term is
used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the U.S. Securities Exchange
Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act")),
other than the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any
employee
benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company,
shall become the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company
representing in excess of 50% of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities, or if (b) during any period
of two
(2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such
period
constituted the Board cease for any reason to constitute a majority
of the
directors thereof, unless each new director was elected by, or
on the
recommendation of, a majority of the directors then still in office
who
were directors at the beginning of such period.
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(j)
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The
Employee shall have no obligation to seek to mitigate any amounts
payable
under this Section 3 and any amounts the Employee receives from
other
employment shall not be offset against or otherwise reduce the
amount due
to the Employee hereunder.
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(k)
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In
the event that the Employee becomes entitled to any payment under
this
Section 3 as a result of a termination of employment occurring
on or
before the first anniversary of the Effective Date, then this Section
3(k)
shall apply and Section 3(l) shall not be applicable. In the event
the
Company determines, based upon the advice of the independent public
accountants for the Company, that part or all of the consideration,
compensation or benefits to be paid to the Employee under this
Agreement,
singularly or together with any consideration, compensation or
benefits to
be paid to the Employee under any other plan, arrangement or agreement,
constitutes "parachute payments" under Section 280G(b)(2) of the
Code,
then, if the aggregate present value of such parachute payments
(collectively, the "Parachute
Amount")
exceeds 2.99 times the Employee's "base amount", as defined in
Section
280G(b)(3) of the Code (the "Employee
Base Amount"),
the amounts constituting "parachute payments" which would otherwise
be
payable to or for the benefit of the Employee under this Agreement
shall
be eliminated or reduced to the extent necessary so that the Parachute
Amount is equal to 2.99 times the Employee Base Amount. The independent
public accountants for the Company shall determine which consideration,
compensation or benefits shall be eliminated or reduced in accordance
with
this Section 3(k) and to what extent they shall be so eliminated
or
reduced, in such manner that the Employee shall retain, after such
elimination or reduction, the maximum after-tax benefit.
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(l)
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In
the event that the Employee becomes entitled to any payment under
this
Section 3 as a result of a termination of employment occurring
after the
first anniversary of the Effective Date, then this Section 3(l)
shall
apply and Section 3(k) shall not be applicable. If any of the payments
or
benefits received or to be received by the Employee (whether
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement
or
agreement (all such payments and benefits, excluding the Gross-Up
Payment,
being hereinafter referred to as the "Total
Payments"))
will be subject to any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of
the Code
(the "Excise
Tax"),
the Company shall pay to the Employee an additional amount (the
"Gross
Up Payment")
such that the net amount retained by the Employee, after deduction
of any
Excise Tax on the Total Payments and any federal, state and local
income
and employment taxes and Excise Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment,
and after
taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal
exemptions attributable to the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal
to the
Total Payments. The Company will make any Excise Tax payments to
the
Employee as soon as practical after the Employee remits the excise
tax
imposed under Section 4999 of the Code but in any event no later
than the
end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the
Employee
makes such payments.
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(m)
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To
the extent required by Section 409A, amounts that would otherwise
be
payable under this Section 3 during the six-month period immediately
following the Employee's termination of employment shall instead
be paid
on the first business day after the expiration of such six-month
period,
plus interest thereon, at a rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable
Federal short-term rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code)
for
the month in which such date of termination occurs from the respective
dates on which such amounts would otherwise have been paid until
the
actual date of payment.
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4.
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Noncompetition;
Nonintervention.
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(a)
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While
in the employ of the Company, the Employee agrees to devote substantially
all of the Employee's
business time, attention and energies to the performance of the
business
of the Company and the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly,
alone
or as a member of any partnership or other business organization,
or as a
partner, officer, director, employee, stockholder, consultant,
or agent of
any other corporation, partnership, or other business organization, be
actively engaged in or concerned with any other duties or pursuits
which
interfere with the performance of the Employee's duties as an employee
of
the Company, or which, even if noninterfering, may be contrary
to the best
interests of the Company; provided, however, that the Employee
shall be
permitted to serve on the boards of directors of other companies
that do
not compete with the Company, and that Employee may make personal
investments or enter into joint ventures or partnerships or corporate
entities, as long as such investments and activities do not materially
conflict or interfere with the performance of Employee's duties
hereunder;
and provided, further, that with the Board's prior consent the
Employee
shall be permitted to participate in certain business activities
that are
not related to or in competition with the business of the Company
or its
affiliates at the time such activity commences (the "Existing
Activities").
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(b)
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From
the Effective Date until two (2) years after the termination or
cessation
of the Employee's employment with the Company for any reason (including
termination of employment by the Company without Cause) (such period,
the
"Restricted
Period"),
the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, alone or as a member
of
any partnership or other business organization, or as a partner,
officer,
director, employee, stockholder, consultant or agent of any corporation,
partnership or business organization, engage in the business of
acquiring
equity interests of, or otherwise investing in, investment management
firms other than (i) continuation of the Existing Activities, and
(ii)
after termination of the Employee's employment with the Company
for any
reason, investing in or acting as a partner, officer, director,
employee,
stockholder, consultant or agent of any investment management firm
that is
not competitive with the business activities of the Company or
its
affiliate managers or entities and in which the Employee is a principal
executive officer involved in management of the business on a day-to-day
basis. During the Restricted Period, the Employee shall not, directly
or
indirectly, alone or as a member of any partnership or other business
organization, or as a partner, officer, director, employee, stockholder,
consultant or agent of any corporation, partnership or business
organization (A) request or cause any customer of the Company or
its
affiliates to cancel or terminate any business relationship with
the
Company or such affiliate, or (B) solicit or otherwise cause any
employee
of the Company or its affiliates to terminate such employee's relationship
with the Company or such affiliate.
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5.
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Confidential
Information.
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(a)
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The
Employee will not at any time, whether during or after the termination
or
cessation of the Employee's
employment, reveal to any person, association or company any of
the trade
secrets or confidential information concerning the organization,
business
or finances of the Company so far as they have come or may come
to the
Employee's knowledge, except as may be required in the ordinary
course of
performing the Employee's duties as an employee of the Company
or except
as may be in the public domain through no fault of the Employee,
and the
Employee shall keep secret all matters entrusted to the Employee
and shall
not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner which
may
injure or cause loss or may be calculated to injure or cause loss
whether
directly or indirectly to the
Company.
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(b)
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The
Employee agrees that during the Employee's employment the Employee
shall
not make, use or permit to be used any notes, memoranda, drawings,
specifications, programs, data or other materials of any nature
relating
to any matter within the scope of the business of the Company or
concerning any of its dealings or affairs otherwise than for the
benefit
of the Company. The Employee shall not, after the termination or
cessation
of the Employee's employment, use or permit to be used any such
notes,
memoranda, drawings, specifications, programs, data or other materials,
it
being agreed that any of the foregoing shall be and remain the
sole and
exclusive property of the Company and that immediately upon the
termination or cessation of the Employee's employment the Employee
shall
deliver all of the foregoing, and all copies thereof, to the Company,
at
its main office.
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6.
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Binding
Effect.
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This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the parties
hereto and the Company's successors or assigns (whether resulting from any
reorganization, consolidation or merger of the Company or any business to
which
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company are sold) and the
Employee's heirs, executors and legal representatives.
7.
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Entire
Agreement.
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This
Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties
with
respect to the subject matter hereof, supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings with respect thereto, including the Prior Agreement, which
shall
be deemed terminated in its entirety upon the Effective Date, and cannot
be
modified, amended, waived or terminated, in whole or in part, except in writing
signed by the party to be charged.
8.
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Governing
Law; Jurisdiction.
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The
validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement
shall
be governed by the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts
executed and to be performed entirely within said State. The provisions of
this
Agreement are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the
Code
and shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with such
requirements.
9.
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Arbitration.
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Subject
to Section 10:
(a)
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All
disputes between the Employee and the Company of any kind whatsoever,
including, without limitation, all disputes relating in any manner
to the
employment or termination of
the Employee and all disputes arising under this Agreement shall
be
resolved by arbitration ("Arbitrable
Claims").
Arbitration shall be final and binding upon the parties and shall
be the
exclusive remedy for all Arbitrable Claims. The parties hereby
waive any
rights they may have to trial by jury in regard to Arbitrable
Claims.
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(b)
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Arbitration
of Arbitrable Claims shall be in accordance with the Employment
Dispute
Resolution Rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA
Employment Rules"),
except as provided otherwise in this Agreement. There shall be
one
arbitrator selected in accordance with the AAA Employment Rules.
In any
arbitration, the burden of proof shall be allocated as provided
by
applicable law. Either party may bring an action in court to compel
arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration
award.
Otherwise, neither party shall initiate or prosecute any lawsuit
or
administrative action in any way related to any Arbitrable Claim.
All
arbitration hearings under this Agreement shall be conducted in
New York,
New York. The Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation
and
enforcement of this Section 9. The fees of the arbitrator shall
be split
between both parties equally.
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(c)
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All
proceedings and all documents prepared in connection with any Arbitrable
Claim shall be confidential and, unless otherwise required by law,
the
subject manner thereof shall not be disclosed to any person other
than the
parties to the proceedings, their counsel, witnesses and experts,
the
arbitrator and, if involved, the court and court
staff.
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(d)
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The
rights and obligations of Employee and the Company as set forth
in this
Section 9 with respect to arbitration shall survive the termination
of the
Employee's employment and the expiration of this
Agreement.
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The
foregoing consent to arbitration shall not be deemed to confer rights on
any
person other than the respective parties to this Agreement.
10.
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Right
to Injunction.
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The
Employee acknowledges and agrees that irreparable and immediate damage will
result to the Company if the Employee breaches the Employee's obligations
under
Section 4 or Section 5 hereof. In the event of a breach by the Employee of
Section 4 or Section 5 hereof, the Company shall be entitled in any court
of
competent jurisdiction to such equitable and injunctive relief as may be
available to restrain the Employee from the violation of such provisions.
The
remedies provided in this Agreement shall be deemed cumulative and the exercise
of one shall not preclude the exercise of any other remedy at law or in equity
for the same event or any other event.
11.
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Indemnification.
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The
Company shall indemnify the Employee to the fullest extent permitted by law
(including, without limitation, advancement of legal fees on a current basis)
for all matters related to or arising from the Employee's service as an officer,
director and/or fiduciary of any benefit plan of the Company. The Company
shall
cover the Employee during and after the Employee's employment under the
Company's director and officer liability insurance to the greatest extent
afforded any senior officer and director of the Company.
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12.
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Miscellaneous.
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(a)
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Amendments.
No
amendment, modification or waiver of any of the terms of this Agreement
shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by the Employee
and the
Company.
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(b)
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Survival.
All
provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination or cessation
of
the Employee's employment with the
Company.
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(c)
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Successor
in Interest.
This Agreement and the rights and obligation hereunder shall be
binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
legal representatives, and shall also bind and inure to the benefit
of any
successor of the Company by merger or consolidation or any purchaser
or
assignee of all or substantially all of its assets. Neither this
Agreement
nor any of the rights or benefits hereunder may be assigned by
either
party hereto, except to any such aforementioned successor, purchaser,
or
assignee of the Company. The Employee may not assign any of his
obligation
or duties under this Agreement.
|
(d)
|
Waiver.
The
waiver by the Company of a breach of this Agreement by the Employee
shall
not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach
by the
Employee.
|
(e)
|
Notices.
All
notices to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
(i)
personally delivered, (ii) sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, (iii) sent by facsimile or (iv) transmitted by e-mail.
Notices
to be given to the Employee shall be sent to the address indicated
below
the Employee's signature below. Notices to be given to the Company
shall
be sent to Tailwind Financial Inc., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx
00000, Facsimile 000-000-0000, to the attention of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx,
President and Chief Operating Officer. Notices of any changes in
the above
addresses shall be given to the other party in
writing.
|
(f)
|
Severability.
If
any provision of this Agreement shall contravene any law of any
particular
state where the Employee shall perform services for the Company,
then this
Agreement shall be first construed to be limited in scope and duration
so
as to be enforceable in that state, and if still unenforceable,
shall then
be construed as if such provision is not contained
herein.
|
(g)
|
Headings.
Titles or captions of Sections contained in this Agreement are
inserted
only as a matter of convenience and for reference, and in no way
define,
limit, extend or describe the scope of this Agreement or the intent
of any
provisions hereof.
|
(h)
|
Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, and by each
party
on separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original,
but
all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
|
11
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as
of the
date first
above written.
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title: |
|
|
|
By: | ||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
||
Address:
000
Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00X
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
The undersigned hereby consents to the termination of the Prior Agreement in its entirely, subject to and effective as of the Effective Date.
Asset
Alliance Corporation
By:
_______________________________
Name:
Title:
12