Exhibit 10.5
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made by and between Healthaxis, Ltd., a
Texas limited partnership (the "Company") and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
HealthAxis Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Parent"), and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx (the
"Executive"), as of the 20th day of April, 2007.
1.
Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its
employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on April
20, 2007 (the "Effective Date") and continuing through April 20, 2008 (the
"Employment Period"). Healthaxis and Executive agree that beginning on April 21,
2007, and on each day thereafter, that the Employment Period shall be automatically
extended by an additional one (1) day period. As a result, at any given time from and
after the Effective Date of this Agreement, the remaining term of the Employment
Period will be one (1) year.
2. Terms
of Employment.
|
(a) |
Position
and Duties. During the Employment Period, the Executive's position (including status,
offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and
responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with
the following: |
|
(i) |
Executive's
title shall be Senior Vice President of Application Solutions, reporting to the
Company's Chief Executive Officer as directed from time to time. The
Executive will hold the same title at the Parent company level and any
operating subsidiaries as appropriate; |
|
(ii) |
Executive
shall be responsible for all application software development and support
functions within the Company; |
|
(iii) |
Executive
shall provide support and guidance to other executives and senior operational
managers and sales personnel on numerous operational and
administrative issues, including, but not limited to, pricing issues,
budgeting, forecasting and cost analysis, negotiating with and
managing significant customers and vendors, and other administrative
and operational issues that arise from time to time; |
|
(iv) |
Executive
will work with the Chief Executive Officer and other members of senior management of
the Company to carry out the Company's strategic and operational
objectives; and |
|
(v) |
Executive
will carry out such other duties and responsibilities that are assigned from time to
time that are consistent with the foregoing. |
|
|
During the
Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and personal leave to which
the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention
and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company
and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the
Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to
perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment
Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A)
serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, and (B) manage
personal investments or other business in which Executive is involved or has an
ownership interest, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere
with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the
Company in accordance with this Agreement, and Executive complies with the Company's
codes of ethics in relation to those outside interests. |
|
(b) |
Location.
The Executive's services shall be performed primarily at the Company's corporate
headquarters located in Irving, Texas. The Executive's duties will also involve
some travel on Company business. |
|
(c) |
Compensation.
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive the following compensation: |
|
(i) |
Base
Salary. An initial annual base salary of $135,500 ("Annual Base Salary"), which
shall be paid semi-monthly according to the Company's standard
payroll practice. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base
Salary will generally be reviewed at least annually by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors, and may be increased in the
Committee's sole discretion. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to
limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this
Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such
increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to
Annual Base Salary as so increased; |
|
(ii) |
Incentive,
Savings and Retirement Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans,
practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. For 2007, this includes the
Company's Executive Incentive Compensation Plan with a target bonus
of 20% of the Annual Base Salary, and a maximum bonus of 50% of the
Annual Base Salary, based on achievement of certain corporate level
objectives and individual management objectives to be set in
accordance with the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan; |
|
(iii) |
Equity
Compensation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all equity compensation plans, practices, policies
and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies. Executive acknowledges and
agrees that participation in such plans and programs, including
additional equity compensation plan awards, if any, will be at the discretion
of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, and
Executive further acknowledges that additional equity awards made from
time to time under such plans or programs may differ between various peer executives; |
|
(iv) |
Welfare
Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's
family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in
and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans,
practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and
its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical,
prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and
travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent
applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies; |
|
(v) |
Vacation
and Paid Time Off. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
receive four weeks of vacation under the standard Executive Vacation
Policy, and seven days of personal leave under the Company's standard
Paid Time Off policy; and |
|
(vi) |
Expenses.
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses incurred by the
Executive in accordance with the standard policies, practices and
procedures of the Company. |
3.
Termination of Employment.
|
(a) |
Death
or Disability. The Executive's employment shall terminate upon the Executive's death
during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the
Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period
(pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive
written notice in accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement of its
intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the
Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the
30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability
Effective Date"), provided that, within 30 days after such receipt, the Executive
shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall have the meaning set forth
in the long-term disability plan providing benefits to employees of the Company
and its affiliated companies at the Disability effective date. If there is
no long term disability plan in effect for employees at the Disability
effective date, "Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the
Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive
business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is
determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or
its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal
representative. |
|
(b) |
Cause.
The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period for
Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean: |
|
(i) |
the
willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially the Executive's
duties with the Company or one of its affiliates to the extent,
degree and level of performance as provided in Section 2(a) (other
than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or
mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance
is delivered to the Executive by the Company which specifically identifies the manner
in which the Company believes that the Executive has not
substantially performed the Executive's duties, and such failure
is not cured within 30 days (or such longer period as may be stated in the notice)
following the date of the notice; or |
|
(ii) |
the
willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is
materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company; or |
|
(iii) |
if
the Executive is or becomes ineligible to serve as an executive officer of a publicly
traded company under any SEC or other governmental or administrative
body ruling, sanction or otherwise. |
|
|
For purposes
of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the Executive, shall
be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by
the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or
failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution
duly adopted by the Board of Directors or upon the instructions of the
Chairman, the CEO of the Company or based upon the advice of counsel
for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted
to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.
The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to
be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the
Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not
less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board at
a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after
reasonable notice is provided to the Executive and the Executive is given an
opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board),
finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive is
guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii)
above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. |
|
(c) |
Good
Reason. The Executive's employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good
Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean: |
|
(i) |
the
assignment of the Executive to a position in which the Executive's
authority, duties or responsibilities are materially diminished
from the authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section
2(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company or its
affiliated companies which results in a material diminution in such
position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an
isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad
faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of
notice thereof given by the Executive; |
|
(ii) |
any
failure by the Company or its affiliated companies to comply with any of the provisions
of Section 2(c) of this Agreement, other than an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and
which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice
thereof given by the Executive; |
|
(iii) |
the
Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than
as provided in Section 2(b) hereof; |
|
(iv) |
any
purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise
than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or |
|
(v) |
any
failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 9(c) of this Agreement. |
|
|
For purposes
of this Section 3(c), any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive
shall be conclusive. |
|
(d) |
Notice
of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for
Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other
party hereto given in accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice
which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the
facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive's employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) if the
Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such
notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than 30
days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the
Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which
contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right
of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the
Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in
enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder. |
|
(e) |
Date
of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the
date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified
therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such
termination, and (iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason
of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death
of the Executive or the Disability effective date, as the case may be. |
4.
Obligations of the Company upon Termination.
|
(a) |
Good
Reason, Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If, during the Employment
Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other
than for Cause or death or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate
employment for Good Reason: |
|
(i) |
the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of the following amounts: |
|
A. |
the
sum of (1) the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the
extent not theretofore paid, and (2) any compensation
previously deferred by the Executive (together with any
accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued
vacation pay payable per the standard vacation policy on
termination, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the
amounts described in clauses (1), and (2) shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued Obligations"); and |
|
B. |
the
amount equal to the sum of (x) the Executive's Annual Base Salary and (y) the
Executive's Target Bonus (the "Severance"). For purposes of
the preceding sentence, the Executive's Target Bonus shall be
an amount equal to the average of the annual bonuses received by the Executive pursuant
to the Company's Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (or
any similar future bonus program) for the preceding three
years. |
|
(ii) |
all
stock options, restricted stock or other equity compensation awarded to the
Executive by either the Parent or a successor by merger, consolidation
or otherwise, including, but not limited to, all awards under the
HealthAxis Inc. 2005 Incentive Stock Plan (as now or hereafter amended
and restated), shall become 100% vested and, any stock options shall
be exercisable for a period equal to thirty-six (36) months after the Executive's
Date of Termination; |
|
(iii) |
for
twelve (12) months after the Executive's Date of Termination, or such longer period as
may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program,
practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to the
Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which
would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans,
programs, practices and policies described in Section 2(c)(iv) of this Agreement if the
Executive's employment had not been terminated or, if more
favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time
thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated companies and their families, provided, however,
that if the Executive becomes re-employed with another employer and is eligible to
receive equivalent medical or other welfare benefits under another
employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits
described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such
applicable period of eligibility; |
|
(iv) |
the
Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred, provide the Executive with outplacement
services for a period of twelve (12) months, the provider of which
shall be selected by the Executive in her sole discretion; and |
|
(v) |
to
the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide
to the Executive any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or
provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive under any
plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its
affiliated companies (such other amounts and benefits shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Other Benefits"). |
|
(b) |
Death.
If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during
the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement,
other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or
provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the
Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30
days of the Date of Termination. |
|
(c) |
Disability.
If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's
Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive, other than for payment of
Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other
Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum
in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of
Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 4(c)
shall include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability
effective date to receive, disability and other benefits at least equal to the most
favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated
companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such
plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as
in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families. |
|
(d) |
Cause,
Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated
for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay
to the Executive (x) the Accrued Obligations, (y) the amount of any compensation
previously deferred by the Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case to
the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment
during the Employment Period, excluding a termination for Good Reason, this
Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive,
other than for Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other
Benefits. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the
Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. |
5.
Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or
limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan, program,
policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for
which the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section 10(f), shall anything herein
limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any contract or
agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are
vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan,
policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company or any of
its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable
in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement
except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.
6. Full
Settlement. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this
Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by
any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which
the Company or any of its affiliated companies may have against the Executive or
others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or
take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under
any of the provisions of this Agreement and, except to the extent provided in Section
4(a)(iii) hereof, such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive
obtains other employment. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full extent
permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur
as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company or any of
its affiliated companies, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability
of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance
thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any
payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed
payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the
Code.
7.
Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
|
(a) |
Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and except as set forth below, in
the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or
distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but
determined without regard to any additional payments required under this
Section 7) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999
of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive
with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such
interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise
Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment
(a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the Executive
of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such
taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and
penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the
Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment
equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. |
|
(b) |
Subject
to the provisions of Section 7(c), all determinations required to be made under this
Section 7, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the
amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in
arriving at such determination, shall be made by McGladrey & Xxxxxx or such other
certified public accounting firm as may be designated by the Executive (the
"Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the
Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from
the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is
requested by the Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne
solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this
Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within five days of the
receipt of the Accounting Firm's determination. Any determination by the Accounting
Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the
uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the
initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up
Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made
("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section
7(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise
Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has
occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or
for the benefit of the Executive. |
|
(c) |
The
Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue
Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of the
Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable
but no later than ten (10) business days after the Executive is informed
in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such
claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall
not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the
date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period
ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due).
If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration
of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall: |
|
|
(i) |
give
the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim, |
|
|
(ii) |
take
such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall
reasonably request in writing from time to time, including, without
limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim
by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company, |
|
|
(iii) |
cooperate
with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim, and |
|
|
(iv) |
permit
the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; |
|
|
provided, however,
that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including
additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest
and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis,
for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and penalties with respect
thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and
expenses. Without limitation of the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(c), the
Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest
and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all administrative
appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of
such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the
tax claimed and xxx for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible
manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before
any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or
more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that
if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the
Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an
interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on
an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or
penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with
respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and further provided
that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes
for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested
amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore,
the Company's control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect
to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive
shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by
the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. |
|
(d) |
If,
after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to
Section 7(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect
to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's complying with
the requirements of Section 7(c)) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such
refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes
applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by
the Company pursuant to Section 7(c), a determination is made that the
Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and
the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such
denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required
to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the
amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid. |
8.
Non-Compete, Confidential Information and Release.
|
(a) |
Covenant
Not to Compete. |
|
|
(i) |
Compliance
with the provisions of this Section 8 are an express condition of the Executive's
right to receive payments, vesting, and benefits hereunder. The
Executive acknowledges and recognizes the confidential information
and records provided by the Company, the Parent, and its subsidiaries, affiliates,
successors, and assigns (collectively, the "Employer"), the
benefits provided hereunder, and the professional training and
experience he will receive from and the contacts he will be
provided by the Employer, as well as the highly competitive
nature of the Employer's business, and in consideration of all of the above, agrees
that during the period beginning on the effective date of the
Executive's termination of employment with the Employer (the "Date of
Termination") and ending twelve (12) months thereafter (the "Covered
Time"), the Executive will not compete with the business of the
Employer. For purposes hereof, "competition" shall mean any engaging, directly or
indirectly, in the "Covered Business" (as hereinafter defined) in
any state of the United States of America or any nation in which the
Employer is conducting business as of the Date of Termination (the "Covered
Area"). For purposes of this Agreement, "Covered Business" shall
mean providing any services similar in scope or nature to the services provided
by the Executive immediately prior to her Date of Termination for
an entity that competes with the Company or its Parent or subsidiary
entities with respect to their primary lines of business. For purposes of this Section
8, the phrase "engaging, directly or indirectly" shall mean
engaging directly or having an interest, directly or indirectly,
as owner, partner, shareholder, agent, representative, employee, officer,
director, independent contractor, capital investor, lender,
renderer of consultation services or advice or otherwise (other than as the
holder of less than 2% of the outstanding stock of a publicly-traded
corporation), either alone or in association with others, in the
operation of any aspect of any type of business or enterprise engaged in any aspect
of the Covered Business. |
|
|
(ii) |
The
Executive agrees that during the term of this Agreement (including any extensions
thereof) and for the twenty-four (24) months thereafter, she shall
not (i) directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit any of
the employees, agents, consultants, or representatives of the Employer
or affiliates of the Employer to leave any of such entities; or (ii)
directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit any of the employees,
agents, consultants or representatives of the Employer or
affiliates of the Employer to become employees, agents,
representatives or consultants of any other person or entity. |
|
|
(iii) |
The
Executive understands that the provisions of Sections 8(a)(i) and (ii) may limit her
ability to earn a livelihood in a business similar to the business of
the Employer but nevertheless agrees and hereby acknowledges that
the restrictions and limitations thereof are reasonable in scope, area, and duration,
are reasonably necessary to protect the goodwill and business
interests of the Employer, and that the consideration provided under this
Agreement is sufficient to justify the restrictions contained in such
provisions. Accordingly, in consideration thereof and in light of
the Executive's education, skills and abilities, the Executive agrees that he will
not assert that, and it should not be considered that, such
provisions are either unreasonable in scope, area, or duration,
or will prevent him from earning a living, or otherwise are void, voidable, or
unenforceable or should be voided or held unenforceable. |
|
|
(i) |
The
parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the covenants and agreements contained herein
are reasonable in scope, area, and duration and necessary to protect
the reasonable competitive business interests of the Employer,
including, without limitation, the value of the proprietary information
and goodwill of the Employer. |
|
|
(ii) |
The
Executive agrees that the covenants and undertakings contained in Section 8 of this
Agreement relate to matters which are of a special, unique and
extraordinary character and that the Employer cannot be reasonably or
adequately compensated in damages in an action at law in the event the
Executive breaches any of these covenants or undertakings. Therefore,
the Executive agrees that the Employer shall be entitled, as a matter of course,
without the need to prove irreparable injury, to an injunction,
restraining order or other equitable relief from any court of
competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or threatened violation of any of
such terms by the Executive and such other persons as the court shall
order. The Executive agrees to pay costs and legal fees incurred by the
Employer in obtaining such injunction. |
|
|
(iii) |
Rights
and remedies provided for in this Section 8(b) are cumulative and shall be in addition
to rights and remedies otherwise available to the parties under any
other agreement or applicable law. |
|
|
(iv) |
In
the event that any provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be held invalid,
unreasonable or unenforceable in any circumstances, the parties
hereto agree that the remainder of this Agreement and the
application of such provision of this Agreement to other circumstances
shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
If any provision of this Agreement, or any part thereof, is held to be
unenforceable because of the scope or duration of or the area covered
by such provision, the parties hereto agree that the court or
arbitrator making such determination shall reduce the scope, duration and/or area of
such provision (and shall substitute appropriate provisions for any
such unenforceable provisions) in order to make such provision enforceable
to the fullest extent permitted by law, and/or shall delete specific
words and phrases, and such modified provision shall then be
enforceable and shall be enforced. The parties hereto recognize that if, in any
judicial proceeding, a court shall refuse to enforce any of the
separate covenants contained in this Agreement, then that unenforceable
covenant contained in this Agreement shall be deemed eliminated from
these provisions to the extent necessary to permit the remaining
separate covenants to be enforced. In the event that any court or arbitrator
determines that the time period or the area, or both, are
unreasonable and that any of the covenants is to that extent
unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that such covenants will
remain in full force and effect, first, for the greatest time period,
and second, in the greatest geographical area that would not render them unenforceable. |
|
|
(v) |
In
the event of the Executive's breach of this Section 8, in addition to all other rights
the Employer may have hereunder or in law or in equity, all payments
and benefits hereunder shall cease; all options, stock, and other
securities granted by the Employer, including stock obtained through prior exercise
of options, shall be immediately forfeited (whether or not vested),
and the original purchase price, if any, shall be returned to the
Executive; and all profits received through exercise of options or
sale of stock, and all previous payments and benefits made or
provided hereunder shall be promptly returned and repaid to the Company. |
|
(c) |
Confidential
Information. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of
the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating
to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective
businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's
employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall
not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or
representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After
termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be
required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such
information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those
designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions
of this Section 8(c) constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any
amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. |
|
(d) |
Release.
The Executive's execution of a complete and general release of any and all of her
potential claims (other than for vested benefits described in this Agreement
or any other vested benefits with the Company and/or its affiliates) against
the Company, any of its affiliated companies, and their respective successors and any
officers, employees, agents, directors, attorneys, insurers, underwriters,
and assigns of the Company, its affiliates and/or successors, is an express
condition of the Executive's right to receive Severance payments, vesting,
and benefits hereunder. The Executive shall be required to execute a Waiver
and Release Agreement which documents the release required under this Section 8(d), the
form of which shall be provided to the Executive by Company. |
9.
Successors.
|
(a) |
This
Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of
the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or
the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. |
|
(b) |
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its
successors and assigns. |
|
(c) |
The
Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of the Company and/or the Parent to assume expressly and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined
and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and
agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. |
10.
Miscellaneous.
|
(a) |
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Texas, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The
captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall
have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified
otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or
their respective successors and legal representatives. |
|
(b) |
All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by
hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: |
|
|
|
IF TO THE EXECUTIVE: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx |
|
|
|
At her current primary residence address as shown in the Healthaxis human resources records as of the date of the notice |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IF TO THE COMPANY: |
|
|
|
HEALTHAXIS, LTD.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx 000, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WITH COPY TO: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HEALTHAXIS, INC.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx 000, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
or to
such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in
accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually
received by the addressee. |
|
(c) |
The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement. |
|
(d) |
The
Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state,
local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any
applicable law or regulation. |
|
(e) |
The
Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict compliance with any
provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or
the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of
the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to this
Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any
other provision or right of this Agreement. |
|
(f) |
The
Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be provided
under any other written agreement between the Executive and the Company,
the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will". From and after
the Effective Date, this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. |
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to
the authorization from its Board of Managers, the Company has caused these presents
to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above
written.
|
EXECUTIVE: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HEALTHAXIS, LTD. |
|
|
|
By Its General Partner,
HEALTHAXIS MANAGING PARTNER, LLC |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
|
|
|
|
Its: |
President & CEO |
The
Board of Directors of HEALTHAXIS, INC. (the Parent) has authorized the undersigned
officer to execute the foregoing Employment Agreement in order to indicate its approval
of such Agreement.
|
|
|
HEALTHAXIS, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ J Xxxxx Xxxx |
|
|
|