NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.4
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as
of November 9, 2006 is made by and between ___, an
individual residing at ___ (the “Employee”), and Thermo Xxxxxx
Scientific Inc., a Delaware corporation whose principal offices are located at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (“Employer”).
WHEREAS, Employer, including its subsidiaries and affiliates, is the world leader in the
manufacture, development and distribution of scientific and diagnostic instruments, equipment,
supplies, workstations and chemicals used by clinical and research laboratories, universities and
other life and health sciences customers, as well as diagnostic instruments, test materials and
related products for clinical laboratories; and teaching aids for science education. In addition,
Employer is a leading supplier of occupational health and safety products and maintenance, repair
and operating materials. Employer is also a pioneer in the development of electronic and internet
purchasing, marketing and distribution systems.
WHEREAS, Employer has developed and continues to develop and use certain trade secrets,
customer lists and other proprietary and confidential information and data, which Employer has
spent a substantial amount of time, effort and money, and will continue to do so in the future, to
develop or acquire such proprietary and confidential information and to promote and increase its
good will.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Employee’s continued employment by Employer or a
subsidiary or affiliate thereof, and Employee’s compensation, in particular additional valuable
consideration including, but not limited to the granting of certain stock options, which is
conditioned, at least in part, upon Employee’s execution and delivery of this Agreement, Employee
understands and agree to the following:
Section 1. Employee recognizes and acknowledges that it is essential for the proper
protection of the Employer’s legitimate business interests that Employee be restrained for a
reasonable period following the termination of Employee’s employment with the Employer, either
voluntarily or involuntarily, from competing with Employer as set forth below.
Employee acknowledges and agrees that during the term of Employee’s employment with Employer,
and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, Employee will not, directly or indirectly,
engage, participate or invest in or be employed by any business within the Restricted Area, as
defined below, which: (i) develops or manufactures products which are competitive with or similar
to products developed or manufactured by Employer; (ii) distributes, markets or otherwise sells,
either through a direct sales force or through the use of the Internet, products manufactured by
others which are competitive with or similar to products distributed, marketed or sold by Employer;
or (iii) provide services, including the use of the Internet to sell, market or distribute
products, which are competitive with or similar to services provided by Employer, including, in
each case, any products or services Employer has under development or which are the subject of
active planning at any time during the term of Employee’s employment. The foregoing restrictions
shall apply regardless of the capacity in which Employee engages,
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participates or invests in or is
employed by a given business, whether as owner, partner, shareholder, consultant, agent, employee,
co-venturer or otherwise.
“Restricted Area” shall mean each state and territory of the United States of America and each
country of the world outside of the United States of America in which Employer had developed,
marketed, sold and/or distributed its products and/or services within the last two (2) years of
Employee’s employment.
Section 2. During the term of Employee’s employment with Employer and for a period of
twelve (12) months after termination of the Employee’s employment with the Employer for any reason,
Employee will not: (i) employ, hire, solicit, induce or identify for employment or attempt to
employ, hire, solicit, induce or identify for employment, directly or indirectly, any employee(s)
of the Employer to leave his or her employment and became an employee, consultant or representative
of any other entity including, but not limited to, Employee’s new employer, if any; and/or (ii)
solicit, aid in or encourage the solicitation of, contract with, aid in or encourage the
contracting
with, service, or contact any person or entity which is or was, within the two (2) years prior to
Employee’s termination of employment with Employer, a customer or client of Employer, for purposes
of marketing, offering or selling a product or service competitive with Employer.
Section 3. For the period of twelve (12) months immediately following the end of
Employee’s employment by Employer, Employee will inform each new employer, prior to accepting
employment, of the existence of this Agreement and provide that employer with a copy of this
Agreement.
Section 4. Employee understands and agrees that the provisions of this section shall
not prevent Employee from acquiring or holding publicly traded stock or other publicly traded
securities of a business, so long as Employee’s ownership does not exceed 1% percent of the
outstanding securities of such company of the same class as those held by Employee or from engaging
in any activity or having an ownership interest in any business that is reviewed by the Board of
Directors of Employer.
Section 5. Employee acknowledges that the time, geographic and scope of activity
limitations set forth herein are reasonable and necessary to protect the Employer’s legitimate
business interests. However, if in any judicial proceeding a court refuses to enforce this
Agreement, whether because the time limitation is too long or because the restrictions contained
herein are more extensive (whether as to geographic area, scope of activity or otherwise) than is
necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of Employer, it is expressly understood and
agreed between the parties hereto that this Agreement is deemed modified to the extent necessary to
permit this Agreement to be enforced in any such proceedings.
Section 6. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that it would be difficult to
measure any damages caused to Employer which might result from any breach by Employee of any of the
promises set forth in this Agreement, and that, in any event, money damages would be an inadequate
remedy for any such breach. Accordingly, Employee acknowledges and agrees that if he or she
breaches or threatens to breach, any portion of this Agreement, Employer shall
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be entitled, in
addition to all other remedies that it may have: (i) to an injunction or other appropriate
equitable relief to restrain any such breach without showing or proving any actual damage to
Employer; and (ii) to be relieved of any obligation to provide any further payment or benefits to
Employee or Employee’s dependents.
Section 7. Employee acknowledges and agrees that should it become necessary for
Employer to file suit to enforce the covenants contained herein, and any court of competent
jurisdiction awards the Employer any damages and/or an injunction due to the acts of Employee, then
the Employer shall be entitled to recover its reasonable costs incurred in conducting the suit
including, but not limited, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.
Section 8. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement does not
constitute a contract of employment and does not imply that Employer or any of its subsidiaries
will continue the Employee’s employment for any period of time.
Section 9. This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and any previous agreements or understandings between the
parties regarding the subject matter hereof are merged into and superseded by this Agreement.
Section 10. This Agreement cannot be modified, amended or changed, nor may compliance
with any provision hereof be waived, except by an instrument in writing executed by the party
against whom enforcement of such modification, amendment, change or waiver is sought. Any waiver
by a party of the breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a
waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this
Agreement. The failure of a party to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this
Agreement at any time shall not deprive such party of the right to insist upon strict compliance
with such provision at any other time or of the right to insist upon strict compliance with any
other provision hereof at any time.
Section 11. All notices, requests, demands, consents and other communications which
are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be deemed given when actually
received or if earlier, two days
after deposit with the U.S. postal authorities, certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid or two days after deposit with an internationally recognized air courier
or express mail, charges prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to Employer:
Thermo Xxxxxx Scientific Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Employee, at the address set forth above, or to such other address as any party
hereto may designate in writing to the other party, specifying a change of address for the purpose
of this Agreement.
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Section 12. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 13. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with, and
shall be governed exclusively by, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the federal
laws of the United States of America. In the event litigation is maintained by a party to this
Agreement against any other party to enforce this Agreement or to seek any remedy for breach, then
each party hereto shall be responsible for such party’s own attorneys’ fees and costs of suit.
Section 14. THE EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS
AGREEMENT AND HAS HAD ADEQUATE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OF THE EMPLOYEE’S
OWN CHOOSING REGARDING THE MEANING OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND THE EMPLOYEE
FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE EMPLOYEE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE CONTENT AND EFFECT OF THIS AGREEMENT
AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED HEREIN.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
EMPLOYEE: | THERMO XXXXXX SCIENTIFIC INC. | |||||||
By: | ||||||||
[Insert Name]
|
Name: | |||||||
Title: |
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