NON-DISCLOSURE, NON-SOLICITATION
AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT
This Non-Compete Agreement is made by and among Xxxxx Xxxx ("Best"),
ProQuest Company (the "Company") and Voyager Expanded Learning, Inc. ("Voyager")
simultaneously with the execution and delivery of a consulting agreement between
the parties dated December 13, 2004 (the "Consulting Agreement").
WHEREAS, Best is currently employed by Voyager as its Chief Executive
Officer and holds shares of Voyager's Common Stock (the "Voyager Stock").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
December 13, 2004 ("Merger Agreement"), Voyager will be merged with VEL
Acquisition Corp., a Texas corporation ("Merger Sub"), which is an indirect
subsidiary of the Company.
WHEREAS, upon the completion of the merger, the parties desire to
terminate Best's employment relationship with Voyager and to enter into a
consulting relationship with the Company and Voyager upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the Consulting Agreement and to bind Best to certain
restrictive covenants in favor of the Company and Voyager as set forth in this
Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement (the "Non-Compete
Agreement").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and agreements
contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as
follows:
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1. The execution and delivery of this Non-Compete Agreement and the
Consulting Agreement is a precondition to the merger of Voyager with the
Merger Sub in accordance with the Merger Agreement. This Non-Compete
Agreement shall only become effective at the "Effective Time," as defined
in the Merger Agreement (the "Effective Date"). In the event that the
merger does not close by such time as contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, the Non-Compete Agreement shall terminate and become void.
2. Best and the Company acknowledge and agree that this Non-Compete
Agreement is ancillary to the Merger Agreement and the Consulting
Agreement to the fullest extent permitted under Texas Business and
Commercial Code 15.50-.52, and is intended to be enforceable to the
fullest extent of Texas law, which the parties agree shall govern.
3. Best acknowledges that he has been exposed to, and has knowledge of
certain trade secrets and confidential business information owned by
Voyager as a result of his employment with Voyager Additionally, the
Company and Voyager will provide Best with trade secrets and confidential
business information of the Company, Voyager and their affiliates in the
future as a result of his performing services under the Consulting
Agreement and, to the extent that he becomes a member of the Board of
Directors of the Company, his duties as a director (collectively, the
"Confidential Information").
4. Best agrees that he will not disclose the Confidential Information or use
it in any way, except on behalf of the Company and Voyager, whether or
not such Confidential Information is produced by Best's own efforts. Best
further agrees, upon termination of the Consulting Agreement, promptly to
deliver to the Company all Confidential Information, whether or not such
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Confidential Information is produced by Best's own efforts, and to
refrain from making, retaining or distributing copies thereof.
5. Best agrees that, during the term of the Consulting Agreement and for a
period of three (3) years after the Effective Date, he will not, directly
or indirectly (including but not limited through R. Best Associates,
Inc., a subsidiary of R. Best Associates, Inc. or an entity in which
Best, R. Best Associates, Inc. or a subsidiary of R. Best Associates,
Inc. is a controlling stakeholder), engage or participate in: (i) any
capacity, anywhere in the United States, for or on behalf of any person
or entity that is engaged in a business that is Competitive to the
business operated by Voyager or in which Voyager has currently planned to
engage; (ii) recruiting or soliciting any person to leave his or her
employment with the Company or Voyager; and (iii) hiring or engaging any
person who is or was an employee of Voyager from Closing through and
including the time of such hiring or engagement.
6. For purposes of determining whether a person or entity is engaged in a
business that is Competitive to the business operated by Voyager, it is
understood and agreed that Voyager is, or has plans to be, engaged,
throughout the Unites States, in the business of: (i) developing,
marketing, and selling reading and math-related materials for use by
students in grades K-12; and (ii) developing, marketing, and selling
programs that are designed to enhance the ability of teachers and school
districts to teach reading to students in grades K-12.
7. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that Mr. Best
may own less than 5% of the stock of a publicly owned company that is
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engaged in a business that is Competitive to the business operated by
Voyager without violating this Agreement. Additionally, it is understood
and agreed that Mr. Best may continue his involvement with GlobalEd
Holdings Ltd. and EdCollege, Inc. to the extent that those entities, and
any employees or affiliates thereof, do not engage in the business of:
(i) developing, marketing, or selling reading and math-related materials
for use by students in grades K-12; (ii) developing, marketing, or
selling any courses, products or services substantially similar to the
"Reading for Understanding" and "Foundations of Reading" programs
currently offered by Voyager to be used by administrators or teachers in
grades K-12; and (iii) developing, marketing, or selling programs for any
reading based curriculum to those customers who are currently customers
of VoyagerU, a division of Voyager.
8. Best agrees, upon termination of the Consulting Agreement, promptly to
deliver to the Company all files, books, documents, computer disks or
tapes, and other property prepared on behalf of the Company or Voyager or
purchased with Company or Voyager funds and to refrain from making,
retaining or distributing copies thereof.
9. In the event of any breach of this NonCompete Agreement by Best, the
Company shall notify Best of such breach in writing and Best shall have
30 days thereafter to cure such breach. If such breach continues after
such 30 days, the Company shall have all the remedies provided in this
section. In the event of a breach of this Non-Compete Agreement, the
Company and Voyager shall be entitled to recover as remedy all damages
available under the Common Law and the law of the jurisdiction under
whose law the matter is considered, including, without limitation, lost
profits. Best acknowledges that a breach of this Non-Compete Agreement
will cause irreparable injury to both the Company and Voyager. Best
further acknowledges that the Company's and Voyager's remedies at law
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will be inadequate in case of any such breach, and that the Company and
Voyager will be entitled to preliminary injunctive relief and other
injunctive relief in case of any such breach, in addition to any provable
damages suffered. No remedy conferred upon Company or Voyager under this
NonCompete Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any other available
remedy or remedies, but each and every such remedy shall be cumulative
and shall be in addition to every other remedy given under this
NonCompete Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or
by statute. The prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonably
attorneys' fees and costs incurred in any such litigation.
10. Whenever possible, each provision of this Non-Compete Agreement will be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable
law, but if any provision of this Non-Compete Agreement is held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law
or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other
jurisdiction, and this Non-Compete Agreement will be reformed, construed
and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. If any court
determines that any provision of this Non-Compete Agreement is
unenforceable for any reason and therefore acts to reduce the scope or
duration of such provision, as the provision, in its reduced form, shall
then be enforceable.
11. Best represents to the Company and Voyager that he is not currently bound
by any agreements with any third parties which may restrict or hinder him
from the performance of his obligations hereunder to the Company.
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12. This Non-Compete Agreement does not create an obligation on the part of
the Company or Voyager or any other person to maintain in force the
Consulting Agreement. The Company may exercise its rights regarding
termination thereunder without regard to the existence and terms of this
Non-Compete Agreement.
13. This Non-Compete Agreement shall survive the termination of the
Consulting Agreement regardless of the manner of such termination and
shall be binding upon Best's heirs, executors and administrators.
14. This Non-Compete Agreement is assignable by the Company and Voyager and
inures to the benefit of the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliated
corporations and assignees.
15. This Non-Compete Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and shall be deemed to
have been made in Texas.
16. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to its subject matter, supersedes any prior communication or
understanding with respect thereto and no modification or waiver of any
provision hereof shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by the
parties.
17. Best acknowledges and agrees that he has consulted with legal counsel of
his choosing with regard to the enforceability and conformance with Texas
law of each provision of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Best has duly executed this Agreement under seal as of the
13th day of December, 2004.
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Witness Signature Xxxxx Xxxx, for himself
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
------------------------------------
By Xxxxx Xxxx
Voyager Expanded Learning, Inc,
being hereunto duly authorized
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
By Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
ProQuest Company,
being hereunto duly authorized
------------------------------------
By
VEL Acquisition Corp.
being hereunto duly authorized
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