EXHIBIT 10.8
AMERICAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made and entered into effective
as of January 1, 2003 between American Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxx Xxxxxxxx (the "Executive").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that the future growth,
profitability and success of the Company's business will be substantially and
materially enhanced by the employment of the Executive by the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive and the
Executive has indicated his willingness to provide his services to the Company,
on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, on the basis of the foregoing premises and in
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ the
Executive and the Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company, on the
terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth. The Executive shall
serve as the Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and, in such
capacity, shall report directly to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and
shall have such duties as are typically performed by the Chief Technology
Officer of a corporation, together with such additional duties, commensurate
with the Executive's position as the Chief Technology Officer of the Company, as
may be assigned to the Executive from time to time by the Company's Chief
Executive Officer. The principal location of the Executive's employment shall be
at the Company's principal executive office located in Minnetonka, Minnesota,
although the Executive understands and agrees that he may be required to travel
from time to time for Company business reasons.
Section 2. Term. Unless terminated pursuant to Section 6
hereof, the Executive's employment hereunder shall commence on the date hereof
and shall continue during the period ending on the second anniversary of the
date hereof (the "Initial Term"). Thereafter, the Executive's employment term
shall extend automatically for consecutive periods of one year unless either
party shall provide notice of termination not less than sixty (60) days prior to
an anniversary date of this Agreement. The Initial Term, together with any
extension pursuant to this
Section 2, is referred to herein as the "Employment Term." The Employment Term
shall terminate upon any termination of the Executive's employment pursuant to
Section 6.
Section 3. Compensation. During the Employment Term, the
Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation and benefits:
(a) Salary. As compensation for the performance of the
Executive's services hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Executive a base
salary (the "Salary") of $215,000 per annum with increases, if any, as may be
approved in writing by the Company's Chief Executive Officer or Board of
Directors. The Salary shall be payable in accordance with the customary payroll
practices of the Company as the same shall exist from time to time. In no event
shall the Salary be decreased during the Employment Term.
(b) Bonus. During the Employment Term, in addition to Salary,
the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such bonus plans as may be
adopted from time by the Board of Directors for other officers of the Company
(the "Bonus") for each such calendar year ending during the Employment Period;
provided that, unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise, the Executive
must be employed on the last day of such calendar year in order to receive the
Bonus attributable thereto. The Executive's entitlement to the Bonus for any
particular calendar year shall be based on the attainment of performance
objectives established by the Board of Directors in any such bonus plan.
(c) Benefits. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
in addition to the Salary and Bonus, if any, the Executive shall be entitled
during the Employment Term to participate in health, insurance, retirement,
disability, automobile and other benefit programs provided to other officers of
the Company on terms no less favorable than those available to the other
officers of the Company. The Executive shall also be entitled to the same number
of vacation days, holidays, sick days and other benefits as are generally
allowed to other senior executives of the Company in accordance with the
Company's policies in effect from time to time.
(d) Stock Options. The Executive shall be granted stock
options (the "Options") to acquire 200,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par
value per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") at a price equal to Fair
Market Value in effect on the Price Date. All of the terms and conditions
relating to the Option, including the vesting and expiration dates, are set
forth in the Stock Option Agreements executed by the Company and the Executive
(the "Stock Option Agreements").
Section 4. Exclusivity. During the Employment Term, the
Executive shall devote his full time to the business of the
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Company and its subsidiaries, shall faithfully serve the Company and its
subsidiaries, shall in all respects conform to and comply with the lawful and
reasonable directions and instructions given to him by the Chief Executive
Officer or the Board of Directors in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the
Company and its subsidiaries and shall not engage in any other business
activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit,
except that the Executive may (i) participate in the activities of professional
trade organizations related to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries,
(ii) engage in personal investing activities and (iii) serve on the board of
directors of not more than two (2) other companies whose businesses are not in
competition with the business interests of the Company, provided that the
activities set forth in these clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), either singly or in
the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the services to be
provided by the Executive hereunder.
Section 5. Reimbursement for Expenses. During the Employment
Term, the Executive is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in the discharge
of the services to be performed hereunder, including expenses for travel,
entertainment, lodging and similar items in accordance with the Company's
expense reimbursement policy, as the same may be modified by the Company from
time to time. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all such proper
expenses upon presentation by the Executive of itemized accounts of such
expenditures in accordance with the financial policy of the Company, as in
effect from time to time.
Section 6. Termination and Default.
(a) Death. The Executive's employment shall automatically
terminate upon his death and upon such event, the Executive's estate shall be
entitled to receive the amounts specified in Section 6(e) below.
(b) Disability. If the Executive is unable to perform the
duties required of him under this Agreement because of illness, incapacity, or
physical or mental disability, the Employment Term shall continue and the
Company shall pay all compensation required to be paid to the Executive
hereunder, unless the Executive is disabled such that the Executive would be
entitled to receive disability benefits under the Company's long-term disability
plan, or if no such plan exists, the Executive is unable to perform the duties
required of him under this Agreement for an aggregate of 180 days (whether or
not consecutive) during any 12-month period during the term of this Agreement,
in which event the Executive's employment shall terminate.
(c) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment at any time, with or without Cause. In the event of
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termination pursuant to this Section 6(c) for Cause (as defined below), the
Company shall deliver to the Executive written notice setting forth the basis
for such termination, which notice shall specifically set forth the nature of
the Cause which is the reason for such termination. Termination of the
Executive's employment hereunder shall be effective upon delivery of such notice
of termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's failure (except where due to a disability contemplated by subsection
(b) hereof), neglect or refusal to perform his duties hereunder which failure,
neglect or refusal shall not have been corrected by the Executive within 30 days
of receipt by the Executive of written notice from the Company of such failure,
neglect or refusal, which notice shall specifically set forth the nature of said
failure, neglect or refusal, (ii) any willful or intentional act of the
Executive that has the effect of injuring the reputation or business of the
Company or its affiliates in any material respect; (iii) any continued or
repeated absence from the Company, unless such absence is (A) approved or
excused by the President or Chief Executive Officer or (B) is the result of the
Executive's illness, disability or incapacity (in which event the provisions of
Section 6(b) hereof shall control); (iv) use of illegal drugs by the Executive
or repeated drunkenness; (v) conviction of the Executive for the commission of a
felony; or (vi) the commission by the Executive of an act of fraud or
embezzlement against the Company.
(d) Resignation. The Executive shall have the right to
terminate his employment at any time by giving notice of his resignation.
(e) Payments. In the event that the Executive's employment
terminates for any reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive all amounts
and benefits accrued but unpaid hereunder through the date of termination in
respect of Salary or unreimbursed expenses, including accrued and unused
vacation. In addition, in the event the Executive's employment is terminated by
the Company without Cause, whether during or upon expiration of the current term
of this Agreement, in addition to the amounts specified in the foregoing
sentence, (i) the Executive shall continue to receive the Salary (less any
applicable withholding or similar taxes) at the rate in effect hereunder on the
date of such termination periodically, in accordance with the Company's
prevailing payroll practices, for a period of twelve (12) months following the
date of such termination (the "Severance Term") and (ii) to the extent
permissible under the Company's health and welfare plans, the Executive shall
continue to receive any health and welfare benefits provided to him as of the
date of such termination in accordance with Section 3(c) hereof during the
Severance Term, on the same basis and at the same cost as during the Employment
Term. Further, in the event the Executive's employment is terminated without
Cause by reason of the Company having notified the Executive that this Agreement
will not be
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extended pursuant to Section 2, the Executive shall be entitled to receive a
pro-rated amount of the Bonus in a lump sum based on the Executive's period of
employment during the calendar year in which such termination occurs (less any
applicable withholding or similar taxes). Following the end of the Severance
Term, the Executive shall be entitled to elect health care continuation coverage
permitted under Section 601 through 608 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), as if his employment had then
terminated. In the event the Executive accepts other employment or engages in
his own business prior to the last date of the Severance Term, the Executive
shall forthwith notify the Company and the Company shall be entitled to set off
from amounts and benefits due the Executive under this Section 6(e) (other than
in respect of the Bonus) the amounts paid to and benefits received by the
Executive in respect of such other employment or business activity. Amounts owed
by the Company in respect of the Salary, Bonus or reimbursement for expenses
under the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall, except as otherwise set forth in
this Section 6(e), be paid promptly upon any termination. The payments and
benefits to be provided to the Executive as set forth in this Section 6(e) in
the event the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause:
(i) shall be lieu of any and all benefits otherwise provided under any severance
pay policy, plan or program maintained from time to time by the Company for its
employees, and (ii) shall not be paid to the extent that Executive's employment
is terminated following a Change in Control under circumstances entitling the
Executive to the benefits described in Section 6(f).
(f) Change in Control Benefit. In the event that the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the
Executive for Good Reason, as defined below, during the 12-month period
immediately following a Change of Control, as defined below, whether during or
upon expiration of the current term of this Agreement: (i) the Company shall pay
to the Executive all amounts and benefits accrued but unpaid hereunder through
the date of termination in respect of Salary or unreimbursed expenses, including
accrued and unused vacation (less any applicable withholding or similar taxes),
(ii) all unvested shares that are subject to the Option shall become immediately
vested and exercisable as set forth in the Stock Option Agreement, (iii) the
Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum payment equal to his Salary at the
rate in effect hereunder on the date of such termination, plus his target Bonus
in an amount equal to 40% of his Salary for the year in which the Change of
Control occurs (less any applicable withholding or similar taxes), and (iv) to
the extent permissible under the Company's health and welfare plans, the
Executive shall continue to receive, at the Company's cost, any health and
welfare benefits provided to him as of the date of such termination for the
12-month period following his termination of employment. Following the end of
the 12-month period described in clause (v)
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of the preceding sentence, the Executive shall be entitled to elect health care
continuation coverage permitted under Sections 601 through 608 of ERISA as if
his employment with the Company then terminated.
(g) Gross-Up Payment. If the Executive becomes entitled to payments and
benefits following a Change in Control under Section 6(f) or the vesting of the
Options accelerate following a Change in Control as provided in the Stock Option
Agreements, the Company will cause its independent auditors promptly to review,
at the Company's sole expense, the applicability of Code Section 4999 to any
payment or distribution of any type by the Company to or for the Executive's
benefit, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreements or otherwise (the "Total
Payments"). If the auditor determines that the Total Payments result in an
excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 or any comparable state or local law, or
any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax,
together with any such interest and penalties, are collectively referred to as
the "Excise Tax"), the Company will make an additional cash payment (a "Gross-Up
Payment") to the Executive within 10 days after such determination equal to an
amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any
interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise
Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive would retain an amount of
the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Total Payments.
For purposes of the foregoing determination, the Executive's tax rate will be
deemed to be the highest statutory marginal state and federal tax rate (on a
combined basis) then in effect. If no determination by the Company's auditors is
made prior to the time the Executive is required to file a tax return reflecting
the Total Payments, the Executive will be entitled to receive from the Company a
Gross-Up Payment calculated on the basis of the Excise Tax the Executive
reported in such tax return, within 10 days after the later of the date on which
the Executive files such tax return or the date on which the Executive provides
a copy thereof to the Company. In all events, if any tax authority determines
that a greater Excise Tax should be imposed upon the Total Payments than is
determined by the Company's independent auditors or reflected in the Executive's
tax return pursuant to this Section 6(g), the Executive will be entitled to
receive from the Company the full Gross-Up Payment calculated on the basis of
the amount of Excise Tax determined to be payable by such tax authority within
10 days after the Executive notifies the Company of such determination.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Change of Control" shall
mean:
(i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within
the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"))
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(a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more (on a fully diluted basis) of
either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, taking
into account as outstanding for this purpose such common stock issuable upon the
exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt,
and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such common stock (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided,
however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions
shall not constitute a Change of Control: (x) any acquisition by the Company or
any "affiliate" of the Company, within the meaning of 17 C.F.R. Section 230.405
(an "Affiliate"), (y) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company,
(z) any acquisition by any corporation or business entity pursuant to a
transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (ii) of
this Section 6(f) (persons and entities described in clauses (x), (y) and (z)
being referred to herein as "Permitted Holders"); or
(ii) The consummation of a reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company (a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless,
following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities
immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case
may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including,
without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the
Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may
be, and (B) no Person (excluding any Permitted Holder) beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, 50% or more (on a fully diluted basis) of, respectively,
the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from
such Business Combination, taking into account as outstanding for this purpose
such common stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the
conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right
to acquire such common stock, or the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such
ownership existed prior to the
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Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were
members of the incumbent Board of Directors of the Company at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination; or
(iii) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
(iv) The sale of at least 80% of the assets of the Company to
an unrelated party, or completion of a transaction having a similar effect; or
(v) The individuals who on the date of this Agreement
constitute the Board of Directors thereafter cease to constitute at least a
majority thereof; provided that any person becoming a member of the Board of
Directors subsequent to the date of this Agreement and whose election or
nomination was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors who
then comprised the Board of Directors immediately prior to such vote shall be
considered a member of the Board of Directors on the date of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean,
without the Executive's prior written consent, (i) a substantial diminution in
the Executive's authority, duties or responsibilities as in effect prior to the
Change of Control, (ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's base
Salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control or as thereafter
increased, (iii) the failure by the Company to cover the Executive under
employee benefit plans that, in the aggregate, provide substantially similar
benefits to the Executive and/or his family and dependents at a substantially
similar total cost to the Executive (e.g., premiums, deductibles, co-pays, out
of pocket maximums, required contributions, taxes and the like) relative to the
benefits and total costs under such benefit plans in which the Executive (and/or
his family or dependents) was participating at any time during the 90-day period
immediately preceding the Change of Control, or (iv) the Company's requiring the
Executive to be based at any office or location that is more than fifty (50)
miles further from the office or location thereof immediately preceding a Change
in Control; provided, however, Good Reason shall not include any of the
circumstances or events described herein unless the Executive has first provided
written notice of such circumstance or event and the Company has not corrected
such circumstance or event within thirty (30) days of receipt by the Company of
such written notice from the Executive.
(h) Survival of Operative Sections. Upon any termination of
the Executive's employment, the provisions of Sections 6(e), 6(f), 6(g) and 7
through 18 of this Agreement shall survive to the extent necessary to give
effect to the provisions thereof.
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Section 7. Secrecy and Non-Competition.
(a) No Competing Employment. The Executive acknowledges that
the agreements and covenants contained in this Section 7 are essential to
protect the value of the Company's business and assets and by his current
employment with the Company and its subsidiaries, the Executive has obtained and
will obtain such knowledge, contacts, know-how, training and experience and
there is a substantial probability that such knowledge, know-how, contacts,
training and experience could be used to the substantial advantage of a
competitor of the Company and to the Company's substantial detriment. Therefore,
the Executive agrees that for the period commencing on the date of this
Agreement and ending on the first anniversary of the termination of the
Executive's employment hereunder (such period is hereinafter referred to as the
"Restricted Period") with respect to any State in which the Company is engaged
in business during the Employment Term, the Executive shall not participate or
engage, directly or indirectly, for himself or on behalf of or in conjunction
with any person, partnership, corporation or other entity, whether as an
employee, agent, officer, director, partner or joint venturer, in any business
activities if such activity consists of any activity undertaken or expressly
contemplated to be undertaken by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or by
the Executive at any time during the last three (3) years of the Employment
Term. The foregoing restrictions contained in this Section 7(a) shall not
prevent the Executive from accepting employment with a large diversified
organization with separate and distinct divisions that do not compete, directly
or indirectly, with the Company, so long as prior to accepting such employment
the Company receives separate written assurances from the prospective employer
and from the Executive, satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that the
Executive will not render any services, directly or indirectly, to any division
or business unit that competes, directly or indirectly, with the Company. During
the Restricted Period, the Executive will inform any new employer, prior to
accepting employment, of the existence of this Agreement and provide such
employer with a copy of this Agreement.
(b) Nondisclosure of Confidential Information. The Executive,
except in connection with his employment hereunder, shall not disclose to any
person or entity or use, either during the Employment Term or at any time
thereafter, any information not in the public domain or generally known in the
industry that the Company treats as confidential or proprietary, in any form,
acquired by the Executive while employed by the Company or any predecessor to
the Company's business or, if acquired following the Employment Term, such
information which, to the Executive's knowledge, has been acquired, directly or
indirectly, from any person or entity owing a duty of confidentiality to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, relating to the Company, its
subsidiaries or affiliates, including but not
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limited to information regarding customers, vendors, suppliers, trade secrets,
training programs, manuals or materials, technical information, contracts,
systems, procedures, mailing lists, know-how, trade names, improvements, price
lists, financial or other data (including the revenues, costs or profits
associated with any of the Company's products or services), business plans, code
books, invoices and other financial statements, computer programs, software
systems, databases, discs and printouts, plans (business, technical or
otherwise), customer and industry lists, correspondence, internal reports,
personnel files, sales and advertising material, telephone numbers, names,
addresses or any other compilation of information, written or unwritten, which
is or was used in the business of the Company or any subsidiaries or affiliates
thereof. The Executive agrees and acknowledges that all of such information, in
any form, and copies and extracts thereof, are and shall remain the sole and
exclusive property of the Company, and upon termination of his employment with
the Company, the Executive shall return to the Company the originals and all
copies of any such information provided to or acquired by the Executive in
connection with the performance of his duties for the Company, and shall return
to the Company all files, correspondence and/or other communications received,
maintained and/or originated by the Executive during the course of his
employment.
(c) No Interference. During the Restricted Period, the
Executive shall not, whether for his own account or for the account of any other
individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other business organization (other
than the Company), directly or indirectly solicit, endeavor to entice away from
the Company or its subsidiaries, or otherwise directly interfere with the
relationship of the Company or its subsidiaries with any person who, to the
knowledge of the Executive, is employed by or otherwise engaged to perform
services for the Company or its subsidiaries (including, but not limited to, any
independent sales representatives or organizations) or who is, or was within the
then most recent twelve-month period, a customer or client of the Company, its
predecessors or any of its subsidiaries. The placement of any general classified
or "help wanted" advertisements and/or general solicitations to the public at
large shall not constitute a violation of this Section 7(c) unless the
Executive's name is contained in such advertisements or solicitations.
(d) Inventions, etc. The Executive hereby sells, transfers and
assigns to the Company or to any person or entity designated by the Company all
of the entire right, title and interest of the Executive in and to all
inventions, ideas, disclosures and improvements, whether patented or unpatented,
and copyrightable material, made or conceived by the Executive, solely or
jointly, during his employment by the Company which relate to methods,
apparatus, designs, products, processes or devices, sold, leased, used or under
consideration or development
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by the Company, or which otherwise relate to or pertain to the business,
functions or operations of the Company or which arise from the efforts of the
Executive during the course of his employment for the Company. The Executive
shall communicate promptly and disclose to the Company, in such form as the
Company requests, all information, details and data pertaining to the
aforementioned inventions, ideas, disclosures and improvements; and the
Executive shall execute and deliver to the Company such formal transfers and
assignments and such other papers and documents as may be necessary or required
of the Executive to permit the Company or any person or entity designated by the
Company to file and prosecute the patent applications and, as to copyrightable
material, to obtain copyright thereof. Any invention relating to the business of
the Company and disclosed by the Executive within one year following the
termination of his employment with the Company shall be deemed to fall within
the provisions of this paragraph unless proved to have been first conceived and
made following such termination. The foregoing requirements of this Section 7(d)
shall not apply to any invention for which no equipment, supplies, facility or
trade secret information of the Company was used and which was developed
entirely on the Executive's own time, and (i) which does not relate directly to
the Company's business or to the Company's actual or demonstrably anticipated
research or development, or (ii) which does not result from any work the
Executive performed for the Company.
Section 8. Injunctive Relief. Without intending to limit the
remedies available to the Company, the Executive acknowledges that in the event
of a breach of any of the covenants contained in Section 7 hereof may result in
material irreparable injury to the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates for
which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of such a
breach or threat thereof, the Company shall be entitled to obtain a temporary
restraining order and/or a preliminary or permanent injunction, without the
necessity of proving irreparable harm or injury as a result of such breach or
threatened breach of Section 7 hereof, restraining the Executive from engaging
in activities prohibited by Section 7 hereof or such other relief as may be
required specifically to enforce any of the covenants in Section 7 hereof.
Section 9. Representations and Warranties of the Executive.
The Executive represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
(a) This Agreement, upon execution and delivery by the
Executive, will be duly executed and delivered by the Executive and (assuming
due execution and delivery hereof by the Company) will be the valid and binding
obligation of the Executive enforceable against the Executive in accordance with
its terms.
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(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby nor the performance of this
Agreement in accordance with its terms and conditions by the Executive (i)
requires the approval or consent of any governmental body or of any other person
or (ii) conflicts with or results in any breach or violation of, or constitutes
(or with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute) a default under, any
agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, permit or
governmental regulation applicable to the Executive. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Executive is not a party to any
non-competition, non-solicitation, no hire or similar agreement that restricts
in any way the Executive's ability to engage in any business or to solicit or
hire the employees of any person.
The representations and warranties of the Executive contained
in this Section 9 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 10. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The
Company represents and warrants to the Executive as follows:
(a) This Agreement, upon execution and delivery by the
Company, will be duly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming due
execution and delivery hereof by the Executive) will be the valid and binding
obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms.
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby nor the performance of this
Agreement in accordance with its terms and conditions by the Company (i)
requires the approval or consent of any governmental body or of any other person
or (ii) conflicts with or results in any breach or violation of, or constitutes
(or with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute) a default under, any
agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, permit or
governmental regulation applicable to the Company.
The representations and warranties of the Company contained in
this Section 10 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 11. Successors and Assigns; No Third-Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, but not
limited to, the Executive's heirs and the personal representatives of the
Executive's estate; provided, however, that neither party shall assign or
delegate any of the
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obligations created under this Agreement without the prior written consent of
the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the
unrestricted right to assign this Agreement and to delegate all or any part of
its obligations hereunder to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, but in such
event such assignee shall expressly assume all obligations of the Company
hereunder and the Company shall remain fully liable for the performance of all
of such obligations in the manner prescribed in this Agreement. Nothing in this
Agreement shall confer upon any person or entity not a party to this Agreement,
or the legal representatives of such person or entity, any rights or remedies of
any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 12. Waiver and Amendments. Any waiver, alteration,
amendment or modification of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be valid
only if made in writing and signed by the parties hereto; provided, however,
that any such waiver, alteration, amendment or modification is consented to on
the Company's behalf by the Board of Directors. No waiver by either of the
parties hereto of their rights hereunder shall be deemed to constitute a waiver
with respect to any subsequent occurrences or transactions hereunder unless such
waiver specifically states that it is to be construed as a continuing waiver.
Section 13. Severability and Governing Law. The Executive
acknowledges and agrees that the covenants set forth in Section 7 hereof are
reasonable and valid in geographical and temporal scope and in all other
respects. If any of such covenants or such other provisions of this Agreement
are found to be invalid or unenforceable by a final determination of a court of
competent jurisdiction (a) the remaining terms and provisions hereof shall be
unimpaired and (b) the invalid or unenforceable term or provision shall be
deemed replaced by a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that
comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term
or provision. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE
PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE OPTION UNDER SECTION 3(d) HEREOF SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 14. Notices.
(a) All communications under this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be delivered by hand or mailed by overnight courier or by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid:
(i) If to the Executive, at 0000 X'Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000 or at such other address as the Executive may have
furnished the Company in writing, and
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(ii) If to the Company, at 00000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000, marked for the attention of the Chief
Executive Officer,, or at such other address as it may have
furnished in writing to the Executive.
(b) Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given: if
delivered by hand, on the date of such delivery; if mailed by courier, on the
first business day following the date of such mailing; and if mailed by
registered or certified mail, on the third business day after the date of such
mailing.
Section 15. Section Headings. The headings of the sections and
subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be
deemed to constitute a part thereof, affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement or of any term or provision hereof.
Section 16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the
Exhibits hereto, constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the
parties hereto regarding the employment of the Executive. This Agreement
supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications,
understandings and agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter
of this Agreement.
Section 17. Severability. In the event that any part or parts
of this Agreement shall be held illegal or unenforceable by any court or
administrative body of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not
effect the remaining provisions of this Agreement which shall remain in full
force and effect.
Section 18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of
which together shall be considered one and the same agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.
AMERICAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
By:
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Name:
Title:
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Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
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