NONCOMPETITION AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.5
NONCOMPETITION
AND
CONFIDENTIALITY
AGREEMENT
THIS
NONCOMPETITION AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is
made on this 8th day of August 2007, by and among Exhibit
Merchandising LLC,
an Ohio
limited liability company (“EM”),
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx (“Xxxxx”), Xxx X. Xxxxxxxx (“Xxxxxxxx”), and Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
(“Xxxxxx”) (collectively the “Restricted Parties or individually, a “Restricted
Party”), on the one hand, and Tix
Corporation,
a
Delaware corporation ("TIX"),
on
the other hand.
WHEREAS,
EM has entered into that certain Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase
Agreement”),
dated
as of August 6, 2007, by and between EM, the members of EM, and
TIX;
WHEREAS,
TIX uses Confidential Information (as defined herein) in connection with the
operation of its business;
WHEREAS,
EM intends to assign its Confidential Information to TIX pursuant to the terms
of the Purchase Agreement;
WHEREAS,
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx (as trustee of the Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Trust) are members
of EM or shareholders of one of the members and by reason thereof have obtained
knowledge of the Confidential Information;
WHEREAS,
TIX and the Restricted Parties recognize that the Restricted Parties have
valuable knowledge and expertise with respect to the business of EM, and will
have valuable knowledge and expertise with respect to the business of TIX,
which, if used to compete against TIX, would have a material adverse effect
on
TIX;
WHEREAS,
TIX desires to obtain a commitment from the Restricted Parties to refrain from
competing with TIX and its Affiliates on the terms and conditions set forth
in
this Agreement;
WHEREAS,
it is an inducement for, as well as a condition to, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement that the Restricted Parties
enter into this Agreement, and
WHEREAS,
the Restricted Parties will receive substantial and valuable consideration
upon
the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase
Agreement,
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants, agreements
and understandings contained herein and for good and valuable consideration,
the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized terms used herein without being otherwise defined shall have the
meanings assigned thereto in the Purchase Agreement.
“Competing
Enterprise”
shall
mean any Person engaged in or proposing to engage in a business, enterprise
or
operation that is directly or indirectly engaged in product merchandise
development and sales related to museum exhibits (“Business”), provided that a
Person shall not be deemed to be a Competing Enterprise if the Restricted Party
has no involvement whatsoever in overseeing, managing, working as an employee,
consulting or otherwise providing assistance for or to the portion of such
Person’s business that engages in the Business.
“Confidential
Information”
shall
mean all proprietary information, trade secrets or know-how, including, but
not
limited to, research, product plans, business policies and practices, products
and supplier information, customer lists and customers, markets, software,
developments, inventions, business and marketing plans, finances or other
nonpublic business information considered by TIX to be confidential whether
or
not in writing, whether or not created by a Restricted Party, and whether or
not
formally marked or identified as confidential. Confidential Information does
not
include any of the foregoing items which is independently developed by a
Restricted Party other than through knowledge or use of the Confidential
Information or has become publicly known and made generally available through
no
wrongful act of a Restricted Party or of others who a Restricted Party had
reason to believe were under confidentiality obligations as to the item or
items
involved.
“Restricted
Period”
shall
mean the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the earlier of
(i)
the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, or (ii) the date on which TIX or
its
successor no longer operates the Business.
“Territory”
shall
mean the United States, including its territories and possessions, and
specifically including all counties of California (Alameda, Alpine, Xxxxxx,
Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Xxxxx,
Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Xxxx, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin,
Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange,
Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Xxxxxx, San Bernardino, San Diego,
San Francisco, San Xxxxxxx, San Xxxx Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Xxxxxxx, Santa
Xxxxx, Santa Xxxx, Xxxxxx, Sierra, Siskiyou, Xxxxxx, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter,
Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, and Yuba).
2. Acknowledgements.
The
Restricted Parties acknowledge that:
(a) the
agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement are essential to protect
the value of TIX’s business, assets and goodwill;
(b) the
Confidential Information could be used to the substantial advantage of a
competitor of TIX and to TIX’s substantial detriment;
(c) the
Restricted Parties are entitled to receive valuable consideration pursuant
to
the Purchase Agreement, a portion of which is being paid in consideration of
the
covenants and agreements of the Restricted Parties set forth in this
Agreement;
(d) TIX
would
not have entered into and consummated the Purchase Agreement if the Restricted
Parties had not entered into this Agreement,
(e) the
terms
of this Agreement are fair and reasonable and are reasonably required for the
protection of the interests of TIX (including, without limitation, its business
and goodwill) , and the interests of TIX’s stockholders, officers, directors,
and employees;
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(f) each
of
TIX and the Restricted Parties have consulted with legal counsel concerning
this
Agreement, and such counsel has reviewed this Agreement, or a Restricted Party
has had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel concerning this Agreement
and has elected not to do so; and
(g) the
parties intend that the agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement
be
enforceable and that it would be grossly inequitable if a court or judicial
tribunal were not to enforce such covenants and agreements to the fullest extent
provided herein.
3. Noncompetition.
(a) During
the Restricted Period, each of the Restricted Parties agrees that each
Restricted Party shall not anywhere in the Territory, directly or indirectly,
(i) own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in
the
ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner
(including, but not limited to, holding the positions of stockholder (except
as
provided below)) with, any Competing Enterprise, (ii) provided that none of
the
foregoing restrictions shall preclude a Restricted Party from (A) being employed
by a company that provides marketing, information technology, engineering,
business consulting or other services to clientele that may include, among
others, Competing Enterprises so long as such Restricted Party does not, during
the Restricted Period, personally provide such services or otherwise have direct
involvement with any client that is a Competing Enterprise or (B) participating
in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or being connected with
a
subsidiary, division or other business unit of a Competing Enterprise if that
subsidiary, division or other business unit does not directly or indirectly
engage in the Business activities and such Restricted Party has no involvement
whatsoever in overseeing, managing, working as an employee, consulting or
otherwise providing assistance to any portion of the Competing Enterprise's
other subsidiaries, divisions or other business units that do engage in such
activities. Notwithstanding the foregoing this Agreement shall not restrict
a
Restricted Party or any Affiliate of a Restricted Party to enter into a contract
to operate and supply the museum store at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, or
any
other museum or location within the Arab Republic of Egypt.
(b) Section
3(a) shall not be deemed to prohibit the ownership by a Restricted Party, in
the
aggregate with any Restricted Party “affiliates” and “associates” (as each such
term is defined in the rules promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933),
of
less than 5% of any class of securities listed on a national securities exchange
or traded in the Nasdaq stock market of a Person engaged, directly or
indirectly, in a Competing Enterprise (it being understood that, if any such
interests in any Person are owned by an investment vehicle or other entity
in
which Restricted Party owns an equity interest (an “Investment Vehicle”), a
portion of the interests in such Person owned by the Investment Vehicle shall
be
attributed to such Restricted Party, such portion to be determined by applying
the percentage of the equity interest in the Investment Vehicle owned by such
Restricted Party to the interests in such Person owned by such Investment
Vehicle).
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4. Nondisclosure
of Confidential Information.
(a) Each
Restricted Party agrees that, between the Closing Date and the end of the
Restricted Period, such Restricted Party shall, hold in strictest confidence,
and not use, except for the benefit of TIX or disclose to any Person (other
than
TIX or persons in a confidential relationship with it, such as legal or
financial advisors) any Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if a Restricted Party is required by law or subpoena or similar process to
disclose Confidential Information, such Restricted Party will (i) promptly
notify TIX in writing of such required disclosure so TIX may seek a protective
order or other appropriate remedy and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts
to preserve the confidentiality of Confidential Information, including by
cooperating with TIX to obtain a protective order or other reasonable assurance
that confidential treatment will be accorded Confidential Information. If a
Restricted Party is legally compelled to disclose Confidential Information,
such
Restricted Party will disclose only that information which counsel deems
reasonably necessary to comply with such legal requirement.
5. Remedies.
Each
Restricted Party agrees that any breach of the terms of this Agreement would
result in irreparable injury and damage to TIX for which TIX would have no
adequate remedy at law. Each Restricted Party therefore also agrees that in
the
event of any such breach or any threat of breach, in addition to any other
remedies available, TIX shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and
restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or
continued breach by Restricted Party (including any and all Persons acting
for
or with such Restricted Party), without having to prove damages or post a bond
or other security, and to recover all costs and expenses incurred by TIX, in
addition to any other remedies to which TIX may be entitled at law or in equity.
Each Restricted Party specifically recognizes and acknowledges that TIX or
its
Affiliates shall have the right to enforce the terms of this Agreement in its
own name, with or without the other entities’ involvement. Should any party
hereto, or any heir, personal representative, successor or assign of any party
hereto, resort to legal proceedings in connection with this Agreement, the
party
or parties prevailing in such legal proceedings shall be entitled, in addition
to such other relief as may be granted, to recover its or their reasonable
attorneys’ fees and costs in such legal proceedings from the non-prevailing
party or parties. The terms of this Section 5 shall not prevent TIX from
pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach
hereof, including, but not limited to, the recovery of damages from the
Restricted Parties. Each Restricted Party further agrees that the provisions
of
the covenants set forth in this Agreement are reasonable and valid.
6. Notices.
Any
notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any
party hereto to any other party shall be in writing and shall be given (and
will
be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by
electronic facsimile transmission, cable, telegram, telex or other standard
forms of written telecommunications, by overnight courier or by registered
or
certified mail, postage prepaid,
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If
to TIX, to:
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Tix
Corporation
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00000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
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Xxxxxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
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Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Tel:
(000) 000-0000
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Fax:
(000) 000-0000
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with
a copy to:
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Xxxx
& Xxxxx
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0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
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Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
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Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Tel:
(000) 000-0000
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Fax:
(000) 000-0000
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If
to EM, to:
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Exhibit
Merchandising LLC
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00000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxx X
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Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
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Attention:
Xxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Tel:
(000) 000-0000
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Fax:
(000) 000-0000
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with
a copy to:
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Stassburger,
XxXxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxx P.C.
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Four
Gateway Center
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000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
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Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
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Attention:
H. Yale Xxxxxxx
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Tel:
(000) 000-0000
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Fax:
(000) 000-0000
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and
if to
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx or Xxxxxx, addressed to the applicable address set forth on
the
signature page of this Agreement, or at such other address for a party as shall
be specified by like notice.
7. Binding
Effect; Assignment.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of TIX, and
its
successors and assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Restricted
Parties. Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder shall be
assignable or transferable by a Restricted Party, or such Party’s beneficiaries,
distributees or legal representatives.
8. Modification
and Waiver.
No
provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such
waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by
Restricted Parties, and TIX.
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9. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous
agreements, written or oral, between them as to such subject
matter.
10. Headings.
The
headings contained herein are solely for the purpose of reference, are not
part
of this Agreement and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation
of this Agreement.
11. Severability.
In the
event that any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or
in
any other instrument referred to herein, shall, for any reason, be held to
be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then to the maximum extent
permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not
affect any other provision of this Agreement or any other such instrument.
Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision,
the
parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement
a
provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as
may
be possible and be valid and enforceable. If any of the covenants of this
Agreement are held to be unreasonable, arbitrary, or against public policy,
such
covenants will be considered divisible with respect to scope, time, and
geographic area, and in such lesser scope, time and geographic area, will be
effective, binding and enforceable against the applicable Restricted
Party.
12. Counterparts.
For the
convenience of the parties, any number of counterparts of this Agreement may
be
executed by any one or more parties hereto, and each such executed counterpart
shall be, and shall be deemed to be, an original, but all of which shall
constitute, and shall be deemed to constitute, in the aggregate but one and
the
same instrument
13. Governing
Law; Jurisdiction.
(a) This
Agreement and the legal relations between the parties hereto shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without
regard to its conflict of laws rules.
(b) Each
of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit
to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of California and the
United States of America located in Los Angeles in the State of California
(the
“California Courts”) for any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and agrees not to
commence any action or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts),
and
further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by
U.S.
registered mail to his or its respective address set forth in Section 8 hereof
shall be effective service of process for any action or proceeding brought
against it in any such court. Nothing herein shall in any way be deemed to
limit
the ability of any party hereto (i) to serve any such legal process, summons,
notices and documents in any other manner permitted by applicable law, (ii)
to
obtain jurisdiction over the other parties hereto in such other manner, as
may
be permitted by applicable law, or (c) to bring any action or proceeding for
enforcement of a judgment entered by an California Court in any other
jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising
out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in a California
Court, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees
not
to plead or claim in any such court that any such action or proceeding brought
in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as
of
the date first above written.
TIX
CORPORATION
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By: | ||
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Title:
Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT
MERCHANDISING LLC
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By: | ||
Name:
Xxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Title:
President
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Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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Address:
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Xxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
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Address:
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Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Address:
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Signature
Page to
Noncompetition,
Confidentiality and Nonsolicitation Agreement