Exhibit 10.4
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") is made as of March 1, 2002 by Xxxx
Interactive Services, Inc., a Colorado corporation (the "Employer"), and Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, an individual resident in Los Angeles, California (the "Executive").
The parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
-----------
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings
specified or referred to in this Section 1.
"Agreement"--this Employment Agreement, as amended from time to time.
---------
"Basic Compensation"--Salary and Benefits.
------------------
"Benefits"--as defined in Section 3.1(b).
--------
"Board of Directors"--the board of directors of the Employer.
------------------
"Confidential Information"--any and all:
------------------------
(a) trade secrets concerning the business and affairs of the Employer or of its
subsidiaries, product specifications, data, know-how, formulae, compositions,
processes, designs, sketches, photographs, graphs, drawings, samples, inventions
and ideas, past, current, and planned research and development, current and
planned manufacturing or distribution methods and processes, customer lists,
current and anticipated customer requirements, price lists, market studies,
business plans, computer software and programs (including object code and source
code), computer software and database technologies, systems, structures, and
architectures (and related formulae, compositions, processes, improvements,
devices, know-how, inventions, discoveries, concepts, ideas, designs, methods
and information and any other information, however documented, that is a trade
secret;
(b) information concerning the business and affairs of the Employer or of its
subsidiaries (which includes historical financial statements, financial
projections and budgets, historical and projected sales, capital spending
budgets and plans, the names and backgrounds of key personnel, personnel
training and techniques and materials, however documented; and
(c) notes, analysis, compilations, studies, summaries, and other material
prepared by or for the Employer containing or based, in whole or in part, on any
information included in the foregoing.
"Disability"--as defined in Section 6.2.
----------
"Effective Date"--the date stated in the first paragraph of the Agreement.
--------------
"Employee Invention"--any idea, invention, technique, modification, process, or
------------------
improvement (whether patentable or not), any industrial design (whether
registerable or not), and any work of authorship (whether or not copyright
protection may be obtained for it) created, conceived, or developed by the
Executive, either solely or in conjunction with others, during the Employment
Period, or a period that includes a portion of the Employment Period, that
relates in any way to, or is useful in any manner in, the business then being
conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Employer, and any such item created
by the
Executive, either solely or in conjunction with others, following termination of
the Executive's employment with the Employer, that is based upon or uses
Confidential Information.
"Employment Period"--the term of the Executive's employment under this
-----------------
Agreement.
"Fiscal Year"--the Employer's fiscal year, as it exists on the Effective Date or
-----------
as changed from time to time.
"For cause"--as defined in Section 6.3.
---------
"Incentive Compensation"--as defined in Section 3.2.
----------------------
"Noncompetition Agreement"--as defined in Section 6.3.
------------------------
"Person"--any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation),
------
general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
estate, trust, association, organization, or governmental body.
"Post-Employment Period"--as defined in Section 8.2.
----------------------
"Proprietary Items"--as defined in Section 7.2(a)(iv).
-----------------
"Salary"--as defined in Section 3.1(a).
------
2. EMPLOYMENT TERMS AND DUTIES
---------------------------
2.1 EMPLOYMENT
The Employer hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts
employment by the Employer, providing services to Employer on such terms and
conditions as set forth in this Agreement.
2.2 TERM
Subject to the provisions of Section 6, the term of the Executive's employment
under this Agreement will be three years, beginning on the Effective Date and
ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date.
2.3 DUTIES
The Executive will have such duties as are assigned or delegated to the Board of
Directors and will serve as Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer of the
Employer. The Executive will devote approximately 80% of his business time,
attention, skill, and energy to the business of the Employer, will use his best
efforts to promote the success of the Employer's business, and will cooperate
fully with the Board of Directors in the advancement of the best interests of
the Employer. Nothing in this Section 2.3, however, will prevent the Executive
from engaging in additional activities that are not inconsistent with the
Executive's duties under this Agreement. Commencing in 2003, the percentage of
Executive's business time devoted to the Company may be decreased by up to 50%
by mutual agreement between Employer and Executive. In this event, an
appropriate adjustment shall be made in Executive's Salary.
3. COMPENSATION
------------
3.1 BASIC COMPENSATION
(A) Salary. The Executive will be paid an annual salary of $235,000, subject to
------
adjustment as provided below (the "Salary"), which will be payable in equal
periodic installments according to the Employer's customary payroll practices,
but no less frequently than monthly. The Salary will be reviewed by the Board
-2-
of Directors not less frequently than annually, and may be adjusted upward in
the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.
(B) Benefits. The Executive will, during the Employment Period, be permitted to
--------
participate in such pension, profit sharing, bonus, life insurance,
hospitalization, major medical, and other employee benefit plans of the Employer
that may be in effect from time to time, to the extent the Executive is eligible
under the terms of those plans (collectively, the "Benefits").
3.2 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
As additional compensation (the "Incentive Compensation") for the services to be
rendered by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, Executive shall receive a
cash bonus of up to 50% of Executive's Salary for the year, such bonus to be
based upon criteria to be established by the Board of Directors and to be paid
within sixty (60) days of the end of the Fiscal Year for which the bonus is
being paid.
4. FACILITIES AND EXPENSES
-----------------------
The Employer will furnish the Executive office space, equipment, supplies, and
such other facilities and personnel as the Employer deems necessary or
appropriate for the performance of the Executive's duties under this Agreement.
The Employer will pay the Executive's dues in such professional societies and
organizations as the Board of Directors of the Employer deems appropriate, and
will pay on behalf of the Executive (or reimburse the Executive for) reasonable
expenses incurred by the Executive at the request of, or on behalf of, the
Employer in the performance of the Executive's duties pursuant to this
Agreement, and in accordance with the Employer's employment policies, including
reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in attending conventions,
seminars, and other business meetings, in appropriate business entertainment
activities, and for promotional expenses. Employer will also pay Executive's
reasonable travel and living expenses incurred in connection with his travel to
and from Denver, Colorado to and from Executive's residence in California. The
Executive must file expense reports with respect to such expenses in accordance
with the Employer's policies.
5. VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS
----------------------
The Executive will be entitled to four weeks' paid vacation each Fiscal Year in
accordance with the vacation policies of the Employer in effect for its
executive officers from time to time. The Executive will also be entitled to the
paid holidays and other paid leave set forth in the Employer's policies.
Vacation days and holidays during any Fiscal Year that are not used by the
Executive during such Fiscal Year may not be used in any subsequent Fiscal Year.
6. TERMINATION
-----------
6.1 EVENTS OF TERMINATION
The Employment Period, the Executive's Basic Compensation and Incentive
Compensation, and any and all other rights of the Executive under this Agreement
or otherwise as an employee of the Employer will terminate (except as otherwise
provided in this Section 6):
(a) upon the death of the Executive;
(b) upon the disability of the Executive (as defined in Section 6.2) immediately
upon notice from either party to the other;
(c) for cause (as defined in Section 6.3), immediately upon notice from the
Employer to the Executive, or at such later time as such notice may specify;
-3-
(d) for good reason (as defined in Section 6.4) upon not less than thirty days'
prior notice from the Executive to the Employer; or
(e) for any reason other than as set forth in (a)-(d) above upon not less than
two (2) weeks' nor more than four (4) weeks' prior written notice by either
party.
6.2 DEFINITION OF DISABILITY
For purposes of Section 6.1, the Executive will be deemed to have a "disability"
if, for physical or mental reasons, the Executive is unable to perform the
essential functions of the Executive's duties under this Agreement for 120
consecutive days, or 180 days during any twelve-month period, as determined in
accordance with this Section 6.2. The disability of the Executive will be
determined by a medical doctor selected by written agreement of the Employer and
the Executive upon the request of either party by notice to the other. If the
Employer and the Executive cannot agree on the selection of a medical doctor,
each of them will select a medical doctor and the two medical doctors will
select a third medical doctor who will determine whether the Executive has a
disability. The determination of the medical doctor selected under this Section
6.2 will be binding on both parties. The Executive must submit to a reasonable
number of examinations by the medical doctor making the determination of
disability under this Section 6.2, and the Executive hereby authorizes the
disclosure and release to the Employer of such determination and all supporting
medical records. If the Executive is not legally competent, the Executive's
legal guardian or duly authorized attorney-in-fact will act in the Executive's
stead, under this Section 6.2, for the purposes of submitting the Executive to
the examinations, and providing the authorization of disclosure, required under
this Section 6.2.
6.3 DEFINITION OF "FOR CAUSE"
For purposes of Section 6.1, the phrase "for cause" means: (a) the Executive's
breach of this Agreement; (b) the Executive's failure to adhere to any written
Employer policy if the Executive has been given a reasonable opportunity to
comply with such policy or cure his failure to comply (which reasonable
opportunity must be granted during the ten-day period preceding termination of
this Agreement); (c) the appropriation (or attempted appropriation) of a
material business opportunity of the Employer, including attempting to secure or
securing any personal profit in connection with any transaction entered into on
behalf of the Employer; (d) the misappropriation (or attempted misappropriation)
of any of the Employer's funds or property; or (e) the conviction of, the
indictment for (or its procedural equivalent), or the entering of a guilty plea
or plea of no contest with respect to, a felony, the equivalent thereof, or any
other crime with respect to which imprisonment is a possible punishment.
6.4 DEFINITION OF "FOR GOOD REASON"
For purposes of Section 6.1, the phrase "for good reason" means any of the
following: (a) the Employer's material breach of this Agreement; (b) the
assignment of the Executive without his consent to a position, responsibilities,
or duties of a materially lesser status or degree of responsibility than his
position, responsibilities, or duties at the Effective Date; (c) the relocation
of the Employer's principal executive offices outside the metropolitan Denver,
Colorado area; or (d) the requirement by the Employer that the Executive be
based anywhere other than the Employer's principal executive offices without the
Executive's consent.
6.5 TERMINATION PAY
Effective upon the termination of this Agreement, the Employer will be obligated
to pay the Executive (or, in the event of his death, his designated beneficiary
as defined below) only such compensation as is provided in this Section 6.5, and
in lieu of all other amounts and in settlement and complete release of all
claims the Executive may have against the Employer. For purposes of this Section
6.5, the Executive's designated beneficiary will be such individual beneficiary
or trust, located at such address, as the Executive
-4-
may designate by notice to the Employer from time to time or, if the Executive
fails to give notice to the Employer of such a beneficiary, the Executive's
estate.
(A) Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. If the Executive terminates
--------------------------------------------
this Agreement for good reason, the Employer will pay the Executive (i) the
Executive's Salary for the remainder, if any, of the calendar month in which
such termination is effective and for nine (9) consecutive calendar months
thereafter, and (ii) that portion of the Executive's Incentive Compensation, if
any, for the Fiscal Year during which the termination is effective, prorated
through the date of termination.
(B) Termination by the Employer for Cause. If the Employer terminates this
-------------------------------------
Agreement for cause, the Executive will be entitled to receive his Salary only
through the date such termination is effective, but will not be entitled to any
Incentive Compensation for the Fiscal Year during which such termination occurs
or any subsequent Fiscal Year.
(C) Termination upon Disability. If this Agreement is terminated by either party
---------------------------
as a result of the Executive's disability, as determined under Section 6.2, the
Employer will pay the Executive his Salary through the remainder of the calendar
month during which such termination is effective and for the lesser of (i) six
(6) consecutive months thereafter, or (ii) the period until disability insurance
benefits commence under the disability insurance coverage furnished by the
Employer to the Executive.
(D) Termination upon Death. If this Agreement is terminated because of the
----------------------
Executive's death, the Executive will be entitled to receive his Salary through
the end of the calendar month in which his death occurs, and that part of the
Executive's Incentive Compensation, if any, for the Fiscal Year during which his
death occurs, prorated through the end of the calendar month during which his
death occurs.
(E) Termination Pursuant to Section 6.1(e). In the event that this Agreement is
--------------------------------------
terminated by Executive pursuant to Section 6.1(e), the Executive will be
entitled to receive his Salary only through the date such termination is
effective, but will not be entitled to any Incentive Compensation for the Fiscal
Year during which such termination occurs or any subsequent Fiscal Year.
In the event that this Agreement is terminated by Employer pursuant to Section
6.1(e), Employer will pay Executive (i) the Executive's salary for the
remainder, if any, of the calendar month in which such termination is effective
and for nine (9) calendar months thereafter, and (ii) that portion of the
Executive's Incentive Compensation, if any, for the Fiscal Year during which the
termination is effective, pro-rated through the date of termination.
(F) Benefits. The Executive's accrual of, or participation in plans providing
--------
for, the Benefits will cease at the effective date of the termination of this
Agreement, and the Executive will be entitled to accrued Benefits pursuant to
such plans only as provided in such plans.
7. NON-DISCLOSURE COVENANT; EMPLOYEE INVENTIONS
--------------------------------------------
7.1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS BY THE EXECUTIVE
The Executive acknowledges that (a) during the Employment Period and as a part
of his employment, the Executive will be afforded access to Confidential
Information; (b) public disclosure of such Confidential Information could have
an adverse effect on the Employer and its business; (c) because the Executive
possesses substantial technical expertise and skill with respect to the
Employer's business, the Employer desires to obtain exclusive ownership of each
Employee Invention, and the Employer will be at a substantial competitive
disadvantage if it fails to acquire exclusive ownership of each Employee
Invention; and (d) the provisions of this Section 7 are reasonable and necessary
to prevent the improper use or disclosure of Confidential Information and to
provide the Employer with exclusive ownership of all Employee Inventions.
-5-
7.2 AGREEMENTS OF THE EXECUTIVE
In consideration of the compensation and benefits to be paid or provided to the
Executive by the Employer under this Agreement, the Executive covenants as
follows:
(A) Confidentiality.
---------------
(i) During and following the Employment Period, the Executive will hold in
confidence the Confidential Information and will not disclose it to any person
except with the specific prior written consent of the Employer or except as
otherwise expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(ii) Any trade secrets of the Employer will be entitled to all of the
protections and benefits under applicable state trade secret law and any other
applicable state or federal law. If any information that the Employer deems to
be a trade secret is found by a court of competent jurisdiction not to be a
trade secret for purposes of this Agreement, such information will,
nevertheless, be considered Confidential Information for purposes of this
Agreement. The Executive hereby waives any requirement that the Employer submit
proof of the economic value of any trade secret or post a bond or other
security.
(iii) None of the foregoing obligations and restrictions applies to any part of
the Confidential Information that the Executive demonstrates was or became
generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the
Executive.
(iv) The Executive will not remove from the Employer's premises (except to the
extent such removal is for purposes of the performance of the Executive's duties
at home or while traveling, or except as otherwise specifically authorized by
the Employer) any document, record, notebook, plan, model, component, device, or
computer software or code, whether embodied in a disk or in any other form
(collectively, the "Proprietary Items"). The Executive recognizes that, as
between the Employer and the Executive, all of the Proprietary Items, whether or
not developed by the Executive, are the exclusive property of the Employer. Upon
termination of this Agreement by either party, or upon the request of the
Employer during the Employment Period, the Executive will return to the Employer
all of the Proprietary Items in the Executive's possession or subject to the
Executive's control, and the Executive shall not retain any copies, abstracts,
sketches, or other physical embodiment of any of the Proprietary Items.
(B) Employee Inventions. Each Employee Invention will belong exclusively to the
-------------------
Employer. The Executive acknowledges that all of the Executive's writing, works
of authorship, and other Employee Inventions are works made for hire and the
property of the Employer, including any copyrights, patents, or other
intellectual property rights pertaining thereto. If it is determined that any
such works are not works made for hire, the Executive hereby assigns to the
Employer all of the Executive's right, title, and interest, including all rights
of copyright, patent and other intellectual property rights, to or in such
Employee Inventions. The Executive covenants that he will promptly:
(i) disclose to the Employer in writing any Employee Invention;
(ii) assign to the Employer or to a party designated by the Employer, at the
Employer's request and without additional compensation, all of the Executive's
right to the Employee Invention for the United States and all foreign
jurisdictions;
(iii) execute and deliver to the Employer such applications, assignments, and
other documents as the Employer may request in order to apply for and obtain
patents or other registrations with respect to any Employee Invention in the
United States and any foreign jurisdictions;
(iv) sign all other papers necessary to carry out the above obligations; and
(v) give testimony and render any other assistance but without expense to the
Executive in support of the Employer's rights to any Employee Invention.
-6-
7.3 DISPUTES OR CONTROVERSIES
The Executive recognizes that should a dispute or controversy arising from or
relating to this Agreement be submitted for adjudication to any court,
arbitration panel, or other third party, the preservation of the secrecy of
Confidential Information may be jeopardized. All pleadings, documents,
testimony, and records relating to any such adjudication will be maintained in
secrecy and will be available for inspection by the Employer, the Executive, and
their respective attorneys and experts, who will agree, in advance and in
writing, to receive and maintain all such information in secrecy, except as may
be limited by them in writing.
8. NON-COMPETITION AND NON-INTERFERENCE
------------------------------------
8.1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS BY THE EXECUTIVE
The Executive acknowledges that: (a) the services to be performed by him under
this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary, and
intellectual character; (b) the Employer's business, including the business of
its subsidiary, Jabber, Inc., is national in scope and its products are marketed
throughout the United States; (c) the Employer competes with other businesses
that are or could be located in any part of the United States; and (d) the
provisions of this Section 8 are reasonable and necessary to protect the
Employer's business.
8.2 COVENANTS OF THE EXECUTIVE
In consideration of the acknowledgments by the Executive, and in consideration
of the compensation and benefits to be paid or provided to the Executive by the
Employer, the Executive covenants that he will not, directly or indirectly:
(a) during the Employment Period, except in the course of his employment
hereunder, and during the Post-Employment Period, engage or invest in, own,
manage, operate, finance, control, or participate in the ownership, management,
operation, financing, or control of, be employed by, associated with, or in any
manner connected with, lend the Executive's name or any similar name to, lend
Executive's credit to or render services or advice to, any business whose
products or activities compete in whole or in part with the products or
activities of the Employer; provided, however, that the Executive may purchase
or otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) one percent of any class of
securities of any enterprise (but without otherwise participating in the
activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or
regional securities exchange or have been registered under Section 12(g) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
(b) whether for the Executive's own account or for the account of any other
person, at any time during the Employment Period and the Post-Employment Period,
solicit business of the same or similar type being carried on by the Employer,
from any person known by the Executive to be a customer of the Employer, whether
or not the Executive had personal contact with such person during and by reason
of the Executive's employment with the Employer;
(c) whether for the Executive's own account or the account of any other person
(i) at any time during the Employment Period and the Post-Employment Period,
solicit, employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor, or
otherwise, any person who is or was an employee of the Employer at any time
during the Employment Period or in any manner induce or attempt to induce any
employee of the Employer to terminate his employment with the Employer; or (ii)
at any time during the Employment Period and for three years thereafter,
interfere with the Employer's relationship with any person, including any person
who at any time during the Employment Period was an employee, contractor,
supplier, or customer of the Employer; or
-7-
(d) at any time during or after the Employment Period, disparage the Employer or
any of its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, or agents.
For purposes of this Section 8.2, the term "Post-Employment Period" means the
one-year period beginning on the date of termination of the Executive's
employment with the Employer.
If any covenant in this Section 8.2 is held to be unreasonable, arbitrary, or
against public policy, such covenant will be considered to be divisible with
respect to scope, time, and geographic area, and such lesser scope, time, or
geographic area, or all of them, as a court of competent jurisdiction may
determine to be reasonable, not arbitrary, and not against public policy, will
be effective, binding, and enforceable against the Executive.
The period of time applicable to any covenant in this Section 8.2 will be
extended by the duration of any violation by the Executive of such covenant.
The Executive will, while the covenant under this Section 8.2 is in effect, give
notice to the Employer, within ten days after accepting any other employment, of
the identity of the Executive's employer. The Employer may notify such employer
that the Executive is bound by this Agreement and, at the Employer's election,
furnish such employer with a copy of this Agreement or relevant portions
thereof.
9. GENERAL PROVISIONS
------------------
9.1 INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND ADDITIONAL REMEDY
The Executive acknowledges that the injury that would be suffered by the
Employer as a result of a breach of the provisions of this Agreement (including
any provision of Sections 7 and 8) would be irreparable and that an award of
monetary damages to the Employer for such a breach would be an inadequate
remedy. Consequently, the Employer will have the right, in addition to any other
rights it may have, to obtain injunctive relief to restrain any breach or
threatened breach or otherwise to specifically enforce any provision of this
Agreement, and the Employer will not be obligated to post bond or other security
in seeking such relief. Without limiting the Employer's rights under this
Section 9 or any other remedies of the Employer, if the Executive breaches any
of the provisions of Section 7 or 8, the Employer will have the right to cease
making any payments otherwise due to the Executive under this Agreement.
9.2 COVENANTS OF SECTIONS 7 AND 8 ARE ESSENTIAL AND INDEPENDENT COVENANTS
The covenants by the Executive in Sections 7 and 8 are essential elements of
this Agreement, and without the Executive's agreement to comply with such
covenants, the Employer would not have entered into this Agreement or employed
or continued the employment of the Executive. The Employer and the Executive
have independently consulted their respective counsel and have been advised in
all respects concerning the reasonableness and propriety of such covenants, with
specific regard to the nature of the business conducted by the Employer.
The Executive's covenants in Sections 7 and 8 are independent covenants and the
existence of any claim by the Executive against the Employer under this
Agreement or otherwise, will not excuse the Executive's breach of any covenant
in Section 7 or 8.
If the Executive's employment hereunder expires or is terminated, this Agreement
will continue in full force and effect as is necessary or appropriate to enforce
the covenants and agreements of the Executive in Sections 7 and 8.
9.3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE EXECUTIVE
The Executive represents and warrants to the Employer that the execution and
delivery by the Executive of this Agreement do not, and the performance by the
Executive of the Executive's obligations hereunder will
-8-
not, with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both: (a)
violate any judgment, writ, injunction, or order of any court, arbitrator, or
governmental agency applicable to the Executive; or (b) conflict with, result in
the breach of any provisions of or the termination of, or constitute a default
under, any agreement to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive
is or may be bound. Executive hereby waives the applicability of his Change of
Control Agreement with Employer to Employer's sale of securities to Jona, Inc.
pursuant to that Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of January 17, 2002,
between Employer and Jona, Inc.
9.4 OBLIGATIONS CONTINGENT ON PERFORMANCE
The obligations of the Employer hereunder, including its obligation to pay the
compensation provided for herein, are contingent upon the Executive's
performance of the Executive's obligations hereunder.
9.5 WAIVER
The rights and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not
alternative. Neither the failure nor any delay by either party in exercising any
right, power, or privilege under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such
right, power, or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right,
power, or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right,
power, or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege. To
the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, (a) no claim or right arising
out of this Agreement can be discharged by one party, in whole or in part, by a
waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the
other party; (b) no waiver that may be given by a party will be applicable
except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (c) no notice to or
demand on one party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such
party or of the right of the party giving such notice or demand to take further
action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement.
9.6 BINDING EFFECT; DELEGATION OF DUTIES PROHIBITED
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the
parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, and legal
representatives, including any entity with which the Employer may merge or
consolidate or to which all or substantially all of its assets may be
transferred. The duties and covenants of the Executive under this Agreement,
being personal, may not be delegated.
9.7 NOTICES
All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement
must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when (a) delivered
by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) sent by facsimile (with
written confirmation of receipt), provided that a copy is mailed by registered
mail, return receipt requested, or (c) when received by the addressee, if sent
by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt requested), in
each case to the appropriate addresses, e-mail addresses and facsimile numbers
as a party may designate by notice to the other party.
9.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS
This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended orally, but only by an
agreement in writing signed by the parties hereto. Except for the waiver set
forth in Section 9.3 hereof, this Agreement is separate from and does not affect
the Change of Control Agreement between Employer and Executive and in the event
of a conflict between the Change of Control Agreement and this Agreement, the
terms of the Change of Control Agreement shall govern.
-9-
9.9 GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado without
regard to conflicts of laws principles.
9.10 JURISDICTION
Any action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any
right arising out of, this Agreement may be brought against either of the
parties in the courts of the State of Colorado County of Denver, and each of the
parties consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate
appellate courts) in any such action or proceeding and waives any objection to
venue laid therein. Process in any action or proceeding referred to in the
preceding sentence may be served on either party anywhere in the world.
9.11 SECTION HEADINGS, CONSTRUCTION
The headings of Sections in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and
will not affect its construction or interpretation. All references to "Section"
or "Sections" refer to the corresponding Section or Sections of this Agreement
unless otherwise specified. All words used in this Agreement will be construed
to be of such gender or number, as the circumstances require. Unless otherwise
expressly provided, the word "including" does not limit the preceding words or
terms.
9.12 SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court
of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in
full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or
unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the
extent not held invalid or unenforceable.
9.13 COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will
be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken
together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.
9.14 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE A JURY TRIAL IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO
THIS AGREEMENT.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
EMPLOYER:
By: /s/ /s/
------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Its Executive
----------------------------
-10-
