EXHIBIT 7.1(F)
NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT
This Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of December 29, 1999 (this
"Agreement"), is by and between American Home Mortgage Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxx Xxxxxxxx (the "Executive").
WHEREAS the Company and the Executive are the parties to that certain
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company,
Marina Mortgage Company, Inc. (the "Subsidiary") and the stockholders of the
Subsidiary listed on the signature pages thereto (the "Stock Purchase
Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto have entered into that certain Employment
Agreement of even date hereof (the "Employment Agreement").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained and other good and valuable consideration, the Company and the
Executive hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Unless defined elsewhere in this Agreement,
capitalized terms contained herein shall have the meanings set forth or
incorporated by reference in Section 17 of the Employment Agreement.
2. Non-competition; Non-solicitation.
(a) In consideration of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Executive
agrees that for the period ending on the fifth anniversary of the Stock Purchase
Agreement or for such longer period of time if the Executive is employed by the
Company in accordance with Section 3(b) of the Employment Agreement (the
"Non-Competition Period"), the Executive will not, directly or indirectly
(whether as a sole proprietor, partner or venturer, stockholder, director,
officer, employee, consultant or in any other capacity as principal or agent or
through any Person, subsidiary or employee acting as nominee or agent):
(i) conduct or engage in or be interested in or associated with
any Person which conducts or engages in the AHM Business within the United
States;
(ii) take any action, directly or indirectly, to finance,
guarantee or provide any other material assistance to any Person engaged in
the AHM Business;
(iii) solicit, contact or accept business of any client or
counterparty whom the Company served or conducted business with or whose
name became known to the Executive as a potential client or counterparty
while in the employ of the Company or during the Non-Competition Period; or
(iv) influence or attempt to influence any Person that is a
contracting party with the Company at any time during the Non-Competition
Period to terminate any written or oral agreement with the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term "AHM Business" shall mean the
residential mortgage lending or residential mortgage brokerage business as
conducted by the Company and any business involving the supply of services
substantially similar to services provided by the Company at the time of the
termination of the Executive's employment.
(b) The Executive shall not, whether for the Executive's own account
or in conjunction with or on behalf of any other Person, solicit or entice away
from the Company any officer, employee or customer of the Company or the
Subsidiary during the term of the Non-Competition Period nor engage, hire,
employ, or induce the employment of any such Person whether or not such officer,
employee or customer would commit a breach of contract by reason of leaving
service or transferring business.
(c) The restrictive provisions hereof shall not prohibit the Executive
from (i) having an equity interest in the securities of any entity engaged in
the AHM Business or any business with respect to which the Executive obtained
confidential or proprietary data or information, which entity's securities are
listed on a nationally-recognized securities exchange or quotation system or
traded in the over-the-counter market, to the extent that such interest does not
exceed 5% of the outstanding equity interests of such entity or (ii) with the
prior written consent of the Company, serving as a director or other advisor to
any other Person.
(d) The Executive agrees that the covenants contained in this Section
are reasonable covenants under the circumstances, and further agrees that if in
the opinion of a court of competent jurisdiction, such restraint is not
reasonable in any respect, such court shall have the right, power and authority
to excise or modify such provision or provisions of these covenants which as to
such court shall appear not reasonable and to enforce the remainder thereof as
so amended.
(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company
shall terminate the Executive's employment during the term of the Employment
Agreement other than pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Employment Agreement, the
Executive shall be subject to restrictions set forth in this Agreement until the
earlier of two years from the Date of Termination or expiration of the
Non-Competition Period, unless grounds exist at such time that would permit the
Executive to terminate his employment for Good Reason under Section 7(c) of the
Employment Agreement, in which case the Executive shall only be subject to the
restrictions in this Agreement until the earlier of nine months from the Date of
Termination or the expiration of the Non-Competition Period.
(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Executive
shall terminate the Executive's employment during the term of the Employment
Agreement for Good Reason pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Employment Agreement,
the Executive shall be subject to restrictions set forth in this Agreement until
the earlier of nine months from the Date of Termination or the expiration of the
Non-Competition Period.
(g) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the
Executive's employment terminates under any circumstance that does not entitle
the Executive to payments under Section 8(a) of the Employment Agreement
(including a termination by reason of the death or Disability of the Executive,
or by reason of the Company or the Executive electing not to extend or further
extend the term of this Agreement pursuant to Section 3(b)), the Executive shall
be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement until the expiration
of the Non-Competition Period.
3. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
which are required to be or may be given under this Agreement to any of the
other parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
when (a) delivered in person, the day following dispatch by an overnight courier
service (such as Federal Express or UPS, etc.) or (b) five (5) days after
dispatch by certified or registered first class mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, to the party to whom the same is so given or made:
If to the Company,
addressed to: American Home Mortgage Holdings, Inc.
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 000000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Human Resources Officer
If to the Executive,
addressed to: Marina Mortgage Company, Inc.
00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
4. Amendments. This Agreement cannot be altered or otherwise amended
except pursuant to an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties.
5. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or
obligations hereunder may be assigned by any party without the prior written
consent of the other parties, provided the Company may assign or otherwise
transfer this Agreement to any succeeding entity without limitation, which
entity shall assume all rights and obligations hereunder.
6. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to the matters contemplated herein and
supersede all previous written or oral negotiations, commitments and
understandings.
7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
8. Headings. All headings are inserted for convenience of reference
only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any such provisions
or of this Agreement, taken as an entirety.
9. Severability. If, and to the extent that any court of competent
jurisdiction holds any provision (or any part thereof) of this Agreement to be
invalid or unenforceable, such holding shall in no way affect the validity or
enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement, but shall be confined in its
operation to the jurisdiction in which made and to the provisions of this
Agreement directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have
been rendered.
10. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK
AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND BE ENFORCEABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS
THEREOF.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the date first written above.
American Home Mortgage Holdings, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: President and CEO
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
