EXHIBIT 10.4
EXECUTION COPY
NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT
THIS NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is effective as of
this 3rd day of January, 2003, by and between X.X. Xxxxxxxxx Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Buyer"), X.X. Xxxxxxxxx Publishing & Advertising, Inc.
(f/k/a Sprint Publishing & Advertising, Inc.), a Kansas corporation ("RHDPA"),
CenDon, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("CenDon"), X.X. Xxxxxxxxx
Directory Company (f/k/a Centel Directory Company), a Delaware corporation
("RHDDC") (RHDPA, CenDon and RHDDC are referred to collectively in this
Agreement as "Publisher"), Sprint Corporation, a Kansas corporation ("Sprint
Parent") and Sprint Minnesota, Inc., Sprint - Florida, Incorporated, Carolina
Telephone & Telegraph Co., United Telephone - Southeast, Inc., United Telephone
Company of the Carolinas, United Telephone Company of Southcentral Kansas,
United Telephone Company of Eastern Kansas, United Telephone Company of Kansas,
Sprint Missouri, Inc., United Telephone Company of Texas, Inc., United Telephone
Company of the West, The United Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, United
Telephone Company of New Jersey, Inc., United Telephone Company of the
Northwest, United Telephone Company of Ohio, United Telephone Company of
Indiana, Inc., Central Telephone Company, Central Telephone Company of Virginia
and Central Telephone Company of Texas (collectively "Sprint LTD"). Buyer,
Publisher, Sprint Parent and Sprint LTD are sometimes referred to in this
Agreement as a "Party" and collectively as the "Parties."
RECITALS:
A. On the date of this Agreement, Buyer is acquiring from Sprint
Parent all of the outstanding capital stock of DirectoriesAmerica, Inc., a
Kansas corporation, which is the sole owner of RHDPA, and from Centel
Directories LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Centel LLC"), all of the
outstanding capital stock of RHDDC, which is a member of CenDon (Sprint Parent
and Centel LLC are referred to collectively in this Agreement as the "Sellers"),
pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 21, 2002, between
Sellers and Buyer (the "Stock Purchase Agreement");
B. The Stock Purchase Agreement provides that the Parties will
enter into this Agreement;
C. Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, on the
date of this Agreement, Publisher and Sprint LTD are entering into a Directory
Services License Agreement (the "Directory Services License Agreement") in order
to provide for the continued production, publication and distribution of the
Sprint LTD Directories by Publisher following the closing of the transactions
contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement;
D. Sprint Parent and Sprint LTD acknowledge that the agreements
and covenants contained in this Agreement are essential to protect the benefits
that Buyer expects to receive pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the
Stock Purchase Agreement; and
E. Sprint Parent and Sprint LTD acknowledge that the agreements
and covenants contained in this Agreement were a material inducement to Buyer's
agreement to enter into the
Stock Purchase Agreement and the other agreements contemplated by the Stock
Purchase Agreement.
F. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement
shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Directory Services License
Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock
Purchase Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
TERM AND TERMINATION
SECTION 1.1 TERM. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement
or the Directory Services License Agreement, this Agreement will be coterminous
with the Directory Services License Agreement and Sprint Parent's and Sprint
LTD's obligations will terminate immediately upon the termination or expiration
of the Directory Services License Agreement, provided however that no
termination or expiration of this Agreement will release Sprint Parent or Sprint
LTD from liability for prior breaches of any provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION
SECTION 2.1 SPRINT OBLIGATIONS.
(a) Until the termination or expiration of the Directory Services
License Agreement (or such other time as specified by Section 8.6 of the
Directory Services License Agreement, if applicable), no Sprint Entity will
directly or indirectly engage in, own, manage, operate, share any revenues of or
have any profit or other equity interest in (except pursuant to the Directory
Services License Agreement or by ownership of less than five percent of the
outstanding capital stock or equity interest of an entity whose securities are
publicly traded), any business or entity engaged in:
(i) the business of producing, publishing or distributing any
physical media directory containing Subscriber Listing Information or
Directional Information that is primarily distributed to or directed at
Subscribers and businesses or organizations located or providing
services within the Service Areas;
(ii) the sale of any Local Advertising, subject to the
provisions of Section 2.1(b) below; and
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(iii) advertising, promoting or using, or entering into an
agreement with any third party to advertise, promote or use, an
affiliation with the Service Area ILEC or Service Area ILEC brand in
connection with any of the foregoing.
If a Sprint Entity acquires a party that is engaged in operations that cause
such Sprint Entity to be in breach of this Section 2.1(a), the Sprint Entities
will not be deemed to be in breach of this Section 2.1(a) if the acquiring
Sprint Entity is in good faith attempting to divest or otherwise terminate the
competing directories or other activities, except that such Sprint Entity must
divest or otherwise terminate the production, publication and distribution of
such competing directories or other activities within twelve (12) months of the
closing of the acquisition by such Sprint Entity.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or the
Directory Services License Agreement (including Section 2.1(a) of this
Agreement), no Sprint Entity will be prohibited from selling Local Advertising
that is bundled with or otherwise comprises an integral part of the sale of a
telecommunications product or service in any Service Area into or as part of a
non-physical media directory if such Sprint Entity reasonably determines that it
must sell such Local Advertising in order to remain competitive with regards to
the sale of such telecommunications services or products in that particular
Service Area, so long as such Sprint Entity complies with this Section 2.1(b).
(i) In such circumstance, a Sprint Entity may only sell such
Local Advertising through a third party if it complies with this
Section 2.1(b)(i).
(A) The Sprint Entity will submit a written proposal
to Publisher outlining specific terms and conditions under
which Publisher would act as the exclusive content provider
and/or sales agent of the Sprint Entity for the sale of such
Local Advertising, including compensation terms whereby
Publisher would be entitled to receive and retain all revenues
(or, if such Local Advertising is bundled with a
telecommunications service or product, the fair market value
thereof) from the sale of such Local Advertising.
(B) The Sprint Entity will negotiate in good faith
with Publisher for a period of thirty (30) days following the
receipt by Publisher of such proposal to agree on terms and
conditions under which Publisher would act as its exclusive
content provider and/or sales agent for such Local
Advertising. If no agreement has been reached by the end of
the thirty (30) day period, the Sprint Entity will submit a
final written proposal to Publisher who will have five
business days to accept such proposal.
(C) If the Sprint Entity and Publisher are unable to
agree on terms for Publisher to act as content provider and/or
sales agent by the end of the five business day period
specified above or if Publisher is unable or unwilling to act
as such content provider and/or sales agent, the Sprint Entity
may engage a third party to act as content provider and/or
sales agent for such Local Advertising but only on terms which
in the aggregate are no more favorable to the third party than
last offered in writing to Publisher. The term of any such
third party agreement
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will not exceed three years. In such event, no Sprint Entity
will have any further obligation to Publisher with respect to
the Local Advertising that was within the scope of the
proposal, except that the Sprint Entity will repeat the
process under this Section 2.1(b)(i) if it desires to continue
to market such Local Advertising through a third party at the
end of the term of the third party agreement.
(ii) In those circumstances where a Sprint Entity is
permitted to sell Local Advertising pursuant to Section 2.1(b) and
sells such Local Advertising through its internal sales force (which
will only be permitted where it is not commercially practicable to sell
such Local Advertising using a third party sales agent), the applicable
Sprint Entity will be required to pay to Publisher the Net Profits of
the Sprint Entity from the sale of such Local Advertising (based on the
fair market value of such Local Advertising). For purposes of this
Section 2.1(b)(ii), "Net Profits" means (A) the amount (if any)
separately billed by such Sprint Entity for the sale of such Local
Advertising, (or, if greater, the fair market value of such Local
Advertising) multiplied by (B) the profit margin typically recognized
in the advertising industry for the sale of advertising similar to such
Local Advertising (taking into account bad debt experience); provided
that if no such standard is available, Net Profits will be determined
based on an assumed profit margin of 25%.
(iii) Nothing in this Section 2.1(b) shall give any Sprint
Entity the right to sell Local Advertising in any physical or
non-physical directory operated by Publisher.
(c) For clarification purposes only, the Parties acknowledge that the
noncompetition restrictions in this Article 2 are not intended to restrict any
activities by non-Affiliates of Sprint Parent, such as (i) Sprint PCS network
partners, mobile virtual network operators (e.g., Virgin Mobile), resellers or
any other entities with which any Sprint Entity enters into similar contractual
arrangements intended to expand such Sprint Entity's customer base or network
usage, or (ii) providers of content for delivery by any Sprint Entity network
who are not agents of any Sprint Entity for purposes of selling Local
Advertising; provided, that, if and to the extent that a Sprint Entity has the
contractual or other right to prevent such activities, no Sprint Entity shall
solicit, consent to or approve any activities of such non-Affiliates that would
be in breach of this Article 2 if such activities were conducted by a Sprint
Entity.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, upon any
direct or indirect sale or transfer by Sprint Parent or Sprint LTD of all or any
part of a Service Area(s) (whether by a sale of assets or capital stock or by
merger, including any change of control of Sprint Parent) in accordance with
Section 9.1 of the Directory Services License Agreement, neither the purchaser
of such Service Area(s) nor any of its Affiliates nor any Sprint Entity will be
deemed to be in violation of this Agreement as a result of any product or
service and related activities by the purchaser and its Affiliates that exist as
of the closing of such sale, provided that (i) Publisher continues to have for
all purposes the exclusive right as set forth in the Directory Services License
Agreement and the other Commercial Agreements to (a) produce, publish and
distribute Sprint LTD Directories on behalf of the ILEC in the affected Service
Area(s) and (b) to use in the affected Service Area(s) the brand and/or marks
under which the ILEC provides local telephone exchange service in the affected
Service Area(s), and (ii) in the event the purchaser at any time changes the
brand and/or marks under which the ILEC provides local telephone exchange
service in the affected Service Area(s), any product or service and related
activities
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that would otherwise violate this Agreement (a "Competing Directory") may not
continue to be branded with any trademark or tradename that had previously been
used by the purchaser or its Affiliates in connection with its physical or
non-physical directories or ILEC business. (For example, if a purchaser acquires
Sprint Parent, the purchaser and its Affiliates could continue to distribute any
Competing Directory for as long as the Sprint brand is retained for the ILEC in
the Service Areas; if the purchaser causes the ILEC to change the ILEC brand
from the Sprint brand to a different brand, purchaser and its Affiliates would
be required to rebrand, shut down or dispose of any Competing Directory that
previously operated under purchaser's brand and the Publisher would have the
exclusive right to use the new ILEC brand as contemplated by the Directory
Services License Agreement and the Trademark License Agreement.) If a purchaser
substitutes a different brand for the Licensed Marks pursuant to Section 9.1 of
the Directory Services License Agreement, the purchaser will not be permitted to
rebrand a Competing Directory with any of the Licensed Marks.
(e) In the event a Service Area is sold or transferred pursuant to
Section 9.1 of the Directory Services License Agreement, the Sprint Entities
will remain bound by the obligations of Sections 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) of this
Agreement with respect to the then applicable Geographic Coverage Areas relating
to such sold or transferred Service Area.
(f) The provisions of this Section 2.1 are subject to the terms of
Articles 8 and 9 of the Directory Services License Agreement.
SECTION 2.2 NON-SOLICITATION. During (i) the period between the
date of this Agreement and the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement
and (ii) the two year period following the termination of this Agreement, no
Sprint Entity will, directly or indirectly, through one or more of its
Affiliates, on behalf of itself or any other person, recruit or otherwise
solicit or induce any employee of Publisher, its Subsidiaries or any of their
successors to terminate his or her employment relationship with Publisher, its
Subsidiaries or any of their successors. During (i) the period between the date
of this Agreement and the fifth anniversary of the date of this Agreement and
(ii) the five year period following the termination of this Agreement, no Sprint
Entity will, directly or indirectly, through one or more of its Affiliates, on
behalf of itself or any other person, recruit or otherwise solicit or induce the
chief executive officer, chief financial officer, president, chief operating
officer, chief information officer, chief technology officer or general counsel
of Publisher or any sales employee of Publisher who is director level or above
to terminate his or her employment relationship with Publisher or its
Subsidiaries. The foregoing will not, however, prohibit any Sprint Entity from
publishing any general public solicitation of employment opportunities.
ARTICLE 3
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 3.1 ASSIGNMENT. Except as provided in Section 9.1 of the
Directory Services License Agreement, no Party may assign all or any of its
rights or obligations under the Agreement without the prior written consent of
the other Parties, except that any Party may assign all of its rights and
obligations under the Agreement (a) in connection with a sale of all or
substantially all of its assets or by merger if the purchaser assumes in writing
all of the assigning
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Party's rights and obligations under this Agreement in a form reasonably
acceptable to the other Party and (b) to (i) any of its Affiliates or (ii) any
lender or any other party as collateral in connection with any financing
provided that no such assignment permitted by this clause (b) will relieve such
Party of any of its obligations under this Agreement.
SECTION 3.2 NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted under this
Agreement will be in writing and will be hand-delivered, sent by confirmed
facsimile or mailed by overnight express mail. Notice will be deemed to have
been given when such notice is received. Addresses for notices are as follows:
If to a Sprint Entity:
Sprint Corporation
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
KSOPHF 0202 - 2B579
Attention: Vice President, Business Planning &
Development- LTD
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
With a copy to:
Sprint Corporation
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
KSOPHF 0302 - 3B679
Attention: Legal - Corporate Secretary
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
If to Buyer or Publisher:
X.X. Xxxxxxxxx Corporation
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax No. (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Xxxxx, Day, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax No. (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
or at such other address as any Party may provide to the others by written
notice.
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SECTION 3.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the
entire understanding and agreement of the Parties concerning the subject matter
of this Agreement, and supersedes any prior agreements, representations,
statements, understandings, proposals, undertakings or negotiations, whether
written or oral, with respect to the subject matter expressly set forth in this
Agreement.
SECTION 3.4 SEVERABILITY. If any term, condition or provision of
this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such
invalidity will not invalidate the entire Agreement, unless such construction
would be unreasonable. This Agreement will be construed as if it did not contain
the invalid or unenforceable provision or provisions, and the rights and
obligations of each Party will be construed and enforced accordingly, except
that in the event such invalid or unenforceable provision or provisions are
essential elements of this Agreement and substantially impair the rights or
obligations of a Party, the Parties will promptly negotiate in good faith a
replacement provision or provisions.
SECTION 3.5 NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is
intended solely for the benefit of the Parties, and no third-party beneficiaries
are created by this Agreement. This Agreement does not provide and should not be
construed to provide third parties with any remedy, claim, liability,
reimbursement, cause of action or other privilege.
SECTION 3.6 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement will be binding on and
inure to the benefit of the Parties, and their respective successors and
permitted assigns.
SECTION 3.7 WAIVERS. No waiver of any provision of this
Agreement, and no consent to any default under this Agreement, will be effective
unless the same is in writing and signed by an officer of the Party against whom
such waiver or consent is claimed. In addition, no course of dealing or failure
of a Party strictly to enforce any term, right or condition of this Agreement
will be construed as a waiver of such term, right or condition. Waiver by a
Party of any default by any other Party will not be deemed a waiver of any
subsequent or other default.
SECTION 3.8 HEADINGS. The headings and numbering of sections and
paragraphs in this Agreement are for convenience only and will not be construed
to define or limit any of the terms in this Agreement or affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 3.9 SURVIVAL. Any liabilities or obligations of a Party
for acts or omissions occurring prior to the cancellation or termination of this
Agreement and any obligations of a Party under any other provisions of this
Agreement which, by their terms, are contemplated to survive (or be performed
after) termination of this Agreement (subject to any time limitations specified
therein) will survive the cancellation or termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 3.10 MODIFICATIONS. No amendments, deletions, additions or
other modifications to this Agreement will be binding unless evidenced in
writing and signed by an officer of each of the respective parties hereto.
SECTION 3.11 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, and each such counterpart will be deemed to be an
original instrument, but all such counterparts together will constitute but one
agreement. This Agreement will become effective
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when one or more counterparts have been signed by each and delivered to the
other Parties, it being understood that the Parties need not sign the same
counterpart.
SECTION 3.12 REMEDIES. The Parties agree that all disputes or
controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved
using the procedures set forth in the Directory Services License Agreement,
including Sections 17.1, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5 and 17.6, which are incorporated
herein by this reference.
SECTION 3.13 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE,
WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.
SECTION 3.14 SPRINT LTD OBLIGATIONS. Each individual entity
comprising Sprint LTD under this Agreement will be severally responsible for the
obligations of Sprint LTD under this Agreement with respect to the specific
Service Areas operated by such entity. Subject to any novation that occurs
pursuant to Section 9.1(b) of the Directory Services License Agreement, Sprint
Parent will be jointly and severally responsible with each entity comprising
Sprint LTD for the obligations of such entity under this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the day and year first above written.
BUYER:
X.X. XXXXXXXXX CORPORATION
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President and Secretary
PUBLISHER:
X.X. XXXXXXXXX PUBLISHING & ADVERTISING, INC. CENDON, L.L.C.
(f/k/a Sprint Publishing & Advertising, Inc.)
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President and Secretary Title: Authorized Signatory
X.X. XXXXXXXXX DIRECTORY COMPANY,
(f/k/a Centel Directory Company)
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President and Secretary
SPRINT PARENT:
SPRINT CORPORATION
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President, Local Telecom Division
SPRINT LTD:
SPRINT MINNESOTA, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
SPRINT - FLORIDA, INCORPORATED CAROLINA TELEPHONE
& TELEGRAPH CO.
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
UNITED TELEPHONE - SOUTHEAST, UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF
INC. THE CAROLINAS
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF
SOUTHCENTRAL KANSAS EASTERN KANSAS
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
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UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF KANSAS SPRINT MISSOURI, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF
TEXAS, INC. THE WEST
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
THE UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF
OF PENNSYLVANIA NEW JERSEY, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF
THE NORTHWEST OHIO
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
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UNITED TELEPHONE COMPANY OF CENTRAL TELEPHONE COMPANY
INDIANA, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
CENTRAL TELEPHONE COMPANY OF CENTRAL TELEPHONE COMPANY OF
VIRGINIA TEXAS
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
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