Exhibit 10.2
CHANGE-OF-CONTROL
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT by and between Xxxxxx Scientific International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx (the "Executive"), dated as
of the day of July, 1997.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that
it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that
the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control
(as defined below) of the Company. The Board believes it is imperative to
diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal
uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control
and to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company
currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and
to provide the Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a
Change of Control which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations
of the Executive will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of
other corporations. Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives, the
Board has caused the Company to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Certain Definitions. (a) The "Effective Date" shall mean the first date
during the Change of Control Period (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a
Change of Control (as defined in Section 2) occurs.
(b) The "Change of Control Period" shall mean the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of the date hereof, unless such
period is extended by the Company or terminated pursuant to Section 12(f)
below.
2. Change of Control. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of
Control" shall mean:
(a) 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")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) 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 (a), the following
acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition
directly from the Company, if the Incumbent Board specifically exempts such
acquisition from the foregoing definition of "Change of Control", (ii) any
acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company or (iv) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction
which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this
Section 2; or
(b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the
"Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of
the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the
Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though
such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election
or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies
or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) Consummation by the Company of a reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or the acquisition of assets of another entity (a
"Business Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business
Combination, (i) 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,
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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, (ii) no Person (excluding any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting
from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
corporation resulting from such Business Combination 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 Business Combination and
(iii) 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 at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of
the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
(d) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation
or dissolution of the Company.
3. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive
in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the
Company subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period
commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of such
date (the "Employment Period").
4. Terms of Employment. (a) Position and Duties. (i) During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be employed in an executive capacity.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation
and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to
devote full attention and time during normal business hours to the business and
affairs of the Company and to use the Executive's best efforts to perform
faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities.
(b) Compensation. (i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which
shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest
monthly base salary paid or payable, including any base salary which has been
earned but deferred, to the Executive by the Company in respect of the
twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date
occurs. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce
any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary
shall not be reduced after any increase and the term Annual Base Salary as
utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased.
(ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive
shall be eligible to participate in a Company bonus plan or program providing
bonus opportunities comparable to those available to the Executive from the
Company immediately prior to the Effective Date.
(iii) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all incentive,
savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable
generally to other peer executives of the Company, but in no event shall such
plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive
opportunities (measured with respect to both regular and special incentive
opportunities, to the extent, if any, that such distinction is applicable),
savings opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less
favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of those provided by the
Company for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as
in effect at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally
at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company.
(iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive
and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for
participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans,
practices, policies and programs provided by the Company (including, without
limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance,
employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans
and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer executives of
the Company, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate,
than the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in
effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, those
provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other peer
executives of the Company.
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(v) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred
by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and
procedures of the Company in effect for the Executive at any time during the
120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable
to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to
other peer executives of the Company.
(vi) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and
practices of the Company in all respects as in effect for the Executive during
the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company.
5. Termination of Employment. (a) Death or Disability. The Executive's
employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the
Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability
of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the
definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written
notice in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement of its intention to
terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment
with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of
such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that,
within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to
full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the
Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive
business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which
is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company
or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal
representative.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the
Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall
mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform
substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one of its affiliates
(other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental
illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the
Executive by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company which
specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or Chief Executive Officer
believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive's
duties, or
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or gross
misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.
For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the
Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in bad faith.
(c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason at any time within 90 days after the Executive first
has actual knowledge of the occurrence of such Good Reason. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties that are not of an
executive nature, or any other action by the Company which results in a material
diminution in the Executive's position, authority, duties or responsibilities,
excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not
taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt
of notice thereof given by the Executive;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of
Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and
inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the
Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or
location other than as provided in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's
employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or
(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 11(c)
of this Agreement.
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(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by
the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination
to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 12(b) of this
Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a
written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this
Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable
detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination
of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the
Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of
such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than
thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or
the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance
which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any
right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the
Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or
circumstance in enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or
any later date specified therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's
employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the
date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (iii)
if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability,
the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the
case may be.
6. Obligations of the Company upon Termination. (a) Good Reason; Other
Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If, during the Employment Period, the
Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or
Disability or the Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within
30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of the following amounts:
A. the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of
Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (2) the product of (x)
$185,000 (the "Required Bonus Amount") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of
Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (3) any compensation
previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or
earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent
not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (1), (2),
and (3) shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued Obligations"); and
B. the amount equal to the product of (1) two and (2) the sum of (x) the
Executive's Annual Base Salary and (y) the Required Bonus Amount; and
C. an amount equal to the difference between (a) the aggregate benefit
under the Company's qualified defined benefit retirement plans (collectively,
the "Retirement Plan") and any excess or supplemental defined benefit
retirement plans in which the Executive participates, including without
limitation the Company's Executive Retirement and Savings Plan,
(collectively, the "SERP") which the Executive would have accrued (whether or
not vested) if the Executive's employment had continued for two years after
the Date of Termination and (b) the actual vested benefit, if any, of the
Executive under the Retirement Plan and the SERP, determined as of the Date
of Termination (with the foregoing amounts to be computed on an actuarial
present value basis, based on the assumption that the Executive's
compensation in each of the two years following such termination would have
been that required by Section 4(b)(i) and Section 4(b)(ii), and using
actuarial assumptions no less favorable to the Executive than the most
favorable of those in effect for purposes of computing benefit entitlements
under the Retirement Plan and the SERP at any time from the day before the
Effective Date) through the Date of Termination;
(ii) for two years after the Executive's Date of Termination, or such
longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program,
practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or
the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been provided
to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies
described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment
had not been terminated or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect
generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and their families, provided, however, that if the Executive becomes
reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other
welfare benefits under another employer-provided plan, the medical and other
welfare benefits described herein shall be
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secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable period
of eligibility, and for purposes of determining eligibility (but not the time
of commencement of benefits) of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to
such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered
to have remained employed until two years after the Date of Termination and to
have retired on the last day of such period;
(iii) the Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred, provide the
Executive with outplacement services the scope and provider of which shall be
selected by the Executive in the Executive's sole discretion (but the total
cost thereof shall not exceed $50,000); and
(iv) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company shall
timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits required
to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive under any
plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company (such
other amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Other
Benefits").
(b) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this
Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment
or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the
Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within
30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of Other
Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 6(b) shall
include, without limitation, and the Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries
shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable
benefits provided by the Company to the estates and beneficiaries of peer
executives of the Company under such plans, programs, practices and policies
relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer
executives and their beneficiaries at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive's estate and/or the Executive's beneficiaries, as in effect on the
date of the Executive's death with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and their beneficiaries.
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for payment
of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits.
Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within
30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of Other
Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 6(c) shall
include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective
Date to receive, disability and other benefits at least equal to the most
favorable of those generally provided by the Company to disabled executives
and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and
policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to
other peer executives and their families at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive
and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally
with respect to other peer executives of the Company and their families.
(d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive's employment shall
be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the
obligation to pay to the Executive (x) the Annual Base Salary through the Date
of Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the
Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case to the extent theretofore
unpaid. If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment during the
Employment Period, excluding a termination for Good Reason, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for
Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. In
such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum
in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.
7. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or
limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan, program,
policy or practice provided by the Company and for which the Executive may
qualify, nor, subject to Section 12(f), shall anything herein limit or
otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any contract or
agreement with the Company. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the
Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or
program of or any contract or agreement with the Company at or subsequent to
the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy,
practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by
this Agreement.
8. Full Settlement; Legal Fees. The Company's obligation to make the
payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its
obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment,
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defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and except as
specifically provided in Section 6(a)(ii), such amounts shall not be reduced
whether or not the Executive obtains other employment. The Company agrees to
pay promptly as incurred, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees
and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any
contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or
others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability or entitlement under,
any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof
(whether such contest is between the Company and the Executive or between
either of them and any third party, and including as a result of any contest by
the Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus
in each case interest on any delayed payment at the applicable Federal rate
("Applicable Federal Rate") provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
9. Certain Additional Payments by the Company. (a) Anything in this
Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined
that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the
Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any
additional payments required under this Section 9) (a "Payment") would be
subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any
corresponding provisions of state or local tax laws, or any interest or
penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such
excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be
entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount
such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest
or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without
limitation, any income or employment taxes (and any interest and penalties
imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment,
the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax
imposed upon the Payments.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 9(c), all determinations required
to be made under this Section 9, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment
is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be
utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by Deloitte & Touche
LLP or such other certified public accounting firm as may be designated by the
Executive (the "Accounting Firm"), which shall provide detailed supporting
calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of
the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such
earlier time as is requested by the Company. In the event that the Accounting
Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group
effecting the Change of Control, the Executive shall appoint another nationally
recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which
accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder).
All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the
Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 9, shall
be paid by the Company to the Executive within five days of the receipt of the
Accounting Firm's determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall
be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty
in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial
determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up
Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made
("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to
Section 9(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any
Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment
that has occurred and any such Underpayment, plus interest at the Applicable
Federal Rate, shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of
the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the
Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as
practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive is informed
in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such
claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive
shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following
the date on which the Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such
shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to
such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to
the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the
Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company
relating to such claim,
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(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the
Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including,
without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim
by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to
contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to
such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection
with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income or employment tax (including
interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such
representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the
foregoing provisions of this Section 9(c), the Company shall control all
proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may
pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its
sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a
refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees
to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative
tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate
courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company
directs the Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall
advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an after-tax basis and
shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from
any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect
thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed
income with respect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of
the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of
the Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due
is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control
of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up
Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to
settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal
Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the
Company pursuant to Section 9(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive any
refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the
Company's complying with the requirements of Section 9(c)) promptly pay to the
Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited
thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive
of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), a determination
is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to
such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its
intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days
after such determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be
required to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the
extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
10. Confidential Information; Noncompetition. (a) The Executive shall hold
in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret, proprietary
or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its
businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the
Executive's employment by the Company. During the period the Executive is
employed with the Company, and for a period of 24 months after termination of
the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without
the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law
or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or
data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. The
restrictions set forth in this Section 10 will not apply to information which
is generally known to the public or in the trade, unless such knowledge results
from an unauthorized disclosure by the Executive or representatives of the
Executive in violation of this Agreement. This exception will not affect the
application of any other provisions of this Agreement to such information in
accordance with the terms of such provision. All documents and tangible things
embodying or containing confidential information are the Company's exclusive
property. The Executive will protect the confidentiality of their content and
will return all copies, facsimiles and specimens of them and any other form of
confidential information in the Executive's possession, custody or control to
the Company before leaving the employment with the Company.
(b) During the term of the Executive's employment with the Company, and
for a period of 24 months thereafter, the Executive will not, directly or
indirectly, engage participate or invest in or be employed by any business
anywhere in the world which (i) develops or manufactures products which are
competitive with or similar to
7
products developed or manufactured by the Company, (ii) distributes, markets or
otherwise sells products manufactured by others which are competitive with or
similar to products distributed, marketed or sold by the Company, or (iii)
provides services which are competitive with similar to services provided by
the Company, including, in each case, any products or services the Company has
under development or which are subject of active planning at any time during
the term of the Executives employment. The foregoing restriction shall apply
regardless of the capacity in which the Executive engages or engaged,
participates or participated, or invests or invested in or employed by a given
business, whether as owner, partner, shareholder, consultant, agent, employee,
co-venturer or otherwise. In addition, during the term of the Executive's
employment with the Company, and for a period of 24 months thereafter, the
Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent
of the Company, hire or solicit for hire with any business any person who is
employed by the Company at such time or was employed by the Company within the
preceding 12 months. The provisions of this Section 10 shall not prevent the
Executive from acquiring or holding publicly traded stock or other publicly
traded securities of a business, so long as the Executive's ownership does not
exceed 2 percent of the outstanding securities of such company of the same
class as those held by the Executive or from engaging in any activity or having
an ownership interest in any business that is reviewed by the Board of
Directors. The Executive understands that the restrictions set out in this
Section 10 are intended to protect the Company's interest in its secret,
proprietary or confidential information and established customer relationships
and goodwill, and agrees that such restrictions are reasonable and appropriate
for this purpose.
(c) The Executive agrees that it would be difficult to measure any damages
caused to the Company which might result from any breach by the Executive of
the promises set forth in this Agreement, and that in any event money damages
would be an inadequate remedy for any such breach. Accordingly, the Executive
agrees that in the case of breach, or proposed breach, of any portion of this
Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to all other remedies
that it may have, to an injunction or other appropriate equitable relief to
restrain any such breach without showing or proving any actual damage to the
Company. However, in no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of
this Section 10 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts
otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.
11. Successors. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and
without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the
Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's
legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore
defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which
assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
12. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of
the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not
be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
If to the Executive:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
00 Xxx Xxxx
Xxx, XX 00000
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If to the Company:
Attention: General Counsel
Xxxxxx Scientific International Inc.
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement
such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld
pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision hereof or any other provision of this Agreement
or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have
hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to
terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v) of this
Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any
other provision or right of this Agreement.
(f) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may
otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Executive
and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will"
and, prior to the Effective Date, the Executive's employment may be terminated
by either the Executive or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Date,
in which case the Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement.
From and after the Effective Date this Agreement shall supersede any other
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,
including, without limitation, the letter offering employment dated July 10,
1996 from Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, on behalf of the Company, to the Executive and
signed by the Executive.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has
caused this Agreement to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the
day and year first above written.
-------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
XXXXXX SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By-----------------------------------
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