Exhibit (d)(3)
February 17, 2003
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
REUTERS AMERICA INC., a Delaware corporation, located at 0 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000, (the "Company"), and Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, an individual residing at 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
("Executive"), mutually agree to enter into this Employment Agreement (this
"Agreement"), the terms and conditions of which are set forth below.
The Company and its affiliates, subsidiaries, and its and their
divisions, successors and assigns (the "Group") relies in conducting its
business on valuable, proprietary, Confidential Information (see definition
below) relating to its technology, business, operations, customers, products,
and services. The Group spends considerable resources acquiring and developing
this Confidential Information. The Group also receives Confidential Information
from third parties. To further the Group and Executive's interests, Executive
will have access to certain Confidential Information and to the Group's
resources that may be used in the creation of Confidential Information. The
Company is willing to establish and continue an employment relationship with
Executive, including the provision of resources necessary to further the
parties' interests, only if Executive protects such Confidential Information,
assigns rights to inventions as set forth below, and agrees to the reasonable
non-competition and non-solicitation covenants set forth below. Therefore, in
consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein the parties agree as
follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT
The Company shall employ Executive in the position of President,
Investment Banking and Brokerage, or in such other or further capacities as the
Company may reasonably determine from time to time. Executive shall report to
Xxxxx Xxxxx or such other executive of Xxxxx Xxxxx'x level of responsibility at
the Company as the Company may determine from time to time.
2. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Agreement will become effective upon the acquisition (the
"Acquisition") by the Group of a majority of the outstanding common shares of
Xxxxxx.xxx, Inc. (the "Current Company") (the "Effective Date").
3. TERM
The term of Executive's employment hereunder (the "Employment Term")
shall commence as of the Effective Date, and shall continue until the second
anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Expiration Date") unless Executive's
employment is terminated before then. If the Acquisition does not close for any
reason, then this Agreement shall become null and void and, notwithstanding any
terms or provisions to the contrary set forth herein, including any provisions
that purport to survive termination, this Agreement shall not survive any
termination pursuant to this sentence and neither party shall have any
obligation to the other hereunder.
4. DUTIES
Executive shall faithfully, diligently, and exclusively perform
services on behalf of the Company and the Group to the best of his ability
during the term of this Agreement, and shall devote his full business time,
attention and energies to the business and affairs of the Company and the Group,
its subsidiaries, divisions and affiliated entities.
5. COMPENSATION
(A) During the Employment Term, Executive shall receive an annual base
salary of $375,000 on an annualized basis (minus applicable taxes). The base
salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company's standard payroll
practices applicable to executives of the Company.
(B) Executive shall be eligible to earn bonuses under the Executive
Bonus Scheme ("EBS") in accordance with the same terms and conditions as other
similarly situated Company employees. At current target performance, Executive's
bonus will be 75% of his base salary for each year of his employment. Such bonus
payments shall be paid yearly in accordance with the EBS.
(C) Executive shall be eligible to participate in or receive benefits
under the Company's various employee benefit plans, policies or arrangements
including, without limitation, the Company's 401(k) plan as soon as
administratively practicable, subject to the same terms and conditions as other
similarly situated employees of the Company who perform duties requiring the
same skill, effort and responsibility. Executive shall be eligible for 20
vacation days, which shall be accrued on a monthly basis, and Executive shall be
eligible to take up to three personal days per year. The Company (including the
officers and administrators who have responsibility for administering the plans)
retains full discretionary authority to interpret the terms of the plans, as
well as full discretionary authority with regard to administrative matters
arising in connection with the plans including but not limited to issues
concerning benefit eligibility, vesting and entitlement. The Company reserves
the absolute right to modify, amend or terminate its employee benefit plans,
policies and arrangements at any time and for any reason.
(D) In accordance with the Company's policy, Executive shall be
reimbursed for reasonable business related expenses, including travel, hotel and
other out-of-pocket expenses properly incurred by Executive in the execution of
Executive's duties of employment .
(E) Provided that Executive remains in the continuous employ of the
Company from the Effective Date through the Expiration Date (and subject to
Section 10 of this Agreement), Executive shall be eligible to receive 200,000
ordinary shares of Reuters Group PLC (the "Shares") on or after the Expiration
Date. As soon as administratively practicable after the Expiration Date, the
Company shall make necessary arrangements to convert his ordinary shares of
Reuters Group PLC into a number of American Depositary Shares representing such
vested Ordinary Shares, rounded down to the nearest whole number of American
Depositary.. Specific
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terms and conditions relating to the Shares will be provided to Executive under
separate cover. Trading of Shares will be subject to all legal restrictions
surrounding trading of Shares by similarly situated executives
(F) During the Employment Term and thereafter, Executive shall have the
benefits of (i) a complete indemnity for any and all liabilities incurred by
Executive in connection with the performance of his assigned duties and
responsibilities (including, without limitation, all legal fees and expenses) as
an officer or employee of the Company or any other company within the Group to
the fullest extent provided by the organizational or constitutional documents of
the applicable company for all acts or omissions on Executive's part while
acting in good faith in accordance with his assigned duties and responsibilities
as an officer or employee of the Company or Group company (to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law) and (ii) any insurance policies which shall be
maintained by the Company or the Group in respect of liabilities incurred by
similarly situated officers and employees in their capacity as such. The
obligations set forth in this Paragraph 5(f) shall survive termination of
employment.
In the event of any claim by Executive for indemnification hereunder, Executive
hereby agrees to provide the Company with prompt written notice thereof and the
facts giving rise to the claim, including information as to the third party
action, but failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company of its
indemnification obligation unless the Company is materially prejudiced by its
failure to receive such notice. The Company shall have the right to assume the
defense of any third party action for which indemnification is sought hereunder,
and upon such assumption the Group shall have no liability to the Executive for
the fees and expenses of counsel in connection therewith, other than for the
fees and expenses for counsel selected by the Company. In the event that the
Company assumes the defense of any third party action pursuant hereto, Executive
shall cooperate with the Company in the defense of such action. In no event
shall Executive be entitled to settle any third party action for which
indemnification is sought hereunder without the prior written consent of the
Company.
6. COVENANTS
(A) CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Executive acknowledges and agrees that he
has and will have access to and come into contact and learn various technical
and non-technical trade secrets and other information ("Confidential
Information"), which are the property of the Group. Confidential Information
includes, but is not limited to: (i) information with respect to costs,
commissions, fees, profits, sales, markets, products and product formulae,
mailing lists, strategies and plans for future business, new business, product
or other development, new and innovative product ideas, potential acquisitions
or divestitures, and new marketing ideas; (ii) product formulations, methods,
procedures, devices, machines, equipment, data processing programs, software
computer models, research projects, and other means used by the Group in the
conduct of its business; (iii) the identity of the Group's customers,
distributors and suppliers and their names and addresses, the names of
representatives of the Group's customers, personnel placement prospects or
contacts, distributors or suppliers responsible for entering into contracts with
the Group, the amounts paid by such customers to the Group, specific customer
needs and requirements, and leads and referrals to prospective customers; and
(iv) the identity and number of the Group's employees, their salaries, bonuses,
benefits, qualifications and abilities; all of
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which information Executive acknowledges and agrees is not generally known or
available to the general public, but has been developed, compiled or acquired by
the Group at its great effort and expense. Confidential information can be in
oral, written, electronic or machine readable form. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Confidential Information shall not include information which (i) is
or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a
disclosure by the Executive in violation of this Agreement; (ii) was available
to Executive on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure to Executive by
the Group; or (iii) becomes available to the Executive on a non-confidential
basis from a person other than an employee of the Group who is not known to the
Executive to be otherwise bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Group,
or is otherwise not known to the Executive to be under an obligation to the
Group not to transmit the information to the Executive.
(B) NON-DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
(I) Executive acknowledges and agrees that Confidential
Information is the exclusive property of the Company and any disclosure,
divulging, revealing or other use of any Confidential Information by Executive,
other than in connection with the Group's business, will be highly detrimental
to the business of the Group and serious loss of business and pecuniary damage
may result therefrom. Accordingly, Executive covenants and agrees to hold all
such Confidential Information and any documents containing or reflecting the
same in the strictest confidence, and Executive will not, both during employment
with the Group or at any time thereafter, without the Company's prior written
consent, disclose, divulge, reveal or communicate to any person whomsoever, or
use for any purpose other than for the exclusive benefit of the Group, any
Confidential Information whatsoever, whether contained in Executive's memory or
embodied in writing, electronic or other form. For the avoidance of doubt, the
restrictions in this Section 6 shall not apply to any disclosure or use of
Confidential Information authorized by the board of directors of the Company or
required in the ordinary performance of Executive's duties hereunder.
(II) If Executive is required to disclose Confidential Information
because of or by legal process, Executive will cooperate with the Group, as
described in this subparagraph, in connection with: (i) any internal
investigation; (ii) the defense or prosecution of any claim that may be made
against or by the Group; or (iii) any ongoing or future investigation, dispute
or claim of any kind involving the Group including without limitation any
proceeding before any arbitral, administrative, judicial, legislative, or other
body or agency, subject, in a criminal proceeding ("legal proceeding"), to
assert whatever rights or privileges he may otherwise have. Consistent with
applicable law, the term "cooperate" as used in this Paragraph 6(b)(ii) shall
mean providing the Group advance written notice of any subpoena or legal
proceeding, performing all acts necessary to assist the Group to obtain a
protective order to the extent the Group seeks such protection and executing and
delivering any documents that may be reasonably necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Agreement. Furthermore, if such a protective order or other
remedy is not obtained, or the Group waives compliance with the provision of
this Paragraph 6(b)(ii), Executive will furnish only that portion of
Confidential Information or take only such action which is legally required and
will exercise reasonable commercial efforts to obtain reliable assurance that
confidential treatment will be accorded any Confidential Information so
furnished. In the event Executive shall have complied with the provisions of
this
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Paragraph 6(b)(ii), such disclosure may be made by Executive without any
liability hereunder. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable
costs, including attorneys' fees and expenses, incurred by Executive in
complying with the provisions of this Paragraph 6 (b)(ii).
(C) RETURN OF MATERIAL. Executive covenants and agrees to deliver
to the Company immediately upon cessation of employment or at any time the
Company so requests, (i) any and all documents, files, notes, memoranda,
manuals, forms, databases and/or other computer programs reflecting any
Confidential Information, or otherwise relating to the Group's business; (ii)
lists of the Group's customers or leads or referrals thereto; and (iii) any
computer equipment, home office equipment, automobile or other business
equipment belonging to the Group which Executive may then possess or have under
his control.
(D) COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE. Executive acknowledges and agrees
that the Group is engaged in a highly competitive business, and by virtue of
Executive's position and responsibilities with the Company, and his access to
Confidential Information, engaging in any business which is directly or
indirectly competitive with the Group will cause it great and irreparable harm.
Consequently, Executive covenants and agrees that both during the Employment
Term and for a period of (a) twelve months following cessation of employment
(whether such cessation is voluntary or involuntary) that occurs on or prior to
the first anniversary of Executive's employment with the Company or (b) six
months following cessation of employment (whether such cessation is voluntary or
involuntary) that occurs after the first anniversary of Executive's employment
with the Company, Executive shall not directly or indirectly (i) own, manage,
operate, control, be employed by, participate in, or be connected with, in any
manner, any business enterprise listed on Schedule A hereto or any entity
created from, divested from or merged with any entity on schedule A; or (ii)
become a founder or a 10% or greater shareholder of a new company whose
principal business or businesses compete with any of the Group's businesses.
(E) NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS. Executive acknowledges and
agrees that during the course and as a result of his employment with the
Company, he has and will become aware of some, most or all of the Group's
customers and clients, their names and addresses, their representatives
responsible for engaging the Group's services, their specific needs and
requirements and leads and referrals to prospective customers and clients.
Executive further acknowledges and agrees that the loss of such customers and
clients would cause the Group great and irreparable harm. Consequently,
Executive covenants and agrees that both during the Employment Term and for a
period of (a) twelve months following cessation of employment (whether such
cessation is voluntary or involuntary) that occurs on or prior to the first
anniversary of Executive's employment with the Company or (b) six months
following cessation of employment (whether such cessation is voluntary or
involuntary) that occurs after the first anniversary of Executive's employment
with the Company, Executive shall not, in any manner, directly or indirectly,
solicit, seek to do business with, or interfere or damage any relationship with
any customer or client, former customer or client or prospective customer or
client of the Group with whom Executive came into contact or about whom
Executive became aware while employed by the Company or about whom Executive
obtained Confidential Information during the Employment Term. In addition to the
foregoing, Executive shall be required to comply with the terms of any agreement
between the Company and another person, on whose behalf
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Executive may seek to solicit following the termination of his employment with
the Company, that is more restrictive than the terms set forth above.
(F) NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. Executive acknowledges and
agrees that during the course of employment by the Company, Executive has and
may hereafter come into contact with some, most or all of the Group's employees,
their knowledge, skills, abilities, salaries, commissions, benefits and other
matters with respect to such employees not generally known to the public.
Executive further acknowledges and agrees that any solicitation, luring away or
hiring of such employees of the Group will be highly detrimental to the business
of the Group and will cause the Group serious loss of business and great and
irreparable harm. Consequently, Executive covenants and agrees that both during
the Employment Term and for a period of (a) twelve months following cessation of
employment (whether such cessation is voluntary or involuntary) that occurs on
or prior to the first anniversary of Executive's employment with the Company or
(b) six months following cessation of employment (whether such cessation is
voluntary or involuntary) that occurs after the first anniversary of Executive's
employment with the Company, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, on
behalf of Executive or another person, solicit, lure away, hire or encourage to
resign any employees of the Group (or any person who was an employee of the
Group within the prior 12 months) with whom Executive had contact or about whom
Executive became aware or obtained Confidential Information while employed by
the Group, or assist or aid in any such activity. In addition to the foregoing,
Executive shall be required to comply with the terms of any agreement between
the Company and another person, on whose behalf Executive may seek to solicit
following the termination of his employment with the Company, that is more
restrictive than the terms set forth above.
(G) ENFORCEMENT OF COVENANTS. Executive acknowledges and agrees
that compliance with the covenants set forth in this Section 6 is necessary to
protect the business and goodwill of the Company and the Group and that any
breach of these covenants will result in irreparable and continuing harm to the
Company and the Group, for which money damages may not provide adequate relief.
Accordingly, in the event of any breach or anticipatory breach of these
covenants by Executive, the Company and Executive agree that the Company shall
be entitled to the following particular forms of relief as a result of such
breach, in addition to any remedies otherwise available to it at law or equity:
(a) injunctions, both preliminary and permanent, enjoining or restraining such
breach or anticipatory breach, and Executive hereby consents to the issuance
thereof forthwith and without bond by any court of competent jurisdiction; and
(b) recovery of all reasonable sums and costs, including attorneys' fees,
incurred by the Group to enforce the provisions of this Section 6; provided that
this obligation shall only apply if the Group prevails in any such actions.
(H) SURVIVAL. Any termination of Executive's employment or of this
Agreement (or breach of this Agreement by Executive or the Company) shall have
no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 6.
(I) NOTICE TO NEW EMPLOYERS. Before Executive either applies for
or accepts employment with any other person or entity while any of Section 6(a),
6(b), 6(d), 6(e) or 6(f) is in effect, the Executive will provide the
prospective employer with written notice of the provisions of this Section 6 and
will deliver a copy of the notice to the Company.
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(J) CONSIDERATION. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement
would not have been entered into and the benefits described in this Agreement
would not have been promised in the absence of Executive's covenants under this
Section 6.
7. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Executive may not use his position, influence, and knowledge of
confidential information or Group assets for personal gain. A direct or indirect
financial interest, including joint ventures in or with a supplier, vendor,
customer or prospective customer without disclosure and written approval from
the Chief Executive Officer of the Group is strictly prohibited.
8. TERMINATION
Employment under this Agreement may be terminated prior to the end
of the Employment Term under the following circumstances:
(A) DEATH. Executive's employment hereunder shall automatically
terminate upon his death.
(B) DISABILITY. Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate upon
his becoming Totally Disabled. For purposes of this Employment Agreement,
Executive shall be "Totally Disabled" as of the date he becomes entitled to
receive disability benefits under the Company's long-term disability plan.
(C) CAUSE. The Company may terminate Executive's employment
hereunder for Cause at any time after providing written notice to
Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean any of the
following: (i) Executive's willful failure to perform his material duties
hereunder (other than for a reason set forth in Section 10(b) below); (ii)
the willful engaging by Executive in conduct which causes financial,
reputational or other harm to the Group; (iii) conviction of a crime
(including a nolo contendere plea) involving, in the good faith
determination of the Company, fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iv)
gross misconduct ; (v) breach of any covenant set forth in Section 6 or
Section 7 of this Agreement; (vi) the engaging by Executive in fraud in
connection with the business of the Company or misappropriation of the
Company's funds or property; (vii) Executive's excessive absence from the
Company, other than regular vacations, business travel and approved leaves
of absence, after notice of such excessive absence has been given to
Executive; or (viii) Executive's disqualification or bar by any
governmental or self-regulatory authority from serving in the capacity
contemplated by this Agreement or Executive's loss of any material
governmental or self-regulatory license that is reasonably necessary for
Executive to perform his responsibilities to the Company under this
Agreement. Executive will not be considered to have been terminated for
"Cause" unless and until an authorized officer of the Company provides
Executive with a notice setting forth the Company's good faith
determination that Cause exists and the basis for such determination...
The Company represents that, as of the date of this Agreement, the "cause"
standard set forth in this
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paragraph is substantially similar to the "cause" standard contained in
standard employment agreements used by the Company for executives.
(d) GOOD REASON. Executive may terminate his employment hereunder
for Good Reason at any time after providing three months written notice to
the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean any
of the following:(i) the assignment to Executive of authority, duties and
responsibilities and any other action by the Company (or any member of the
Group) that results in substantial diminution in such position, authority,
duties and responsibilities, but excluding for this purpose an isolated,
temporary insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith that
is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by Executive; and (ii) any material breach of any material provision of
this Agreement by the Company (or any member of the Group or the Company's
failure (or the failure of any member of the Group) to provide in all
material respects the indemnification and insurance requirements set forth
in this Agreement. The Company represents that, as of the date of this
Agreement, the "Good Reason provision" set forth in this paragraph is
substantially similar to the "Good Reason provision" contained in standard
employment agreements used by the Company for executives.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, placing Executive on a paid
leave for up to 90 days, pending the determination of whether there is a
basis to terminate Executive for Cause, shall not constitute a "Good
Reason" event; provided, further, that, if the Executive is subsequently
terminated for Cause, then Executive shall repay any amounts paid by the
Company to Executive during such paid leave period If the Executive does
not deliver to the Company a notice of termination within 30 days after
Executive has knowledge that an event constituting Good Reason has
occurred, the event will no longer constitute Good Reason.
The Company represents that, as of the date of this Agreement,
executives of the Company do not have "change of control provisions in
their employment agreements, to the extent that they have employment
agreements with the Company.
(E) WITH NOTICE. Either party may terminate Executive's employment
without Cause or Good Reason upon three (3) months prior written notice to
the other party.
9. EMPLOYMENT AT WILL AFTER EXPIRATION OF EMPLOYMENT TERM
In the event that Executive continues employment with Company after
the Expiration Date without entering into another employment agreement,
Executive will be an at-will employee of the Company and the employment
relationship may be terminated by either Executive or the Company at any time,
with or without Cause, Good Reason or notice, and neither the Company nor the
Group will have any further obligations to Executive.
10. COMPENSATION FOLLOWING TERMINATION
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(A) COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 10, upon termination of Executive's employment hereunder during the
Employment Term for Cause, Executive's right to compensation hereunder shall
cease, except that Executive (or his beneficiary or estate, as the case may be)
shall be entitled to receive: (i) any accrued but unpaid salary for services
rendered to the date of termination and (ii) any unused vacation accrued under
the Company's policy to the date of termination. Any benefits to which Executive
may be entitled upon termination pursuant to the Company's plans, policies and
arrangements referred to in Section 5 hereof shall be determined and paid in
accordance with the terms of such plans, policies and arrangements.
(B) DEATH OR DISABILITY. In the event that Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of employee's death or Total Disability pursuant to
Sections 8(a) or 8(b), the Company shall (i) make payments to Executive's
beneficiary or estate, as the case may be, in amounts equal to the amounts which
would have been payable to Executive as salary determined as if his employment
had continued until the end of the three-month period beginning on his date of
death or disability and (ii) pay Executive's beneficiary or estate, as the case
may be, the pro rata amount of any accrued but unpaid bonus
(C) TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE OR TERMINATION BY THE
EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD REASON. In the event that Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company without Cause or Executive terminates his employment
for Good Reason, Executive's sole remedy shall be to (a) receive in a lump sum
payment an amount equal to (i) any accrued but unpaid salary for services
rendered to the date of termination, (ii) any unused vacation accrued under the
Company's policy to the date of termination, (iii) in the case of termination
without Cause, three months notice of termination and, to the extent such notice
is not given, salary for up to three months in lieu of notice, (iv) a severance
benefit equal to 48 weeks of Executive's base salary, and such severance payment
shall be in lieu of all other severance payments to which Executive may be
entitled under any Company policy, plan or benefit and (v) the prorated annual
bonus amount using the bonus formula set forth in Section 5 above, and (b)
receive and retain the Shares. Such amounts shall be paid and the Shares shall
be issued to Executive within a reasonable administrative timeframe from
Executive's last day of employment. Any other benefits to which Executive may be
entitled upon termination without Cause or with Good Reason pursuant to the
Company's plans, policies and arrangements referred to in Section 5 hereof shall
be determined and paid in accordance with the terms of such plans, policies and
arrangements. In order to receive the monies and benefits described in this
paragraph, Executive must execute a separation agreement and general release of
claims reasonably satisfactory to the Company and in form and substance
equivalent to agreements and realeases signed by similarly situated executives.
Furthermore, no such monies and benefits will be payable to Executive until he
has returned to the Company all Company property and equipment furnished to him
in connection with his employment with the Company.
(D) TAXES. 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.
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11. DISCLOSURE AND ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS.
(A) Executive covenants and agrees that all inventions (including new
contributions, improvements, ideas or discoveries, whether patentable or not and
including all software or computer programs, modifications of software or
computer programs and data processing systems, analyses, techniques and all
similar matter, all of which are hereafter described as "inventions and
developments") conceived, developed or made by Executive prior to the Effective
Date ("Prior Inventions & Developments") and from the Effective Date during the
period of his employment by the Company ("Future Inventions and Developments"),
growing out of his employment by or related in any manner to the business of (x)
the Current Company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or any of their
predecessors, in the case of Prior Inventions & Developments, or (y) the Group,
in the case of Future Inventions & Developments, shall belong to the Current
Company, in the case of Prior Inventions & Developments, or the Company, in the
case of Future Inventions & Developments, and Executive further covenants and
agrees that he will: (i) promptly disclose such inventions and developments to
the Current Company and the Company; (ii) assign to the Current Company and the
Company, without additional compensation, the entire rights to such inventions
and developments for the United States and all foreign countries; (iii) sign all
papers and do all acts necessary to carry out the above, including enabling the
Current Company and the Company to file and prosecute applications for, acquire,
ascertain and enforce in all countries, letters patent, trademark registrations
or copyrights covering or otherwise relating to such inventions and developments
and to enable the Current Company and the Company to protect its proprietary
interests therein; and (iv) give testimony, at the Company's expense, in support
of Executive's invention and development thereof.
(B) Executive further covenants and agrees that the Current Company and
the Company shall be entitled to shop rights with respect to any invention and
development conceived or made by Executive prior to the Effective Date and from
the Effective Date during the period of his employment by the Company,
respectively, that is not related in any manner to the business of the Current
Company or the Group but which was conceived or made on the Current Company or
the Company's time or with the use of the Current Company's or the Group's
facilities or materials.
(C) Executive further covenants and agrees that it shall be conclusively
presumed as against Executive that the following shall belong to the Current
Company, as to matters arising prior to the Effective Date, or the Company, as
to matters arising from the Effective Date on: (i) any invention and development
described in a patent service xxxx, trademark or copyright application or
disclosed in any manner to a third person; and (ii) any computer program,
modification of any computer program, or systems technique for processing data
conceived or made by Executive during the period of his employment which is
disclosed, used or described by Executive or any person with whom Executive has
any business, financial or confidential relationship within eighteen months
after leaving the employ of the Group.
12. EMPLOYABILITY
(A) Executive affirms that he is presently not subject to a restrictive
covenant or other prior agreement which would prohibit or restrict employment
with the Company.
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(B) If Executive learns or becomes aware or is advised that he is
subject to an actual or alleged restrictive covenant or other prior agreement
which may prohibit or restrict employment by the Company, Executive shall
immediately notify the Company of the same.
(C) If any action is brought against the Company involving any actual or
alleged restrictive covenant or other prior agreement which may prohibit or
restrict Executive's employment by the Company, Executive covenants and agrees
to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any and all costs incurred in
defending such litigation, including but not limited to court fees, attorneys'
fees and disbursements, and from any and all liability, judgment or settlement
assessed against the Company as a result of any breach of or interference with
such restrictive covenant or other prior agreement which may prohibit or
restrict Executive's employment by the Company.
13. SEVERABILITY
If any term or provision of this Agreement or any portion thereof is
declared illegal or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such
provision or portion thereof shall be deemed modified so as to render it
enforceable, and to the extent such provision or portion thereof cannot be
rendered enforceable, this Agreement shall be considered divisible as to such
provision which shall become null and void, leaving the remainder of this
Agreement in full force and effect.
14. GOVERNING LAW
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The parties agree that any action or
proceeding with respect to this Agreement shall be brought in the Supreme Court
of the State of New York, New York County or in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York, and the parties agree to the jurisdiction
thereof. The parties hereby irrevocably waive any objection they may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such action in the said court(s),
and further irrevocably waive any claim they may now or hereafter have that any
such action brought in said court(s) has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
16. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
(a) This Agreement is personal to 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 Executive's legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns. As used in this Agreement, "Company"
shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business
and/or assets as aforesaid.
15. AMENDMENT
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This Agreement may not be modified, amended altered or changed
except with the written consent of the parties hereto.
16. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the parties
hereto, and supersedes any prior agreements or understandings between the
parties. Executive acknowledges that Executive has not relied on any
representations, promises, or agreements of any kind made to Executive in
connection with Executive's decision to sign this Employment Agreement, except
for those set forth in this Agreement.
17. HEADINGS
Section headings are used herein for convenience or reference only
and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of this Agreement.
18. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which when executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when
taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto knowingly and voluntarily executed this
Agreement, on the dates set forth below:
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
XXXXX XXXXXX
February 17, 2003
--------------------------------
Date
REUTERS AMERICA INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Corporates & Media
February 17, 2003
------------------------------------
Date
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