EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.6
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of February 8, 2008, to be
effective as of January 1, 2008, by and between First Acceptance Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx (“Executive”).
In consideration of the continued employment of Executive by the Company, the grant to
Executive by the Company on the date hereof of a non-qualified option to purchase shares of the
Company’s common stock, and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and
Executive, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company agrees to employ Executive, and Executive accepts such
employment, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, for the period beginning as
of the date hereof and ending upon his separation pursuant to Section 4 hereof (the
“Employment Period”).
2. Position and Duties.
(a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as Vice President — IT Production
Systems of the Company and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities, functions and authority
of such position.
(b) During the Employment Period, Executive shall devote his best efforts and his full
business time and attention (except for time devoted to charitable and non-profit activities and
service as a director on the board(s) of directors of companies (whether public or private) other
than the Company, in each case, in a manner that does not interfere with the performance of his
duties to the Company, vacation periods in accordance with the terms set forth herein, and periods
of illness) to the business and affairs of the Company. Executive shall perform his duties,
responsibilities and functions to the Company hereunder to the best of his abilities in a diligent,
trustworthy and businesslike manner.
3. Compensation and Benefits.
(a) Commencing on the date hereof and continuing throughout the Employment Period, Executive’s
base salary shall be $207,500 per annum (the “Base Salary”). Executive’s Base Salary shall
be payable by the Company in regular installments consistent with the Company’s general payroll
practices. Executive’s Base Salary for any partial year shall be pro rated based upon the number
of days elapsed in such year within the Employment Period. The Company shall perform an annual
review of Executive’s Base Salary based on Executive’s performance of his duties and the Company’s
other compensation policies; provided, that the Base Salary shall not be reduced below
$207,500.
(b) During the Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible for an annual bonus of up to 30%
of the Base Salary payable to Executive with respect to each fiscal year of the Company (the
“Annual Bonus”). In each year, the amount of the Annual Bonus shall be determined based
upon the Company’s evaluation of Executive’s personal performance and such other criteria as may be
determined by the Company. Each such bonus shall be paid to Executive reasonably promptly
following the determination of the amount of such bonus, but in
any event within the time periods required by applicable law (including Treasury Regulation
1.409A-1(b)(4)).
(c) During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to such health and welfare
benefits (including participation in any 401(k) plan, profit sharing plan and/or stock purchase
plan, and consideration for participation in any stock option plan) as are made available to the
Company’s employees. Executive shall be entitled to twenty (20) days of paid annual leave per
year, accruing one and two-thirds days per month.
(d) During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay or reimburse Executive for all
reasonable expenses incurred by him in the course of performing his duties and responsibilities
under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time
with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s normal
requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.
(e) All amounts payable to Executive hereunder shall be subject to all withholding of the
Company required by law.
(f) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless Executive against all expenses, liabilities
and losses arising in connection with any action, suit or proceeding that he is made a party to, or
threatened to be made a party to, by reason of his employment with the Company or the fact that he,
or a person of whom he is or was the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the
Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee,
fiduciary, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, in each case to the fullest extent provided for under the Company’s articles of
incorporation and bylaws, each as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
4. Term; Severance.
(a) The Employment Period will continue until Executive’s resignation, death or Disability (as
defined below) or the Company’s termination of the Employment Period at any time with or without
Cause (as defined below), in each case a “Separation” hereunder. Except as otherwise
provided herein, any termination of the Employment Period by the Company shall be effective as
specified in a written notice from the Company to Executive, but not sooner than the date on which
the notice is delivered.
(b) In the event that the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause or Executive
resigns with Good Reason (as defined below) within twelve (12) months following the occurrence of
an event described in Section 4(f), Executive shall be entitled to:
(i) receive his Base Salary through the effective date of the Separation,
(ii) receive compensation, in accordance with Company policy, for any accrued and unused
vacation as of the date of the Separation,
(iii) reimbursement for expenses in accordance with Section 3(d),
(iv) any accrued and unpaid bonus owed to Executive as of the date of the Separation (but only
to the extent the targets or other criteria regarding such bonus are met during the relevant
period),
(v) receive an amount equal to Executive’s then current Base Salary, payable in regular
installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices in effect on the date of
the Separation, for the period commencing on the day immediately following the Separation and
continuing through the first anniversary of the Separation (the “ Severance Period “);
provided , that if the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause or Executive
resigns with Good Reason, in each case, within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control (as
defined below), then Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to one hundred fifty
percent (150%) of Executive’s then current Base Salary payable
in one lump sum on the effective
date of such termination of Executive’s employment, and
(vi) continue to participate during the Severance Period (at the Company’s expense to the same
extent as participation for other employees of the Company is at the Company’s expense) in all
employee health benefit programs made generally available to the Company’s employees to the extent
permitted under the terms of such programs and under applicable law (it being understood that if
Executive is unable to participate in any such plan by reason of prohibitions under the terms of
such programs or under applicable law, the Company shall, in lieu of such participation, pay to
Executive, at the beginning of each month during the Severance Period, an amount in cash equivalent
to the value of such participation); provided, that if the Company terminates Executive’s
employment without Cause or Executive resigns with Good Reason, in each case, within twelve (12)
months following a Change in Control, then Executive shall continue to participate (at the
Company’s expense to the same extent as participation for other employees of the Company is at the
Company’s expense) in all employee health benefit programs made generally available to the Company’s
employees (other than bonus and incentive compensation plans) to the
extent health permitted under the
terms of such programs and under applicable law for a period of eighteen (18) months following the
effective date of such termination of Executive’s employment.
Executive will be entitled to the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (v) and (vi) of this
Section 4(b) if and only if Executive has executed and delivered to the Company a General
Release in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A attached hereto.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, all such rights to payments pursuant to clauses (v) and (vi) of this
Section 4(b) shall cease in the event that the Company determines that Executive has
breached any provision of Section 5, Section 6 or Section 7 hereof. For
purposes hereof, “ Change in Control “ means any transaction or event constituting a “Change
in Control” as defined in the Company’s 2002 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended.
(c) In the event Executive ceases to be employed by the Company for any reason other than a
termination by the Company without Cause or Executive’s resignation for Good Reason within twelve
(12) months following the occurrence of an event described in Section 4(f), Executive shall
be entitled to receive only his Base Salary through the effective date of the Separation,
compensation, in accordance with Company policy, for any accrued and unused vacation, reimbursement
for expenses in accordance with Section 3(d), and any accrued and unpaid bonus (but only to
the extent the targets or other criteria regarding such bonus are
met during the relevant period), and Executive shall not be entitled to any other salary,
compensation or benefits from the Company or its Subsidiaries (as defined below) thereafter.
(d) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all of Executive’s rights to salary,
bonuses, fringe benefits and other compensation hereunder which would otherwise accrue or become
payable after the Separation shall cease upon such termination (other than those expressly required
under applicable law, such as COBRA).
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (i) Executive’s commission of a
felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, (ii) any act of dishonesty or fraud on the part of
Executive that has caused material harm to the Company, and/or (iii) the willful and continued
failure by Executive to substantially perform his duties and obligations under this Agreement
(other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), or the
gross negligence or willful misconduct by Executive with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, after a demand by the Company that specifically identifies the manner in which the
Company believes that he has not substantially performed his duties or has committed gross
negligence or willful misconduct and the failure by Executive to cure such failure within 30 days
after delivery of such demand.
(f) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean one or more of the
following reasons that are not cured by the Company within 30 days after notice by Executive to the
Board of such failure or breach, which notice must be provided by Executive within 90 days
following the occurrence of the failure or breach: (i) the Company reduces the amount of
Executive’s compensation in a manner that constitutes a breach of this Agreement, or otherwise
fails to perform in any material respect or breaches in any material respect its other obligations
under this Agreement; (ii) the Company assigns to Executive any duties materially inconsistent with
his position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company, materially reduces his
authority, materially changes his reporting responsibilities, titles or offices, or removes
Executive from any such positions (except in connection with the termination of his employment by
the Company for Cause, by Executive other than for Good Reason, or as a result of Executive’s death
or Disability) or (iii) the Company changes Executive’s place of work to a location more than 50
miles from the Company’s current corporate headquarters. Notwithstanding anything contained herein
to the contrary, Executive may not terminate his employment with the Company pursuant to
Section 4(f)(ii) within the six (6) month period immediately following a Change in Control
of the Company.
(g) For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean Executive’s incapacitation
or other absence from his full-time duties hereunder for six consecutive months or for at least 180
days during any 12-month period, in either case as a result of a mental or physical illness or
injury.
(h) Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this
Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided
for herein be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another
employer or by retirement benefits after the date of Separation or otherwise.
5. Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that the information,
observations and data (including trade secrets) to be obtained by him while employed by the Company
and/or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of the Company and/or its
Subsidiaries (“Confidential Information”) are the property of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Therefore, Executive agrees that he shall not disclose to any person, other than in
the course of the performance of his duties to the Company, or use for his own purposes any
Confidential Information, unless and to the extent that (i) the Confidential Information becomes
generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Executive’s acts
or omissions or (ii) such disclosure or use is authorized by the Company. Executive shall deliver
to the Company at the termination of the Employment Period, or at any other time the Company may
request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and
other documents and data (and copies thereof) embodying or relating to the Confidential
Information, Work Product (as defined below) or the business of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which Executive may then possess or have under his control. For purposes of this
Agreement, “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation or other entity of which the securities
or other ownership interests having the voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors
or other governing body are, at the time of determination, owned by the Company directly or through
one of more Subsidiaries.
6. Inventions, Patents and Other Intellectual Property. Executive acknowledges that
all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods,
designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work
(whether or not including any Confidential Information) and all registrations or applications
related thereto, and all other proprietary information and all similar or related information
(whether or not patentable) which relate to the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ actual or
anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and which
are conceived, developed or made by Executive (whether alone or jointly with others) while employed
by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, whether before or after the date of this Agreement
(“Work Product”), belong to the Company or such Subsidiary. Executive shall promptly
disclose such Work Product to the Company and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions
reasonably requested by the Company (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish
and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of
attorney and other instruments).
7. Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation. In further consideration of the compensation to be
paid to Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that in the course of his employment with the
Company he will become familiar with the trade secrets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and with
other Confidential Information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries and that his services
have been and will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Therefore, Executive agrees that:
(a) during the Employment Period and for the period commencing with the Separation and
continuing until the end of the Severance Period (the “Noncompete Period”), Executive shall
not, within the United States, directly or indirectly, own any interest in, manage, control,
participate in, consult with, render services for, or in any manner engage in any business that is
involved in the development, marketing, retail sale, administration or underwriting of non-standard
automobile insurance programs anywhere in the United States; provided, that nothing herein
shall prohibit Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 5% of the
outstanding equity interests of any class of a corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, or other entity, so long as Executive has no active participation in the business of such
entity;
(b) during the Noncompete Period, Executive shall not, other than in the course of performing
his duties on behalf of the Company while an officer thereof, directly or indirectly through
another person or entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than a member of Executive’s family, to leave the employ of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, (ii) hire any person, other than a member of Executive’s
family, who was an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at any time during the
one-year period immediately preceding the Separation, (iii) induce or attempt to induce any
customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to cease doing business with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) directly or indirectly
acquire or attempt to acquire an interest in any business relating to the business of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries and with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has entertained
discussions, or has requested and received information, relating to the acquisition of such
business by the Company or any Subsidiary in the two-year period immediately preceding the
Separation;
(c) if, at the time of enforcement of this Section 7, a court shall hold that the
duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then
existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such
circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall
be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area
permitted by law;
(d) in the event of the breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section
7, the Company and its Subsidiaries, in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies
existing in their favor, shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other
equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any
violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security). In addition,
Executive agrees that, in the event of a breach or violation by Executive of this Section
7, the Noncompete Period shall be tolled until such breach or violation has been duly cured;
and
(e) the provisions of this Section 7 are in consideration of: (i) employment with the
Company and (ii) additional good and valuable consideration as set forth in this Agreement. In
addition, Executive agrees and acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Section 5,
Section 6 and this Section 7 do not preclude Executive from earning a livelihood,
nor do they unreasonably impose limitations on Executive’s ability to earn a living. In addition,
Executive agrees and acknowledges that the potential harm to the Company of the non-enforcement of
Section 5, Section 6 and/or this Section 7 outweighs any potential harm to
Executive of its enforcement by injunction or otherwise. In addition, Executive acknowledges that
he has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed
upon Executive by this Agreement and is in full accord as to their necessity for the reasonable and
proper protection of confidential and proprietary information of the Company now existing or to be
developed in the future. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint
imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and
geographical area.
8. Executive’s Representations. Executive hereby represents and warrants to the
Company that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive do not and
shall not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement,
instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Executive is a party or by which Executive is bound,
(ii) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, noncompete agreement,
confidentiality agreement or any similar agreement with any other person or entity and (iii) upon
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be the valid and
binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by law (including bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally or by general equity principles
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)).
Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that he has consulted with independent legal counsel
regarding his rights and obligations under this Agreement.
9. Survival. Sections 3(f) and 4 through 18 (inclusive), and
all rights of Executive to compensation and benefits relating to periods prior to the termination
of the Employment Period, shall survive and continue in full force in accordance with their terms
notwithstanding the termination of the Employment Period.
10. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or upon
confirmation of receipt if delivered by telecopy or facsimile (but only if a copy of such telecopy
or facsimile is delivered to the recipient by a recognized next-day courier service), (b) on the
first business day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier
service or (c) on the fifth business day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be
delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as have been previously
designated in writing to the party sending such notice by the party to receive such notice:
Notices to Executive:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Notices to the Company :
First Acceptance Corporation
0000 Xxxx Xxx Xxx., Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
or such other address or facsimile number or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice under this
Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered, sent or mailed.
11. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect
under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any action in any other jurisdiction, but
this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
12. Complete Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein
and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the
parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or
among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
13. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be
the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict
construction shall be applied against any party.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of
which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same
agreement.
15. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company and their respective heirs, successors
and assigns, provided , that neither party may assign his or its rights or delegate his or
its duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other.
16. Choice of Law. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Tennessee.
17. Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived
only with the prior written consent of the Company, its successors and assignees, and Executive,
and no course of conduct or course of dealing or failure or delay by any party hereto in enforcing
or exercising any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be an implied waiver of
any provision of this Agreement.
18. Arbitration.
(a) Each party hereto agrees that arbitration, conducted in Nashville, Tennessee, in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, shall be the sole and exclusive
method for resolving any claim or dispute arising out of or relating to the rights and obligations
acknowledged and agreed to in this Agreement and the employment of Executive by the Company and its
Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, disputes and claims regarding employment
discrimination, sexual harassment, termination and discharge). The arbitrator shall be directed to
issue a written decision to be delivered to both parties, addressing each issue disputed by the
parties, stating the arbitrator’s findings and reasons therefore, and stating the nature and amount
of any damages, compensation or other relief awarded (the “Final Determination”). The
parties agree that the result of any arbitration hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding
on all of the parties hereto.
(b) Any party hereto may institute litigation to enforce any Final Determination. Each party
hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any United States District Court or state
court of competent jurisdiction sitting in Nashville, Tennessee, and agrees that such court shall
be the exclusive forum for the enforcement of any Final Determination. Each party hereto
irrevocably consents to service of process by registered mail or personal service and waives any
objection on the grounds of personal jurisdiction, venue or inconvenience of the forum. Each party
hereto further agrees that each other party hereto may initiate litigation in any court of
competent jurisdiction to execute any judicial judgment enforcing a Final Determination.
* * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date
first written above.
| FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION |
||||
| /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||
| By: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||
| Its: President | ||||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||||
| By: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||||
Exhibit A
GENERAL RELEASE
I, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, in consideration of and subject to the performance by First
Acceptance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (together with its Subsidiaries (as defined in the
Agreement), the “Company”), of its material obligations under the Employment Agreement,
effective as of February 8, 2008 (the “Agreement”), do hereby release and forever
discharge as of the date hereof the Company and all present and former directors, officers, agents,
representatives, employees, successors and assigns of the Company and its direct or indirect owners
(collectively, the “Released Parties”) to the extent provided below.
| 1. | I understand that any payments or benefits paid or granted to me under clauses (v) and (vi) of Section 4(b) of the Agreement represent, in part, consideration for signing this General Release and are not salary, wages or benefits to which I was already entitled. I understand and agree that I will not receive the payments and benefits specified in clauses (v) and (vi) of Section 4(b) of the Agreement unless I execute this General Release and do not revoke this General Release within the time period permitted hereafter or breach this General Release. |
| 2. | Except as provided in paragraph 4 below, I knowingly and voluntarily release and forever discharge the Company and the other Released Parties from any and all claims, controversies, actions, causes of action, cross-claims, counter-claims, demands, debts, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive or exemplary damages, other damages, claims for costs and attorneys’ fees, or liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in equity, both past and present (through the date of this General Release) and whether known or unknown, suspected, or claimed against the Company or any of the Released Parties which I, my spouse, or any of my heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, may have, which arise out of or are connected with my employment with, or my separation from, the Company (including, but not limited to, any allegation, claim or violation, arising under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act); the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; any applicable Executive Order Programs; the Fair Labor Standards Act; or their state or local counterparts; or under any other federal, state or local civil or human rights law; or under any other local, state, or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or under any public policy, contract or tort, or under common law; or arising under any policies, practices or procedures of the Company; or any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress or defamation; or any claim for costs, fees or other expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters) (all of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the “Claims”). |
| 3. | I represent that I have made no assignment or transfer of any right, claim, demand, cause of action or other matter covered by paragraph 2 above. |
| 4. | I agree that this General Release does not waive or release any rights or claims that I may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 which arise after the date I execute this General Release. I acknowledge and agree that my separation from employment with the Company in compliance with the terms of the Agreement shall not serve as the basis for any claim or action (including, without limitation, any claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967). |
| 5. | In signing this General Release, I acknowledge and intend that it shall be effective as a bar to each and every one of the Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I expressly consent that this General Release shall be given full force and effect according to each and all of its express terms and provisions, including those relating to unknown and unsuspected Claims (notwithstanding any state statute that expressly limits the effectiveness of a general release of unknown, unsuspected and unanticipated Claims), if any, as well as those relating to any other Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I acknowledge and agree that this waiver is an essential and material term of this General Release and that without such waiver the Company would not have agreed to the terms of the Agreement. I further agree that in the event I should bring a Claim seeking damages against the Company, or in the event I should seek to recover against the Company in any Claim brought by a governmental agency on my behalf, this General Release shall serve as a complete defense to such Claims. I further agree that I am not aware of any pending charge or complaint of the type described in paragraph 2 hereof as of the execution of this General Release. |
| 6. | I agree that neither this General Release, nor the furnishing of the consideration for this General Release, shall be deemed or construed at any time to be an admission by the Company, any Released Party or myself of any improper or unlawful conduct. |
| 7. | I agree that I will forfeit all amounts payable by the Company pursuant to the Agreement if I challenge the validity of this General Release. I also agree that if I violate this General Release by suing the Company or the other Released Parties, I will pay all costs and expenses of defending against the suit incurred by the Released Parties, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, and return all payments received by me pursuant to the Agreement. |
| 8. | I agree that this General Release is confidential and agree not to disclose any information regarding the terms of this General Release, except to my immediate family and any tax, legal or other counsel I have consulted regarding the meaning or effect hereof or as required by law, and I will instruct each of the foregoing not to disclose the same to anyone. |
| 9. | Any non-disclosure provision in this General Release does not prohibit or restrict me (or my attorney) from responding to any inquiry about this General Release or its underlying facts and circumstances by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD), any other self-regulatory organization or governmental entity. |
| 10. | I agree to reasonably cooperate with the Company in any internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding. I understand and agree that my |
cooperation may include, but not be limited to, making myself available to the Company upon
reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations; appearing at the Company’s
request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process;
volunteering to the Company pertinent information; and turning over to the Company all
relevant documents which are or may come into my possession all at times and on schedules
that are reasonably consistent with my other permitted activities and commitments. I
understand that in the event the Company asks for my cooperation in accordance with this
provision, the Company will reimburse me solely for reasonable travel expenses, including
lodging and meals, upon my submission of receipts.
| 11. | Notwithstanding anything in this General Release to the contrary, this General Release shall not relinquish, diminish, or in any way affect any rights or claims arising out of any breach by the Company or by any Released Party of the Agreement. |
| 12. | In the event the Company breaches its obligation to make payments to me pursuant to Section 4(b) of the Agreement in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Agreement, and such breach is not cured within 15 days after written notice by me to the Company in accordance with the notice provisions set forth in the Agreement, then this General Release shall terminate and be of no further force or effect. |
| 13. | Whenever possible, each provision of this General Release shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this General Release is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this General Release shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. |
BY SIGNING THIS GENERAL RELEASE, I REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT:
| 1. | I HAVE READ IT CAREFULLY; |
| 2. | I UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS AND KNOW THAT I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT RIGHTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RIGHTS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, AS AMENDED; TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, AS AMENDED; THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963; THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990; AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED; |
| 3. | I VOLUNTARILY CONSENT TO EVERYTHING IN IT; |
| 4. | I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE EXECUTING IT AND HAVE DONE SO, OR, AFTER CAREFUL READING AND CONSIDERATION, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO OF MY OWN VOLITION; |
| 5. | I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 21 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MY RECEIPT OF THIS RELEASE SUBSTANTIALLY IN ITS FINAL FORM ON |
___,
___ TO CONSIDER IT AND THE CHANGES MADE SINCE THE
___, ___ VERSION OF THIS RELEASE ARE NOT MATERIAL AND WILL NOT
RESTART THE REQUIRED 21-DAY PERIOD;
| 6. | I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE IT AND THAT THIS RELEASE SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE UNTIL THE REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED; |
| 7. | I HAVE SIGNED THIS GENERAL RELEASE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AND WITH THE ADVICE OF ANY COUNSEL RETAINED TO ADVISE ME WITH RESPECT TO IT; AND |
| 8. | I AGREE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE MAY NOT BE AMENDED, WAIVED, CHANGED OR MODIFIED EXCEPT BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY AND BY ME. |
| DATE: ___________ ____, ______ | ||||
| By: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||||
