EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the 26th day of February, 1993, by and
between SOLA Optical USA, Inc. (the "Company") and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx (the
"Executive").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Executive is currently employed by the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to provide for the continued
employment of the Executive with the Company on the terms and conditions set
forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Term of Employment.
(a) The Company hereby agrees to continue the employment of the
Executive and the Executive hereby accepts continued employment with the
Company, in the position and with the duties and responsibilities as set forth
in Section 2 hereof for the term of employment under this Agreement (the
"Term"), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(b) The Term shall commence as of the date hereof and shall continue
until (but not including) the second anniversary of that date or such later date
to which the
Term may be extended in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 hereof.
2. Position; Duties and Responsibilities. During the Term, the Executive
shall be employed by the Company as Vice President Strategic Planning of the
SOLA Group. The duties and responsibilities of the Executive shall be those
currently assigned to the Executive and such other duties and responsibilities
as the Company, in its sole discretion, shall assign to Executive, including
duties and responsibilities which relate to the operations of, or are for the
benefit of, subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company. During the Term, the
Executive shall serve the Company faithfully and diligently and shall devote
full working time and attention exclusively to the Executive's duties and
responsibilities hereunder. During the period of the Executive's employment
under this Agreement, the Executive shall be assigned to such of the Company's
works or offices or the works or offices of any subsidiary or affiliate of the
Company as may reasonably be determined (bearing in mind the personal
circumstances of, and following discussion with, the Executive) from time to
time by the Board of Directors of the Company.
3. Compensation. During the Term, the Executive shall receive a salary
at a rate that is not less than the rate in effect on the date hereof, payable
in accordance with the Company's standard payroll practices and subject to
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discretionary increases in accordance with the Company's normal review
procedures and policies.
4. Benefits.
(a) During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in
the pension, life insurance, medical, hospitalization, disability and other
employee benefit plans of the Company specified on the attached Schedule. In
addition, the Executive shall be entitled to the other benefits specified on the
attached Schedule.
(b) During the Term, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for
reasonable and necessary expenses related to the Executive's performance of the
Executive's duties under the Agreement, upon submission of detailed vouchers
theref or in accordance with the Company's standard practices as in effect from
time to time.
5. Termination of Employment.
(a) A termination by the Company of the Executive's employment
automatically terminates the Term as of the date of such termination of
employment. If a termination of the Term by the Company is for Cause (as defined
in Section 6 hereof), then the Company shall provide the Executive (or the
Executive's estate) with written notice to that effect within 30 days of such
termination.
(b) A termination by the Executive of the Executive's employment will
automatically terminate the Term as of the date of such termination of
employment; provided,
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however, that the Executive must give, the Company written notice at least three
months prior to such termination (or such shorter period as may be consented to
by the Company). The Company shall not unreasonably withhold its consent to a
notice period of less than three months. A termination of the Term by the
Executive for Good Reason (as defined in Section 6 hereof) shall be treated as
such only if the Executive, in the written notice referred to above, makes a
statement to that effect and describes the circumstances constituting Good
Reason.
(c) The Term will automatically terminate upon the death or Disability
(as defined in Section 6 hereof) of the Executive.
(d) In the event that the Term is terminated (i) by the Company for
Cause (ii) by the Executive other than for Good Reason, or (iii) as a result of
the Executive's death or Disability, then, as of the date of such termination,
the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive hereunder, other
than for salary through the date of the termination.
(e) In the event that the Term is terminated (i) by by the Company other
than for Cause or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, then the Company shall
continue to pay the Executive, in accordance with the Company's standard payroll
practices, the Executive's salary, at the rate in effect pursuant to Section 3
hereof as of the date of such
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termination, through the date on which the Term would expire pursuant to
Sections 1 and 7 hereof (without regard to the operation of this Section 5) were
the Company to have given written notice pursuant to Section 7 on the date of
such termination.
(f) Upon any termination of the Term described in Subsection 5(e)
hereof, the Executive's employment with the Company shall be deemed to continue
through the date on which the Term would expire pursuant to Sections 1 and 7
hereof (without regard to the operation of this Section 5) were the Company to
have given written notice pursuant to Section 7 on the date of such termination
for purposes of determining (i) the Executive's coverage under the pension, life
insurance, medical, hospitalization, disability and other employee benefit plans
of the Company specified on the attached Schedule and (ii) the Executive's
entitlement to the other benefits specified on the attached Schedule; provided,
however, that the Executive will not be entitled to any benefit (other than a
reimbursement for repatriation costs) under any plan designed to provide for the
payment of expatriation expenses after the date on which such Executive ceases
to reside in the United States.
6. Definitions.
"Cause" means (i) a material breach by the Executive of the terms of
this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a disclosure of Company
Confidential Information
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or Affiliate Confidential Information in violation of Section 8 hereof, (ii) the
commission by the Executive of a felony or an act which is materially
detrimental to the Company's reputation, (iii) the commission by the Executive
of acts of fraud, material dishonesty or gross misconduct in connection with the
business of the Company, or (iv) repeated and willful failure by the Executive
to perform the Executive's duties hereunder after a demand for such performance
is delivered to the Executive by the Company.
"Disability" means an inability on the part of the Executive to perform
in accordance herewith by reason of a mental or physical disorder or injury
constituting "long-term disability" as defined under the Company's medical plans
as in effect from time to time.
"Good Reason" means a termination on account of a substantial diminution
of the Executive's responsibilities within the Company, unless such diminution
results from a sustained inability on the part of the Executive to
satisfactorily perform the Executive's duties under this Agreement or any reason
constituting Cause.
7. Extension. The Term shall continue in effect following the second
anniversary of the date hereof unless and until either (i) the Executive gives
written notice to the Company of the termination thereof at least three months
in advance or (ii) the Company gives written notice to the
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Executive of the termination thereof at least twelve months in advance.
8. Covenant Not to Compete; Confidentiality. The Executive recognizes
that the services to be performed hereunder are special, unique, and
extraordinary and that by reason of the Executive's prior employment with the
Company and the employment contemplated by this Agreement the Executive has
acquired and will acquire confidential information and trade secrets concerning
the Company's operations ("Company Confidential Information") and the operations
of its parent and affiliates ("Affiliate Confidential Information").
Accordingly, it is agreed that:
(a) During the Term, and for the greater of one year following the Term
or any period following the Term covered by payments provided for in Section 5
hereof, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, as an officer, director,
stockholder, partner, associate, owner, employee, consultant or otherwise,
become or be interested in or associated with any other corporation, firm or
business engaged in the same or a similar or competitive business with the
Company or any of its affiliates in any geographical area in which the Company
or any of its affiliates are then engaged in business, provided that the
Executive's ownership, directly or indirectly, of not more than one percent of
the issued and outstanding stock of a corporation the shares of which are
regularly traded on a
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national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market shall not, in any
event, be deemed to be a violation of this subsection.
(b) The Executive shall not divulge to any entity or person, other than
the Company or its affiliates, or, in the event of an assignment of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 13 hereof, the assignee and its affiliates, if
any, whether during the Term or after the expiration or termination thereof, any
Company Confidential Information concerning the Company's customer lists,
research or development programs or plans, processes, methods or any other of
its trade secrets, except information that is then available to the public in
published literature and became publicly available through no fault of the
Executive.
(c) The Executive shall not divulge to any person or entity, including
an assignee of this Agreement and its affiliates, but excepting the Company and
its affiliates, whether during the Term or after the expiration or termination
thereof, any Affiliate Confidential Information acquired by the Executive
concerning the customer lists, research or development programs or plans,
processes, methods or any other trade secrets of the parent or any affiliate,
except information which is then available to the public in published literature
and became publicly available through no fault of the Executive.
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(d) The Executive acknowledges that all information the disclosure of
which is prohibited hereby is of a confidential and proprietary character and of
great value to the Company and its affiliates. Upon the expiration or
termination of the Term, the Executive shall forthwith deliver up to the Company
all records, memoranda, data and documents of any description which refer or
relate in any way to Company Confidential Information or Affiliate Confidential
Information and return to the Company any of its equipment and property which
may then be in the Executive's possession or under the Executive's personal
control. Upon the assignment of this Agreement, pursuant to Section 13, the
Executive shall forthwith deliver up to the Company all records, memoranda, data
and documents of any description which refer or relate in any way to Affiliate
Confidential Information and return to the Company any of its equipment and
property which may then be in the Executive's possession or under the
Executive's personal control.
(e) The Executive agrees during the Term and for a two year period
after the expiration or termination thereof not to disclose the terms of this
Agreement to any person other than the Executive's immediate family, the
Executive's attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors or a
prospective employer permitted hereby, except as otherwise required by law.
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(f) The Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other right or
remedy that it may have at law or in equity with respect to a breach of this
Agreement by the Executive (including the right to terminate payments pursuant
to Subsection 5(d) hereof), to an injunction, without the posting of a bond or
other security, enjoining or restraining the Executive from any violation or
threatened violation of this section, and the Executive hereby consents to the
issuance of such an injunction.
9. Mitigation. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payments or benefits provided for in Subsection 5(e) or Subsection
5(f) hereof by seeking other employment or a consultancy with any other entity
or otherwise, but the Executive shall notify the Company of any employment or
consultancy engaged in by the Executive during the period covered by any
payments or benefits provided in Subsection 5(e) or Subsection 5(f) hereof and
(i) the amounts payable pursuant to Subsection 5(e) shall be reduced by the
amount of any salary, discretionary bonus, fees, stock, stock options, stock
dividends or any non-cash consideration so paid or payable with respect to such
period and (ii) the benefits to be provided pursuant to Subsection 5(f) shall be
reduced by any comparable benefits available with respect to such period. The
amounts payable pursuant to Subsection 5(e) and the benefits provided pursuant
to Subsection 5(f) shall not be
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reduced by any payment due under the Xxxxxxxxxx plc Special Incentive Plan for
Key Sola Management Executives.
10. Non-Alienation. The Executive shall not have any right to pledge,
hypothecate, anticipate or in any way create a lien upon any payment or benefits
provided under this Agreement, and no such payment or benefits shall be
assignable in anticipation of payment either by voluntary or involuntary acts,
or by operation of law.
11. Notices. All notices given hereunder will be deemed sufficient if
given in writing and delivered either personally or sent by certified mail to
the Executive at the Executive's address set forth in the records of the Company
or to the Company at its principal offices for the attention of the President of
the Company, or, in either case, to such other persons or addresses as either
party may request by notice.
12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California without
reference to principles of conflicts of laws.
13. Assignment. This Agreement may be assigned by the Company to any
non-affiliate of the Company that shall succeed to all or a substantial portion
of the business and assets of the Company. In addition, this Agreement may be
assigned by the Company to any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company. In the
event of any assignment of this
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Agreement, the Company shall, concurrently with such assignment, cause the
assignee to assume the obligations of the Company hereunder by a written
agreement addressed to the Executive with the same effect as if such assignee
were the "Company" hereunder. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that in
consideration for entering into this Agreement, the Executive's obligations to
the Company set forth in Section 8 hereof shall survive assignment and remain an
obligation owed by the Executive to the Company. The Executive further
acknowledges that the Company shall retain its rights under Subsection 8(f)
hereof with respect to the enforcement of the Executive's obligations to the
Company under Section 8. This Agreement is personal to the Executive and the
Executive may not assign any rights or delegate any responsibilities hereunder
without the prior approval of the Company.
14. Arbitration. With respect to any controversy arising out of or with
respect to this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, such controversy shall
be settled by final and binding arbitration in California in accordance with the
then-existing rules (the "Rules") of the American Arbitration Association
("AAA") and judgement upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered
in any court having jurisdiction thereof; provided, however, that the law
applicable to any controversy shall be the law of the State of California,
regardless of its or any jurisdiction's
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choice of law principles. In any such arbitration, the award or decision shall
be rendered by a majority of the members of a Board of Arbitrators consisting of
three members, one of whom shall be appointed by each party and the third of
whom shall be the chairman of the panel and be appointed by mutual agreement of
the two party-appointed arbitrators. In the event of a failure of the two party-
appointed arbitrators to agree within sixty days of the commencement of the
arbitration proceeding upon the appointment of the third arbitrator, the third
arbitrator shall be appointed by the AAA in accordance with the Rules. In the
event that either party shall fail to appoint an arbitrator within thirty days
after the commencement of the arbitration proceeding, such arbitrator and the
third arbitrator shall be appointed by the AAA in accordance with the Rules. Any
award made in favor of the Executive shall be limited to a recovery of contract
damages limited to foreseeable damages which are a direct consequence of a
breach of this Agreement. In further limitation of any award made to the
Executive, the arbitrators are not empowered to award any other damages or order
any other remedy including, but not limited to, compensatory and punitive
damages.
15. Sale of the Company. In the event of a transfer, pursuant to
privately negotiated transaction, of substantially all of the stock or assets of
the Company, the
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Company shall either (i) assign this Agreement, pursuant to Section 13 hereof,
to an affiliate (of the Company prior to the transfer) or (ii) cause the
transferee, or an affiliate of the transferee to assume the obligations of the
Company hereunder by a written agreement addressed to the Executive with the
same effect as if such transferee or affiliate of the transferee, as the case
may be, were the "Company" hereunder. For purposes of this section, a sale of
stock as part of a public offering shall not be treated as pursuant to a
privately negotiated transaction.
16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
between the Company and the Executive concerning the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations, and
undertakings, whether written or oral, between them with respect thereto.
17. Amendment or Waiver. This Agreement cannot be changed, modified or
amended without the consent in writing of both the Executive and the Company. No
waiver by either the Company or the Executive at any time of a breach by the
other party of any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a
waiver of a similar or dissimilar condition or provision at the same or at any
prior or subsequent time. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by the
Executive or an authorized representative of the Company, as the case may be.
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18. Severability. In the event that any provision or portion of this
Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, in
whole or in part, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall be unaffected
thereby and shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
SOLA Optical USA, Inc.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxx
-------------------------
By: Xxxxxxx X. Xxx
Vice President
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
-------------------------
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Schedule ot Continuing Benefits Entitlement Pursuant to Paragraph 4(a) of the
Attached Agreement between SOLA Optical USA Inc. and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Copies of the rules and details of the following benefits are available from
Xxxxxxx X. Xxx, Vice President Human Resources, The SOLA Group.
1. Participation in the SOLA Group Management Incentive Plan.
2. Participation in the Xxxxxxxxxx Visioncare Long Term Bonus plan or its
successor.
3. Participation in the SOLA Group Healthcare and Insurance Plans in accordance
with Company Policy.
4. Payment of an Executive Healthcare Supplement.
5. Participation in the Xxxxxxxxxx Visioncare Pension plan or equivalent
successor plan.
6. Participation in the Xxxxxxxxxx Visioncare Retirement Savings Plan or
equivalent successor plan.
