SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, GENERAL RELEASE
AND COVENANT NOT TO XXX
THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT dated as of November 11, 1996,
(the "Agreement") is between Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx ("Xxxxxx"), Qwest
Communications Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Qwest), The
Anschutz Corporation and Anschutz Company (collectively "the
Parties").
RECITALS
A. As of November 11, 1996, Qwest employed Xxxxxx as
President and Chief Executive Officer.
B. Qwest and Xxxxxx have mutually agreed that it would be
in both of their interests to terminate the employment relationship
between them.
C. In connection with the termination of the employment
relationship, Qwest, The Anschutz Corporation, Anschutz Company and
Xxxxxx desire to release each other from any and all obligations or
legal right either may owe to the other, except for the specific
rights identified in this Agreement.
D. The entering into this Agreement is not an admission
on either party's part of any wrongdoing or actual liability owed to
the other.
E. It is intended that this Agreement be construed in the
broadest possible manner, in accordance with the parties' express
intention that all disputes between them arising out of or in any way
connected to Xxxxxx'x employment with Qwest be forever resolved. This
includes all potential and actual claims under both federal and state
law and under the company benefit plans including the Qwest Growth
Share Plan. Xxxxxx shall retain no rights with respect to his
employment except for any rights he may have under the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA") and any rights
specifically granted by this Agreement.
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises,
covenants and other considerations set forth below, Xxxxxx and Qwest
agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
1. Consideration. In consideration for Xxxxxx'x
resignation of employment, the confidentiality provisions, the non-
compete provisions, the releases and other agreements set forth in
this Agreement, Qwest agrees to pay Xxxxxx or to his heirs, assigns,
beneficiaries, trustees or other person designated by him in writing
the following:
(a) The sum of $9,000,000, payable in three equal
installments as follows:
(i) On January 2, 1997, Qwest shall pay to Xxxxxx
the sum of $3,000,000, less normal and
customary deductions for income, employment
and other tax withholding, as determined by
Qwest;
(ii) The balance of 6,000,000 shall be payable in
two equal installments of $3,000,000 plus
accrued interest at the annual rate of 6% on
January 2, 1998 and January 2, 1999. Qwest,
in its sole discretion, may elect upon 90
days notice in writing to prepay any
outstanding balance owing at any time. All
amounts payable under this paragraph shall be
subject to normal income, employment and
other tax withholding, as determined by
Qwest.
(iii) The payments set forth in subparagraphs
(i) and (ii) above shall be
unconditionally guaranteed by Anschutz
Company in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
(b) Qwest shall continue to provide Xxxxxx with the
health, disability and life insurance coverage currently applicable to
him, or comparable coverage, for a period of one year, to and
including November 10, 1997. If, however, Xxxxxx receives any health,
disability or life insurance coverage from any other source prior to
November 10, 1997, Qwest's obligation to continue these benefits to
November 1, 1997, shall terminate.
(c) Xxxxxx shall be entitled to purchase the Jeep
Cherokee automobile currently leased by Qwest for his use at the
buyout price set forth in the lease agreement. Xxxxxx shall be
responsible for all maintenance and insurance on the vehicle beginning
November 11, 1996.
(d) Qwest shall transfer ownership of Xxxxxx'x home
office computer, facsimile machine and copying machine to him,
provided that Qwest shall first remove from the computer memory and
hard drive all confidential or proprietary information and all
licensed software as determined necessary by Qwest.
2. Resignation. Xxxxxx hereby resigns his employment with
Qwest effective as of November 11, 1996.
3. Employment Benefits. Upon execution of this Agreement,
Qwest shall pay Xxxxxx the sum of $119,420 for his accrued but unused
vacation time as of November 8, 1996, less normal and customary
deductions for income, employment and other tax withholding. Xxxxxx
shall retain any rights he may have under the Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA").
4. Non-competition. Xxxxxx agrees that for a period of 36
months from the date of this Agreement, Xxxxxx shall not directly or
indirectly own, manage, operate, control, be employed by, participate
in, consult for, advise others with respect to or be connected in any
manner with the ownership of any business that has services, products
or research activities directly competitive with Qwest in the
construction and sale of fiber optic cable systems. Xxxxxx further
agrees that in furtherance of his obligations of this paragraph he
shall not solicit or contact in any manner, with respect to the
business of constructing and selling fiber optic cable systems,
customers of Qwest or any persons or entities that have been
identified as potential customers of Qwest during the twelve months
prior the date of this Agreement. This paragraph shall not preclude
Xxxxxx from holding a stock interest not to exceed five percent of the
total outstanding shares of the class or classes of stock owned by
Xxxxxx in any corporation which is a direct competitor of Qwest in the
construction and sale of fiber optic cable systems. For purposes of
this paragraph only, stock nominally or beneficially owned by Xxxxxx'x
wife, children or parents shall be deemed to be owned by Xxxxxx. In
the event that a court should find this paragraph to be overly broad
and therefore unenforceable, the court shall modify this paragraph to
reflect the maximum restraint allowable, and shall then enforce the
paragraph, as so modified. Xxxxxx represents that as of the date of
this Agreement he is not currently engaged in any activity or
ownership of any stock that would violate the provisions of this
paragraph.
5. Promissory Note. The undersigned Parties agree that
all amounts due and owing or to become due and owing under the
promissory note executed by Xxxxxx in favor of The Anschutz
Corporation be and are hereby forgiven and extinguished and the
mortgage and deed of trust securing the promissory note is fully and
finally released by The Anschutz Corporation.
6. Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. Xxxxxx
acknowledges that during his employment with Qwest he has gained
knowledge of and access to substantial nonpublic proprietary and
confidential information relating to Qwest's methods of doing
business, technology, clients, training methods and other matters, all
of which have substantial value to Qwest and would be valuable to any
competitor of Qwest's. For purpose of this paragraph, "Confidential
Information" means all information that was disclosed to Xxxxxx or
that he acquired in whole or in part as a result of his employment
with Qwest, unless such information has clearly come into the public
domain. Xxxxxx agrees that for 36 months following the date of this
Agreement he shall not disclose to anyone outside of Qwest, or use
directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information in connection
with the construction and sale of fiber optic cable systems, and that
for six months following the date of this Agreement he shall not
disclose to anyone outside of Qwest, or use directly or indirectly,
any other Confidential Information that would adversely affect Qwest
or its business, except in either case with Qwest's prior written
permission, which Qwest may withhold in its sole discretion. Xxxxxx
represents that, as of the effective date of this Agreement, he has
surrendered to Qwest all written material, including electronic or
computer compilations and data, and duplicates thereof in his
possession or control containing, reflecting or alluding to
Confidential Information.
7. Specific Release of Claims under Growth Share Plan.
Xxxxxx specifically and knowingly waives and releases any and all
rights he has or may have under the Qwest Holding Corporation Growth
Share Plan, as amended effective May 1,1996, and formerly know as the
Southern Pacific Telecommunications Company Growth Share Plan (the
"Growth Share Plan") and the Southern Pacific Telecommunications
Company Growth Share Plan Agreement dated December 22, 1994, between
Xxxxxx and Southern Pacific Telecommunications Company. Xxxxxx and
Qwest recognize that the value of any rights Xxxxxx may have under the
Growth Share Plan may materially increase or decrease at any time
after the execution of this Agreement. By executing this Agreement,
Xxxxxx acknowledges that he is releasing all rights to any such
increased or decreased value and the rights he may otherwise have
under the Growth Share Plan, including the rights under Section 8.8 of
the Growth Share Plan. The inclusion of the specific release in this
Paragraph 7 is not intended to limit, and shall not be deemed to have
limited, the general release of Paragraph 8 below.
8. Mutual General Release. Except as specifically
provided herein to the contrary, Xxxxxx, for himself, his heirs, his
personal representatives, assigns, and attorneys, and Qwest, for
itself, its present and future affiliates and subsidiaries, including
but not limited to Anschutz Company and The Anschutz Corporation, and
each of their past, present, and future officers, directors,
employees, shareholders, independent contractors, insurers, agents,
representatives, assigns and attorneys, mutually release and discharge
the other, the other's heirs, personal representatives, assigns,
present and future affiliates and subsidiaries, past, present, and
future officers, directors, employees, shareholders, independent
contractors, attorneys, insurers, and any and all other persons or
entities that are now or may become liable to the other due to the
acts or omissions of either Xxxxxx or Qwest, of and from any and all
actions, causes of actions, claims, demands, costs and expenses,
including attorneys' fees, of every kind and nature whatsoever, in law
or in equity, whether now known or unknown, that either of them, or
any person acting under any of them, may now have, or claim at any
future time to have, based in whole or in part upon any act or
omission occurring prior to the effective date of this Agreement
without regard to present actual knowledge of such acts or omissions,
including specifically, but not by way of limitation, matters which
may arise at common law, such as breach of contract, expressed or
implied, promissory estoppel, wrongful discharge, tortious
interference with contractual rights, infliction of emotional
distress, defamation, or under Federal, State or Local Laws, such as,
but not necessarily limited to the Fair Labor Standards Act, the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the National Labor Relations
Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination
and Employment Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Equal Pay Act,
the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the Colorado Civil Rights
Act.
9. Covenant Not to Xxx. Xxxxxx, Qwest, Anschutz Company,
The Anschutz Corporation, and any affiliate each covenant with the
other never to institute or participate in any administrative
proceeding, suit or action, at law or in equity, against each other by
reason of any claim released in this Agreement.
10. Denial of Liability. Xxxxxx and Qwest each understand
and agree that this Agreement shall not be construed as an admission
of liability on the part of any person, firm, corporation, or other
entity released, liability being expressly denied.
11. References. Xxxxxx expressly assumes all risk
associated with listing any past or present Qwest employee, or Qwest,
The Anschutz Corporation, Anschutz Company or any of their employees,
as a reference in connection with Xxxxxx'x pursuit of future
employment. Xxxxxx agrees that Qwest, The Anschutz Corporation,
Anschutz Company or any of its employees or affiliates who Xxxxxx
lists as a reference shall in response to any request for a reference
concerning Xxxxxx be permitted to provide complete, truthful and
accurate information concerning Xxxxxx without creating any liability
for himself or herself, Qwest, The Anschutz Corporation, Anschutz
Company, any affiliated entity, or any employee, agent or
representative of any of the foregoing.
12. Covenant of Nondisparagement. Xxxxxx covenants never
to disparage or speak ill of Qwest, Anschutz Company, The Anschutz
Corporation or any of their products, services, affiliates,
subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees or shareholders. Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx shall not, and Qwest, The Anschutz Corporation and
Anschutz Company will take reasonable steps to prevent and will not
knowingly permit any of their respective employees or agents to,
disparage or speak ill of Xxxxxx, provided that responses to requests
for references that may be made without liability pursuant to
Paragraph 11 shall not constitute a violation of this paragraph.
13. Confidentiality. Xxxxxx agrees that he shall not
divulge, disclose, or make available in any manner, or to any person
or entity, other than his legal counsel, financial adviser or spouse,
the terms of this Agreement, except to the extent necessary for the
payment of federal and state income taxes, if any. Qwest, Anschutz
Company and The Anschutz Corporation agree that neither they nor any
of their officers, employees, directors or affiliates shall divulge,
disclose, or make available in any manner, or to any person or entity,
other than their legal counsel, financial advisors and accountants,
the terms of this Agreement, except to the extent necessary for the
withholding of federal and state income and other taxes or as
otherwise may be required by law. If any Party hereto makes a
disclosure in violation of this paragraph, the other Party or Parties,
in addition to any other remedies available at law or in equity, shall
be entitled to disclose such previously disclosed information as may
be reasonably necessary.
14. Nonreliance. The undersigned Parties agree that they
expressly assume all risk that the facts or law may be, or become,
different that the facts or law as presently believed by the them.
Xxxxxx, Qwest, Anschutz Company and The Anschutz Corporation expressly
disclaim all reliance upon, and prospectively waive any fraud,
misrepresentation, negligence or other claim based on information
supplied by the other party, in any way relating to the subject matter
of this Agreement, including specifically but not by way of
limitation, information relating to the value of any rights Xxxxxx may
have under the Growth Share Plan.
15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall governed by the
laws of the state of Colorado and may be enforced in any court of
competent jurisdiction.
16. Signatures. By their signatures below, each party to
this Agreement represents that he or it has read this Agreement in
full, has voluntarily entered into this Agreement upon advice of legal
counsel, or with the full opportunity to consult legal counsel, agrees
that it is in his or its best interest to enter into this Agreement,
agrees that he or it believes that this Agreement represents a fair
and reasonable resolution of the differences between the parties and
agrees to all of the terms and conditions specified in this Agreement.
17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire
agreement between the parties, and this Agreement may not be modified
or otherwise amended without a document, in writing, subscribed to by
each of the parties.
DATED this 13th day of November, 1996.
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
/s/_____________________________________
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By:/s/__________________________________
Authorized Agent/Representative
THE ANSCHUTZ CORPORATION
By:/s/__________________________________
Authorized Agent/Representative
ANSCHUTZ COMPANY
By:/s/__________________________________
Authorized Agent/Representative
GUARANTY
This GUARANTY, dated as of November 13, 1996, is from ANSCHUTZ
COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (hereafter called "Guarantor"), to and
for the benefit of XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX (hereafter called "Xxxxxx").
Recital
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (hereafter called "QWEST"), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Guarantor, entered into a Settlement
Agreement, General Release and Covenant Not to Xxx dated as of
November 11, 1996, by and between QWEST and Xxxxxx (the "Agreement").
Xxxxxx would not have entered into the Agreement except for the
execution and delivery of this Guaranty.
Agreement
NOW, THEREFORE, as a material inducement to Xxxxxx to enter into
the Agreement with QWEST and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, Guarantor and Xxxxxx hereby agree as follows:
1. Guaranty. Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably
guaranties to Xxxxxx the full and punctual payment of the amounts
payable by QWEST to Xxxxxx under paragraph 1(a) of the Agreement (such
payment obligations are collectively referred to as the
"Obligations").
2. Unconditional Obligations. Guarantor understands and agrees
that this Guaranty is direct, immediate, absolute, continuing,
unconditional and unlimited (except as provided in Section 12), and is
a guaranty of payment and not of collection. If QWEST shall fail to
pay or perform any of the Obligations, Guarantor shall pay, forthwith
upon demand, to Xxxxxx or to Xxxxxx'x designated agent, any and all
such amounts as may be due and owning from QWEST to Xxxxxx.
3. Guarantor's Waivers. Guarantor waives:
(a) notice of the creation or extension of any Obligation
by QWEST;
(b) notice that QWEST has taken or omitted to take any
action under the Agreement or any other instrument relating thereto or
relating to any Obligation;
(c) notice of acceptance of this Guaranty;
(d) demand, presentation for payment and notice of demand,
nonpayment or nonperformance;
(e) any and all right to participate in any security held
by Xxxxxx now or in the future;
(f) the right to require Xxxxxx to (i) proceed against
QWEST, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security which Xxxxxx now
holds or may hold in the future from QWEST; (iii) pursue any other
right or remedy available to Xxxxxx, or (iv) have the property of
QWEST first applied to the discharge of the Obligations; and
(g) any defense by reason of bankruptcy, reorganization,
discharge by the filing of bankruptcy or discharge in bankruptcy of
QWEST.
Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranty will not be discharged
and shall remain in full force and effect until full payment and
performance of all Obligations of QWEST and the liabilities of
Guarantor hereunder.
4. Guarantor's Representations and Warrants. Guarantor
represents and warrants that Guarantor has a financial interest in
QWEST.
5. Consent. Guarantor understands and consents that from time
to time, and without further notice to or consent of Guarantor, Xxxxxx
may take any or all of the following actions without releasing,
discharging or in any way affecting the obligations of Guarantor under
this Guaranty:
(a) extend, renew, modify, compromise, settle, or release
the Obligations;
(b) any modification or amendment of or supplement to the
Agreement;
(c) release or compromise any liability of any party or
parties with respect to the Obligations; or
(d) exercise or refrain from exercising any right or remedy
of Xxxxxx under the Agreement.
6. Delay in Enforcement. Guarantor understands and agrees that
any failure or delay of Xxxxxx to enforce any of its rights under the
Agreement or this Guaranty shall in no way affect Guarantor's
obligations under this Guaranty.
7. Notices. Notices to Guarantor are not required under this
Guaranty. However, if notice is delivered, unless otherwise provided
herein, it shall be hand delivered, sent by registered or certified
U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or by commercial overnight delivery
service, or transmitted by facsimile, and shall be deemed served or
delivered to Guarantor when received at the address set forth after
the signature line below, upon confirmation of sending when sent by
fax, on the day after being sent when sent by overnight delivery
service, or three (3) days after deposit in the mail when sent by U.S.
mail.
8. Severability. In case any provision of this Guaranty shall
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be
severable from the rest of this Guaranty and the validity, legality or
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
9. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction. This Guaranty and the
rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the state of
Colorado. Guarantor agrees that the exclusive venue for any actions
related to this Guaranty shall be the federal district court of
Colorado.
10. Amendments. No amendment, modification or alteration of
this Guaranty shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors or assigns.
11. Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of the successors permitted and assigns
of the parties hereto.
12. Limited Maximum Liability. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, the liability of Guarantor for the
payment of the Obligations shall be limited to the aggregate sum of
$9,000,000.
THIS GUARANTY IS FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY GIVEN WITHOUT ANY DURESS
OR COERCION AND AFTER GUARANTOR HAS EITHER CONSULTED WITH COUNSEL, OR
HAS BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, AND GUARANTOR HAS CAREFULLY
AND COMPLETELY READ ALL OF THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
AND THIS GUARANTY.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Guaranty has been executed as of the
date first above written.
GUARANTOR:
ANSCHUTZ COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
/s/_____________________________________
By: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
Guarantor's Address:
2400 Anaconda Tower
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn.: President
