AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.6
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT dated as of March 8, 2006, by and between ASSET
CAPITAL CORPORATION, INC., a Maryland corporation with its principal place of business at 0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 (the “Company”) and Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, residing at
the address set forth on the signature page hereof (the “Executive”).
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to employ the Executive, and the Executive wishes to accept such
offer, on the terms set forth below:
Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Term. The Company hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts
such employment, for an initial term commencing as of the date hereof and continuing for a
three-year period following such date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions
of Section 4 or Section 5; with such term to renew automatically for successive one-year periods
following the initial term in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (subject to termination
as aforesaid) unless either party notifies the other party of non-renewal in writing prior to three
months before the expiration of the initial term and each successive annual renewal term, as
applicable (the period during which the Executive is employed hereunder being hereinafter referred
to as the “Term”).
2. Duties. During the Term, the Executive shall be employed by the Company as Chief
Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of the Company, and, as such, the Executive shall
faithfully perform for the Company the duties of said offices and shall perform such other duties
of an executive, managerial or administrative nature as shall be specified and designated from time
to time by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “Chief Executive Officer”) or the Audit
Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The
Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and effort to the performance of his
duties hereunder. Subject to the foregoing, the
Company hereby acknowledges that the Executive may hold the investments and engage in the
activities described on Exhibit A hereto.
3. Compensation.
3.1 Salary. The Company shall pay the Executive during the Term a salary at a minimum
rate of $250,000 per annum (the “Annual Salary”), in accordance with the customary payroll
practices of the Company applicable to senior executives. The Chief Executive Officer shall
periodically review the Executive’s Annual Salary and may, subject to approval by the Compensation
Committee of the Board, provide for such increases therein as he may in his discretion deem
appropriate. Any such increased salary shall constitute the “Annual Salary” as of the time of the
increase.
3.2 Bonus. During the Term, in addition to the Annual Salary, for each fiscal year of
the Company ending during the Term, the Executive shall have the opportunity to receive an annual
bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) in an amount up to 100% of the Annual Salary, with the actual amount and
terms of such Annual Bonus to be determined by the Chief Executive Officer, subject to approval of
the Compensation Committee of the Board. The Annual Bonus payable with respect to a fiscal year of
the Company shall be paid no later than the fifteenth day of the third month after the end of the
fiscal year. Any Annual Bonus payable for a partial fiscal year (whether because the commencement
date of the Term was on a date other than January 1 or the Date of Termination is on a date other
than December 31) shall be prorated by multiplying the Annual Bonus amount by a fraction (x) the
numerator of which is the number of days during the partial fiscal year that the Executive is or
was employed by the Company under this Agreement and (y) the denominator of which is 365. The
foregoing shall not limit the Executive’s eligibility to receive any other bonus under any other
bonus plan, stock option or equity–based plan, or other policy or program that is adopted by the
Compensation Committee of the Board or by the Board, itself.
3.3 Equity Based Awards.
(a) Equity Incentive Plan. The Company has established the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan
(“Equity Incentive Plan”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Equity Incentive Plan, the
2
Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Equity Incentive Plan, and shall be eligible
to receive annual stock option and/or restricted stock awards under the Equity Incentive Plan. The
Compensation Committee shall approve any such awards made to the Executive pursuant to the Equity
Incentive Plan.
(b) Initial LTIP Unit Award. Effective as of December 12, 2005, the Company shall
award to the Executive 29,707 LTIP units under the Equity Incentive Plan (the “Initial LTIP Unit
Award”). The Initial LTIP Unit Award shall be subject to forfeiture restrictions and conditions
that will terminate on a pro-rata basis each fiscal quarter beginning on the first full fiscal
quarter after the date of this Agreement and ending on the third anniversary of the date of this
Agreement; provided, however, that all forfeiture restrictions and conditions on any portion of the
Initial LTIP Unit Award will lapse automatically upon (i) a Change in Control (as defined herein),
(ii) a termination by the Company without Cause (as defined herein), (iii) a termination by the
Executive for Good Reason (as defined herein), (iv) the Executive’s death, (v) the Disability (as
defined below) of the Executive, or (vi) the Company’s failure to renew this Agreement, and that
the Executive will forfeit all of the Initial LTIP Unit Award with respect to which the forfeiture
restrictions and conditions have not terminated if he is terminated for Cause or he terminates for
other than Good Reason. The Initial LTIP Unit Award will have voting and dividend rights as set
forth in the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Asset Capital Partners,
L.P., as may be amended from time to time.
3
3.4 Benefits-In General. The Executive shall be permitted during the Term to
participate in any group life, hospitalization or disability insurance plans, health programs,
retirement plans, fringe benefit programs and other benefits that may be available to other senior
executives of the Company generally, in each case to the extent that the Executive is eligible
under the terms of such plans or programs.
3.5 Disability Insurance. The Company will maintain, at its cost, a renewable
long-term Disability plan that, subject to the terms of such plan and any applicable plans,
policies or programs, provides for the annual payment of not less than 60% of the Executive’s
Annual Salary for so long as any long-term Disability of the Executive continues.
3.6 Directors and Officers Insurance. During the Term and for a period of 24 months
thereafter, the Executive shall be entitled to director and officer insurance coverage for his acts
and omissions while an officer and director of the Company on a basis no less favorable to him than
the coverage provided to current officers and directors.
3.7 Life Insurance. The Company will purchase a term life insurance policy for the
benefit of the Executive or the Executive’s designated beneficiaries with a death benefit of $1.0
million. The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement of any income tax that the Executive
incurs with respect to the Company’s payment of premiums.
3.8 Vacation. The Executive shall be entitled to vacation of no less than 20 business
days per year, to be credited in accordance with ordinary Company policies.
3.9 Expenses-In General. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all
ordinary and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred (and, in the case of
reimbursement, paid) by the Executive during the Term in the performance of the Executive’s
services under this Agreement, in accordance with the Company’s policies regarding such
reimbursements. The Company shall reimburse reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Executive
for participation in professional and trade associations and reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with business development and client entertainment activities.
4
4. Termination upon Death or Disability. If the Executive dies during the Term, the Term
shall terminate as of the date of death, and the obligations of the Company to or with respect to
the Executive shall terminate in their entirety upon such date except as otherwise provided under
this Section 4. If the Executive is unable to perform substantially and continuously the duties
assigned to him due to a disability as defined for purposes of the Company’s long-term disability
plan then in effect, or, if no such plan is in effect, by virtue of ill health or other disability
for more than 180 consecutive or non-consecutive days out of any consecutive 12-month period, the
Company shall have the right, to the extent permitted by law, to terminate the employment of the
Executive upon notice in writing to the Executive. Upon termination of employment due to death or
disability, (i) the Executive (or the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries in the case of the death
of the Executive) shall be entitled to receive any Annual Salary and other benefits earned and
accrued under this Agreement prior to the date of termination (and reimbursement under this
Agreement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination); (ii) without duplication of any
amounts due under clause (i), the Executive (or the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries in the case
of the death of the Executive) shall receive an amount equal to the Annual Bonus that, in the
absence of such termination, would have been payable for the fiscal year in which termination
occurs, payable at such time as would have applied in the absence of such termination, with such
amount to be multiplied by a fraction (x) the numerator of which is the number of days in the
fiscal year preceding the termination and (y) the denominator of which is 365; (iii) all
outstanding unvested equity-based awards (including, without limitation, stock options and
restricted stock) held by the Executive shall fully vest and become immediately exercisable, as
applicable, and subject to the terms of such awards; and (iv) the Executive (or the Executive’s
estate or beneficiaries in the case of the death of the Executive) shall have no further rights to
any other compensation or benefits hereunder, or any other rights hereunder (but, for the avoidance
of doubt, shall receive such disability and death benefits as may be provided under the Company’s
plans and arrangements in accordance with their terms). Upon any termination for Disability under
this Section 4, the Executive shall promptly resign from all positions he then holds with the
5
Company and any of its subsidiaries, including but not limited to any membership on the Board or on
the board of directors of any subsidiary of the Company.
5. Certain Terminations of Employment; Certain Benefits.
5.1 Termination by the Company for Cause; Termination by the Executive without Good
Reason.
(a) | For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean the Executive’s: |
(i) | commission of, and indictment for or formal admission to, a felony, a crime of moral turpitude, dishonesty, breach of trust, fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement or unethical business conduct, or any crime involving the Company; | ||
(ii) | continued willful misconduct, willful or gross neglect in the performance of his duties hereunder, and then only after appropriate written notice of such misconduct and an appropriate period, as determined by the Board, to remedy such misconduct or neglect; | ||
(iii) | continued failure to materially adhere to the clear directions of the Board, to adhere to the Company’s policies and practices or to devote substantially all of his business time and efforts to the Company and its subsidiaries in accordance with and subject to the provisions of Section 2 hereof and failure to cure such failure within 30 days following written notice from the Company specifying such failure; | ||
(iv) | continued failure to substantially perform his duties properly assigned to the Executive by the Board of Directors of the Company in writing (other than any such failure resulting from his Disability) and failure to cure such failure to perform within 30 days following written notice from the Company specifying such failure; | ||
(v) | material breach of any of the provisions of Section 6 and failure to cure such breach within 15 days following written notice from the Company specifying such breach; or | ||
(vi) | material and willful breach of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and failure to cure such breach within 15 days following written notice from the Company specifying such breach; |
provided that the Company shall not be permitted to terminate the Executive for Cause except
on written notice given to the Executive at any time not more than 30 days following the occurrence
of any of the events described in clause (ii) through (vi) above (or, if later, the Company’s
knowledge thereof). No termination for Cause under clause (i) through (vi) shall be effective
6
unless the Board makes a determination that Cause exists after notice to the Executive, and the
Executive has been provided with an opportunity (with counsel of his choice) to contest the
determination at a meeting of the Board.
(b) The Company may terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder for
Cause, and the Executive may terminate his employment on at least 30 days’ written notice given to
the Company. If the Company terminates the Executive for Cause, or the Executive terminates his
employment and the termination by the Executive is not for Good Reason in accordance with Section
5.2, (i) the Executive shall receive Annual Salary and other benefits (including any Annual Bonus
for a fiscal year completed before termination and awarded but not yet paid, or in the event of a
partial fiscal year, a pro rata portion of the Annual Bonus earned through the date of such
termination, which is to be calculated based on the Annual Bonus paid for the prior fiscal year
with such Annual Bonus amount to be multiplied by a fraction (x) the numerator of which is the
number of days in the fiscal year preceding the termination and (y) the denominator of which is
365) earned and accrued under this Agreement prior to the termination of employment (and
reimbursement under this Agreement for expenses incurred prior to the termination of employment);
and (ii) the Executive shall have no further rights to any other compensation or benefits under
this Agreement on or after the termination of employment. Upon any termination under this Section
5.1, the Executive shall promptly resign from all positions he then holds with the Company and any
of its subsidiaries, including but not limited to any membership on the Board or on the board of
directors of any subsidiary of the Company.
5.2 Termination by the Company without Cause; Termination by the Executive for Good
Reason.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, unless otherwise consented to by
the Executive,
(i) | the material reduction of the Executive’s title, authority, duties and responsibilities or the assignment to the Executive of duties materially inconsistent with the Executive’s position or positions with the Company; |
7
(ii) | a reduction in Annual Salary of the Executive; | ||
(iii) | the relocation of the Executive’s office to more than 50 miles from Bethesda, Maryland; or | ||
(iv) | the Company’s breach of any material provision of this Agreement. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Good Reason shall not be deemed to exist unless notice of
termination on account thereof (specifying a termination date no later than 30 days from the date
of such notice) is given no later than 30 days after the time at which the event or condition
purportedly giving rise to Good Reason first occurs or arises and (ii) if there exists (without
regard to this clause (ii)) an event or condition that constitutes Good Reason, the Company shall
have 15 days from the date notice of such a termination is given to cure such event or condition
and, if the Company does so, such event or condition shall not constitute Good Reason hereunder.
In the event of any notice of non-renewal of this Agreement by the Company, as described in Section
1, then (i) the Executive shall receive Annual Salary and other benefits (including any Annual
Bonus for a fiscal year completed before termination) earned and accrued under this Agreement prior
to the non-renewal of this Agreement (and reimbursement under this Agreement for expenses incurred
prior to the termination of employment), (ii) the Executive shall receive a single-sum cash payment
equal to the Executive’s Annual Salary as in effect immediately before such non-renewal; provided,
however, that if the Executive is a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code), such amount shall be payable upon the date that is six months after the
Executive’s termination of employment, and (iii) all outstanding unvested equity-based awards
(including without limitation stock options and restricted stock) held by the Executive shall fully
vest and shall become immediately exercisable, as applicable, and subject to the terms of such
awards.
8
(b) The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment and the Executive may terminate
the Executive’s employment with the Company at any time for any reason or no reason. If the
Company terminates the Executive’s employment and the termination is not covered by Section 4 or
5.1, or the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason:
(i) | the Executive shall receive Annual Salary and other benefits (including any Annual Bonus for a fiscal year completed before termination) earned and accrued under this Agreement prior to the termination of employment (and reimbursement under this Agreement for expenses incurred prior to the termination of employment); | ||
(ii) | the Executive shall continue to receive his Annual Salary as then in effect, payable monthly, for a period equal to the shorter of (x) the number of days from the effective date of such termination to the date on which the Executive commences employment with a new employer, or enters into a paid consulting arrangement or other paid service arrangement with another entity or entities, for compensation or fees substantially similar to the compensation provided for under Section 3.1 of this Agreement and (y) 365 days; | ||
(iii) | for a period of one year after termination of employment, such continuing coverage under the group health plans the Executive would have received under this Agreement as would have applied in the absence of such termination, provided that the Company shall in no event be required to provide any benefits otherwise required by this clause after such time as the Executive becomes entitled to receive benefits of the same type from another employer or recipient of the Executive’s services; and | ||
(iv) | all outstanding unvested equity-based awards (including without limitation stock options and restricted stock) held by the Executive shall fully vest and shall become immediately exercisable, as applicable, and subject to the terms of such awards. |
(c) Upon any termination under this Section 5.2, the Executive shall resign from all positions
he then holds with the Company and any of its subsidiaries, including but not limited to any
membership on the Board or on the board of directors of any subsidiary of the Company.
5.3 Change of Control. Without duplication of the foregoing, upon a “Change of
Control” (as defined below) while the Executive is employed, all outstanding unvested equity-based
awards (including stock options and restricted stock) shall fully vest and shall become immediately
exercisable, as applicable, and subject to the terms of such awards. In addition, if, after a
Change of Control, the Executive terminates his employment with the Company within the six-month
anniversary of the Change
9
of Control, such termination shall be deemed a termination by the Executive for Good Reason
covered by Section 5.2 (other than for purposes of Section 6.1(a)), provided that the amount
payable to the Executive under Section 5.2(b)(ii) shall be a single lump-sum payment equal to two
times the Executive’s Annual Salary as then in effect, payable no later than ten days after such
termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean the happening of any
of the following:
(a) any “person,” including a “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), but excluding the Company,
any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any such entity, and Executive and any “group” (as such term is used
in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of which the Executive is a member) is or becomes the
“beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13(d)(3) under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 50% or more of either (A) the combined voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding securities or (B) the then outstanding Common Stock of the Company (in
either such case other than as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company);
provided, however, that, in no event shall a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred upon an
initial public offering or a subsequent public offering of the Common Stock under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended; or
(b) any consolidation or merger of the Company where the stockholders of the Company,
immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or
merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the
securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its
ultimate parent corporation, if any); or
(c) there shall occur (A) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a
series of transactions contemplated or arranged by any party as a single plan) of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of
all or
10
substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting
power of the voting securities of which are owned by “persons” (as defined above) in substantially
the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or (B) the
approval by stockholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution
of the Company (or, if such approval is not required by applicable law and is not solicited by the
Company, the commencement of actions constituting such a plan or the closing of such an agreement);
or
(d) the members of the Board at the beginning of any consecutive 12-calendar-month period (the
“Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than due to death to constitute at least a
majority of the members of the Board; provided that any director whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
members of the Board then still in office who were members of the Board at the beginning of such
12-calendar-month period, shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director.
Upon any termination under this Section 5.3, the Executive shall resign from all positions he
then holds with the Company and any of its subsidiaries, including but not limited to any
membership on the Board or on the board of directors of any subsidiary of the Company.
5.4 Parachutes. If any amount payable to or other benefit receivable by the Executive
pursuant to this Agreement is deemed to constitute a Parachute Payment (as defined below), alone or
when added to any other amount payable or paid to or other benefit receivable or received by the
Executive which is deemed to constitute a Parachute Payment (whether or not under an existing plan,
arrangement or other agreement), and would result in the imposition on the Executive of an excise
tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), then, in
addition to any other benefits to which the Executive is entitled under this Agreement, the
Executive shall be paid by the Company an amount in cash equal to the sum of the excise taxes
payable by the Executive by reason of receiving Parachute Payments plus the amount necessary to put
the Executive in the same after-tax position (taking into account any and all applicable federal,
state and local excise, income or other taxes at the highest applicable rates on such Parachute
Payments and on any payments under this Section 5.4 as
11
if no excise taxes had been imposed with respect to Parachute Payments). “Parachute Payment”
shall mean a “parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G of the Code. The calculation under
this Section 5.4 shall be as determined by the Company’s accountants.
6. Covenants of the Executive.
6.1 Covenant Against Competition; Other Covenants. The Executive acknowledges that
(i) the principal business of the Company (which expressly includes for purposes of this Section 6
(and any related enforcement provisions hereof), its successors and assigns) is the ownership and
leasing of commercial office properties in the greater metropolitan Washington, D.C. marketplace
and its surrounding areas, ranging generally from Baltimore, Maryland through Richmond and Norfolk,
Virginia, as well as the origination of, acquisition of and investment in structured real estate
finance investments (such business, and such other principal businesses in which the Company may
engage during the employ of the Executive, in the locations described, and such other locations in
which the Company may conduct business during the employ of the Executive, as herein being referred
to as the “Business”; provided, however, that, for purposes of this Agreement, the definition of
“Business” shall not include the investments and activities described on Exhibit A hereto); (ii)
the Executive’s work for the Company has given and will continue to give him access to the
confidential affairs and proprietary information of the Company; (iii) the covenants and agreements
of the Executive contained in this Section 6 are essential to the business and goodwill of the
Company; and (iv) the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but for the covenants and
agreements set forth in this Section 6. Accordingly, the Executive covenants and agrees that:
(a) By and in consideration of the salary and benefits to be provided by the Company
hereunder, and subject to Executive receiving all monies due to him as set forth herein, and
further in consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the proprietary information of the Company,
the Executive covenants and agrees that, during the period of the Executive’s employment with the
Company and, in the event of a termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder by the Company
for Cause or a termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder by the Executive without Good
Reason, for a
12
period ending one year following the date upon which such termination becomes effective, he
shall not in the United States, directly or indirectly, except with the prior approval of the
Board, (i) engage in the Business (other than for the Company or its affiliates), or (ii) render
any services to any person, corporation, partnership or other entity (other than the Company or its
affiliates) whose principal business is to engage in the Business or who has taken substantial
measures, or made material investments, evidencing an intention to engage in the Business other
than incidentally as is necessary to engage in its principal business, or (iii) become interested
in any person, corporation, partnership or other entity (other than the Company or its affiliates)
principally engaged in the Business, as a partner, shareholder, principal, agent, employee,
consultant or in any other relationship or capacity; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Executive may invest in up to 5% of the securities of any entity, solely for
investment purposes and without participating in the business thereof, if (A) such securities are
traded on any national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotation System, and (B) the Executive is not a controlling person of, or a member of a
group which controls, such entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions in this Section
6(a) shall not apply upon and after a termination covered by Section 5.2. In addition, the
restrictions of this Section 6(a) shall not apply to any existing investments or other activities
of the Executive which, if applicable, are set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
(b) During and after the period of the Executive’s employment with the Company and its
affiliates, the Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, except in
connection with the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliates, all confidential
matters relating to the Company’s Business and the business of any of its affiliates and to the
Company and any of its affiliates, learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter directly or
indirectly from the Company or any of its affiliates (the “Confidential Company Information”); and
shall not disclose such Confidential Company Information to anyone outside of the Company except
with the Company’s express written consent and except for Confidential Company Information which is
at the time of receipt or thereafter becomes
13
publicly known through no wrongful act of the Executive or is received from a third party not
under an obligation to keep such information confidential and without breach of this Agreement.
(c) During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending one year following the date
upon which the Executive shall cease to be an employee of the Company and its affiliates, (i) the
Executive shall not, without the Company’s prior written consent, directly or indirectly, knowingly
(A) solicit or encourage to leave the employment or other service of the Company, or any of its
affiliates, any employee or independent contractor thereof or (B) hire (on behalf of the Executive
or any other person or entity) any employee who has left the employment of the Company or any of
its affiliates within the one-year period which follows the termination of such employee’s
employment with the Company and its affiliates, and (ii) the Executive will not, whether for his
own account or for the account of any other person, firm, corporation or other business
organization, intentionally interfere with the Company’s or any of its affiliates’ relationship
with, or endeavor to entice away from the Company or any of its affiliates, any person who during
the Term is or was a customer or client of the Company or any of its affiliates.
14
6.2 Rights and Remedies Upon Breach. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that any
breach by him of any of the provisions of Section 6.1 (the “Restrictive Covenants”) would result in
irreparable injury and damage for which money damages would not provide an adequate remedy.
Therefore, if the Executive breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of
Section 6.1, the Company and its affiliates, in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights
and remedies available to the Company and its affiliates under law or in equity (including, without
limitation, the recovery of damages), shall have the right and remedy to have the Restrictive
Covenants specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, including, without
limitation, the right to an entry against the Executive of restraining orders and injunctions
(preliminary, mandatory, temporary and permanent) against violations, threatened or actual, and
whether or not then continuing, of such covenants.
7. Other Provisions.
7.1 Severability. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that (i) he has had an
opportunity to seek advice of counsel in connection with this Agreement and (ii) the Restrictive
Covenants are reasonable in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects. If it is
determined that any of the provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, any of the
Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the
provisions of this Agreement shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without
regard to the invalid portions.
7.2 Duration and Scope of Covenants. If any court or other decision-maker of
competent jurisdiction determines that any of the Executive’s covenants contained in this
Agreement, including, without limitation, any of the Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is
unenforceable because of the duration or geographical scope of such provision, then, after such
determination has become final and unappealable, the duration or scope of such provision, as the
case may be, shall be reduced so that such provision becomes enforceable and, in its reduced form,
such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.
15
7.3 Enforceability; Jurisdiction; Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the breach of this Agreement (other than a controversy or claim
arising under Section 6, to the extent necessary for the Company (or its affiliates, where
applicable) to avail itself of the rights and remedies referred to in Section 6.2) that is not
resolved by the Executive and the Company (or its affiliates, where applicable) shall be submitted
to arbitration in the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area in accordance with Maryland law
and the procedures of the American Arbitration Association. The determination of the arbitrator(s)
shall be conclusive and binding on the Company (or its affiliates, where applicable) and the
Executive and judgment may be entered on the arbitrator(s)’ award in any court having jurisdiction.
7.4 Legal Fees. The Company shall pay directly or reimburse the Executive for all
reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the review,
negotiation and execution of this Agreement.
7.5 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be delivered personally, telegraphed, telexed, sent by facsimile
transmission or sent by certified, registered or express mail, postage prepaid. Any such notice
shall be deemed given when so delivered personally, telegraphed, telexed or sent by facsimile
transmission or, if mailed, five days after the date of deposit in the United States mails as
follows:
(i) | If to the Company, to: | |||
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxx. | ||||
Xxxxx 000 | ||||
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||
with a copy to: | ||||
Hunton & Xxxxxxxx LLP | ||||
Riverfront Plaza, East Tower | ||||
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
16
Attention: Xxxxxx X. XxXxx | ||||
(ii) | If to the Executive, to the address set forth on the signature page hereof. |
Any such person may by notice given in accordance with this Section 7.5 to the other parties hereto
designate another address or person for receipt by such person of notices hereunder.
7.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or
oral, with respect thereto.
7.7 Waivers and Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, superseded, canceled,
renewed or extended, and the terms hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by the
parties or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. No delay on the part of any
party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor
shall any waiver on the part of any party of any such right, power or privilege nor any single or
partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege, preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.
7.8 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW WHICH
COULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
7.9 Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Parties and their respective successors, heirs (in the case of the Executive) and assigns. No
rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by the
Company except that such rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred, subject to Section
5.3, pursuant to a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the continuing entity, or
the sale or liquidation of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; provided,
however, that the assignee or transferee is the
17
successor to all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and such assignee or
transferee assumes the liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company, as contained in this
Agreement, either contractually or as a matter of law.
7.10 Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any payments or
deemed payments any amount of tax withholding it determines to be required by law.
7.11 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties and their respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and legal
representatives.
7.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original but all such
counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Each counterpart may consist
of two copies hereof each signed by one of the parties hereto.
7.13 Survival. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
the provisions of Sections 5 and 6 and any other provisions of this Agreement expressly imposing
obligations that survive termination of Executive’s employment hereunder, and the other provisions
of this Section 7 to the extent necessary to effectuate the survival of such provisions, shall
survive termination of this Agreement and any termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder.
7.14 Existing Agreements. The Executive represents to the Company that he is not
subject or a party to any employment or consulting agreement, non-competition covenant or other
agreement, covenant or understanding which might prohibit him from executing this Agreement or
limit his ability to fulfill his responsibilities hereunder.
7.15 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not
affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed their names as of the day and year
first above written.
ASSET CAPITAL CORPORATION, INC. | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
XXXX X. XXXXXX | ||||||||
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||||||
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||||||
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxx. | ||||||||
Xxxxx 000 | ||||||||
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
19
Exhibit A
List of Excluded Investments and Activities
None