EXHIBIT 10.44
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT entered into as of August 12, 2002 (the "Effective
Date") by and between X.X. Xxxxxx Group Inc., a Delaware corporation, with
principal offices at 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 ("Employer") and
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, residing at _____________________________, New York _____
("Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H:
A. Employer, directly and through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the
business of developing software for, and providing for use by its
ultimate customers of, electronic brokerage services and electronic
trading programs for use by professional and other retail customers
including allowing such customers to trade through their own home or
office computers, and services incident thereto, operating a block
trading desk and disseminating financial and trading information
("Employer`s Business");
B. Employer desires to employ Executive, and Executive desires to accept
such employment, on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
W I T N E S S E T H:
In consideration of the facts mentioned above, and of the covenants and
conditions set forth below, the parties agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT.
(a) During the Term of Employment as defined in Section 2, Employer
agrees to employ Executive as an executive, subject to the
direction and control at all times of the Chief Executive Officer
(as to his role as President) and of the Chairman of the Board of
Directors (as to his role as Vice Chairman) of Employer and the
Board of Directors (the "Board"). Executive agrees to act in the
foregoing capacity, in accordance with the terms and conditions
contained in this Agreement. Executive will have the title of
President and Vice Chairman of Employer. For so long as Executive
remains an employee of Employer, Employer shall use its best
efforts to secure the election and retention of Executive to the
Board.
(b) During the Term of Employment, Executive shall devote
substantially all of his working time to Employer`s Business as
conducted from time to time. Executive shall render services and
serve on the Board, without additional compensation, in
connection with the operation of Employer`s Business, including
activities of affiliates and subsidiaries of the Employer as may
exist from time to time. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, it
is expressly agreed and understood that Executive shall be
entitled to spend a reasonable amount of his working time on (i)
charitable activities and personal investments and (ii) other
business-related ventures subject to approval by the Board, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
2. TERM.
The initial term of Executive`s employment under this Agreement
shall commence on the date hereof and shall continue for a period
of three years (the "Initial Term"). Thereafter, this Agreement
shall be automatically renewed and extended for consecutive
one-year renewal terms, unless Executive provides 90 days`
written notice or Employer provides 135 days` written notice of
non-renewal prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any
renewal term (each such one-year renewal period, a "Renewal
Term"). The Initial Term and each Renewal Term are subject to
earlier termination as set forth in Section 5. The actual term of
employment is defined as "Term of Employment."
3. COMPENSATION.
(a) For the first year of the Term of Employment, Employer shall
pay to Executive an annual base salary of $200,000.00 per
annum (the "Annual Base Salary"). Thereafter, the amount of
Executive`s Annual Base Salary shall be subject to annual
review by the Board; provided, however, that in no event
shall the Annual Base Salary be less than $200,000.00. For
each year of the Term of Employment, the Annual Base Salary
shall be increased to an amount not less than Executive`s
Annual Base Salary as of the immediately preceding year,
multiplied by a fraction, not less than one, the numerator
of which is the Consumer Price Index -- Wages (the "CPIW")
for the then-current January 1, and the denominator of which
is the CPIW for the immediately prior January 1. Any amount
to which Executive`s Annual Base Salary is increased shall
not be reduced after any such increase, and the term "Annual
Base Salary" as used in this Agreement shall refer to the
Annual Base Salary as so increased. All payments shall be
made in equal monthly installments, in arrears, or such
other installments as may be consistent with the payroll
practices of Employer for its senior executives.
(b) Upon commencement of employment, Executive shall be issued
two options to purchase a total of 1,300,000 shares of
common stock of Employer at the average closing price of
such shares over the five trading days immediately preceding
the date of grant, and otherwise subject to the terms of an
equity plan of Employer, and an award agreement between
Executive and Employer. The first such option shall be
exercisable for 1,000,000 shares, and the option shall be
immediately fully vested and exercisable with respect of
one-half of the shares subject thereto, the option shall
become fully vested and exercisable in respect of
one-quarter of the shares subject thereto on the first
anniversary of the Effective Date, and the option shall
become fully vested and exercisable on the second
anniversary of the Effective Date in respect of the
remaining one-quarter of the shares subject thereto. The
second option shall be exercisable for 300,000 shares, and
the option shall become fully vested and exercisable in
respect of one-half of the shares subject thereto on each of
the first two anniversaries of the Effective Date (with full
vesting and exercisability on the second anniversary).
(c) In addition to the compensation set forth above, Executive
shall be entitled to receive a semi-annual bonus in
accordance with the terms of the semi-annual bonus pool set
forth on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein
by reference, subject to shareholder approval intended to
satisfy the rules under Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") for
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performance-based compensation, for fiscal years ending
after September 30, 2002. Employer shall use its best
efforts to procure such shareholder approval, and, failing
to do so, in consultation with Executive, Employer agrees to
negotiate in good faith with Executive for the
implementation of a reasonable alternative, for which
Employer will again use its best efforts to obtain
shareholder approval.
(d) It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, any option granted to Executive
hereunder shall be qualified as an "incentive stock option,"
as defined under Section 422(b) of the Code.
(e) Employer shall (i) use its best efforts to have the shares
subject to all options granted to Executive be subject to an
effective registration statement on Form S-8 or another
applicable registration form, and (ii) have all option
grants be exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
4. ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE BENEFITS.
(a) Employer shall reimburse Executive in accordance with
Employer`s policies for all expenses reasonably incurred by
Executive in connection with the performance of Executive`s
duties under this Agreement; provided that Executive shall
submit proof of such expenses prior to reimbursement within
a reasonable amount of time following such expenses.
(b) Executive shall be permitted during the Term of Employment
to participate in any group life, hospitalization or
disability insurance plans, health programs, stock option
plans, pension and profit sharing plans and similar benefits
that may be available to other senior executives of Employer
generally, on the same terms as such other executives, in
each case to the extent that Executive is eligible under the
terms of such plans or programs. Notwithstanding the
generality of the foregoing, Employer shall provide and pay
for the following benefits: $1,000,000 life insurance
coverage for the first year of the Term of Employment, and
commencing when Employer first has sufficient available cash
to begin paying therefor, as reasonably determined by the
three senior managers (including Executive) (i) such life
insurance shall be increased to $2,000,000 and (ii)
Executive shall be covered by disability insurance benefits
equal to 60% of Executive`s annual salary plus target bonus.
Once increased, the level of benefits and perquisites in the
immediately preceding sentence shall not be decreased
without Executive`s written consent.
5. TERMINATION.
5.1 TERMINATION FOR CAUSE; TERMINATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON.
(a) Employer may terminate this Agreement for Cause (as defined
below), and Executive may terminate his employment without
Good Reason (as defined below) upon written notice to
Employer. If Employer terminates Executive for Cause, or
Executive terminates his employment and the termination by
Executive is not covered by Section 5.2, 5.3 or 5.4,
Executive shall receive Annual Base Salary and other
benefits earned and accrued under this Agreement prior to
the effective date of the termination of employment (and
reimbursement under this Agreement for expenses incurred
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prior to the effective date of the termination of
employment).
(b) "Cause" within the meaning of this Agreement shall mean any
one of:
(i) Executive`s material breach of the provisions of
Section 6;
(ii) Executive`s material and willful failure or refusal on
more than one occasion (in each case, of which he is
made aware in writing by Employer promptly and in no
event more than seven days after such failure or
refusal) to perform Executive`s duties in accordance
with Section 1 hereof, if there is a demonstrable
adverse affect to Employer;
(iii)willful failure on more than one occasion by Executive
(in each case, of which he is made aware in writing by
Employer promptly and in no event more than seven days
after such failure) to comply in any material respect
with any reasonable written policies or directives of
the Board; or
(iv) Executive is convicted of, or pleads guilty (or nolo
contendre) to, any felony (but not any traffic or
similar infraction) or crime involving fraud,
misappropriation or embezzlement against Employer;
provided that (x) no conduct by Executive shall be deemed willful for purposes
of this Section 5.1 if Executive believed in good faith that such conduct was in
or not opposed to the best interests of Employer, and (y) Cause shall in no
event be deemed to exist (1) with respect to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above,
unless Executive shall have first received written notice from the Board
advising Executive of the specific acts or omissions alleged to constitute a
failure or breach giving rise expressly to Cause hereunder, and such failure or
breach continues after Executive shall have had a reasonable opportunity (which
shall be defined as a period of time consisting of at least 15 days from the
date Executive receives said notice) to correct the acts or omissions so
complained of, and (2) except upon a finding reflected in a resolution of the
Board approved by at least 75% of the members of the Board, whose finding shall
not be binding upon or entitled to any deference by any court, arbitrator or
other decision-maker ruling on this Agreement, at a meeting to which Executive
(and Executive`s counsel) shall be invited upon proper notice.
5.2 TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR FOR GOOD REASON.
(a) Employer may terminate Executive`s employment at any time for any
reason or no reason and Executive may terminate Executive`s
employment with Employer for Good Reason. If Employer terminates
Executive`s employment and the termination is not covered by
Section 5.1, 5.3 or 5.4, or Executive terminates his employment
for Good Reason and the termination by Executive is not covered
by Section 5.4, (i) Executive shall receive no later than 30 days
after such termination (A) Annual Base 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) and (B) a prorated
bonus through the date of termination based on the highest annual
bonus either paid in any prior year or potentially payable to
Executive in the year of such termination; (ii) Executive shall
be entitled to receive (A) an amount equal to the Applicable
Factor (as defined below) times Executive`s Annual Base Salary
(as in effect on the effective date of such termination), payable
no later than 30 days after such termination, (B) an amount equal
to the Applicable Factor times (x) if such termination occurs
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within the first year of the Initial Term, the maximum annual
bonus that would be otherwise payable under Section 3(c) or (y)
if such termination occurs after the first year of the Initial
Term, the greater of (1) the maximum potential annual bonus
payable under 3(c) in the year of termination and (2) the highest
annual bonus paid during the Term of Employment, payable no later
than 30 days after such termination, and (C) for a number of
years equal to the Applicable Factor after termination of
employment (x) such continuing health benefits (including any
medical, vision and dental benefits) under Employer`s health
plans and programs applicable to senior executives of Employer
generally as Executive would have received under this Agreement
(and at such costs to Executive) as would have applied in the
absence of such termination; provided that Employer shall
continue to be required to provide such coverage after such time
as Executive becomes entitled to receive health benefits from
another employer or recipient of Executive`s services to the
extent that the benefits being provided hereunder are greater
than the benefits to which Executive has subsequently become
entitled; and provided, further, that all "COBRA" continuation
periods shall commence upon the expiration of the continued
coverage provided for under this Section 5.2(b)(ii) without being
reduced by the period of such continued coverage; (y) an amount
reasonably equivalent economically to the pension and other
retirement benefits Executive would have received if Executive
remained employed for such period; and (z) continuing payment or
reimbursement for the benefits provided under Section 4(b); and
(iii) all outstanding unvested options and other equity held by
Executive shall vest and become immediately exercisable and shall
otherwise be exercisable in accordance with their terms and
Executive shall become vested in any pension or other deferred
compensation other than pension or deferred compensation under a
plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) or 403(a) of
the Code. The "Applicable Factor" is the greater of (i) the
number of years (including fractions thereof) remaining in the
term of employment (as determined without regard to the
termination) and (ii) 2.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, unless
otherwise consented to in writing by Executive,
(i) the material reduction of Executive`s title, authority,
duties or responsibilities, or the assignment to Executive
of duties materially inconsistent with Executive`s positions
with Employer as stated in Section 1 hereof (including,
without limitation, a failure of Executive to continue to be
elected (after having been elected) to serve as a member of
the Board);
(ii) (A) a reduction in the Annual Base Salary of Executive
or the failure to provide for the increases thereto required
by this Agreement, (B) any failure to comply with the
provisions of Section 3(c) (relating to certain arrangements
governing bonuses), or (C) without limiting the foregoing,
any failure to pay the Annual Base Salary or any bonus to
Executive in accordance with Section 3(b) or 3(c), as
applicable if such failure is not cured by Employer within
five days of notice of such failure (provided that Employer
shall not have repeated rights to cure);
(iii) the relocation of Executive`s office to more than 25
miles from New York City;
(iv) Employer`s failure to pay Executive any amounts
otherwise due hereunder or under any plan, policy, program,
agreement, arrangement or other commitment of Employer if
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such failure is not cured by Employer within 15 days of
notice of such failure;
(v) the failure by Employer to obtain an agreement in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to Executive from any
successor to the business of Employer to assume and agree to
perform this Agreement; or
(vi) any other material breach by Employer of this
Agreement.
(c) For purposes of this Section 5, if Executive`s employment is not
terminated under this Section 5 before the Initial Term or any
Renewal Term would otherwise expire under Section 2, then any
termination of employment at the expiration of the Term of
Employment, after a notice of non-renewal by Employer as
contemplated by Section 2, which termination is not a termination
for Cause by the Company covered by Section 5.1 and is not a
termination covered by Section 5.3 or 5.4, shall be treated as a
termination by Executive for Good Reason covered under this
Section 5.2, except that (i) the Applicable Factor for all
purposes (other than for purposes of clause (ii)(C) of Section
5.2(a)) shall be 1.5 (and shall remain as 2 in respect of such
clause), and (ii) the amount of the payments provided for under
clauses (ii)(A) and (ii)(B) of the second sentence of Section
5.2(a) shall be paid in substantially equal payments (or more
frequently if salary is paid more frequently) on a monthly basis
over the 18-month period commencing with such termination (rather
than in a lump sum) for so long as Executive complies with the
restrictions set forth in Section 6.1 (including during any part
of such 18-month period which is after the Restricted Period (as
defined below)).
5.3 TERMINATION UPON DEATH OR DISABILITY.
If Executive dies during the Term of Employment, the obligations of
Employer to or with respect to Executive shall terminate in their entirety
except as otherwise provided under this Section 5.3. If Executive becomes
disabled for purposes of Employer`s long-term disability plan, Employer shall
have the right, to the extent permitted by law, to terminate the employment of
Executive upon notice in writing to Executive; provided that Employer will have
no right to terminate Executive`s employment if, in the opinion of a qualified
physician reasonably acceptable to Employer, it is reasonably certain that
Executive will be able to resume Executive`s duties on a regular full-time basis
within 30 days of the date Executive receives notice of such termination. Upon
death or other termination of employment by virtue of disability, (i) Executive
(or Executive`s estate or beneficiaries in the case of the death of Executive)
shall receive no later than 30 days after such termination (A) Annual Base
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) and (B) a prorated bonus through the
date of termination based on the highest annual bonus either paid in any prior
year or potentially payable to Executive in the year of such termination, (ii)
Executive (or Executive`s estate or beneficiaries in the case of the death of
Executive) shall be entitled to receive any and all applicable insurance
proceeds; and (iii) all outstanding unvested options and other equity held by
Executive shall vest and become immediately exercisable and shall otherwise be
exercisable in accordance with their terms and Executive shall become vested in
any pension or other deferred compensation other than pension or deferred
compensation under a plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) or
403(a) of the Code.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 5.3 shall not apply to a
termination within the six-month period to follow a Change of Control (as
defined below) on account of death or disability, but, rather, such a
termination shall be covered by Section 5.4.
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5.4 CERTAIN TERMINATIONS AFTER CHANGE OF CONTROL.
(a) If, after a Change of Control, (i) during the six-month period
immediately following a Change of Control, either Employer or
Executive terminates Executive`s employment for any reason or no
reason, or (ii) Executive is terminated at any time by Employer
without Cause or Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason,
then Executive shall receive or be entitled to (as applicable) the
payments, benefits and accelerations set forth in Section 5.2(a),
except that for purposes of this Section 5.4, the Applicable Factor
shall equal three.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, "Change of Control" means the
occurrence of one of the following:
(i) a "person" or "group" within the meaning of Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act"), becomes the "beneficial owner" (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of
Employer (including options, warrants, rights and convertible and
exchangeable securities) representing 25% or more of the combined
voting power of Employer`s then outstanding securities in any one
or more transactions; provided, however, that purchases by
employee benefit plans of Employer or by Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, or Xxxxx Xxxxx (or family or charitable trusts controlled
thereby), or Employer or its affiliates shall be disregarded;
(ii) the approval of any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer
(in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all,
or substantially all, of the operating assets of Employer, other
than an internal restructuring of Employer;
(iii) the approval of a merger or consolidation, or a transaction
having a similar effect unless such merger, consolidation or
similar transaction is with a subsidiary of Employer or with
another company, a majority of whose outstanding capital stock is
owned by the same persons or entities who own a majority of
Employer`s outstanding common stock (the "Common Stock") at such
time, where (A) Employer is not the surviving corporation, (B)
the majority of the Common Stock of Employer is no longer held by
the stockholders of Employer immediately prior to the
transaction, or (C) Employer`s Common Stock is converted into
cash, securities or other property (other than the common stock
of a company into which Employer is merged); or
(v) a majority of the members of the Board are not persons who
(A) had been directors of Employer for at least the
preceding 24 consecutive months or (B) when they initially
were elected to the Board, (I) were nominated (if they were
elected by the stockholders) or elected (if they were
elected by the directors) with the affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the directors who were Continuing Directors
(as defined below) at the time of the nomination or election
by the Board and (II) were not elected as a result of an
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by
a person other than the Board or an agreement intended to
avoid or settle such a proxy solicitation (the directors
described in clauses (A) and (B) being "Continuing
Directors").
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6. Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation, Non-Disclosure, Shop Rights,
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX AND JURISDICTIONAL MATTERS.
6.1 NON-COMPETITION.
As a material inducement to Employer to enter into this Agreement and
to perform its obligations hereunder, Executive covenants and agrees that during
Executive`s Term of Employment with Employer (the "Restricted Period") and for a
period of one year thereafter, neither Executive, any of Executive`s agents nor
anyone acting on Executive`s behalf, shall directly or indirectly, either as an
employee, employer, agent, investor, principal, partner, shareholder (except as
a holder of less than five percent of the issued and outstanding voting stock of
a publicly held corporation), corporate officer, director, independent
contractor, or in any other individual or representative capacity, engage or
participate in engage or participate in any entity (other than Employer) engaged
in Employer`s Business wherein Executive shall be involved with online or
electronic brokerage or trading activities or facilities or an institutional
block trading desk, in the United States or any foreign country in which
Employer has offices (other than with respect to employees Executive brings to
Employer as of the Effective Date and identifies to Employer on such date);
provided, that, nothing contained in this Section 6.1 shall prevent Executive
from participating in any activities described in Section 1(b).
6.2 NON-SOLICITATION; NON-DISPARAGEMENT.
During the Restricted Period and for a period of one year thereafter,
Executive covenants and agrees that Executive will not, directly or indirectly,
either for itself or for any other person or business entity, (i) solicit any
employee of Employer to terminate his employment with Employer (other than with
respect to employees Executive brings to Employer as of the Effective Date and
identifies to Employer on such date), or (ii) solicit any client of Employer,
other than a client that was introduced to Employer directly by Executive as of
the Effective Date and that is identified by Executive as such, to terminate its
relationship with Employer (other than with respect to clients Executive brings
to Employer as of the Effective Date and identifies to Employer on such date).
During the Restricted Period and thereafter, Executive and Employer agree not to
make any disparaging statements concerning the other party, other than as may be
required by legal process, it being understood and agreed that this sentence is
not intended to and shall not prohibit Executive from making any comparative
statement favorable to Executive in connection with any competitive activity
which is not prohibited under the terms of this Agreement.
6.3 NON-DISCLOSURE AND NON-USE; SHOP RIGHTS.
(a) DESCRIPTION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. For purposes of this
Section, "Confidential Information" means any information
disclosed during the Restricted Period, which is clearly either
marked or reasonably understood as being confidential or
proprietary including, but not limited to, information disclosed
in discussions between the parties in connection with technical
information, data, proposals and other documents of Employer
pertaining to its business, products, services, finances, product
designs, plans, customer lists, public relations and other
marketing information and other unpublished information.
Confidential Information shall include all tangible materials
containing Confidential Information including, but not limited
to, written or printed documents and computer disks and tapes,
whether machine or user readable.
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(b) STANDARD OF CARE. Executive shall protect Confidential
Information from disclosure to any person other than other
Executives of Employer who have a need to know, by using the same
degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, to
prevent the unauthorized use, dissemination, or publication of
Confidential Information as Executive is required to use to
protect such Confidential Information.
(c) EXCLUSION. This Section imposes no obligation upon Executive with
respect to information that: (i) was in Executive`s possession
before receipt from Employer; (ii) is or becomes a matter of
public knowledge through no fault of Executive; (iii) is
rightfully received by Executive from a third party who does not
have a duty of confidentiality; (iv) is disclosed under operation
of law, except that Executive will disclose only such information
as is legally required and give Employer prompt prior notice; or
(v) is disclosed by Executive with Employer`s prior written
consent.
(d) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Executive hereby agrees to disclose to
Employer all work product developed by Executive within the scope
of his employment, except as otherwise permitted by the Board
(the "Work Product"). Both parties acknowledge and agree that if
any Work Product or any portion thereof is copyrightable, it will
be deemed a "work made for hire," as such term is defined in the
Federal Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., and
Employer will own all right, title and interest in and to the
Work Product. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employer
acknowledges and agrees (i) that Executive brings to Employer a
substantial accumulation of ideas, concepts, know-how,
techniques, data, modules, components, designs, utilities,
interfaces, templates, subroutines, analyses, methods,
algorithms, formulas, technical information, specifications, and
other pre-existing materials used or developed by Executive in
the course of his work performed outside the scope of his
employment for Employer, and that there also exists and will
exist an accumulation of general ideas, general concepts, general
know-how, general techniques, and general methods gained or
learned by Executive during the performance of his employment for
Employer (all of the foregoing accumulations, the "Residual
Information"), and (ii) that nothing contained in this Agreement
is intended to or shall restrict Executive from using the
Residual Information for any purpose whatsoever.
(e) STOCK TRADING. If the information disclosed hereunder is
material, non-public information about Employer, then Executive
agrees not to trade in the securities of Employer, or in the
securities of or any appropriate and relevant third party until
such time as no violation of the applicable federal and state
securities laws would result from such securities trading.
(f) RETURN OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Executive will immediately
destroy or return all tangible material embodying Confidential
Information (in any form and including, without limitation, all
summaries, copies and excerpts of Confidential Information) upon
the earlier of (i) the completion or termination of the dealings
between the Employer and Executive under this Agreement or (ii)
at such time that Employer may so request.
(g) NOTICE OF BREACH. Executive shall notify Employer immediately
upon discovery of any unauthorized use or disclosure of
Confidential Information, or any other breach of the Agreement by
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Executive, and will cooperate with Employer in every reasonable
way to help Employer regain possession of Confidential
Information and prevents its further unauthorized use.
7. REPRESENTATION BY EXECUTIVE.
Executive hereby represents and warrants that he is not a party to any
agreement, whether oral or written, which would prohibit him from being employed
by Employer.
8. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.
The parties acknowledge that the services to be rendered hereunder by
Executive are special, unique and of extraordinary character, and that in the
event of a breach or a threatened breach of Executive of any of Executive`s
obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement, Employer will not have an
adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, in the event of any breach or threatened
breach by Executive, Employer shall be entitled to such equitable and injunctive
relief as may be available to restrain Executive and any business, firm,
partnership, individual, corporation or entity participating in the breach of
Section 6 of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as
prohibiting Employer from pursing any other remedies available at law or in
equity for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages
and the immediate termination of the employment of Executive under this
Agreement.
9. NOTICES.
All notices shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally
(including by courier), sent by facsimile transmission (with appropriate
documented receipt thereof), by overnight receipted courier service (such as UPS
or Federal Express) or sent by certified, registered or express mail, postage
prepaid, to the parties at their address set forth at the beginning of this
Agreement with Employer`s copy being sent to Employer at its then principal
office. Any such notice shall be deemed given when so delivered personally, or
if sent by facsimile transmission, when transmitted, or, if mailed, 48 hours
after the date of deposit in the mail. Any party may, by notice given in
accordance with this Section 9 to the other party, designate another address or
person for receipt of notices hereunder. Copies of any notices to be given to
Employer shall be given simultaneously to: Sichenzia Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP,
1065 Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.,
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed in all respects, including
validity, construction, interpretation and effect, by New York
law.
(b) This Agreement may be amended, superseded, canceled, renewed or
extended, and the terms hereof may be waived, only by a written
instrument signed by authorized representatives of the parties
or, in the case of a waiver, by an authorized representative of
the party waiving compliance. No such written instrument shall be
effective unless it expressly recites that it is intended to
amend, supersede, cancel, renew or extend this Agreement or to
waive compliance with one or more of the terms hereof, as the
case may be. 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
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any such right, power or privilege, or any single or partial
exercise of any such right, power or privilege, preclude any
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right,
power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided are
cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that
any party may otherwise have at law or in equity.
(c) Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the breach of this Agreement that is not resolved by
Executive and Employer (or its affiliates, where applicable)
shall be submitted to arbitration in New York, New York in
accordance with New York law and the procedures of the American
Arbitration Association. The determination of the arbitrator(s)
shall be conclusive and binding on Employer (or its affiliates,
where applicable) and Executive and judgment may be entered on
the arbitrator(s)` award in any court having jurisdiction.
(d) Employer shall pay, at least monthly, all costs and expenses,
including attorneys` fees and disbursements, of Employer and
Executive in connection with (i) the preparation, negotiation and
execution of this Agreement and (ii) any legal proceeding,
whether or not instituted by Employer or Executive, relating to
the interpretation or enforcement of any provision of this
Agreement; provided that if Executive institutes the proceeding
and Employer prevails on each and every material issue, Executive
shall pay his own costs and expenses, and promptly (and in no
event more than 60 days after demand therefor by Employer) return
to Employer any amounts previously paid by Employer under this
Section 10(d)(ii).
(e) If any provision or any portion of any provision of this
Agreement or the application of any such provision or any portion
thereof to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid or
unenforceable, the remaining portion of such provision and the
remaining provisions of this Agreement, or the application of
such provision or portion of such provision as is held invalid or
unenforceable to persons or circumstances other than those as to
which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected
thereby and such provision or portion of any provision as shall
have been held invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed limited
or modified to the extent necessary to make it valid and
enforceable; in no event shall this Agreement be rendered void or
unenforceable.
(f) The headings to the Sections of this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not be given any effect
in the construction or enforcement of this Agreement.
(g) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the successor and assigns of Employer, but no interest in this
Agreement shall be transferable in any manner by Executive. In
the event of any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of Employer`s assets or business, whether by
merger, consolidation or otherwise, Employer`s obligations
hereunder shall be assigned to, and assumed by, the successor or
successors of Employer; provided that Employer shall,
notwithstanding such assignment and assumption, remain liable and
otherwise responsible for the fulfillment of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
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(h) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding
between the parties and supersedes all prior discussions,
agreements and undertakings, written or oral, of any and every
nature with respect thereto.
(i) This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate
counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
(j) In the event of the termination or expiration of this Agreement,
the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 hereof shall remain in
full force and effect, in accordance with their respective terms.
(k) Executive shall, at all times, be indemnified by Employer in
connection with his performance of services hereunder, at the
maximum level permitted by law. Employer shall cause Executive
(together with other officers and directors) to be covered at all
times by directors and officers liability insurance with such
coverage to be not less than $5,000,000. Employer shall continue
to indemnify Executive as provided above and maintain such
liability insurance coverage for Executive, after the Term of
Employment has ended for any claims that may be made against him
with respect to his service as a director or officer of Employer.
(l) Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount
of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor will any payments hereunder be
subject to offset in the event Executive does mitigate.
(m) If all, or any portion, of the payments provided under this
Agreement, either alone or together with other payments and
benefits which Executive receives or is entitled to receive from
Employer or an affiliate, would constitute an "excess parachute
payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (whether
or not under an existing plan, arrangement or other agreement)
(each such parachute payment, a "Parachute Payment"), and would
result in the imposition on Executive of an excise tax under
Section 4999 of the Code, then, in addition to any other benefits
to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement, Executive
shall be paid by Employer an amount in cash equal to the sum of
the excise taxes payable by Executive by reason of receiving
Parachute Payments plus the amount necessary to put 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 possible applicable rates on such Parachute
Payments (including without limitation any payments under this
Section 10(m)) as if no excise taxes had been imposed with
respect to Parachute Payments (the "Parachute Gross-up"). The
amount of any payment under this Section 10(m) shall be computed
by a certified public accounting firm of national reputation
reasonably selected by Executive. If Employer desires to dispute
the computation rendered by such accounting firm, Employer may
select an alternative certified public accounting firm of
national reputation to perform the applicable computations. If
the two accounting firms cannot agree upon the computations,
Executive and Employer will jointly appoint a third certified
public accounting firm of national reputation, reasonably
acceptable to Executive and Employer, within 10 calendar days
after the two conflicting computations have been rendered. Such
third accounting firm shall be asked to determine within 30
calendar days the computation of the Parachute Gross-up to be
paid to Executive, and payments shall be made accordingly. In any
event, Employer will pay to Executive or pay on Executive`s
behalf the Parachute Gross-up as computed by the accounting firm
initially selected by Executive by the time any taxes payable by
Executive as a result of the Parachute Payments become due, with
Executive agreeing to return the excess amount of such payment
over the final computation rendered from the process described in
this Section 10(m). Executive and Employer will provide the
accounting firms with all information which any accounting firm
reasonably deems necessary in computing the Parachute Gross-up to
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be made available to Executive. The costs and expenses of all of
the accounting firms retained to perform the computations
described above shall be borne by Employer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date stated
at the beginning of this Agreement.
X.X. Xxxxxx Group Inc.
By: ____________________________________
Title: ____________________________________
---------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
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