EXHIBIT 10.32
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
LODGIAN, INC.
AND
XXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXX
FEBRUARY 7, 2005
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") by and between Lodgian, Inc.
(the "Company"), and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx ("You" or "Your")(collectively, the
"Parties"), is entered into and effective as of the 7th day of February, 2005
(the "Effective Date").fp(1)
WHEREAS, You are currently employed as Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company desires that You continue to serve as Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and You desire to continue said
employment;
WHEREAS, Your position is a position of trust and responsibility with
access to Confidential Information, Trade Secrets, and information concerning
employees and customers of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Trade Secrets and Confidential Information, and the
relationship between the Company and each of its employees and customers are
valuable assets of the Company and may not be used for any purpose other than
the Company's Business;
WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to continue to employ You in exchange for
Your compliance with the terms of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Company and You desire to express the terms and conditions of
Your continued employment in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree:
1. Employment and Duties
A. Position. The Company shall employ You as Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer.
B. Duties. You agree to perform all duties that are consistent with
Your position and that may otherwise be assigned to You by the Company from time
to time. The Company may increase or decrease Your duties in its discretion.
C. Reporting. You shall report directly to the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company.
D. Devotion of Time. You agree to (i) devote all necessary working
time required of Your position, (ii) devote Your best efforts, skill, and
energies to promote and advance the business and/or interests of the Company,
and (iii) fully perform Your obligations
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(1) Unless otherwise indicated, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement are
defined in the "Definitions" section attached as Exhibit A. Exhibit A is
incorporated by reference and is included in the Definition of "Agreement."
under this Agreement. During Your employment, You shall not render services to
any other entity, regardless of whether You receive compensation, if such
services shall impede Your ability to perform Your duties for the Company. You
may, however, (A) engage in community, charitable, and educational activities,
(B) manage Your personal investments, and (C) with the prior written consent of
the Company, serve on corporate boards or committees, provided that such
activities do not conflict or interfere with the performance of Your obligations
under this Agreement or conflict with the interests of the Company.
E. Company Policies. You agree to comply with the policies and
procedures of the Company as may be adopted and changed from time to time,
including those described in the Company's employee handbook. If this Agreement
conflicts with such policies or procedures, this Agreement will control.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall be for a period of two (2)
years, beginning on the Effective Date and ending on February 7, 2007 (the
"Employment Period"). Upon expiration of the Employment Period, this Agreement
will automatically renew for a one-year period (each a "Renewal Period"), unless
either Party notifies the other Party in writing at least one hundred eighty
(180) days prior to the end of the Employment Period or the Renewal Period that
the Agreement will not be renewed (the "180-Day Notice Period"). If this
Agreement is renewed in accordance with this Section, each Renewal Period shall
be included in the definition of "Employment Period" for purposes of this
Agreement. If this Agreement is not renewed in accordance with this Section,
then (i) Your employment will terminate upon expiration of the Employment
Period, and (ii) this Agreement will no longer be in effect; provided, however,
that the restrictive covenants and all post-termination obligations contained in
this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement.
3. Compensation.
A. Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company will pay
You an annual minimum base salary ("Base Salary") of $225,500.00, minus
applicable withholdings, in accordance with the Company's normal payroll
practices. Your Base Salary may be increased at the Company's discretion based
upon Your performance and the Company's performance. Your Base Salary will be
reviewed on an annual basis.
B. Bonus. During the Employment Period, You will be eligible to
receive an annual bonus if Your performance and the Company's performance meets
certain criteria established from year to year by the Company's Compensation
Committee (the "Bonus"). The Bonus will be subject to all applicable
withholdings and will be paid within 90 days after the end of the calendar year.
Upon termination of Your employment, Your entitlement to any Bonus payment will
be governed by Section 5 below.
C. Benefits Plans. During the Employment Period, You will be
eligible to participate in all benefit plans in effect for executives and
employees of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans.
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D. Vacation. During the Employment Period, You are entitled to four
(4) weeks paid vacation each year. In addition, You shall be entitled to
personal and/or sick days in accordance with the Company policies.
4. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by any of the following
events:
A. The Company's non-renewal of the Employment Period;
B. Mutual written agreement between You and the Company at any time;
C. Your death;
D. Your disability which renders You unable to perform the
essential functions of Your job even with reasonable accommodation, as
determined by the Company in its sole discretion;
E. For Cause. For Cause shall mean a termination by the Company
because of any one of the following events:
1. Your willful refusal to follow the lawful direction of
the CEO or Your material failure to perform Your duties
(other than by reason of disability, as defined in
Section 4D above), in either case, only after You have
been given written notice by the CEO and/or the CFO
detailing the directives You have refused to follow or
the duties You have failed to perform and at least 30
days to cure;
2. Your material and willful failure to comply with Company
policies as applied to Company employees, only after You
have been given written notice by the CEO detailing the
policies with which You have failed to comply and at
least 30 days to cure;
3. Your engaging in any of the following conduct:
(i) an act of fraud or dishonesty that materially
xxxxx the Company or its affiliates,
(ii) a felony or any violation of any federal or state
securities law or Your being enjoined from
violating any federal or state securities law or
being determined to have violated any such law;
(iii) willful or reckless misconduct or gross negligence
in connection with any property or activity of the
Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and
successors;
(iv) repeated and intemperate use of alcohol or illegal
drugs after written notice from the CEO;
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(v) material breach of any of Your obligations under
this Agreement (other than by reason of physical
or mental illness, injury, or condition), but only
after You have been given written notice of the
breach by the CEO and/or the CFO and at least
thirty (30) days to cure;
(vi) becoming barred or prohibited by the SEC from
holding Your position with the Company;
4. Your resignation for other than Good Reason; or
5. Your non-renewal of the Employment Period.
F. Your resignation for Good Reason; or
G. Without Cause. Without Cause shall mean any termination of
Your employment by the Company which is not defined in
sub-sections A-F above.
5. Company's Post-Termination Obligations
A. If this Agreement terminates for the reasons set forth in
Sections 4B or E above, then the Company will pay You all accrued but unpaid
wages, based on Your then current Base Salary, through the termination date. The
Company shall have no other obligations to You, including under this Agreement,
any Company policy, or otherwise; however, You shall continue to be bound by
Sections 7D and all other post-termination obligations to which You are subject,
including, but not limited to, the obligations contained in this Agreement. You
shall also not be entitled to any accelerated vesting of any stock based
compensation granted pursuant to the 2002 Lodgian, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan or
any other similar plan.
B. If this Agreement terminates for any reason set forth in Sections
4C, D, F, or G above, and Section 6 below does not apply, then the Company shall
(i) pay You (or Your estate if applicable) a lump sum payment equal to the
greater of: (a) Your then current Base Salary for the remainder of the initial
Employment Period or Renewal Period during which Your employment terminates,
whichever is applicable, or (b) Your then current Base Salary for a period of
twelve (12) months (the time period in the immediately preceding sub-clause (a)
or (b) to be referred to as the "Separation Pay Period"); (ii) reimburse Your
COBRA premiums under the Company's major medical group health plan on a monthly
basis for a period equal to the Separation Pay Period; (iii) pay You a pro-rata
portion of any Bonus to which You may be entitled under Section 3B above based
upon the number of days You are employed during the calendar year in which Your
employment terminates and based upon the criteria set forth in Section 3B; and
(iv) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any applicable stock option
documents, accelerate the vesting of any stock option(s) granted to You by the
Company (the "Option(s)") so that the Option(s) shall be immediately exercisable
in full in accordance with the terms and conditions of all applicable stock
option documents (collectively, the payments and benefits set forth in the
preceding sub-clauses (i) - (iv) to be referred to as the "Separation
Benefits"). The Company shall have no other obligations to You, including under
this Agreement, any Company policy, or otherwise. The Separation Benefits shall
constitute full satisfaction of the Company's obligations under this Agreement.
The Company's obligation to
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provide the Separation Benefits shall be conditioned upon Your satisfaction of
the following conditions (the "Separation Benefits Conditions"):
(i) Execution and non-revocation of a Separation & Release
Agreement in a form prepared by the Company by which You
release the Company from any and all liability and
claims of any kind; and
(ii) Compliance with the restrictive covenants (Section 7D)
and all post-termination obligations, including, but not
limited, the obligations contained in this Agreement.
If You do not execute an effective Separation & Release Agreement as
set forth above, the Company will not provide any Separation Benefits to You
under this Section 5B. The Company's obligation to provide the Separation
Benefits set forth in this Section 5B shall terminate immediately upon any
breach by You of any post-termination obligations to which You are subject.
C. If this Agreement terminates for the reason set forth in Section
4A above and Section 6 below does not apply, then, upon expiration of the
Employment Period or Renewal Period, as applicable, the Company shall provide to
You the Separation Benefits set forth in Section 5B above; provided, however,
that (i) the Separation Pay Period shall equal six (6) months, and (ii) Your
right to receive the Separation Benefits under this Section 5C shall be subject
to the Separation Benefits Conditions set forth in Section 5B above. The
Separation Benefits to be provided under this Section 5C shall constitute full
satisfaction of the Company's obligations under this Agreement, any Company
policy, or otherwise.
6. Change of Control. If, within one hundred eighty (180) days after a
Change of Control, the Company or the successor entity to the Company notifies
You pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement that the Agreement will not be
renewed, then, at the expiration of the Employment Period or Renewal Period, as
applicable, You shall receive the Separation Benefits set forth in Section 5B
above; provided, however, that Your right to receive the Separation Benefits
shall be subject to the Separation Benefits Conditions set forth in Section 5B
above. The Separation Benefits to be provided under this Section 6 shall
constitute full satisfaction of the Company's obligations under this Agreement,
any Company policy, or otherwise.
7. Your Post-Termination Obligations.
A. Return of Materials. Upon the termination of Your employment for
any reason or upon the Company's request at any time, You will return to the
Company all of the Company's property, including, but not limited to, keys,
passcards, credit cards, customer lists, rolodexes, tapes, laptop computer,
software, computer files, marketing and sales materials, and any other property,
record, document or piece of equipment belonging to the Company. You will not
(i) retain any copies of the Company's property, including any copies existing
in electronic form, which are in Your possession or control, or (ii) destroy,
delete, or alter any Company property, including, but not limited to, any laptop
computer, without the Company's consent.
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B. Set-Off. If You have any outstanding obligations to the Company
upon the termination of Your employment for any reason, You hereby authorize the
Company to deduct any amounts owed to the Company from Your final paycheck
and/or any amounts that would otherwise be due to You, including, but not
limited to, under Section 5B or 6 above.
C. Non-Disparagement. During Your employment and upon the
termination of Your employment with the Company for any reason, You will not
make any disparaging or defamatory statements, whether written or oral,
regarding the Company.
D. Restrictive Covenants. You acknowledge that the restrictions
contained in this Section 7D are reasonable and necessary to protect the
legitimate business interests of the Company, and will not impair or infringe
upon Your right to work or earn a living after Your employment with the Company
ends.
1. Trade Secrets and Confidential Information. You represent
and warrant that: (i) You are not subject to any legal or contractual duty or
agreement that would prevent or prohibit You from performing the duties
contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise complying with this Agreement, and
(ii) You are not in breach of any legal or contractual duty or agreement,
including any agreement concerning trade secrets or confidential information
owned by any other party.
You agree that You will not: (i) use, disclose, or reverse
engineer the Trade Secrets or the Confidential Information for any purpose other
than the Company's Business, except as authorized in writing by the Company;
(ii) during Your employment with the Company, use, disclose, or reverse engineer
(a) any confidential information or trade secrets of any former employer or
third party, or (b) any works of authorship developed in whole or in part by You
during any former employment or for any other party, unless authorized in
writing by the former employer or third party; or (iii) upon Your resignation or
termination (a) retain Trade Secrets or Confidential Information, including any
copies existing in any form (including electronic form), which are in Your
possession or control, or (b) destroy, delete, or alter the Trade Secrets or
Confidential Information without the Company's written consent.
The obligations under this Section 7D(1) shall: (i) with
regard to the Trade Secrets, remain in effect as long as the information
constitutes a trade secret under applicable law, and (ii) with regard to the
Confidential Information, remain in effect during the Restricted Period. The
confidentiality, property, and proprietary rights protections available in this
Agreement are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any and all other rights to
which the Company is entitled under federal and state law, including, but not
limited to, rights provided under copyright laws, trade secret and confidential
information laws, and laws concerning fiduciary duties.
2. Non-Solicitation of Customers. During the Restricted
Period, You will not, directly or indirectly, solicit any Customer of the
Company for the purpose of providing any goods or services competitive with the
Business. The restrictions set forth in this Section 7D(2) apply only to the
Customers with whom You had Contact.
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3. Non-Recruit of Employees. During the Restricted Period, You
will not, directly or indirectly, solicit, recruit or induce any Employee to (a)
terminate his or her employment relationship with the Company or (b) work for
any other person or entity engaged in the Business.
4. Non-Competition. During the Non-Competition Restricted
Period, You will not, on Your own behalf or on behalf of any person or entity
engaged in the Business, engage in or perform within the Territory any of the
activities which You performed, or which are substantially similar to those
which You performed, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit You from
performing activities which You did not perform for the Company. The Parties
acknowledge and agree that the covenant set forth in this Section 7D(4) shall
not apply if Your employment terminates for the reason set forth in Section 4A
above.
E. Post-Employment Disclosure. During the Restricted Period, You
shall provide a copy of this Agreement to persons and/or entities for whom You
work or consult as an owner, partner, joint venturer, employee or independent
contractor.
8. Injunctive Relief. You agree that if You breach Section 7 of this
Agreement: (i) the Company would suffer irreparable harm; (ii) it would be
difficult to determine damages, and money damages alone would be an inadequate
remedy for the injuries suffered by the Company, and (iii) if the Company seeks
injunctive relief to enforce this Agreement, You will waive and will not (a)
assert any defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law with respect
to the breach, (b) require that the Company submit proof of the economic value
of any Trade Secret or Confidential Information, or (c) require the Company to
post a bond or any other security. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
limit the Company's right to any other remedies at law or in equity.
9. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable. If any
provision is determined to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, in whole or in
part, the remaining provisions and any partially enforceable provisions shall
remain in full force and effect.
10. Attorneys' Fees. In the event of litigation relating to this
Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover attorneys' fees and
costs of litigation in addition to all other remedies available at law or in
equity.
11. Waiver. The Company's failure to enforce any provision of this
Agreement shall not act as a waiver of that or any other provision. The
Company's waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall not act as a waiver of
any other breach.
12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including Exhibit A which is
incorporated by reference, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties
concerning the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any
prior communications, agreements or understandings, whether oral or written,
between the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. Other than
terms of this Agreement, no other representation, promise or agreement has been
made with You to cause You to sign this Agreement.
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13. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except in
writing signed by both Parties.
14. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be assignable to, and
shall inure to the benefit of, the Company's successors and assigns, including,
without limitation, successors through merger, name change, consolidation, or
sale of a majority of the Company's stock or assets, and shall be binding upon
You. You shall not have the right to assign Your rights or obligations under
this Agreement. The covenants contained in Section 7D of this Agreement shall
survive cessation of Your employment with the Company, regardless of who causes
the cessation or the reason for cessation.
15. Governing Law. Except as set forth in Section 20 below, the laws of
the State of Georgia shall govern this Agreement. If Georgia's conflict of law
rules would apply another state's laws, the Parties agree that Georgia law shall
still govern.
16. No Strict Construction. If there is a dispute about the language of
this Agreement, the fact that one Party drafted the Agreement shall not be used
in its interpretation.
17. Notice. Whenever any notice is required, it shall be given in writing
addressed as follows:
To Company: Lodgian, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
To Executive: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Notice shall be deemed given and effective three (3) days after the
deposit in the U.S. mail of a writing addressed as above and sent first class
mail, certified, return receipt requested, or when actually received. Either
Party may change the address to which notices shall be delivered or mailed by
notifying the other party of such change in accordance with this Section.
18. Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue. Except as set forth in Section 20
below, You agree that any claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement
shall be (i) brought in the Superior Court of Xxxxxx County, Georgia, or (ii)
brought in or removed to the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia, Atlanta Division. You consent to the personal jurisdiction
of the courts identified above. You waive (i) any objection to jurisdiction or
venue, or (ii) any defense claiming lack of jurisdiction or improper venue, in
any action brought in such courts.
19. Arbitration. Except as provided below in this Section 20, all disputes
arising out of Your employment or the cessation of Your employment, including,
but not limited to, claims arising under or relating to this Agreement, claims
for breach of contract, tort, employment
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discrimination, retaliation, or harassment, as well as any other statutory or
common law claims, at law or in equity, recognized under any federal, state, or
local law shall be exclusively resolved by final and binding arbitration under
the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1. Such claims shall be settled by
final and binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration
Association in accordance with its National Rules for the Resolution of
Employment Disputes, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Company will pay all
filing fees and arbitrator costs associated with such arbitration.
This arbitration provision shall not apply to any disputes or claims
relating to or arising out of unemployment, workers compensation, and/or the
restrictive covenants set forth in Section 7D of this Agreement, including, but
not limited to, any claims for equitable relief relating to such restrictive
covenants. Any claims relating to or arising out of Section 7D of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia and shall be brought in a
state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in Georgia. You consent to the
personal jurisdiction of the state and/or federal courts located in Georgia. You
waive (i) any objection to jurisdiction or venue, or (ii) any defense claiming
lack of jurisdiction or improper venue, in any action brought in such courts.
20. AFFIRMATION. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS
AGREEMENT, YOU KNOW AND UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND YOU HAVE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE COMPANY ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE HAD PRIOR TO
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.
LODGIAN, INC.
By: /s/ W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
President & Chief Executive
Officer
Date: February 7, 2005
XXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXX
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Date: February 7, 2005
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EXHIBIT A
DEFINITIONS
A. "Business" shall mean the business of owning and operating hotels
including, but not limited to, full-service hotels which have food and
beverage operations and meeting spaces.
B. "Change of Control" means (i) the sale, transfer, or other disposition of
eighty percent (80%) or more of the Company's assets, or (ii) a sale of
fifty percent (50%) or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the
Company in a single transaction or a series of related transactions.
C. "Confidential Information" means (a) information of the Company, to the
extent not considered a Trade Secret under applicable law, that (i)
relates to the business of the Company, (ii) possesses an element of value
to the Company, (iii) is not generally known to the Company's competitors,
and (iv) would damage the Company if disclosed, and (b) information of any
third party provided to the Company which the Company is obligated to
treat as confidential. Confidential Information includes, but is not
limited to, (i) future business plans, (ii) the composition, description,
schematic or design of products, future products or equipment of the
Company, (iii) communication systems, audio systems, system designs and
related documentation, (iv) advertising or marketing plans, (v)
information regarding independent contractors, employees, clients and
customers of the Company, and (vi) information concerning the Company's
financial structure and methods and procedures of operation. Confidential
Information shall not include any information that (i) is or becomes
generally available to the public other than as a result of an
unauthorized disclosure, (ii) has been independently developed and
disclosed by others without violating this Agreement or the legal rights
of any party, or (iii) otherwise enters the public domain through lawful
means.
D. "Contact" means any interaction between You and a Customer which (i) takes
place in an effort to establish, maintain, and/or further a business
relationship on behalf of the Company and (ii) occurs during the last year
of Your employment with the Company (or during Your employment if employed
less than a year).
E. "Customer" means any person or entity to whom the Company has sold its
products or services, or solicited to sell its products or services.
F. "Employee" means any person who (i) is employed by the Company at the time
Your employment with the Company ends, or (ii) is employed by the Company
during the Restricted Period.
G. "Good Reason" shall exist if (i) the Company, without Your written
consent, (A) takes any action which results in the material reduction of
Your then current duties or responsibilities, (B) reduces the benefits to
which You are entitled on the Effective Date, unless a similar reduction
is made for other executive employees, (C) commits a material breach of
this Agreement, or (D) requires You to relocate more than fifty (50) miles
from the location of the Company's home office on the Effective Date; (ii)
You provide written
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notice to the Company of such action and provide the Company with thirty
(30) days to remedy such action (the "Cure Period"), (iii) the Company
fails to remedy such action within the Cure Period, and (iv) You resign
within ten (10) days of the expiration of the Cure Period. Good Reason
shall not include any isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent action that
(i) is not taken in bad faith, and (ii) is remedied by the Company within
the Cure Period.
H. "Non-Competition Restricted Period" means the time period during Your
employment with the Company, and for six (6) months after Your employment
with the Company ends.
I. "Restricted Period" means the time period during Your employment with the
Company, and for two (2) years after Your employment with the Company
ends.
J. "Territory" means the fifteen (15) mile radius surrounding the Company's
corporate office at 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000.
K. "Trade Secrets" means information of the Company, and its licensors,
suppliers, clients and customers, without regard to form, including, but
not limited to, technical or nontechnical data, a formula, a pattern, a
compilation, a program, a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a
process, financial data, financial plans, product plans, or a list of
actual or potential customers or suppliers which is not commonly known by
or available to the public and which information (i) derives economic
value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not
being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can
obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) is the subject
of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its
secrecy.
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