EXHIBIT 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT by and between Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc. (the
"Company"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Transocean Sedco Forex Inc. (the
"Parent") and Xxxxxx X. Xxxx (the "Executive"), dated effective as of 17
September, 2000 (the "Effective Date").
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive have previously entered into an
Employment Agreement dated effective May 14, 1999 (the "Prior Employment
Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, the Prior Employment Agreement became operative effective December
31, 1999 as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan
of Merger among Schlumberger Limited, Sedco Forex Holdings Limited and the
Parent dated as of July 12, 1999 (the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, this Agreement replaces the Prior Employment Agreement, which
Prior Employment Agreement is superseded and revoked as of the execution and
effectiveness of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in
its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the
Company subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period
commencing on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2003 (the
"Employment Period").
2. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) Duties. During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of
vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive
agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours
to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to
discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use
the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and
efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall
not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on
corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures,
fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C)
manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not
significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's
responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this
Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that, to the extent that
any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the
Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of
activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective
Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of
the Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
(b) Compensation.
(i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive
an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a
rate at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary
paid or payable, including any base salary which has been earned but
deferred, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies
in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month
in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the
Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed no more than 12 months after the
last salary increase awarded to the Executive prior to the Effective
Date and thereafter at least annually. Any increase in Annual Base
Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the
Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be
reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as
utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so
increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies"
shall include any company controlled by, controlling or under common
control with the Company.
(ii) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all incentive,
savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs
applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices,
policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive
opportunities (measured with respect to both regular and special
incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any, that such distinction
is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit
opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than
the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated
companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and
programs as in effect at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date or if more favorable to the
Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective
Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(iii) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive
and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible
for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare
benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the
Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation,
medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life,
accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to
the extent applicable generally to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such
plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with
benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most
favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect
for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
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preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive,
those provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(iv) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses
incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable
policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated
companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable
to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(v) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to fringe benefits, including, without limitation, tax and
financial planning services, payment of club dues, and, if applicable,
use of an automobile and payment of related expenses, in accordance
with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the
Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at
any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective
Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at
any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies.
(vi) Office and Support Staff. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with
furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal
secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable
of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its
affiliated companies at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive,
as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vii) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans,
policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated
companies as in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-
day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time
thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated companies.
3. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) Death or Disability. The Executive's employment shall terminate
automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If
the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive
has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of
Disability set forth below),
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it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section
10(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's
employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company
shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by
the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the
30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-
time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive's
duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business
days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is
determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company
or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal
representative.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the
Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall
mean:
(i) The willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform
substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one of its
affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due
to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial
performance is delivered to the Executive by the Parent Board (as
defined herein) or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company which
specifically identifies the manner in which the Parent Board or Chief
Executive Officer believes that the Executive has not substantially
performed the Executive's duties; or
(ii) The willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or gross
misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the
Parent.
(iii) For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part
of the Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without
reasonable belief that the Executive's action or omission was in the
best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon
authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Parent
Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or a
senior officer of the Company or Parent or based upon the advice of
counsel for the Company or Parent shall be conclusively presumed to be
done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the
best interests of the Company. The cessation of employment of the
Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there
shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly
adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the
entire membership of the Parent Board at a meeting of the Parent Board
called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided
to the Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity, together
with counsel, to be heard before the Parent Board), finding that, in
the good faith opinion of the Parent Board, the Executive is guilty of
the
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conduct described in subparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying
the particulars thereof in detail. As used in this Section, "Parent
Board" means the board of directors of the Parent, except that in the
event that the Parent no longer owns 50% of the outstanding voting
securities of the Company, then Parent Board shall mean the Board of
Directors of the Company.
(c) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause, shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in
accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon,
(ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts
and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the
Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of
such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more
than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the
Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance
which contributes to a showing of Cause shall not waive any right of the
Company hereunder or preclude the Company from asserting such fact or
circumstance in enforcing the Company's rights hereunder.
(d) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the Executive's
employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, the date of receipt of
the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case
may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company
other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the
date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination, (iii)
if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or
Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the
Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be and (iv) if
the Executive voluntarily terminates employment, the Date of Termination
shall be the actual date of termination of Executive's employment.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION.
(a) Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability or Voluntary Termination prior to
July 1, 2002. If, during the Employment Period, (i) the Company and its
affiliated companies shall terminate the Executive's employment other than
for Cause or Disability, or (ii) the Executive shall voluntarily terminate
employment for any reason, other than Disability, after June 30, 2002, and
after giving 30 days' prior written notice of such termination to the
Company:
(i) The Company shall pay to the Executive, within 30 days after the Date
of Termination, a lump-sum cash payment of $2,142,756, together with
interest on this amount accrued from January 1, 2001 through the date
of payment at 120% of the short-term Applicable Federal Rate for
January, 2001, compounded semi-annually, as published by the Internal
Revenue
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Service for purposes of Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code");
(ii) Should the Executive move his residence in order to pursue other
business opportunities within three years of the Date of Termination
(or until his normal retirement date, whichever is sooner), the
Company shall reimburse him for any expenses incurred in that
relocation (including taxes payable on the reimbursement) which are
not reimbursed by another employer; provided, however, that the
Executive shall be entitled to such reimbursement with respect to only
one such relocation, and the Executive shall be entitled to specify
the relocation for which reimbursement hereunder is to be made.
Benefits under this provision will include the assistance, at no cost
to the Executive, in selling his home and other assistance which was
customarily provided to executives transferred within the Company or
between the Company and its affiliated companies prior to the
Effective Date;
(iii) For three years after the Executive's Date of Termination, or such
longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan,
program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to
the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those
which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans,
programs, practices and policies described in Section 2(b)(iii) of
this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated
or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any
time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company
and its affiliated companies and their families, provided, however,
that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is
eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another
employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits
described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other
plan during such applicable period of eligibility. For purposes of
determining eligibility (but not the time of commencement of benefits)
of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans,
practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to
have remained employed until three years after the Date of Termination
and to have retired on the last day of such period;
(iv) The Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred, provide the
Executive with outplacement services the scope and provider of which
shall be selected by the Executive in his sole discretion; and
(v) To the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company shall
timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits
required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to
receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or
agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies (such other
amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Other
Benefits").
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(b) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
Executive's death during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay the
Executive's legal representatives a lump-sum cash payment in an amount
determined under Paragraph 4(a)(i) of this Agreement and will also provide
the Other Benefits. With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the
term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 4(b) shall include, without
limitation, and the Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries shall be
entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits
provided by the Company and affiliated companies to the estates and
beneficiaries of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated
companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to
death benefits, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer executives
and their beneficiaries at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive's
estate and/or the Executive's beneficiaries, as in effect on the date of
the Executive's death with respect to other peer executives of the Company
and its affiliated companies and their beneficiaries.
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay
the Executive a lump-sum cash payment in an amount determined under
Paragraph 4(a)(i) of this Agreement and will also provide the Other
Benefits. With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term Other
Benefits as utilized in this Section 4(c) shall include, and the Executive
shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive,
disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those
generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled
executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs,
practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect
generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any
time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or,
if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in
effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families.
(d) Voluntary Termination Prior to July 1, 2002. If the Executive voluntarily
terminates employment prior to July 1, 2002 for any reason other than
Disability, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to
the Executive, other than for the timely payment or provision of Other
Benefits.
(e) Cause. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause at any
time during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to
pay to the Executive (x) his Annual Base Salary through the Date of
Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the
Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case to the extent theretofore
unpaid.
5. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit
the Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy
or practice provided by the
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Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may
qualify, nor, subject to Section 10(f), shall anything herein limit or otherwise
affect such rights as the Executive may have under any contract or agreement
with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested
benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan,
policy, practice or program of, or any contract or agreement with the Company or
any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination
shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program, or
contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.
6. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided
for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall
not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other
claim, right or action which the Company or its affiliated companies may have
against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to
seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the
amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement
and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other
employment. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full extent permitted
by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as
a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the
Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under,
any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof
(including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any
payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed
payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of
the Code.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and except as
set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or
distribution by the Company, and any affiliated company to or for the
benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but
determined without regard to any additional payments required under this
Section 7) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the
Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with
any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to
as the "Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an
additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after
payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties
imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without limitation, any
income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto)
and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an
amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the
Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a), if
it shall be determined that the Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up
Payment, but that the Payments do not exceed 110% of the greatest amount
(the "Reduced Amount") that could be paid to the Executive such that the
receipt of Payments would not give rise to any Excise
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Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive and the
Payments, in the aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(c), all determinations required to
be made under this Section 7, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment
is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, and the assumptions to
be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by Ernst &
Young, L.L.P. or such other certified public accounting firm as may be
designated by the Executive (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide
detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive
within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that
there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the
Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne
solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this
Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within five days
of the receipt of the Accounting Firm's determination. Any determination by
the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As
a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code
at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder,
it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the
Company should have been made ("Underpayment") consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company
exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 7(c) and the Executive thereafter
is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall
determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such
Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of
the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by
the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as
soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive
is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the
nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be
paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the
30-day period following the date on which it gives such notice to the
Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of
taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the
Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires
to contest such claim, the Executive shall:
(i) Give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company
relating to such claim;
(ii) Take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the
Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with
respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the
Company;
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(iii) Cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to
contest such claim; and
(iv) Permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such
claim;
(v) Provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all
costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties)
incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold
the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or
income tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto)
imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and
expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this
Section 7(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in
connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or
forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and
may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax
claimed and xxx for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible
manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a
determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of
initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the
Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company
directs the Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the
Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on
an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive
harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax
(including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with
respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with
respect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of
the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the
taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested
amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested
amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be
limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be
payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or
contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal
Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company
pursuant to Section 7(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive any
refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the
Company's complying with the requirements of Section 7(c)) promptly pay to
the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or
credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by
the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section
7(c), a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to
any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the
Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior
to the expiration of 30 days after such determination, then
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such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and
the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount
of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
8. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity
for the benefit of the Company and all affiliated companies, all secret or
confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of
its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been
obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or
any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public
knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the
Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's
employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written
consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process,
communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other
than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted
violation of the provisions of this Section 8 constitute a basis for deferring
or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this
Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written
consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company and its respective successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all
of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree
to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that
the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken
place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as
hereinbefore defined and any respective successor to its business and/or
assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT
OF LAWS. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions
hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended
or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties
hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
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(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
If to the Executive:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
0000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company:
Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc.
0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other
in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be
effective when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such
Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld
pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict compliance
with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the
Executive or the Company may have hereunder, shall not be deemed to be a
waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this
Agreement.
(f) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, from and after the
Effective Date, this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof including, without
limitation, the Prior Employment Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and
the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf,
all as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXX
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
TRANSOCEAN OFFSHORE DEEPWATER DRILLING INC.
By: /s/ J. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
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