EXHIBIT 8
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT dated as of March 11, 2002 by and between JAKKS
Pacific, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("JAKKS" or the "Company") with its
offices at 00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000 and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx,
an individual residing at 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
("Executive"). The parties to the Agreement are sometimes referred to
collectively as the "Parties" or simply as a "Party".
W I T N E S S E T H :
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive on the terms and
subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, and Executive desires so to be
employed;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants hereinafter set forth, the Company and Executive agree as follows:
1. Offices and Duties. The Company hereby employs Executive during the
Term (as hereinafter defined) to serve as Senior Vice President for Product
Development of the Company, responsible for product development for the Company
and its Affiliates, and to perform such executive and supervisory duties in
connection therewith on behalf of the Company as the Board of Directors of the
Company or a senior executive officer of the Company may from time to time
direct that are consistent with Executive's position. The Board of Directors of
the Company may elect or designate Executive to serve in such other corporate
offices of the Company or a subsidiary thereof as they may from time to time
deem necessary, proper or advisable, with the consent of the Executive which
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Executive hereby accepts such
employment and agrees that throughout the Term he shall faithfully, diligently
and to the best of his ability, in furtherance of the business of the Company,
perform the duties assigned to him or incidental to the offices assumed by him
pursuant to this Section. Executive shall devote all of his business time and
attention to the business and affairs of the Company. Executive shall at all
times be subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors of the
Company and observe and comply with such rules, regulations, policies and
practices as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time
reasonably establish in the exercise of their good faith discretion.
2. Term. The employment of Executive hereunder shall commence on the
date hereof and continue for a term ending on the first anniversary of the date
hereof (the "Term"), subject to earlier termination upon the terms and
conditions provided elsewhere herein. As used herein, "Termination Date" means
the last day of the Term.
3. Compensation.
(a) As compensation for his services hereunder, the Company
shall pay to Executive during the Term a base salary at the rate of $250,000.00
per annum (the "Base Salary"), such Base Salary to be paid in substantially
equal installments no less often than monthly in accordance with the Company's
normal payroll practices, subject to required tax withholding.
(b) In addition to his Base Salary provided herein, Executive
shall be entitled to participate, to the extent he is eligible under the terms
and conditions thereof, in any stock, stock option or
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other equity participation plan and any profit-sharing, pension, retirement,
insurance, medical service or other employee benefit plan and to receive any
other benefits or perquisites generally available to all executives of the
Company pursuant to any employment policy or practice, which may be in effect
from time to time during the Term. The Company shall be under no obligation
hereunder to institute or to continue any such employee benefit plan or
employment policy or practice.
(c) The Executive may receive such bonus as the Board of
Directors of the Company shall determine in its sole discretion.
(d) As used in this Agreement, the term "Affiliate" of a
Person means another Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by,
or under common control with, such Person; for this purpose, "control" of a
Person means the power (whether or not exercised) to direct the policies,
operations or activities of such Person by virtue of the ownership of, or right
to vote or direct the manner of voting of, securities of such Person, or
pursuant to agreement or law or otherwise.
(e) As used in this Agreement, the term "Person" includes
without limitation a natural person, corporation, joint stock company, limited
liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, governmental
authority, or any group of the foregoing acting in concert.
4. Expenses. The Company shall provide Executive with a monthly
automobile allowance equal to US$600.00 per month to reimburse Executive for the
cost of leasing or purchasing an automobile, use of the automobile for Company
business, and expenses of repair, maintenance, parking and other expenses
incidental to such use. The Company shall pay directly, or advance funds to
Executive or reimburse Executive for, all expenses reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the performance of his duties hereunder and the business of the
Company, upon the submission to the Company of itemized expense reports,
receipts or vouchers in accordance with its then customary policies and
practices.
5. Location. Except for travel and temporary accommodation reasonably
required to perform his services hereunder and travel as may reasonably be
requested by JAKKS to its principal office in the United States (currently in
Malibu, California, USA) or to its offices in New York, New York, USA, Executive
shall not be required to perform his services hereunder at any location other
than an office he maintains at the offices of Toymax International in Plainview,
New York, or, if requested to do so by the Company, at the offices of the
Company in New York, New York. The Parties acknowledge and agree that any
permanent relocation of the Executive's regular office to the Company's offices
in Malibu, California shall require the mutual agreement of the Company and the
Executive on such terms as the Parties agree to in connection therewith, but any
failure to agree on such relocation shall not affect the continued effectiveness
and enforceability of this Agreement, it being understood and agreed that
neither Party has made any commitment or representation to the other regarding
such relocation. JAKKS may request Executive's attendance at meetings at JAKKS'
offices in Malibu, California or New York, New York, or to participate in other
activities relating to the Company and its business in Malibu, California or New
York, New York, provided that the Executive shall not be required to stay at
such locations for more than seven (7) working days in any one (1) calendar
month.
6. Office. The Company shall provide Executive with suitable office
space, furnishings and equipment, secretarial and clerical services and such
other facilities and office support as are reasonably necessary for the
performance of his services hereunder.
7. Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid
vacation during each year of his employment hereunder, such vacation to be taken
at such time or times as shall be agreed upon by
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Executive and the Company. Vacation time shall be cumulative from year to year,
except that Executive shall not be entitled to take more than six (6) weeks
vacation during any consecutive 12-month period during the Term.
8. Key-Man Insurance. JAKKS shall have the right from time to time to
purchase, increase, modify or terminate insurance policies on the life of
Executive for the benefit of JAKKS in such amounts as JAKKS may determine in its
sole discretion. In connection therewith, Executive shall, at such time or times
and at such place or places as JAKKS may reasonably direct, submit himself to
such physical examinations and execute and deliver such documents as JAKKS may
deem necessary or appropriate.
9. Confidential Information.
(a) Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the
benefit of the Company all confidential or proprietary information relating to
or concerned with the Company and its Affiliates or their products, prospective
products, operations, business and affairs ("Confidential Information"), and he
shall not, at any time hereafter, use or disclose any Confidential Information
to any person other than to the Company or its designees or except as may
otherwise be required in connection with the business and affairs of the
Company, and in furtherance of the foregoing Executive agrees that:
(i) Executive will receive, maintain and hold
Confidential Information in strict confidence and will use the same level of
care in safeguarding it that he uses with his own confidential material of a
similar nature;
(ii) Executive will take all such steps as may be
reasonably necessary to prevent the disclosure of Confidential Information; and
(iii) Executive will not utilize Confidential
Information without first having obtained the Company's consent to such
utilization.
(b) The commitments set forth in paragraph 9(a) shall not
extend to any portion of Confidential Information:
(i) that is generally available to the public;
(ii) that was known to the Executive prior to
disclosure (excluding information regarding the Company or its Affiliates which
would otherwise be Confidential Information that was disclosed to Executive
during the period of his employment by the Company or its predecessors or their
respective Affiliates (including Toymax International Inc. and its Affiliates)
or that was disclosed to Executive in connection with his acting as a director
of Toymax International Inc. or its predecessors or their respective Affiliates,
and excluding any other non-public information concerning products under
development by or for the Company or its Affiliates (including Toymax
International Inc. and its Affiliates);
(iii) that was not acquired, directly or indirectly
and/or in any manner, from the Company or any of its Affiliates (including
Toymax International Inc. and its Affiliates) and which Executive lawfully had
in his possession prior to the date of this Agreement;
(iv) that, hereafter, through no act or omission on
the part of the Executive, becomes information generally available to the
public.
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(c) At any time upon written request by the Company (i) the
Confidential Information, including any copies, shall be returned to the
Company, and (ii) all documents, drawings, specifications, computer software,
and any other material whatsoever in the possession of the Executive that
relates to such Confidential Information, including all copies and/or any other
form of reproduction and/or description thereof made by Executive shall, at the
Company's option, be returned to the Company or destroyed.
(d) In the event that Executive becomes legally compelled (by
deposition, interrogatory, request of documents, subpoena, civil investigative
demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Confidential Information, the
Executive shall provide the Company with prompt prior written notice of such
requirement so that it may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy
and/or waive compliance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event that such
protective order or other remedy is not obtained, or the Company waives
compliance with the provisions hereof, the Executive agrees to furnish only such
portion of the Confidential Information which is legally required to be
furnished.
10. Intellectual Property.
(a) Any patent, claim of copyright, trademark, trade name,
brand name, service xxxx, logo, symbol, trade dress or design, or representation
or expression of any thereof, or registration or application for registration
thereof, or any other improvement, development or discovery, invention, trade
secret, process, system, technical information, know-how, proprietary right or
intellectual property developed, conceived of, invented or otherwise produced by
Executive, alone or with others in connection with the design, manufacture and
marketing of the products of the Company and its Affiliates, or conceived,
developed, created or made by Executive, alone or with others, during the Term
and applicable to the business of the Company or its Affiliates, whether or not
patentable or registrable (collectively referred to as "Trade Rights") shall
become the sole and exclusive property of the Company.
(b) Executive shall disclose all Trade Rights promptly and
completely to the Company and shall, during the Term or thereafter, (i) execute
all documents requested by the Company for vesting in the Company the entire
right, title and interest in and to the same, (ii) execute all documents
requested by the Company for filing and procuring such applications for patents,
trademarks, service marks or copyrights as the Company, in its sole discretion,
may desire to prosecute, and (iii) give the Company all assistance it may
reasonably require, including the giving of testimony in any Proceeding (as
hereinafter defined), in other to obtain, maintain and protect the Company's
right therein and thereto; provided that the Company shall bear the entire cost
and expense of such assistance, including without limitation paying the
Executive reasonable compensation for any time or effort expended by him in
connection with such assistance after the Termination Date. In furtherance of
the foregoing, Executive acknowledges and agrees that for all purposes of U.S.
and foreign Copyright Laws, the Trade Rights and any inventions, discoveries,
enhancements or improvements to any tangible or intangible property, resulting
from the services performed by Executive for the Company or its Affiliates (for
the purposes of this paragraph all of the foregoing is collectively referred to
as the "Work"), and any and all elements thereof, shall be deemed to constitute
"works for hire" belonging to the Company within the meaning of Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Code, Section 101, and any comparable provisions of the law of any other
jurisdiction, such that all right, title and interest therein, including,
without limitation, copyrights and exclusive rights under copyright, vest in the
Company. Executive hereby transfers and conveys to the Company the exclusive,
world-wide, royalty-free, paid-up right to exploit, use, develop, license, and
sell products and services relating to or derived from the Work; and the
exclusive right, title and interest in and to all inventions, improvements,
patent applications and letters patent, "know-how", and all
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intellectual property and other rights, tangible or intangible, which relate to
or are based upon or derived from the Work; and to all information, documents,
and specifications that relate to the Work. If the Work or any of the elements
thereof is deemed not to be "works for hire" within the meaning of Xxxxx 00,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Code, Section 101, then Executive hereby assigns and transfers to
the Company all right, title and interest in and to the Work, including rights
throughout the world for good and valuable consideration, receipt of which
Executive hereby acknowledges. For the sole and exclusive purpose of perfecting
and documenting such limited assignment and transfer, Executive hereby grants to
the Company an irrevocable power of attorney.
11. Restrictive Covenants.
(a) During the Term, and unless his employment terminates
pursuant to Section 14, for a further period of one (1) year after the
Termination Date, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly through any
Affiliate or other intermediary (a) manufacture, produce, sell, market or
otherwise promote any Competitive Product or serve as a partner, member,
manager, director, officer or employee of, or consultant or advisor to, or in
any manner own, control, manage, operate or otherwise participate or invest in,
or be connected with any Person that engages in the marketing or sale of
Competitive Products, or authorize the use of its name in connection therewith,
or (b) for himself or on behalf of any other Person, employ, engage or retain
any Person who at any time during the preceding 12-month period shall have been
an employee of the Company or its Affiliates, or contact any supplier, customer
or employee of the Company or its Affiliates for the purpose of soliciting or
diverting any such supplier, customer or employee from the Company or its
Affiliates. The foregoing provisions notwithstanding, Executive may invest his
funds in securities of an issuer if the securities of such issuer are listed for
trading on a registered securities exchange or actively traded in the
over-the-counter market and Executive's and his Affiliates' aggregate holdings
therein represent less than 1% of the total number of shares or principal amount
of the securities of such issuer then outstanding. Executive acknowledges that
the provisions of this Section 11, and the period of time, lack of specific
geographic area given the international nature of the business of the Company
and its Affiliates and the scope and type of restrictions on his activities set
forth herein, are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Company and
are an essential inducement to JAKKS entering into this Agreement and acquiring
shares of common stock of Toymax International Inc. from Executive and the other
shareholders selling their shares to JAKKS pursuant to a Stock Purchase
Agreement dated February 10, 2002.
(b) As used herein, the term "Competitive Product" means any
product or service that is substantially similar to a product or service
developed, marketed, sold by the Company or its Affiliates during the period of
Executive's employment by the Company.
(c) Executive acknowledges that the type of services the
Company will require from him are of an intellectual and technical character
which will require the disclosure of confidential and proprietary information of
the Company to him and may result in the creation by him of information which is
confidential and proprietary to the Company, and accordingly that the
restrictive covenants contained herein are necessary in order to protect and
maintain the business and assets and goodwill of the Company. Executive also
acknowledges that the type of services that he has performed for Toymax
International and its Affiliates as an employee of Toymax International were of
an intellectual and technical character and required the disclosure of
confidential and proprietary information of Toymax International and its
Affiliates to him and resulted in the creation by him of information which is
confidential and proprietary to Toymax International and its Affiliates, and
accordingly that the restrictive covenants contained herein are necessary in
order to protect and maintain the business and assets and goodwill of Toymax
International whose shares are being purchased by JAKKS. Executive acknowledges
that the business of the Company and its Affiliates, including Toymax
International and its
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Affiliates, extends beyond the geographic area of the State of New York and
accordingly, it is reasonable that the restrictive covenants set forth above are
not limited by specific geographic area but by the location of the customers of
the Company and its Affiliates. Executive acknowledges that the remedy at law
for any breach of this agreement by him will be inadequate and that,
accordingly, the Company shall, in addition to all other available remedies
(including without limitation seeking such damages as it can show it has
sustained by reason of such breach), be entitled to injunctive relief without
being required to post bond or other security and without having to prove the
inadequacy of the available remedies at law.
12. Termination Upon Death or Disability. Executive's employment
hereunder shall terminate immediately upon his death. In the event that
Executive is unable to perform his duties hereunder by reason of any disability
or incapacity (due to any physical or mental injury, illness or defect) for an
aggregate of 90 days in any consecutive 12-month period, the Company shall have
the right to terminate Executive's employment hereunder within 60 days after the
90th day of his disability or incapacity by giving Executive notice to such
effect at least 30 days prior to the date of termination set forth in such
notice, and on such date such employment shall terminate.
13. Termination by the Company with or without Cause.
(a) In addition to any other rights or remedies provided by
law or in this Agreement, the Company may terminate Executive's employment for
"cause" under this Agreement if:
(i) Executive is convicted of, or enters a plea of
guilty or nolo contendere (which plea is not withdrawn prior to its approval by
the court) to a felony or other crime, a criminal offense involving the acts
identified in paragraph (ii) below; or
(ii) the Company's Board of Directors determines,
after due inquiry, that Executive has:
(A) committed fraud against, or embezzled or
misappropriated funds or other assets of, the Company (or any subsidiary
thereof);
(B) violated, or caused the Company (or any
subsidiary thereof) or any officer, employee or other agent thereof, or any
other Person to violate, any material law, regulation or ordinance, which
violation has or would reasonably be expected to have a significant detrimental
effect on the Company or its Affiliates, or any material rule, regulation,
policy or practice established by the Board of Directors of the Company;
(C) on a persistent or recurring basis, (A) failed
properly to perform his duties hereunder or (B) acted in a manner detrimental
to, or adverse to the interests of, either the Company or its Affiliates.
(b) The Company may effect such termination for cause under
paragraph (a) of this Section by giving Executive notice to such effect, setting
forth in reasonable detail the factual basis for such termination, at least
thirty (30) days prior to the date of termination set forth therein; provided
however that Executive may avoid such termination if Executive, prior to the
date of termination set forth in such notice, cures or explains to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Company's Board of Directors the factual basis
for termination set forth therein.
14. Termination by Executive for Good Reason. In addition to any other
rights or remedies provided by law or in this Agreement, Executive may terminate
his employment hereunder if (a) the
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Company violates, or fails to perform or satisfy any material covenant,
condition or obligation required to be performed or satisfied by it hereunder
or, (b) as a result of any action or failure to act by the Company, there is a
material change in the nature or scope of the duties, obligations, rights or
powers of Executive's employment, or (c) relocation without Executive's consent
from the location set forth in Section 5 hereof, by giving the Company notice to
such effect, setting forth in reasonable detail the factual basis for such
termination, at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of termination set
forth therein; provided however that the Company may avoid such termination if
it, prior to the date of termination set forth in such notice, cures or explains
to the reasonable satisfaction of Executive the factual basis for termination
set forth therein. The termination by Executive of his employment pursuant to
this Section 14 shall not constitute or be deemed to constitute for any purpose
a "voluntary resignation" of his employment.
15. Compensation upon Termination.
(a) Upon termination of Executive's employment hereunder, he
shall be entitled to receive, in any case, any compensation or other amount due
to him pursuant to Section 3 or 4 in respect of his employment prior to the
Termination Date, and from and after the Termination Date, except as otherwise
provided in Section 15(b), the Company shall have no further obligation to
Executive hereunder. Any amount payable to Executive pursuant to this Section
15(a) upon termination of his employment hereunder shall be paid promptly, and
in any event within 10 days, after the Termination Date.
(b) If Executive terminates his employment hereunder for Good
Reason pursuant to Section 14 or if the Company terminates his employment
hereunder other than upon his disability or incapacity pursuant to Section 12
and other than for cause pursuant to Section 13(a) through (c), the Company
shall make to Executive payments at the times and in the amounts provided herein
for the payment of his Base Salary during the period, if any, beginning on the
day after the Termination Date and ending on the first anniversary of the date
of this Agreement.
(c) If Executive shall die prior to Executive's receipt of all
payments required under this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive's
designated beneficiary or, if there is no designated beneficiary, his estate all
such amounts that would have otherwise been payable to Executive under this
Agreement as of the date of his death.
16. Other Consequences of Termination.
(a) Upon the termination of his employment (for whatever
reason and howsoever arising) the Executive shall:
(i) at the request of the Board of Directors of the
Company immediately resign without claim for compensation from any office held
by him in the Company or any Affiliate (but without prejudice to any claim for
damages for breach of this Agreement or for any compensation which otherwise may
be due and owing or which may thereafter come due pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise) and in the event of his failure to do so the Company is hereby
irrevocably authorised to appoint some person in his name and on his behalf to
sign and deliver such resignations to the Board; and
(ii) immediately repay all outstanding debts or loans
due to the Company or any Affiliate.
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17. Limitation of Authority. Except as otherwise expressly provided, no
provision hereof shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party hereto to
act on behalf of, obligate or bind the other party hereto.
18. Notices. Any Notice or demand required or permitted to be given or
made hereunder to or upon any Party hereto shall be deemed to have been duly
given or made for all purposes if (a) in writing and sent by (i) messenger or an
overnight courier service against receipt, or (ii) certified or registered mail,
postage paid, return receipt requested, or (b) sent by telegram, telecopy
(confirmed orally), telex or similar electronic means, provided that a written
copy thereof is sent on the same day by postage-paid first-class mail, to such
Party at the following address:
to JAKKS: 00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: President
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to: Feder, Kaszovitz, Isaacson,
Weber, Xxxxx, Bass & Rhine LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
to Executive: 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax: 000-000-0000
with a copy to: Ettelman & Xxxxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
or such other address as any Party hereto may at any time, or from time to time,
direct by Notice given to the other Parties in accordance with this Section.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the date of giving or making of
any such Notice or demand shall be, in the case of clause (a) (i), the date of
the receipt; in the case of clause (a) (ii), three business days after such
Notice or demand is sent; and, in the case of clause (b), the business day next
following the date such Notice or demand is sent.
19. Amendment. Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment of
this Agreement shall be valid or effective, unless in writing and signed by or
on behalf of the parties hereto.
20. Waiver. No course of dealing or omission or delay on the part of
either party hereto in asserting or exercising any right hereunder shall
constitute or operate as a waiver of any such right. No waiver of any provision
hereof shall be effective, unless in writing and signed by or on behalf of the
party to be charged therewith. No waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver or
waiver in respect of any other or subsequent breach or default, unless expressly
so stated in writing.
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21. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted
and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without
regard to principles of choice of law or conflict of laws. Each Party to this
Agreement submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York,
located in New York and Nassau County, New York, United States of America, and
to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern and
Eastern Districts of Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America with
respect to any matter arising out of this Agreement, waives any objection to
venue in the Counties of New York or Nassau, State of New York, or such
District, and agrees that service of any summons, complaint, Notice or other
process relating to such proceeding may be effected in the manner provided by
Section 18 hereof.
22. Severability. The provisions hereof are severable and in the event
that any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or
unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining
provisions hereof shall not be affected, but shall, subject to the discretion of
such court, remain in full force and effect, and any invalid or unenforceable
provision shall be deemed, without further action on the part of the parties
hereto, amended and limited to the extent necessary to render the same valid and
enforceable.
23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original and which together shall constitute one and
the same agreement.
24. Further Assurances. Each Party hereto shall promptly execute,
deliver, file or record such agreements, instruments, certificates and other
documents and perform such other and further acts as any other Party hereto may
reasonably request or as may otherwise be reasonably necessary or proper, to
carry out the provisions of this Agreement.
25. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. This Agreement is not intended, and shall not be deemed, to create or
confer any right or interest for the benefit of any Person not a Party hereto.
26. Assignment. Executive's obligations under this Agreement may not be
assigned without the prior written consent of the Company, and any purported
assignment without such consent shall be void and without effect.
27. Titles and Captions. The titles and captions of the Articles and
Sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and do not in
any way define or interpret the intent of the parties or modify or otherwise
affect any of the provisions hereof.
28. Remedies. In the event of any actual or prospective breach or
default under this Agreement by either Party hereto, the other Party shall be
entitled to equitable relief, including remedies in the nature of rescission,
injunction and specific performance. All remedies hereunder are cumulative and
not exclusive, and nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit or limit either
party from pursuing any other remedy or relief available at law or in equity for
such actual or prospective breach or default, including the recovery of damages.
29. Assignment. This Agreement, and each right, interest and obligation
hereunder, may not be assigned by either party hereto without the prior written
consent of the other party hereto, and any purported assignment without such
consent shall be void and without effect, except that this Agreement shall be
assigned to, and assumed by, any Person with or into which the Company merges or
consolidates,
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or which acquires all or substantially all of its assets, or which otherwise
succeeds to and continues the Company's business substantially as an entirety.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or required by law, Executive
shall not have any power of anticipation, assignment or alienation of any
payments required to be made to him hereunder, and no other Person may acquire
any right or interest in any thereof by reason of any purported sale, assignment
or other disposition thereof, whether voluntary or involuntary, any claim in a
bankruptcy or other insolvency Proceeding against Executive, or any other
ruling, judgment, order, writ or decree.
30. Grammatical Conventions. Whenever the context so requires, each
pronoun or verb used herein shall be construed in the singular or the plural
sense and each capitalized term defined herein and each pronoun used herein
shall be construed in the masculine, feminine or neuter sense.
31. References. The terms "herein," "hereto," "hereof," "hereby," and
"hereunder," and other terms of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a
whole, and not to any Section or other part hereof.
32. No Presumptions. Each Party hereto acknowledges that it has had an
opportunity to consult with counsel and has participated in the preparation of
this Agreement. No Party hereto is entitled to any presumption with respect to
the interpretation of any provision hereof or the resolution of any alleged
ambiguity herein based on any claim that the other Party hereto drafted or
controlled the drafting of this Agreement.
33. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement of
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements, commitments or arrangements relating thereto.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.
JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.
By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXXX
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------
Title: EVP/CFO
--------------------------
/s/ XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
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