AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.3(a)
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of January 1, 2002 (the "Employment Agreement"), by and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc., a. Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ("▇▇▇▇▇▇").
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has been employed by the Company pursuant to an employment agreement dated May 7, 1998 (the "Prior Agreement") as modified as of February 22, 1999;
WHEREAS, the Company and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ wish to supersede the Prior Agreement with this Employment Agreement (as amended and restated);
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Premiere Radio Networks, Inc. ("Premiere") are parties to an agreement dated April 4, 2001 (the "Radio Agreement"), under which Premiere engaged ▇▇▇▇▇▇ to host a syndicated financial radio program; and
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has assigned to the Company certain rights under the Radio Agreement and the Company assumed certain obligations under the Radio Agreement, which assignment and assumptions the parties have agreed to continue in effect in accordance with the terms of this Employment Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Duties.
(a) The Company hereby appoints ▇▇▇▇▇▇, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby accepts the appointment, as an outside columnist for the Company, This Employment Agreement shall be effective from the date hereof and shall expire on February 21, 2003, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 4 hereof (the "Term"). During the Term, except during any week when ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is or) vacation as set forth in Section 2(c) hereof, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ will author no fewer than twelve (12) articles per week intended for publication in ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇'s publications. The Company agrees that during the Term, it shall include an appropriate reference to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (e.g., the current reference to "▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Latest") on the home page of the web sites for which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ writes. In addition, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ agrees to write for such other products as the parties mutually agree during the Term, including, without limitation, the product known as "Action Alerts PLUS". During the Term, the Company agrees to provide an assistant for ▇▇▇▇▇▇, who shall be an employee of the Company, and who shall be subject to all laws, rules, regulations and policies, including ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇'s Investment Policy (the "Investment Policy"), as are applicable to employees of the Company, and shall be located at the Company's offices. For purposes of the Investment Policy, ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ assistant shall be subject to the trading restrictions applicable to "Editorial Staffers," notwithstanding the fact that such assistant shall perform only duties associated with the designation of "Business Staffer" under the Policy.
(b) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ agrees to perform faithfully his duties as an outside columnist pursuant to this Employment Agreement to the best of his abilities. In connection with the preparation of articles during the Term, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall communicate solely with the Company's Editor-in-Chief or his or her designee. During the Term, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ must comply with all laws applicable to the Company's employees, as well as, to the extent provided herein, the Investment Policy. For purposes of the Investment Policy, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall be deemed an "Outside Columnist" as that term is defined in such Policy, and shall be subject only to the restrictions in the Policy which pertain to Outside Columnists. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ agrees that he shall be obligated to comply with any provisions of the Investment Policy which pertain to Outside Columnists, including those pertaining to disclosure, as they may be implemented or amended from time to time throughout the Term, provided however that if the Investment Policy and/or disclosure provisions implemented or amended by the Company during the Term differ from the Investment Policy in any way which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ believes, in his sole discretion, will have a materially adverse effect on ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ outside business activities, then ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall be entitled to voluntarily resign without Good Reason as set forth in Section 4(a) hereof, and such resignation shall not be considered a breach of this Agreement.
(c) Subject to ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ personal and professional availability, and consistent with past practice, during the Term ▇▇▇▇▇▇ also agrees to provide other reasonable services upon reasonable advance notice from the Company's Editor-in-Chief, including, without limitation, participation in the Company's interactive chat rooms on its web site and those on any other web-sites established by the Company acting alone or together with a business partner, and attendance at charitable events or other events at which the Company deems ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ attendance beneficial. The above activities may include streaming audio to the Company's web site, and any other web-sites established by the Company acting alone or together with a business partner. The Company expressly acknowledges, however, that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall not be required to perform any of the services set forth in this Section 2(c) if performance of such services would interfere with any of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ outside activities.
(d) The Company agrees that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall render his services to the Company hereunder on a non-exclusive basis, provided however that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ covenants that during the Term he shall not be under or subject to any contractual restriction that is inconsistent with the performance of his duties hereunder. In this regard, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company acknowledges and agrees that, notwithstanding the services ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall provide hereunder, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (a) shall be entitled to engage, and will continue to engage, in other journalistic, writing and media endeavors, including, without limitation, writing for magazines, television and radio appearances, the writing of books, and, subject to the restriction in Section 5(a) hereof, various other on-line media projects, provided that in the event ▇▇▇▇▇▇ does accept such engagements, he shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that the byline for any articles he authors, and the comparable on air indication for nonprint media, refer to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as a Market Commentator for the Company; and (b) shall be entitled to engage, and will continue to engage, in extensive investing and trading in securities, rights and options relating thereto and contracts in stock indexes, foreign currencies and financial instruments (collectively, "Securities Activities"). Further, the Company acknowledges and agrees that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall be entitled to engage, and will continue to engage, in Securities Activities on behalf of other persons or entities (including ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and members of his family) and that ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ wife may also engage in extensive Securities Activities. (All such Securities Activities that ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ wife, ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ affiliates or ▇▇▇▇▇▇ may engage in from time to time are collectively referred to herein as the "Relevant Securities Activities.") In connection with the foregoing, the Company further acknowledges and agrees that:
(i) The Relevant Securities Activities will often involve ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ beneficial ownership in and/or trading of securities or other financial instruments that are the subject of, or otherwise mentioned, referred to or discussed in, articles written by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ for the Company, and that the Relevant Securities Activities involving such securities or other financial instruments may occur at any time before or after the publication date of an issue of any article on ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ in which such securities or other financial instruments are mentioned, referred to or otherwise discuss by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in such article.
(ii) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall not have access to articles written for the Company by other writers, or information regarding such articles, prior to publication, except for articles that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is writing or projects in which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is involved. Furthermore, the Company will endeavor to keep ▇▇▇▇▇▇ unaware, in any and all of his capacities, of the final content or publication schedule of articles, columns or other writings scheduled for publication on ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ that cover or discuss publicly traded securities other than the articles or columns or other written materials prepared by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ for publication in ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇.
(iii) Notwithstanding any policy of the Company to the contrary, the Relevant Securities Activities, insofar as they are conducted in a manner that does not violate the express provisions of the Investment Policy and applicable law, will not be deemed to in any way violate or breach any other procedures, policies or practices of the Company now or hereafter in effect with respect to ▇▇▇▇▇▇, including, but not limited to, any other conflict of interest rules or securities trading policies or other rules or procedures that otherwise may apply to writers for the Company regarding their right to engage in the trading of securities or other Relevant Securities Activities, and further, that any such policies shall not be applicable to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in connection with his services hereunder.
(iv) Provided ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is not in material breach of any of his obligations hereunder, including any obligation under applicable law, and without limiting the express provisions of this Agreement, the Company irrevocably waives and releases ▇▇▇▇▇▇, his affiliates and members, of his immediate family from any duty, fiduciary or otherwise, that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ or any of them may owe, or be deemed to owe, the Company that may in any way prohibit or limit the Relevant Securities Activities, insofar as they involve the trading and/or ownership of securities or other financial instruments that are the subject of or are otherwise referred to or discussed in the articles prepared by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ pursuant to this Agreement, and acknowledges and agrees that such Relevant Securities Activities do not, and will not, constitute a misappropriation of the Company's property or a breach of any fiduciary or other duty ▇▇▇▇▇▇ may owe the Company hereunder.
(v) The Company warrants and agrees that each of the articles prepared by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and published by the Company shall provide appropriate disclosure relating to the Relevant Securities Activities, as set forth in the Investment Policy. The Company further agrees that it shall not, without ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ written consent, disclose any information regarding securities positions provided by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ to the Company pursuant to the Investment Policy to anyone other than the Company's senior management and senior editorial staff or its legal advisers, on a confidential, "need to know" basis, or as required by any court of competent jurisdiction or other federal or state governmental or regulatory authority.
(e) The Company agrees, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to defend, indemnify and hold harmless ▇▇▇▇▇▇ against any and all loss, damage, liability and expense, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees, disbursements, court costs, and any amounts paid in settlement and the costs and expenses of enforcing this Section of this Agreement, which may be suffered or incurred by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in connection with the provision of his services hereunder, including, without limitation, any claims, litigations, disputes, actions, investigations or other matters relating to any securities laws or regulations, or the violation or alleged violation thereof (the "Securities Actions"), provided that such loss, damage, liability and expense (i) arises out of or in connection with the performance by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of his obligations under this Agreement and (ii) is not the result of any breach by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of his obligations hereunder, and provided further that with respect to any Securities Actions, the Company shall be under no obligation to defend, indemnify or hold harmless ▇▇▇▇▇▇ if ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has not acted with a reasonable, good faith belief that his actions were in no way violative of any securities laws or regulations. With respect thereto, the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a nolo contendere plea or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ did not act with a reasonable, good faith belief that his actions were in no way violative of any securities laws or regulations. Further, to the extent that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Securities Action, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be defended, indemnified and held harmless by the Company as required herein. Expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees, disbursements and court costs) incurred by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in defending any Securities Action shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Securities Action upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company pursuant hereto.
Section 2. Compensation.
(a) Salary. During the Term, as compensation for his services hereunder, the Company shall pay to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ a salary of Three Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($360,000) per annum (the "Annual Salary"), payable in accordance with the Company's standard payroll policies. All applicable withholding taxes shall be deducted from such payments.
(b) Stock Options. On May 7, 1998 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ was granted a nonqualified option to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 ("Common Stock") at an exercise price of $.011 per share (the "Initial Option"), which grant shall remain in effect in accordance with the terms of the Nonqualified Employee Stock Option Agreement Between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc. and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Option Agreement"), as well as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Plan"). In addition, as of February 22, 1999, the Company granted to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ an additional nonqualified option in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement and the Plan, which grant shall remain in effect.
(c) Vacation: During each year of the Term, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation, provided that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall not take more than two (2) weeks of vacation consecutively.
(d) Benefits: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall not be eligible to participate in any benefit plans provided by the Company.
Section 3. Expense Reimbursement.
During the Term, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall have the right to reimbursement, upon proper accounting, of reasonable expenses and disbursements incurred by him in the course of his duties hereunder.
Section 4. Assignment and Assumption.
(a) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby assigns to the Company, and the Company hereby accepts assignment, of the following:
(i) ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ right, title and interest in and to all compensation payable to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ under Sections 4, 5(b), 6 and 9 of the Radio Agreement; and
(ii) All rights of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ under Section 4(d) of the Radio Agreement to inspect and audit the records of Premiere.
(b) This assignment shall continue until the date the Radio Agreement expires or is terminated, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 5 hereof.
(c) The Company hereby assumes and agrees to carry out at the request of ▇▇▇▇▇▇, all of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ rights and obligations in connection with inspection and audit of the records of Premiere under Section 4(d) of the Radio Agreement.
(d) In addition to the indemnification provided in Section 1(e), The Company agrees, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to defend, indemnify and hold harmless ▇▇▇▇▇▇ against any Loss, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be suffered or incurred by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in connection with the provision of his services as Artist under the Radio Agreement, to the extent ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is not indemnified by Premiere pursuant to the Radio Agreement; provided that the Company shall be under no obligation to defend, indemnify or hold harmless ▇▇▇▇▇▇ with respect to any Loss resulting from actions by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ that are intentionally (x) slanderous, libelous or defamatory in any manner, (y) violative of any copyright, trade secret, trademark, right of privacy, right of publicity or any other proprietary right of any third party, or (z) violative of any law, statute, rule, regulation, ordinance or order. In any case in which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is entitled to indemnification by Premiere under the Radio Agreement, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall use his reasonable efforts to obtain such indemnification, and shall keep the Company informed of his efforts in so doing; however, ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ inability to obtain indemnification from Premiere shall not effect his right to indemnification hereunder. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding for which indemnification is sought, provided that any failure to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability or obligation it may have to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ except to the extent of any material prejudice to the Company resulting from such failure. If ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is unable to obtain indemnification from Premiere under the Radio Agreement, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall, upon the Company's reasonable request, assign to the Company his right to be indemnified by Premiere. If any such Proceeding is brought against ▇▇▇▇▇▇, the Company will be entitled to participate therein and to assume and control the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Company. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall be obligated to cooperate reasonably with the Company, at the expense of the Company, in connection with such defense and with the compromise or settlement of any such Proceeding. Neither ▇▇▇▇▇▇ nor the Company shall settle or dispose of any Proceeding (other than a settlement or disposition that involves solely a payment of money damages by the Company and results in a release of all liability) without the prior written consent of the other, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 5. Employment Termination.
(a) At any time during the Term and except as otherwise provided in Sections 5(b) and 5(c) hereof, the Company shall only have the right to terminate this Employment Agreement and ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ employment with the Company hereunder, and to give ▇▇▇▇▇▇ notice of such termination as of a date not earlier than seven (7) days from such notice, because of (i) ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of his obligations under this Employment Agreement, (ii) dishonesty or misappropriation by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ relating to the Company or any of its funds, properties, or other assets, (iii) inexcusable repeated or prolonged absence from work by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (other that as a result of, or in connection with, a disability), (iv) any intentional or reckless unauthorized disclosure by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of confidential or proprietary information of the Company which is reasonably likely to result in material harm to the Company, (v) a conviction of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (including entry of a guilty or nolo contendere plea) of a felony involving fraud, dishonesty, moral turpitude, or involving a violation of federal or state securities laws, (vi) the entry of an order, judgment or decree, of any court of competent jurisdiction or any federal or state authority, enjoining ▇▇▇▇▇▇ from violating the federal securities laws, or suspending or otherwise limiting ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ right to act as an Investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, (vii) a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or a finding by the Securities and Exchange Commission that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has violated any federal or state securities law, or (viii) the failure by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ to perform faithfully his duties hereunder or other breach by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of this Employment Agreement and such failure or breach is not cured, to the extent cure is possible, by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ within thirty days after written notice thereof from the Company to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (each individually, and all collectively, "Cause"). If this Employment Agreement and ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ employment with the Company hereunder is terminated for Cause, or if ▇▇▇▇▇▇ voluntarily resigns from the Company without Good Reason, during the Term, the Company shall pay ▇▇▇▇▇▇ all earned but unpaid portions of the Annual Salary through the date of termination, and following any such termination, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall not be entitled to receive any other payment, except as provided for hereunder with respect to any period after such termination.
(b) This Employment Agreement and ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ employment with the Company hereunder may also be terminated by the Company without Cause, or by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in the event of a material breach of this Agreement by the Company, which is not cured, to the extent cure is possible, within thirty days after written notice thereof from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ to the Company (such breach constituting "Good Reason"). In the event that ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ employment with the Company shall terminate during the Term on account of termination by the Company without Cause, or by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ with Good Reason, then the Company shall pay ▇▇▇▇▇▇ all earned but unpaid portions of the Annual Salary through the date of termination, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall not be entitled to receive any other payment, except as provided in the Option Agreement, with respect to any period after such termination.
(c) This Employment Agreement and ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ employment with the Company hereunder shall terminate immediately and automatically on the death or Disability (as defined below) of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or other shutdown of the business then conducted by the Company. If this Employment Agreement and ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ employment with the Company hereunder is terminated on account of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ death or Disability, or because of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or other shutdown of the business then conducted by the Company, during the Term, then the Company shall pay ▇▇▇▇▇▇ all earned but unpaid portions of the Annual Salary through the date of termination, and following any such termination, neither ▇▇▇▇▇▇, nor his estate, conservator or designated beneficiary, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive any other payment, except as provided in the Option Agreement, with respect to any period after such termination.
(d) Upon the termination of this Employment Agreement pursuant to Section 5 hereof, the assignment and assumption set forth in Section 4 shall automatically terminate and all of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ right, title and interest in and to all compensation payable to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ under the Radio Agreement and all other rights under the Radio Agreement shall revert to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ without notice. In addition, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ may revoke the assignment and assumption set forth in Section 4 and all of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ right, title and interest in and to all compensation payable to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ under the Radio Agreement and all other rights under the Radio Agreement shall revert to ▇▇▇▇▇▇:
i. Upon sixty (60) days written notice to the Company if a Change of Control of the Company shall have occurred. For purposes of this Section, a "Change of Control" of the Company means (x) a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation or other entity where (1) stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not beneficially own following such merger or consolidation shares entitling such stockholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all stockholders of the surviving corporation would be entitled in the election of directors, (2) the members of the Board of Directors of the Company, immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, do not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, constitute a majority of the board of directors of the surviving corporation, or (3) where ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is no longer a member of the Board of Directors; or (y) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or
ii. Immediately following written notice from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in the event the Company becomes or is declared insolvent or bankrupt, is the subject of any proceeding related to its liquidation or insolvency (whether voluntary or involuntary) which is not dismissed within thirty (30) calendar days, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors.
(e) Upon the termination of this Employment Agreement pursuant to Section 5 hereof, the Company shall have no further obligations under this Employment Agreement; provided however that Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 hereof shall survive and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.
Section 6. Covenant Not to Compete.
(a) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby agrees that, during the period from the Commencement Date through the end of the Tenn, he will not (i) author articles or columns for any other on-line financial publication that competes directly with the business of the Company as it is then constituted without first notifying the Company and securing its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and (ii) will not act as a lender to, or stockholder, director, principal, owner, or partner of, any other start-up on-line business that competes directly with the business of the Company as it is then constituted. The Company understands and acknowledges that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is a party to agreements pursuant to which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ writes articles for certain print publications, including, without limitation, New York Magazine (the "Other Publications"), which may subsequently publish ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ articles on-line on their respective web-sites. The Company agrees that publication of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ articles in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence shall not constitute a breach of this Section 6.
(b) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby agrees that for a period of eighteen (18) months following the cessation of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ employment with the Company hereunder, he will not author articles or columns for any other on-line financial publication that competes directly with the Company without first notifying the Company and securing its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(c) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby agrees that, during the period from the Commencement Date through the end of the first eighteen (18) months after the cessation of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ employment with the Company hereunder, he will not solicit for employment, in any business enterprise or activity, any person who was employed by the Company during the six months prior to the cessation of his employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall be permitted to solicit for employment ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Goia and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ free of the restrictions set forth in this Section 6(c).
(d) The parties acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Section 6 are a reasonable and necessary protection of the immediate interests of the Company, and any violation of these restrictions would cause substantial injury to the Company and that the Company would not have entered into this Employment Agreement, without receiving the additional consideration offered by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in binding himself to any of these restrictions. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of any of these restrictions, the Company shall be entitled to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for an injunction restraining ▇▇▇▇▇▇ from such breach or threatened breach; provided however that the right to apply for an injunction shall not be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for such breach or threatened breach.
Section 7. Confidential Ownership of Articles and Columns.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Employment Agreement, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall, and shall cause his attorneys, accountants and agents (collectively, "Agents") to agree to, keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, any and all confidential information relating to the Company or otherwise not available to the general public, provided that such confidential information shall not include any information that (a) has become generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ or his Agents, or (b) was available to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ or any of his Agents on a non-confidential basis from a third party having no obligation of confidentiality to the Company, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall not, and shall cause his Agents not to, disclose such confidential information to any Person other than the Company or its Agents, except as may be required by law (in which event ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall so notify the other party hereto as promptly as practicable).
(b) All articles or columns that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ authors for the Company and which are in fact published shall be owned by and belong exclusively to the Company, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall execute and deliver to the Company, without additional compensation, such instruments as the Company may require from time to time to evidence its ownership of any such articles or columns.
Section 8. No Third Party Beneficiary.
This Employment Agreement is not intended and shall not be construed to confer any rights or remedies hereunder upon any Person, other than the parties hereto or their permitted assigns. "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust or other unincorporated organization or entity.
Section 9. Withholding of Taxes.
Any payments to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ pursuant to the terms of this Employment Agreement shall be reduced by such amounts, if any, as are required to be withheld with respect thereto under all present and future federal, state, and local tax laws and regulations and other laws and regulations.
Section 10. Notices.
Unless otherwise provided herein, any notice, exercise of rights or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by overnight delivery service such as Federal Express, telecopy (or like transmission) or personal delivery against receipt or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), to the party to whom it is given at such party's address set forth below such party's name on the signature page or such other address as such party may hereafter specify by notice to the other party hereto, with copies to the following:
| For the Company: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ |
| For ▇▇▇▇▇▇: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇, Weiss, Rifkind, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1285 Avenue of the Americas ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
Any notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been given as of the date so personally delivered or transmitted by telecopy or like transmission or on the next business day when sent by overnight delivery service.
Section 11. Amendment.
This Employment Agreement may be amended only by a written agreement signed by the parties hereto.
Section 12. Binding Effect.
This Employment Agreement is not assignable by ▇▇▇▇▇▇. Any assignment in violation of this Agreement shall be null and void ab initio. None of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ rights under this Employment Agreement shall be subject to any encumbrances or the claims of ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ creditors. This Employment Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor organization which shall succeed to substantially all of the business and property of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or otherwise, including by operation of law.
Section 13. Governing Law.
This Employment Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions.
Section 14. Severability.
If any provision of this Employment Agreement including those contained in Sections 6 and 7 hereof, shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be affected or impaired thereby. Moreover, if any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement, including those contained in Sections 6 and 7 hereof, shall be held to be excessively broad as to duration, activity or subject, such provisions shall be construed by limiting and reducing them so as to be enforceable to the maximum went allowable by applicable law. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto waives any Provision of law that renders any provision of this Employment Agreement invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any way.
Section 15. Execution in Counterparts.
This Employment Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 16. Entire Agreement.
This Employment Agreement sets forth the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, including the Prior Agreement, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 17. Titles and Headings.
Titles and headings to Sections herein are for purposes of reference only, and shall in no way limit, define or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Employment Agreement.
Section 18. No Cross-Default.
No default by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ under this Employment Agreement shall automatically constitute a default under any other agreement with the Company.
Section 19. Duty to Mitigate.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall have no duty to mitigate any damages payable by the Company to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereunder.
Section 20. Consent to Jurisdiction.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York State or Federal court sitting in the City and County of New York in any action or proceeding to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, and waives the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Chief Executive Officer
Address: ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Address: ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇