AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made and entered
into as of this 22nd day of February, 2006, by and between RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd. (the "Company"), and Neill X. Xxxxxx ("Employee").
W I T N E S S E T H :
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WHEREAS, the Company and Employee are presently parties to the Prior
Employment Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into an amended and restated
employment agreement embodying the terms of Employee's continued employment
(this "Agreement"), and Employee desires to enter into this Agreement and to
accept such continued employment, subject to the terms and provisions of this
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee (the
"Compensation Committee") of the Company's Board of Directors have reviewed the
terms and conditions of the Agreement and have determined that entering into the
Agreement is advisable and in the best interests of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants
contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are mutually acknowledged, the Company and Employee hereby
agree as follows:
Section 1. DEFINITIONS.
(a) "Accrued Obligations" shall mean (i) all accrued but unpaid Base
Salary through the date of termination of Employee's employment; (ii) any unpaid
or unreimbursed expenses incurred in accordance with Company policy, including
amounts due under Section 7 hereof, to the extent incurred prior to termination
of employment; (iii) any benefits provided under the Company's employee benefit
plans upon a termination of employment, in accordance with the terms therein,
including rights in respect of Awards granted under the Equity Plans; and (iv)
rights to indemnification pursuant to Section 12 below.
(b) "Affiliate" shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.
(c) "Annual Bonus" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(b)
below.
(d) "Awards" shall mean any stock options, restricted stock or other
stock-based awards granted to Employee under the Equity Plans on or after the
Commencement Date.
(e) "Base Salary" shall mean the salary provided for in Section 4(a)
or any increased salary granted to Employee pursuant to Section 4(a) below.
(f) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(g) "Cause" shall mean (i) material act or acts of willful misconduct
by Employee in connection with Employee's employment duties; (ii) Employee's
willful failure (except where due to physical or mental incapacity) or refusal
to perform in any material respect his duties or responsibilities under this
Agreement; (iii) misappropriation by Employee of the assets or business
opportunities of the Company or its Affiliates; (iv) embezzlement or fraud
committed by Employee, at his direction, or with his prior personal knowledge;
(v) Employee's conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, the
commission of a criminal act that would constitute a felony in the United States
of America; or (vi) Employee's breach of any material provision of this
Agreement.
(h) "Code" shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended.
(i) "Commencement Date" shall mean the date first written above.
(j) "Company" except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
(k) "Competitive Activities" shall mean any business activities in
which the Company or any of its Affiliates are engaged (or have committed plans
to engage) during the Term of Employment, or, following termination of
Employee's employment hereunder, were engaged in (or had committed plans to
engage in) at the time of such termination of employment.
(l) "Confidential Information" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 9(a) below.
(m) "Developments" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(d)
below.
(n) "Disability" shall mean any physical or mental disability or
infirmity that has prevented the performance of Employee's duties for a period
of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive calendar days. Any question as to the
existence, extent or potentiality of Employee's Disability upon which Employee
and the Company cannot agree shall be determined by a qualified, independent
physician selected by the Company and approved by Employee (which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld). The determination of any such physician shall be
final and conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.
(o) "Employee" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
(p) "Equity Plans" shall means the stock option and incentive plans
adopted and maintained by the Company from time to time.
(q) "Exchange Act" shall mean the United Stares Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.
(r) "Good Reason" shall mean, without Employee's consent, (i) an
adverse change in Employee's employment title; (ii) a material diminution in
Employee's employment duties, responsibilities or authority, or the assignment
to Employee of duties that are materially inconsistent with his position; (iii)
any reduction in Base Salary or target Annual Bonus
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opportunity; (iv) a relocation of Employee's principal place of employment to a
location outside of Bermuda; or (v) any breach by the Company of any material
provision of this Agreement.
(s) "Interfering Activities" shall mean (i) encouraging, soliciting,
or inducing, or in any manner attempting to encourage, solicit, or induce, any
Person employed by, as agent of, or a service provider to, the Company or any
Affiliate thereof to terminate (or, in the case of an agent or service provider,
reduce) such Person's employment, agency or service, as the case may be, with
the Company or such Affiliate; (ii) hiring any Person who was employed by, an
agent of, or a service provider to, the Company or any Affiliate thereof within
the six (6) month period prior to the date of such hiring; or (iii) encouraging,
soliciting or inducing, or in any manner attempting to encourage, solicit or
induce, any customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of the
Company or any Affiliate thereof to cease doing business with or reduce the
amount of business conducted with (including by providing similar services or
products to any such Person) the Company or such Affiliate, or in any way
interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or
business relation and the Company or such subsidiary.
(t) "Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12 below.
(u) "Non-Extension Notice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2 below.
(v) "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,
trust (charitable or non-charitable), unincorporated organization or other form
of business entity.
(w) "Prior Employment Agreement" shall mean the employment agreement
between the Company and Employee, dated June 21, 2005.
(x) "Restricted Area" means (i) Bermuda, (ii) any State of the United
States of America, and (iii) any other jurisdiction in which the Company or its
Affiliates engage (or have committed plans to engage) in business during the
Term of Employment, or, following termination of Employee's employment, were
engaged in (or had committed plans to engage in) at the time of such termination
of employment.
(y) "Restricted Period" shall mean the period commencing on the
Commencement Date and ending on the eighteen (18) month anniversary of
Employee's termination of employment hereunder for any reason.
(z) "Severance Term" shall mean the eighteen (18) month period
following the date of Employee's termination by the Company without Cause or by
Employee with Good Reason.
(aa) "Term of Employment" shall mean the period specified in Section 2
below.
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Section 2. ACCEPTANCE AND TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.
The Company agrees to employ Employee and Employee agrees to serve the
Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Unless earlier terminated
pursuant to Section 8 hereof, the Term of Employment shall commence on the
Commencement Date and shall continue until the fourth (4th) anniversary of the
Commencement Date; provided, however, that the Term of Employment shall be
extended automatically, without further action by either the Company or
Employee, by one (1) additional year first on the fourth (4th) anniversary of
the Commencement Date, and on each subsequent anniversary of the Commencement
Date thereafter, unless, not less than ninety (90) days prior to the end of the
Term of Employment (including any prior extension thereof), either the Company
or Employee shall have notified the other in writing of its intention not to
further extend the Term of Employment (a "Non-Extension Notice").
Section 3. POSITION, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; PLACE OF
PERFORMANCE.
(a) During the Term of Employment, Employee shall be employed and
serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (together with such other
position or positions consistent with Employee's titles as the Board shall
specify from time to time). As the Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
Employee shall have all of the duties customarily associated with the position
of a company's highest ranking executive officer and shall report directly to
the Board. Subject to the foregoing, Employee also agrees to serve as an officer
and/or director of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, in
each case without additional compensation.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
Employee shall devote his full business time, attention, and efforts to the
performance of his duties under this Agreement and shall not engage in any other
business or occupation during the Term of Employment, including, without
limitation, any activity that (x) conflicts with the interests of the Company or
its subsidiaries, (y) interferes with the proper and efficient performance of
his duties for the Company, or (z) interferes with the exercise of his judgment
in the Company's best interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein
shall preclude Employee from (i) serving, with the prior written consent of the
Board, as a member of the board of directors or advisory boards (or their
equivalents in the case of a non-corporate entity) of non-competing businesses
and charitable organizations, (ii) engaging in charitable activities and
community affairs, and (iii) managing his personal investments and affairs;
provided, however, that the activities set out in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)
shall be limited by Employee so as not to interfere, individually or in the
aggregate, with the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder.
(c) Employee's principal place of employment shall be at the Company's
principal executive offices in Hamilton, Bermuda, although Employee understands
and agrees that he may be required to travel from time to time for business
reasons.
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Section 4. COMPENSATION. During the Term of Employment, Employee shall
be entitled to the following compensation:
(a) Base Salary. Employee shall be paid an annualized Base Salary,
payable in accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Company, of not
less than $750,000, subject to increase, if any, as may be approved in writing
by the Board (or the Compensation Committee thereof), but not to decrease from
the then current Base Salary.
(b) Annual Bonus. Employee shall be eligible for an annual cash
incentive bonus award determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board in
respect of each fiscal year during the Term of Employment (the "Annual Bonus").
The target Annual Bonus for each fiscal year shall be 150% of Base Salary. The
actual Annual Bonus payable in respect of each fiscal year shall be based upon
the level of achievement of performance objectives for such fiscal year, as
determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and communicated to
Employee. The Annual Bonus shall be paid to Employee at the same time as annual
bonuses are generally payable to other senior executives of the Company, but in
no event later than two and one-half (2-1/2) months following the end of the
fiscal year to which such Annual Bonus relates.
(c) Equity Plans. Employee shall be eligible to participate in the
Equity Plans and may receive Awards, as determined by the Compensation Committee
of the Board from time to time, and subject to the terms and conditions of the
Equity Plans and any Award agreement between the Company and Employee evidencing
such Awards. The target Award for each fiscal year shall be valued at 300% of
Base Salary.
Section 5. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND PERQUISITES.
(a) Employee Benefits. During the Term of Employment, Employee shall
be entitled to participate in health, insurance, retirement, and other benefits
generally provided to other senior executives of the Company from time to time,
including use of the Company's airplane in accordance with such policies as may
be established by the Compensation Committee of the Board from time to time.
Employee shall also be entitled to the same number of holidays, vacation and
sick days as are generally allowed to senior executives of the Company in
accordance with the Company policy in effect from time to time.
(b) Perquisites.
(i) General. During the Term of Employment, the Company shall
provide Employee with customary perquisites for housing, automobile and
other expenses, subject to applicable policies of the Company as approved
from time to time by the Compensation Committee of the Board.
(ii) Gross-Up. To the extent the perquisites under Section
5(b)(i) are considered income and increase Employee's income tax liability,
the Company shall pay Employee a tax reimbursement payment in an amount
such that, after deduction for all income taxes payable with respect to
such tax reimbursement benefit, the amount retained by Employee will be
equal to the amount of such increased income tax liability.
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Section 6. "KEY-MAN" INSURANCE.
At any time during the Term of Employment, the Company shall have the
right to insure the life of Employee for the sole benefit of the Company, in
such amounts, and with such terms, as it may determine. All premiums payable
thereon shall be the obligation of the Company. Employee shall have no interest
in any such policy, but agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company in
taking out such insurance by submitting to physical examinations, supplying all
information reasonably required by the insurance company, and executing all
necessary documents, provided that no financial obligation or liability is
imposed on Employee by any such documents.
Section 7. REIMBURSEMENT OF BUSINESS EXPENSES.
Employee is authorized to incur reasonable business expenses in
carrying out his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement and the
Company shall promptly reimburse him for all such reasonable business expenses
incurred in connection with carrying out the business of the Company, subject to
documentation in accordance with the Company's policy, as in effect from time to
time.
Section 8. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) General. The Term of Employment shall terminate upon the earliest
to occur of (i) Employee's death, (ii) a termination by reason of a Disability,
(iii) a termination by the Company with or without Cause, (iv) a termination by
Employee with or without Good Reason, or (v) upon the close of business on the
last day of the Term of Employment (as provided in Section 2 above). Upon any
termination of Employee's employment for any reason, except as may otherwise be
requested by the Board in writing and agreed upon in writing by Employee,
Employee shall resign from any and all directorships, committee memberships or
any other positions Employee holds with the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(b) Termination due to Death or Disability. Employee's employment
shall terminate automatically upon his death. The Company may terminate
Employee's employment immediately upon the occurrence of a Disability, such
termination to be effective upon Employee's receipt of written notice of such
termination. In the event Employee's employment is terminated due to his death
or Disability, Employee or his estate or his beneficiaries, as the case may be,
shall be entitled to:
(i) The Accrued Obligations;
(ii) Any unpaid Annual Bonus in respect to any completed fiscal
year which has ended prior to the date of such termination, such amount to
be paid at the same time it would otherwise be paid to Employee had no such
termination occurred;
(iii) A pro rata Annual Bonus (determined using the target Annual
Bonus for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs) based on the
number of days elapsed from the commencement of such fiscal year through
and including the date of such termination, such amount to be paid within
five (5) business days of such termination; and
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(iv) Vesting, as of the date of termination, of all Awards
Except as set forth in this Section 8(b), following Employee's termination by
reason of his death or Disability, Employee shall have no further rights to any
compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.
(c) Termination by the Company for Cause.
(i) A termination for Cause shall not take effect unless the
provisions of this subsection (i) are complied with. Employee shall be
given not less than fifteen (15) days written notice by the Board of the
intention to terminate his employment for Cause, such notice to state in
detail the particular act or acts or failure or failures to act that
constitute the grounds on which the proposed termination for Cause is
based. Employee shall have fifteen (15) days after the date that such
written notice has been given to Employee in which to cure such act or acts
or failure or failures to act, to the extent such cure is possible. If he
fails to cure such act or acts or failure or failures to act, the
termination shall be effective on the date immediately following the
expiration of the fifteen (15) day notice period. If cure is not possible,
the termination shall be effective on the date of receipt of such notice by
Employee.
(ii) In the event the Company terminates Employee's employment
for Cause, he shall be entitled only to the Accrued Obligations. Following
such termination of Employee's employment for Cause, except as set forth in
this Section 8(c)(ii), Employee shall have no further rights to any
compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.
(d) Termination by the Company without Cause. The Company may
terminate Employee's employment at any time without Cause, effective upon
Employee's receipt of written notice of such termination. In the event
Employee's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than due
to death or Disability), Employee shall be entitled to:
(i) The Accrued Obligations;
(ii) Any unpaid Annual Bonus in respect to any completed fiscal
year which has ended prior to the date of such termination, such amount to
be paid at the same time it would otherwise be paid to Employee had no such
termination occurred;
(iii) Within ten (10) business days of such termination, a lump
sum amount equal to 150% of the sum of Employee's then current Base Salary
and Annual Bonus (determined using the target Annual Bonus for the fiscal
year in which such termination occurs);
(iv) Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period, and subject to
Employees compliance during such period with the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, a lump sum amount equal to 50% of the sum of Employee's
then current Base Salary and Annual Bonus (determined using the target
Annual Bonus for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs);
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(v) Continuation of the health benefits provided to Employee and
his covered dependants under the Company health plans as of the date of
such termination at the same cost applicable to active employees until the
earlier of: (A) the expiration of the Severance Term, or (B) the date
Employee commences employment with any Person; and
(vi) Vesting, as of the date of such termination, of all Awards.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the payments and benefits described in
subsections (ii) through (v) above shall immediately cease, and the Company
shall have no further obligations to Employee with respect thereto, in the event
that Employee breaches any provision of Section 9 hereof.
Following such termination of Employee's employment by the Company
without Cause, except as set forth in this Section 8(d), Employee shall have no
further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.
(e) Termination by Employee with Good Reason. Employee may terminate
his employment with Good Reason by providing the Company fifteen (15) days'
written notice setting forth in reasonable specificity the event that
constitutes Good Reason, which written notice, to be effective, must be provided
to the Company within sixty (60) days of the occurrence of such event. During
such fifteen (15) day notice period, the Company shall have a cure right (if
curable), and if not cured within such period, Employee's termination will be
effective upon the date immediately following the expiration of the fifteen (15)
day notice period, and Employee shall be entitled to the same payments and
benefits as provided in Section 8(d) above for a termination without Cause, it
being agreed that Employee's right to any such payments and benefits shall be
subject to the same terms and conditions as described in Section 8(d) above.
Following such termination of Employee's employment by Employee with Good
Reason, except as set forth in this Section 8(e), Employee shall have no further
rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.
(f) Termination by Employee without Good Reason. Employee may
terminate his employment without Good Reason by providing the Company written
notice of such termination. In the event of a termination of employment by
Employee under this Section 8(f), Employee shall be entitled only to the Accrued
Obligations. In the event of termination of Employee's employment under this
Section 8(f), the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, by written
notice accelerate such date of termination and still have it treated as a
termination by Employee without Good Reason. Following such termination of
Employee's employment by Employee without Good Reason, except as set forth in
this Section 8(f), Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or
any other benefits under this Agreement, and Employee shall have no further
obligations to the Company, except as set forth in Sections 8(j), 9, 10, 12(c)
and 13 hereof.
(g) Expiration of the Term of Employment following Non-Extension
Notice by the Company. Upon the delivery of a Non-Extension Notice by the
Company to Employee, Employee's employment shall terminate upon the close of
business of the last day of the Term of Employment. Upon such expiration of the
Term of Employment, Employee shall be entitled to
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the same payments and benefits as provided in Section 8(d) above for a
termination without Cause, it being agreed that Employee's right to any such
payments and benefits shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as
described in Section 8(d) above. Following such termination of Employee's
employment upon expiration of the Term of Employment, except as set forth in
this Section 8(g), Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or
any other benefits under this Agreement.
(h) Expiration of the Term of Employment following Non-Extension
Notice by Employee. Upon the delivery of a Non-Extension Notice by Employee to
the Company, Employee's employment shall terminate upon the close of business of
the last day of the Term of Employment. Upon such expiration of the Term of
Employment, Employee shall be entitled to:
(i) The Accrued Obligations; and
(ii) Any unpaid Annual Bonus in respect to any completed fiscal
year which has ended prior to the date of such termination, such amount to
be paid at the same time it would otherwise be paid to Employee had no such
termination occurred.
Following such termination of Employee's employment upon expiration of the Term
of Employment, except as set forth in this Section 8(h), Employee shall have no
further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.
(i) Release. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the
Company may require that, prior to payment of any amount or provision of any
benefit pursuant to subsections (d), (e) or (g) of this Section 8 (other than
the Accrued Obligations), Employee and the Company shall have executed mutual
general releases in the form as is reasonably agreed to by the Company and
Employee, and any waiting periods contained in such release shall have expired.
(j) Post-Termination Cooperation. Following any termination of
Employee's employment for any reason, Employee shall reasonably cooperate with
the Company to assist with existing or future investigations, proceedings,
litigations or examinations involving the Holdings, the Company or any of their
respective affiliates. For each day, or part thereof, that Employee provides
assistance to the Company as contemplated hereunder, the Company shall pay
Employee an amount equal to (x) divided by (y), where (x) equals the sum of
Employee's annual base salary and target cash bonus as in effect on the date of
Employee's termination of employment, and (y) equals 200. In addition, upon
presentment of satisfactory documentation, the Company will reimburse Employee
for reasonable out-of-pocket travel, lodging and other incidental expenses he
incurs in providing such assistance. Employee shall not be required to travel to
Bermuda to provide any assistance contemplated hereunder, but, if requested by
the Company, shall make reasonable good faith efforts to travel to such
locations as the Company may reasonably request.
Section 9. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. Employee acknowledges and agrees
that (A) the agreements and covenants contained in this Section 9 are (i)
reasonable and valid in geographical and temporal scope and in all other
respects, and (ii) essential to protect the value of the Company's business and
assets, and (B) by his employment with the Company,
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Employee will obtain knowledge, contacts, know-how, training and experience and
there is a substantial probability that such knowledge, know-how, contacts,
training and experience could be used to the substantial advantage of a
competitor of the Company and to the Company's substantial detriment. For
purposes of this Section 9, references to the Company shall be deemed to include
its Affiliates.
(a) Confidential Information. Employee agrees that he will not, at any
time during or after the Term of Employment, make use of or divulge to any other
person, firm or corporation any trade or business secret, process, method or
means, or any other confidential information concerning the business or policies
of the Company or any of its divisions, subsidiaries or affiliates, which he may
have learned in connection with his employment hereunder. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "trade or business secret, process, method or means, or any other
confidential information" shall mean any information that Employee knows to be
confidential or proprietary. Employee's obligation under this Section 9(a) shall
not apply to any information which (i) is known publicly; (ii) is in the public
domain or hereafter enters the public domain without the fault of Employee;
(iii) is known to Employee prior to his receipt of such information from the
Company, as evidenced by written records of Executive or (iv) is hereafter
disclosed to Employee by a third party not under an obligation of confidence to
the Company. Employee agrees not to remove from the premises of the Company,
except as an employee of the Company in pursuit of the business of the Company
or except as specifically permitted in writing by the Board, any document or
other object containing or reflecting any such confidential information.
Employee recognizes that all such documents and objects, whether developed by
him or by someone else, will be the sole exclusive property of the Company. Upon
termination of his employment hereunder, Employee shall forthwith deliver to the
Company all such confidential information, including without limitation all
lists of customers, correspondence, accounts, records and any other documents or
property made or held by him or under his control in relation to the business or
affairs of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, and no copy of any
such confidential information shall be retained by him.
(b) Non-Competition. Employee covenants and agrees that during the
Restricted Period, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, individually or
jointly, own any interest in, operate, join, control or participate as a
partner, director, principal, officer, or agent of, enter into the employment
of, act as a consultant to, or perform any services for any Person (other than
the Company), that engages in any Competitive Activities within the Restricted
Area. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 9(b) shall
not prevent Employee from acquiring as an investment securities representing not
more than three percent (3%) of the outstanding voting securities of any
publicly-held corporation or from being a passive investor in any mutual fund,
hedge fund, private equity fund or similar pooled account so long as Employee's
interest therein is less than three percent (3%) and he has no role in selecting
or managing investments thereof.
(c) Non-Interference. During the Restricted Period, Employee shall
not, directly or indirectly, for his own account or for the account of any other
Person, engage in Interfering Activities.
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(d) Return of Documents. In the event of the termination of Employee's
employment for any reason, Employee shall deliver to the Company all of (i) the
property of the Company, and (ii) the documents and data of any nature and in
whatever medium of the Company, and he shall not take with him any such
property, documents or data or any reproduction thereof, or any documents
containing or pertaining to any Confidential Information.
(e) Works for Hire. Employee agrees that the Company shall own all
right, title and interest throughout the world in and to any and all inventions,
original works of authorship, developments, concepts, know-how, improvements or
trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registerable under copyright or
similar laws, which Employee may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce
to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice during
the Term of Employment, whether or not during regular working hours, provided
they either (i) relate at the time of conception or development to the actual or
demonstrably proposed business or research and development activities of the
Company; (ii) result from or relate to any work performed for the Company; or
(iii) are developed through the use of Confidential Information and/or Company
resources or in consultation with Company personnel (collectively referred to as
"Developments"). Employee hereby assigns all right, title and interest in and to
any and all of these Developments to the Company. Employee agrees to assist the
Company, at the Company's expense (but for no other consideration of any kind),
to further evidence, record and perfect such assignments, and to perfect,
obtain, maintain, enforce, and defend any rights specified to be so owned or
assigned. Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and
its agents as attorneys-in-fact to act for and on Employee's behalf to execute
and file any document and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the
purposes of the foregoing with the same legal force and effect as if executed by
Employee. In addition, and not in contravention of any of the foregoing,
Employee acknowledges that all original works of authorship which are made by
him (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of employment and which are
protectable by copyright are "works made for hire," as that term is defined in
the United States Copyright Act (17 USC Sec. 101). To the extent allowed by law,
this includes all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and
any other rights that may be known as or referred to as "moral rights." To the
extent Employee retains any such moral rights under applicable law, Employee
hereby waives such moral rights and consents to any action consistent with the
terms of this Agreement with respect to such moral rights, in each case, to the
full extent of such applicable law. Employee will confirm any such waivers and
consents from time to time as requested by the Company.
(f) Blue Pencil. If any court of competent jurisdiction shall at any
time deem the duration or the geographic scope of any of the provisions of this
Section 9 unenforceable, the other provisions of this Section 9 shall
nevertheless stand and the duration and/or geographic scope set forth herein
shall be deemed to be the longest period and/or greatest size permissible by law
under the circumstances, and the parties hereto agree that such court shall
reduce the time period and/or geographic scope to permissible duration or size.
Section 10. BREACH OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
Without limiting the remedies available to the Company, Employee
acknowledges that a breach of any of the covenants contained in Section 9 hereof
may result in material irreparable injury to the Company or its subsidiaries for
which there is no adequate remedy at
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law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely
and that, in the event of such a breach or threat thereof, the Company shall be
entitled to obtain a temporary restraining order and/or a preliminary or
permanent injunction, without the necessity of proving irreparable harm or
injury as a result of such breach or threatened breach of Section 9 hereof,
restraining Employee from engaging in activities prohibited by Section 9 hereof
or such other relief as may be required specifically to enforce any of the
covenants in Section 9 hereof. Notwithstanding any other provision to the
contrary, the Restricted Period shall be tolled during any period of violation
of any of the covenants in Section 9(b) or 9(c) hereof and during any other
period required for litigation during which the Company seeks to enforce such
covenants against Employee or another Person with whom Employee is affiliated if
it is ultimately determined that Employee was in breach of such covenants.
Section 11. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EMPLOYEE.
Employee represents and warrants to the Company that:
(a) Employee's employment will not conflict with or result in his
breach of any agreement to which he is a party or otherwise may be bound;
(b) Employee has not violated, and in connection with his employment
with the Company will not violate, any non-solicitation, non-competition or
other similar covenant or agreement of a prior employer by which he is or may be
bound; and
(c) In connection with Employee's employment with the Company, he will
not use any confidential or proprietary information that he may have obtained in
connection with employment with any prior employer.
Section 12. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) Indemnification. The Company shall defend, hold harmless and
indemnify Employee to the fullest extent permitted by Bermuda law, as currently
in effect or as it may hereafter be amended, from and against any and all
damages, losses, liabilities, obligations, claims of any kind, costs, interest
or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses) (collectively, "Losses") that may be incurred or suffered by Employee
in connection with or arising out of his service with the Company or its
Affiliates (whether prior to or following the date hereof), subject only to the
provisions of subsection (b) below.
(b) Exceptions to Right of Indemnification. No indemnification shall
be made under this Section 12 in respect of the following:
(i) Losses relating to the disgorgement remedy contemplated by
Section 16 of the Exchange Act;
(ii) Losses arising out of a knowing violation by Employee of a
material provision of this Section 12 or any other agreement to which
Employee is a party with the Company or its Affiliates; and
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(iii) Losses arising out of a final, nonappealable conviction of
Employee by a court of competent jurisdiction for a knowing violation of
criminal law.
Moreover, the Company shall not effect any advances, or advance any costs,
relating to any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by Employee unless the
initiation thereof was approved by the Board, or as may be approved or ordered
by a competent tribunal.
(c) Prepayment of Expenses. Unless Employee otherwise elects via
written notice to the Company, expenses incurred in defending any civil or
criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of
the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the
Company of a written affirmation of Employee's good faith belief that his
conduct does not constitute the sort of behavior that would preclude his
indemnification under this Section 12 and Employee furnishes the Company a
written undertaking, executed personally or on his behalf, to repay any advances
if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the
Company under this Section 12.
(d) Continuation of Indemnity. All agreements and obligations of the
Company contained in this Section 12 shall continue during the period in which
Employee is employed the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as
Employee shall be subject to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and
whether formal or informal, by reason of the fact that Employee was a employed
by the Company.
(e) Indemnification Hereunder Not Exclusive. The indemnification and
prepayment of expenses provided by this Section 12 is in addition to and shall
not be deemed exclusive of any other right to which Employee may be entitled
under the Company's Memorandum of Association, the Company's By-Laws, any
agreement, any vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, Bermuda law, any
other law (common or statutory) or otherwise. Nothing contained in this Section
12 shall be deemed to prohibit the Company from purchasing and maintaining
insurance, at its expense, to protect itself or Employee against any expense,
liability or loss incurred by it or him, whether or not Employee would be
indemnified against such expense, liability or loss under this Section 12;
provided, that the Company shall not be liable under this Section 12 to make any
payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that
Employee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise. In the event the Company makes any
indemnification payments to Employee and Employee is subsequently reimbursed
from the proceeds of insurance, Employee shall promptly refund such
indemnification payments to the Company to the extent of such insurance
reimbursement.
Section 13. TAXES.
The Company may withhold from any payments made under this Agreement
all applicable taxes, including but not limited to income, employment and social
insurance taxes, as shall be required by law.
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Section 14. MITIGATION; SET OFF.
The Company's obligation to pay Employee the amounts provided and to
make the arrangements provided hereunder shall not be subject to set-off,
counterclaim or recoupment of amounts owed by Employee to the Company or its
Affiliates. Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment
provided for pursuant to this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise
and the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement shall not
be reduced by any compensation earned as a result of Employee's other employment
or otherwise.
Section 15. DELAY IN PAYMENT.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, any
payment otherwise required to be made hereunder to Employee at any date as a
result of the termination of Employee's employment shall be delayed for such
period of time as may be necessary to meet the requirements of section
409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. On the earliest date on which such payments can be
made without violating the requirements of section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code,
there shall be paid to Employee, in a single cash lump sum, an amount equal to
the aggregate amount of all payments delayed pursuant to the preceding sentence.
Section 16. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES.
(a) The Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by, and may be assigned by the Company to, any purchaser of all or
substantially all of the Company's business or assets or any successor to the
Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise). The Company will require in a writing delivered to Employee any such
purchaser, successor or assignee to expressly assume 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 purchase, succession or assignment had taken
place. The Company may make no other assignment of this Agreement or its
obligations hereunder.
(b) Employee. Employee's rights and obligations under this Agreement
shall not be transferable by Employee by assignment or otherwise, without the
prior written consent of the Company; provided, however, that if Employee shall
die, all amounts then payable to Employee hereunder shall be paid in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement to Employee's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to Employee's estate.
(c) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as otherwise set forth in
Section 8(b) or Section 16(b) hereof, nothing expressed or referred to in this
Agreement will be construed to give any Person other than the Company and
Employee any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to
this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement.
Section 17. WAIVER AND AMENDMENTS.
Any waiver, alteration, amendment or modification of any of the terms
of this Agreement shall be valid only if made in writing and signed by each of
the parties hereto; provided, however, that any such waiver, alteration,
amendment or modification is consented to on the Company's behalf by the Board.
No waiver by either of the parties hereto of their rights
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hereunder shall be deemed to constitute a waiver with respect to any subsequent
occurrences or transactions hereunder unless such waiver specifically states
that it is to be construed as a continuing waiver.
Section 18. SEVERABILITY.
If any covenants or other provisions of this Agreement are found to be
invalid or unenforceable by a final determination of a court of competent
jurisdiction: (a) the remaining terms and provisions hereof shall be unimpaired,
and (b) the invalid or unenforceable term or provision hereof shall be deemed
replaced by a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes
closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or
provision hereof.
Section 19. GOVERNING LAW.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF BERMUDA (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES
THEREOF) APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH
COUNTRY.
Section 20. NOTICES.
(a) Every notice or other communication relating to this Agreement
shall be in writing, and shall be mailed to or delivered to the party for whom
it is intended at such address as may from time to time be designated by it in a
notice mailed or delivered to the other party as herein provided, provided that,
unless and until some other address be so designated, all notices or
communications by Employee to the Company shall be mailed or delivered to the
Company at its principal executive office, and all notices or communications by
the Company to Employee may be given to Employee personally or may be mailed to
Employee at Employee's last known address, as reflected in the Company's
records.
(b) Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given: (i) if
delivered by hand, on the date of such delivery; (ii) if mailed by courier or by
overnight mail, on the first business day following the date of such mailing;
and (iii) if mailed by registered or certified mail, on the third business day
after the date of such mailing.
Section 21. SECTION HEADINGS.
The headings of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part
thereof, affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or of any term
or provision hereof.
Section 22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of
the parties hereto regarding the employment of Employee. This Agreement
supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications,
understandings and agreements
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between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the Prior Agreement.
Section 23. SURVIVAL OF OPERATIVE SECTIONS.
Upon any termination of Employee's employment, the provisions of
Section 8 through Section 24 of this Agreement (together with any related
definitions set forth in Section 1 hereof) shall survive to the extent necessary
to give effect to the provisions thereof.
Section 24. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. The execution of this Agreement may be
by actual or facsimile signature.
* * *
[Signatures to appear on the following page.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.
/s/ W. Xxxxx XxxXxxxxxxx
----------------------------
By: W. Xxxxx XxxXxxxxxxx
Title: Chairman of the Board
EMPLOYEE
/s/ Neill X. Xxxxxx
----------------------------
Neill X. Xxxxxx
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