Exhibit 10.27
EXECUTION COPY
MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS CORPORATION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of August 6, 1999, between Mattress
Discounters Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx ("Executive").
In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company agrees to employ Executive, and Executive
hereby accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the date hereof and ending
as provided in Section 4 hereof (the "Employment Period").
2. Position and Duties.
(a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the
Senior Vice President of Advertising and Marketing of the Company and shall have
the normal duties, responsibilities and authority of the Senior Vice President
of Advertising and Marketing, subject to the power of the Company's President
and the Company's board of directors (the "Board") to expand or limit such
duties, responsibilities and authority and to override actions of officers of
the Company.
(b) During the Employment Period, Executive shall report to the
Board and shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention
(except for permitted vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or
other incapacity other than Disability) to the business and affairs of the
Company and its Subsidiaries. Executive shall perform his duties and
responsibilities to the Company and its Subsidiaries hereunder to the best of
his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, "Subsidiaries" shall mean any
corporation or other entity of which the securities or other ownership interests
having the voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other
governing body are, at the time of determination, owned by the Company, directly
or through one or more Subsidiaries. For purposes hereof, the Company shall be
deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, limited liability
company (without voting securities), association or other business entity if the
Company, directly or through one or more Subsidiaries, shall be allocated a
majority of partnership, limited liability company,
association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the
managing director or general partner of such partnership, limited liability
company, association or other business entity. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" means the inability, due to illness, accident, injury, physical or
mental incapacity or other disability, of the Executive to carry out effectively
his duties and obligations to the Company or to participate effectively and
actively in the management of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company for a
period or periods aggregating at least 90 days (whether or not consecutive)
during any twelve-month period, as determined in the reasonable judgment of the
Board.
3. Compensation and Benefits.
(a) During the Employment Period, Executive's base salary shall be
$200,000 per annum or such higher rate as the Board may designate from time to
time (the "Base Salary"), which salary shall be payable in regular installments
in accordance with the Company's general payroll practices. In addition, during
the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the
Company's employee compensatory and benefit programs for which senior executive
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries are generally eligible.
(b) During the Employment Period, the Company shall reimburse
Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by him in the course of
performing his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement which are
consistent with the Company's policies in effect from time to time with respect
to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company's
requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.
(c) In addition to the Base Salary, the Board will award a bonus to
Executive subject to the provisions of and in accordance with the attached
Exhibit A, pro rated for the period beginning on August 6, 1999 and ending
December 31, 1999. The Board shall determine an appropriate bonus plan for
periods thereafter.
(d) All amounts payable to Executive as compensation hereunder shall
be subject to customary withholding by the Company.
4. Term.
(a) The initial Employment Period shall end on August 6, 2000 and
will thereafter be automatically extended for consecutive 12 month periods
unless notice of termination is delivered by either party to the other at least
90 days prior to the end of such period; provided that (i) the Employment Period
shall terminate prior to such date immediately upon Executive's resignation,
death or Disability and (ii) the Employment Period may be terminated by the
Company at any time prior to such date for Cause (as defined below) or without
Cause. Except as otherwise provided herein, any termination of the Employment
Period by the Company shall be effective as specified in a written notice from
the Company to Executive.
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(b) If the Employment Period is terminated by the Company or its
successors in interest without Cause, Executive shall be entitled to continue to
receive his Base Salary payable in regular installments for a period of 12
months from the date of termination (the "Severance Period"), if and only if
Executive has executed and delivered to the Company a General Release in the
form of Exhibit B attached hereto and only so long as Executive has not breached
the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 7 hereof. The amounts payable pursuant to
this Section 4(b) may be payable, at Company's discretion, in one lump sum
payment within 30 days following termination of the Employment Period.
(c) If the Employment Period is terminated by the Company for Cause
or is terminated pursuant to clause (a)(i) above or expires and is not renewed
hereunder, Executive shall only be entitled to receive his Base Salary through
the date of termination or expiration.
(d) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all of
Executive's rights to salary, bonuses, fringe benefits and other compensation
hereunder which accrue or become payable after the termination or expiration of
the Employment Period shall cease upon such termination or expiration. The
Company may offset any amounts Executive owes it or its Subsidiaries against any
amounts it owes Executive hereunder.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean (i) the
commission of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or the
commission of any other act or omission involving dishonesty, disloyalty or
fraud with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
customers or suppliers, (ii) chronic drug or alcohol abuse or other repeated
conduct causing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries substantial public
disgrace or disrepute or economic harm, (iii) substantial and repeated failure
to perform duties as reasonably directed by the Board, which is not cured, if
curable, to the Board's reasonable satisfaction in all material respects within
thirty (30) days after the Board or the designee thereof gives written notice
thereof to Executive, (iv) any other act or omission of Executive which would in
law permit an employer to, without notice or payment in lieu of notice,
terminate the employment of an employee or (v) any other material breach of this
Agreement which is not cured, if curable, to the Board's reasonable satisfaction
within 15 days after written notice thereof to Executive (provided, that a
breach of Sections 5, 6 or 7 shall be material and the applicable cure period
shall be 3 days).
5. Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that the
information, observations and data (including trade secrets) obtained by him
while employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries concerning the business or
affairs of the Company or any Subsidiary ("Confidential Information") are the
property of the Company or such Subsidiary. Therefore, Executive agrees that he
shall not disclose to any unauthorized person or use for his own purposes any
Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Board, unless
and to the extent that the Confidential Information becomes generally known to
and available for use by the public other than as a result of Executive's acts
or omissions. Executive shall deliver to the Company at the termination or
expiration of the Employment Period, or at any other time the Company may
request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes,
printouts and software and
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other documents and data (and copies thereof) embodying or relating to the
Confidential Information, Work Product (as defined below) or the business of the
Company or any Subsidiaries which he may then possess or have under his control.
6. Inventions and Patents. Executive acknowledges that all
inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses,
drawings, reports and all similar or related information (whether or not
patentable) which relate to the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' actual or
anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or
services and which are conceived, developed or made by Executive while employed
by the Company and its Subsidiaries ("Work Product") belong to the Company or
such Subsidiary. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the
Board and, at the Company's expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by
the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish and
confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents,
powers of attorney and other instruments).
7. Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation.
(a) In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to
Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that in the course of his employment
with the Company and its Subsidiaries he shall become familiar, and he has
become familiar, with the Company's trade secrets and with other Confidential
Information and that his services have been and shall be of special, unique and
extraordinary value to the Company and its Subsidiaries. Therefore, Executive
agrees that, during the Employment Period and for three years thereafter (the
"Noncompete Period"), he shall not directly or indirectly own any interest in,
operate, manage, control, participate in, consult with, advise, render services
for, or in any manner engage in any business (including by himself or in
association with any person, firm, corporate or other business organization or
through any other entity) in competition with, or potential competition with,
the businesses of the Company or its Subsidiaries as such businesses exist or
are in process on the date of the termination or expiration of the Employment
Period, within any geographical area in which the Company or its Subsidiaries
engage or plan to engage in such businesses. Nothing herein shall prohibit
Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding
stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as
Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation.
(b) During the Noncompete Period, Executive shall not directly or
indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee
of the Company or any Subsidiary to leave the employ of the Company or such
Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or
any Subsidiary and any employee thereof, (ii) hire any person who was an
employee of the Company or any Subsidiary at any time during the Employment
Period or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee,
licensor, franchisee or other business relation of the Company or any Subsidiary
to cease doing business with the Company or such Subsidiary, or in any way
interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee,
licensor, franchisee or business relation and the Company or any Subsidiary
(including,
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without limitation, making any negative or disparaging statements or
communications regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries).
(c) Executive agrees that: (i) the covenants set forth in this
Section 7 are reasonable in geographical and temporal scope and in all other
respects and that he has reviewed the provisions of this Agreement with his
legal counsel, (ii) the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but
for the covenants of Executive contained herein, and (iii) the covenants
contained herein have been made in order to induce the Company to enter into
this Agreement.
(d) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 7, a court shall
hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are
unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the
maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be
substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be
allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period,
scope and area permitted by law.
(e) Executive recognizes and affirms that in the event of his breach
of any provision of this Section 7, money damages would be inadequate and the
Company would have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Executive agrees
that in the event of the breach or a threatened breach by Executive of any of
the provisions of this Section 7, the Company, in addition and supplementary to
other rights and remedies existing in its favor, shall be entitled to specific
performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of
competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the
provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security). In addition, in
the event of an alleged breach or violation by Executive of this Section 7, the
Noncompete Period shall be tolled until such breach or violation has been duly
cured.
8. Executive's Representations. Executive hereby represents and
warrants to the Company that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or
cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or
decree to which Executive is a party or by which he is bound, (ii) Executive is
not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, noncompete agreement or
confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity and (iii) upon the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be
the valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with
its terms. Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that he has consulted
with independent legal counsel regarding his rights and obligations under this
Agreement and that he fully understands the terms and conditions contained
herein.
9. Survival. Sections 5 through 19 shall survive and continue in
full force in accordance with their terms notwithstanding the expiration or
termination of the Employment Period.
10. Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be
given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement will
be in writing and will be deemed to have been given when delivered personally,
mailed by certified or registered mail, return
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receipt requested and postage prepaid, or sent via a nationally recognized
overnight courier, or sent via facsimile to the recipient with telephonic
confirmation by the sending party. Such notices, demands and other
communications will be sent to the address indicated below:
To Executive:
[Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telecopy No.:
Telephone No.:
To the Company:
Mattress Discounters Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Board of Directors
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
With copies to:
Xxxx Capital, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx
Citicorp Center
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any
notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so
delivered, sent or mailed.
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11. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provision or any action in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement
shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
12. Complete Agreement. This Agreement embodies the complete
agreement and understanding among the parties and supersedes and preempts any
prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties,
written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way
(including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement between the parties
hereto, dated January 1, 1997), but excluding any breaches thereof by either
party prior to the date hereof.
13. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement
shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their
mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any
party.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate
counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together constitute one and the same agreement.
15. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, the Company and their
respective heirs, successors and assigns; provided that the rights and
obligations of Executive under this Agreement shall not be assignable.
16. Governing Law. All issues and questions concerning the
construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the
exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of
law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or
any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
17. Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be
amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and
Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the
provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement.
18. Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled
to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and
costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) caused by any breach of any
provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other
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rights existing in its favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that
money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of
this Agreement and that any party may in its sole discretion apply to any court
of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit)
for specific performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or
prevent any violations of the provisions of this Agreement.
* * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
_____________________________________
Its:____________________________________
________________________________________
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
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Exhibit B
GENERAL RELEASE
I, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, in consideration of and subject to the performance
by Mattress Discounters Corporation, a Delaware corporation (together with its
subsidiaries, the "Company"), of its material obligations under the Employment
Agreement, dated as of August 6, 1999 (the "Agreement"), do hereby release and
forever discharge as of the date hereof the Company and all present and former
directors, officers, agents, representatives, employees, successors and assigns
of the Company and its direct or indirect owners (collectively, the "Released
Parties") to the extent provided below.
1. I understand that any payments or benefits paid or granted to me under
Section 4(b) of the Agreement represent, in part, consideration for
signing this General Release and are not salary, wages or benefits to
which I was already entitled. I understand and agree that I will not
receive the payments and benefits specified in Section 4(b) of the
Agreement unless I execute this General Release and do not revoke this
General Release within the time period permitted hereafter or breach this
General Release.
2. Except as provided in Section 4 below, I knowingly and voluntarily release
and forever discharge the Company and the other Released Parties from any
and all claims, controversies, actions, causes of action, cross-claims,
counter-claims, demands, debts, compensatory damages, liquidated damages,
punitive or exemplary damages, other damages, claims for costs and
attorneys' fees, or liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in
equity, both past and present (through the date of this General Release)
and whether known or unknown, suspected, or claimed against the Company or
any of the Released Parties which I, my spouse, or any of my heirs,
executors, administrators or assigns, may have, which arise out of or are
connected with my employment with, or my separation from, the Company
(including, but not limited to, any allegation, claim or violation,
arising under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the
Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
1967, as amended (including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act); the
Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Civil Rights Act of
1866, as amended; the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act;
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; any applicable
Executive Order Programs; the Fair Labor Standards Act; or their state or
local counterparts; or under any other federal, state or local civil or
human rights law, or under any other local, state, or federal law,
regulation or ordinance; or under any public policy, contract or tort, or
under common law; or arising under any policies, practices or procedures
of the Company; or any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract,
infliction of emotional distress, defamation; or any claim for costs,
fees, or other expenses, including attorneys' fees incurred in these
matters) (all of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the
"Claims").
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3. I represent that I have made no assignment or transfer of any right,
claim, demand, cause of action, or other matter covered by Section 2
above.
4. I agree that this General Release does not waive or release any rights or
claims that I may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
1967 which arise after the date I execute this General Release. I
acknowledge and agree that my separation from employment with the Company
in compliance with the terms of the Agreement shall not serve as the basis
for any claim or action (including, without limitation, any claim under
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967).
5. In signing this General Release, I acknowledge and intend that it shall be
effective as a bar to each and every one of the Claims hereinabove
mentioned or implied. I expressly consent that this General Release shall
be given full force and effect according to each and all of its express
terms and provisions, including those relating to unknown and unsuspected
Claims (notwithstanding any state statute that expressly limits the
effectiveness of a general release of unknown, unsuspected and
unanticipated Claims), if any, as well as those relating to any other
Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I acknowledge and agree that this
waiver is an essential and material term of this General Release and that
without such waiver the Company would not have agreed to the terms of the
Agreement. I further agree that in the event I should bring a Claim
seeking damages against the Company, or in the event I should seek to
recover against the Company in any Claim brought by a governmental agency
on my behalf, this General Release shall serve as a complete defense to
such Claims. I further agree that I am not aware of any pending charge or
complaint of the type described in Section 2 as of the execution of this
General Release.
6. I agree that neither this General Release, nor the furnishing of the
consideration for this General Release, shall be deemed or construed at
any time to be an admission by the Company, any Released Party or myself
of any improper or unlawful conduct.
7. I agree that I will forfeit all amounts payable by the Company pursuant to
the Agreement if I challenge the validity of this General Release. I also
agree that if I violate this General Release by suing the Company or the
other Released Parties, I will pay all costs and expenses of defending
against the suit incurred by the Released Parties, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, and return all payments received by me pursuant to the
Agreement.
8. I agree that this General Release is confidential and agree not to
disclose any information regarding the terms of this General Release,
except to my immediate family and any tax, legal or other counsel I have
consulted regarding the meaning or effect hereof or as required by law,
and I will instruct each of the foregoing not to disclose the same to
anyone.
9. Any non-disclosure provision in this General Release does not prohibit or
restrict me (or my attorney) from responding to any inquiry about this
General Release or its underlying facts and circumstances by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National
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Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD), any other self-regulatory
organization or governmental entity.
10. I agree to reasonably cooperate with the Company in any internal
investigation or administrative, regulatory, or judicial proceeding. I
understand and agree that my cooperation may include, but not be limited
to, making myself available to the Company upon reasonable notice for
interviews and factual investigations; appearing at the Company's request
to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal
process; volunteering to the Company pertinent information; and turning
over to the Company all relevant documents which are or may come into my
possession all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent
with my other permitted activities and commitments. I understand that in
the event the Company asks for my cooperation in accordance with this
provision, the Company will reimburse me solely for reasonable travel
expenses, including lodging and meals, upon my submission of receipts.
11. Notwithstanding anything in this General Release to the contrary, this
General Release shall not relinquish, diminish, or in any way affect any
rights or claims arising out of any breach by the Company or by any
Released Party of the Agreement.
12. Whenever possible, each provision of this General Release shall be
interpreted in, such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable
law, but if any provision of this General Release is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule
in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall
not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this General
Release shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as
if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been
contained herein.
BY SIGNING THIS GENERAL RELEASE, I REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT:
(a) I HAVE READ IT CAREFULLY;
(b) I UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS AND KNOW THAT I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT
RIGHTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RIGHTS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION
IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, AS AMENDED, TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
OF 1964, AS AMENDED; THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963, THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990; AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT
OF 1974, AS AMENDED;
(c) I VOLUNTARILY CONSENT TO EVERYTHING IN IT;
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(d) I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE EXECUTING IT AND I
HAVE DONE SO OR, AFTER CAREFUL READING AND CONSIDERATION I HAVE CHOSEN NOT
TO DO SO OF MY OWN VOLITION;
(e) I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 21 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MY RECEIPT OF THIS RELEASE
SUBSTANTIALLY IN ITS FINAL FORM ON _______________ __, _____ TO CONSIDER
IT AND THE CHANGES MADE SINCE THE _______________ __, _____ VERSION OF
THIS RELEASE ARE NOT MATERIAL AND WILL NOT RESTART THE REQUIRED 21-DAY
PERIOD;
(f) THE CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENT SINCE AUGUST 6, 1999 EITHER ARE NOT MATERIAL
OR WERE MADE AT MY REQUEST.
(g) I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS RELEASE TO
REVOKE IT AND THAT THIS RELEASE SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE
UNTIL THE REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED;
(h) I HAVE SIGNED THIS GENERAL RELEASE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AND WITH THE
ADVICE OF ANY COUNSEL RETAINED TO ADVISE ME WITH RESPECT TO IT; AND
(i) I AGREE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE MAY NOT BE AMENDED,
WAIVED, CHANGED OR MODIFIED EXCEPT BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY
AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY AND BY ME.
DATE: ___________ __, ______ ______________________________
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