EXHIBIT 10.9
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is effective as of December 22,
2006 (the "Effective Date"), by and between FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and XXXXXXX X. XXXX (the "Employee"). In
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the
parties agree as follows:
1. Employment and Duties. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Company employs the Employee to serve in an executive capacity as
Chief Financial Officer. Employee accepts such employment and agrees to
undertake and discharge the duties, functions and responsibilities commensurate
with the aforesaid position and such other duties and responsibilities as may be
prescribed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board").
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
and shall continue for a period of three (3) years ending on the third
anniversary of the Effective Date or, if later, ending on the last day of any
extension made pursuant to the next sentence, subject to prior termination as
set forth in Section 7 (such term, including any extensions pursuant to the next
sentence, the "Employment Term"). The Employment Term shall be extended
automatically for one (1) additional year on the first anniversary of the
Effective Date and for an additional year each anniversary thereafter unless and
until either party gives written notice to the other not to extend the
Employment Term before such extension would be effectuated. Notwithstanding any
termination of the Employment Term or the Employee's employment, the Employee
and the Company agree that Sections 7 through 9 shall remain in effect until all
parties' obligations and benefits are satisfied thereunder.
3. Salary. During the Employment Term, the Company shall pay the Employee
an annual base salary, before deducting all applicable withholdings, of $325,000
per year, payable at the time and in the manner dictated by the Company's
standard payroll policies. Such minimum annual base salary may be periodically
reviewed and increased at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the
Board (the "Committee") to reflect, among other matters, cost of living
increases and performance results (such annual base salary, including any
increases pursuant to this Section 3, the "Annual Base Salary").
4. Other Compensation and Fringe Benefits. In addition to any executive
bonus, pension, deferred compensation and long-term incentive plans which the
Company or an affiliate of the Company may from time to time make available to
the Employee, the Employee shall be entitled to the following during the
Employment Term:
(a) the standard Company benefits enjoyed by the Company's other top
executives as a group;
(b) payment by the Company of the Employee's initiation and membership
dues in all social and/or recreational clubs as deemed necessary and
appropriate by the Company to maintain various business relationships
on behalf of the Company;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to pay for
any of the Employee's personal purchases and expenses at such clubs;
(c) medical and other insurance coverage (for the Employee and any covered
dependents) provided by the Company to its other top executives as a
group;
(d) supplemental disability insurance sufficient to provide two-thirds of
the Employee's pre-disability Annual Base Salary;
(e) an annual incentive bonus opportunity under the Company's annual
incentive plan ("Annual Bonus Plan") for each calendar year included
in the Employment Term, with such opportunity to be earned based upon
attainment of performance objectives established by the Committee
("Annual Bonus"). The Employee's "bonus factor" or "bonus target"
under the Annual Bonus Plan shall be not less than 75% of the
Employee's Annual Base Salary. The Employee's "bonus factor" may be
periodically reviewed and increased (but not decreased without the
Employee's express written consent) at the discretion of the
Committee. The Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the March 15th
first following the calendar year to which the Annual Bonus relates.
Unless provided otherwise herein or the Board determines otherwise, no
Annual Bonus shall be paid to the Employee unless the Employee is
employed by the Company, or an affiliate thereof, on the Annual Bonus
payment date; and
(f) participation in the Company's equity incentive plans.
5. Vacation. For and during each calendar year within the Employment Term,
the Employee shall be entitled to reasonable paid vacation periods consistent
with his positions with the Company and in accordance with the Company's
standard policies, or as the Board may approve. In addition, the Employee shall
be entitled to such holidays consistent with the Company's standard policies or
as the Board or the Committee may approve.
6. Expense Reimbursement. In addition to the compensation and benefits
provided herein, the Company shall, upon receipt of appropriate documentation,
reimburse the Employee each month for his reasonable travel, lodging,
entertainment, promotion and other ordinary and necessary business expenses to
the extent such reimbursement is permitted under the Company's expense
reimbursement policy.
7. Termination of Employment. The Company or the Employee may terminate the
Employee's employment at any time and for any reason in accordance with
subsection 7(a) below. The Employment Term shall be deemed to have ended on the
last day of the Employee's employment. The Employment Term shall terminate
automatically upon the Employee's death.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of the Employee's
employment (other than by reason of death) shall be communicated by
written Notice of Termination (as defined herein) from one party
hereto to the other party hereto in accordance with the notice
provisions contained in Section 25. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice that indicates the Date of
Termination (as that term is defined in Section 7(b)) and,
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with respect to a termination due to Disability (as that term is
defined in Section 7(e)), Cause (as that term is defined in Section
7(d)) or Good Reason (as that term is defined in Section 7(f)), sets
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances that are
alleged to provide a basis for such termination. A Notice of
Termination from the Company shall specify whether the termination is
with or without Cause or due to the Employee's Disability. A Notice of
Termination from the Employee shall specify whether the termination is
with or without Good Reason or due to Disability.
(b) Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Date of
Termination" shall mean the date specified in the Notice of
Termination (but in no event shall such date be earlier than the 30th
day following the date the Notice of Termination is given, unless
expressly agreed to by the parties hereto) or the date of the
Employee's death.
(c) No Waiver. The failure to set forth any fact or circumstance in a
Notice of Termination, which fact or circumstance was not known to the
party giving the Notice of Termination when the notice was given,
shall not constitute a waiver of the right to assert such fact or
circumstance in an attempt to enforce any right under or provision of
this Agreement.
(d) Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means the Employee's
(i) persistent failure to perform duties consistent with a
commercially reasonable standard of care (other than due to a physical
or mental impairment or due to an action or inaction directed by the
Company that would otherwise constitute Good Reason); (ii) willful
neglect of duties (other than due to a physical or mental impairment
or due to an action or inaction directed by the Company that would
otherwise constitute Good Reason); (iii) conviction of, or pleading
nolo contendere to, criminal or other illegal activities involving
dishonesty; (iv) material breach of this Agreement; or (v) impeding,
or failing to materially cooperate with, an investigation authorized
by the Board. The Employee's termination for Cause shall be effective
when and if a resolution is duly adopted by an affirmative vote of at
least 3/4 of the Board (less the Employee), stating that, in the good
faith opinion of the Board, the Employee is guilty of the conduct
described in the Notice of Termination and such conduct constitutes
Cause under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Employee shall
have been given reasonable opportunity (i) to cure any act or omission
that constitutes Cause if capable of cure and (ii), together with
counsel, during the thirty (30) day period following the receipt by
the Employee of the Notice of Termination and prior to the adoption of
the Board's resolution, to be heard by the Board.
(e) Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, the Employee shall be
deemed to have a "Disability" if the Employee is entitled to long-term
disability benefits under the Company's long-term disability plan or
policy, as the case may be, as in effect on the Date of Termination.
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(f) Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Good Reason"
means the occurrence (without the Employee's express written consent)
during the Employment Term of any of the following acts or failures to
act by the Company:
(i) an adverse change in the Employee's title, the assignment to the
Employee of duties materially inconsistent with the Employee's
position of Chief Financial Officer, or a substantial diminution
in the Employee's authority;
(ii) the material breach by the Company of any of its other
obligations under this Agreement;
(iii) the Company gives the Employee notice of its intent not to
extend the Employment Term, any time during the one (1) year
period immediately following a Change in Control;
(iv) following a Change in Control, the relocation of the Employee's
primary place of employment to a location more than 50 miles from
the Employee's primary place of employment immediately prior to
the Change in Control; or
(v) the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption of this
Agreement as contemplated in Section 21.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board placing the Employee on a paid leave
for up to 60 days pending the determination of whether there is a basis to
terminate the Employee for Cause, shall not constitute Good Reason. The
Employee's continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of
rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason
hereunder; provided, however, that no such event described above shall
constitute Good Reason unless the Employee has given a Notice of Termination to
the Company specifying the condition or event relied upon for such termination
within ninety (90) days from the Employee's actual knowledge of the occurrence
of such event and, if capable of cure, the Company has failed to cure the
condition or event constituting Good Reason within the thirty (30) day period
following receipt of the Employee's Notice of Termination.
8. Obligations of the Company upon Termination.
(a) Termination by the Company for other than Cause or Disability or
Termination by the Employee for Good Reason. If the Employee's
employment is terminated by the Company for any reason, other than
Cause or Disability or by the Employee for Good Reason:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Employee, (A) within five (5)
business days after the Date of Termination, any earned but
unpaid Annual Base Salary and any expense reimbursement payments
owed to the Employee, and (B) no later than March 15 of the year
in which the Date of Termination occurs, any earned but unpaid
Annual Bonus payments relating to the prior calendar year (the
"Accrued Obligations");
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(ii) the Company shall pay to the Employee, within thirty (30)
business days after the Date of Termination, a prorated Annual
Bonus based on (A) the target Annual Bonus opportunity in the
year in which the Date of Termination occurs or the prior year if
no target Annual Bonus opportunity has yet been determined and
(B) the fraction of the year the Employee was employed;
(iii) the Company shall pay to the Employee, within thirty (30)
business days after the Date of Termination, a lump-sum payment
equal to 200% of the sum of (x) the Employee's Annual Base Salary
in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination
(disregarding any reduction in Annual Base Salary to which the
Employee did not expressly consent in writing) and (y) the
highest Annual Bonus paid to the Employee by the Company within
the three (3) years preceding his termination of employment or,
if higher, the target Annual Bonus opportunity in the year in
which the Date of Termination occurs;
(iv) all stock option, restricted stock and other equity-based
incentive awards granted by the Company that were outstanding but
not vested as of the Date of Termination shall become immediately
vested and/or payable, as the case may be; and
(v) for a three (3) year period after the Date of Termination, the
Company will provide or cause to be provided to the Employee (and
any covered dependents), with life and health insurance benefits
(but not disability insurance benefits) substantially similar to
those the Employee and any covered dependents were receiving
immediately prior to the Notice of Termination at the same level
of benefits and at the same dollar cost to the Employee as is
available to the Company's executive officers generally, provided
that the Employee's continued receipt of such benefits is
possible under the general terms and provisions of the applicable
plans and programs, and provided further, that such benefits
would not be taxable to the Employee or subject to Section 409A
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). In
the event that the Employee's participation in any such plan or
program is prohibited, the Company shall, at its expense, arrange
to provide the Employee with benefits substantially similar to
those which the Employee would otherwise have been entitled to
receive under such plans and programs from which his continued
participation is prohibited. If the Company arranges to provide
the Employee and covered dependents with life and health
insurance benefits, those benefits will be reduced to the extent
comparable benefits are received by, or made available to, the
Employee (at no greater cost to the Employee) by another employer
during the three (3) year period following the Employee's Date of
Termination. The Employee must report to the Company any such
benefits that he receives or that are made available. In lieu of
the benefits described in this Section 8(a)(v), the Company, in
its sole discretion, may elect to pay to the Employee a lump
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sum cash payment equal to the monthly premiums that would have
been paid by the Company to provide such benefits to the Employee
for each month such coverage is not provided under this Section
8(a)(v). Nothing in this Section 8(a)(v) will extend the COBRA
continuation coverage period.
(b) Termination by the Company for Cause or by the Employee without Good
Reason. If the Employee's employment is terminated (i) by the Company
for Cause or (ii) by the Employee without Good Reason, the Company's
only obligation under this Agreement shall be payment of any earned
but unpaid Annual Base Salary and any expense reimbursement payments
owed to the Employee.
(c) Termination due to Death or Disability. If the Employee's employment
is terminated due to death or Disability, the Company shall pay to the
Employee (or to the Employee's estate or personal representative in
the case of the Employee's death), within thirty (30) business days
after the Date of Termination, (i) any Accrued Obligations and (ii) a
prorated Annual Bonus based on (A) the target Annual Bonus opportunity
in the year in which the Date of Termination occurs or the prior year
if no target Annual Bonus opportunity has yet been determined and (B)
the fraction of the year the Employee was employed.
(d) Definition of Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, the
term "Change in Control" shall mean that the conditions set forth in
any one of the following subsections shall have been satisfied:
(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any "person" (within
the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities and Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and used in Sections
13(d) and 14(d) thereof) of "beneficial ownership" (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities of the
Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting
power of all outstanding securities of the Company;
(ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the
surviving entity, except for a transaction in which the holders
of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately
prior to such merger or consolidation hold, in the aggregate,
securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting
power of all outstanding voting securities of the surviving
entity immediately after such merger or consolidation;
(iii) a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity
but in which securities possessing more than 50% of the total
combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the
Company are transferred to or acquired by a person or persons
different from the persons holding those securities immediately
prior to such merger;
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(iv) during any period of two (2) consecutive years during the
Employment Term or any extensions thereof, individuals, who, at
the beginning of such period, constitute the Board, cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the
election of each director who was not a director at the beginning
of such period has been approved in advance by directors
representing at least two-thirds of the directors then in office
who were directors at the beginning of the period;
(v) the sale, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a
series of related transactions) of assets of the Company that
have a total fair market value equal to or more than one-third of
the total fair market value of all of the assets of the Company
immediately prior to such sale, transfer or other disposition,
other than a sale, transfer or other disposition to an entity (x)
which immediately following such sale, transfer or other
disposition owns, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the
Company's outstanding voting securities or (y) 50% or more of
whose outstanding voting securities is immediately following such
sale, transfer or other disposition owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company. For purposes of the foregoing clause,
the sale of stock of a subsidiary of the Company (or the assets
of such subsidiary) shall be treated as a sale of assets of the
Company; or
(vi) the approval by the stockholders of a plan or proposal for the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
9. Excise Tax Gross-up Payments.
(a) If any payments or benefits paid or provided or to be paid or provided
to the Employee or for his benefit pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or otherwise in connection with, or arising out of, his
employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or the termination
thereof (a "Payment" and, collectively, the "Payments") would be
subject to the excise tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by Section 4999
of the Code, then, except as otherwise provided in this Section 9(a),
the Employee will be entitled to receive an additional payment (a
"Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that, after payment by the
Employee of all income taxes, all employment taxes and any Excise Tax
imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment (including any related interest and
penalties), the Employee retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment
equal to the Excise Tax (including any related interest and penalties)
imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
amount of the Payments does not exceed by more than 3% the amount that
would be payable to the Employee if the Payments were reduced to one
dollar less than what would constitute a "parachute payment" under
Section 280G of the Code (the "Scaled Back Amount"), then the Payments
shall be reduced, in a manner determined by the Employee, to the
Scaled Back Amount, and the Employee shall not be entitled to any
Gross-Up Payment.
(b) An initial determination of (i) whether a Gross-Up Payment is required
pursuant to this Agreement, and, if applicable, the amount of such
Gross-Up Payment or
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(ii) whether the Payments must be reduced to the Scaled Back Amount
and, if so, the amount of such reduction, will be made at the
Company's expense by an accounting firm selected by the Company. The
accounting firm will provide its determination, together with detailed
supporting calculations and documentation, to the Company and the
Employee within ten (10) business days after the date of termination
of Employee's employment, or such other time as may be reasonably
requested by the Company or the Employee. If the accounting firm
determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Employee with respect
to a Payment or Payments, it will furnish the Employee with an opinion
to that effect. If a Gross-Up Payment becomes payable, such Gross-Up
Payment will be paid by the Company to the Employee within thirty (30)
business days of the receipt of the accounting firm's determination.
If a reduction in Payments is required, such reduction shall be
effectuated within thirty (30) business days of the receipt of the
accounting firm's determination. Within ten (10) business days after
the accounting firm delivers its determination to the Employee, the
Employee will have the right to dispute the determination. The
existence of a dispute will not in any way affect the Employee's right
to receive a Gross-Up Payment in accordance with the determination. If
there is no dispute, the determination will be binding, final, and
conclusive upon the Company and the Employee. If there is a dispute,
the Company and the Employee will together select a second accounting
firm, which will review the determination and the Employee's basis for
the dispute and then will render its own determination, which will be
binding, final, and conclusive on the Company and on the Employee for
purposes of determining whether a Gross-Up Payment is required
pursuant to this Section 9(b) or whether a reduction to the Scaled
Back Amount is required, as the case may be. If as a result of any
dispute pursuant to this Section 9(b) a Gross-Up Payment is made or
additional Gross-Up Payments are made, such Gross-Up Payment(s) will
be paid by the Company to the Employee within thirty (30) business
days of the receipt of the second accounting firm's determination. The
Company will bear all costs associated with the second accounting
firm's determination, unless such determination does not result in
additional Gross-Up Payments to the Employee or unless such
determination does not mitigate the reduction in Payments required to
arrive at the Scaled Back Amount, in which case all such costs will be
borne by the Employee.
(c) For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment and, if
applicable, the Scaled Back Amount, the Employee will be deemed to pay
federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income
taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be
made or the Scaled Back Amount is determined, as the case may be, and
applicable state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate
of taxation in the state and locality of the Employee's residence on
the date of termination of Employee's employment, net of the maximum
reduction in federal income taxes that would be obtained from
deduction of those state and local taxes.
(d) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of
the Code, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have
been made by the Company
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should have been made, the Employee's Payments will be reduced to the
Scaled Back Amount when they should not have been or the Employee's
Payments are reduced to a greater extent than they should have been
(an "Underpayment") or Gross-Up Payments are made by the Company which
should not have been made, the Employee's Payments are not reduced to
the Scaled Back Amount when they should have been or they are not
reduced to the extent they should have been (an "Overpayment"). If it
is determined that an Underpayment has occurred, the accounting firm
shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and
any such Underpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in
Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of Employee. If it is determined that an
Overpayment has occurred, the accounting firm shall determine the
amount of the Overpayment that has occurred and any such Overpayment
(together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2) of
the Code) shall be promptly paid by the Employee (to the extent he has
received a refund if the applicable Excise Tax has been paid to the
Internal Revenue Service) to or for the benefit of the Company;
provided, however, that if the Company determines that such repayment
obligation would be or result in an unlawful extension of credit under
Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act, repayment shall not be required.
The Employee shall cooperate, to the extent his expenses are
reimbursed by the Company, with any reasonable requests by the Company
in connection with any contest or disputes with the Internal Revenue
Service in connection with the Excise Tax.
(e) The Employee shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require a payment
resulting in an Underpayment. Such notification shall be given as soon
as practicable but no later than ten (10) business days after the
Employee is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the
Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim
is requested to be paid. The Employee shall not pay such claim prior
to the expiration of the thirty (30) day period following the date on
which he gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period
ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such
claim is due). If the Company notifies the Employee in writing prior
to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such
claim, the Employee shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the
Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the
Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
including, without limitation, accepting legal representation
with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by
the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to
contest such claim, and
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(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceeding relating to
such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all
costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties)
incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold
the Employee harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or
income tax (including related interest and penalties) imposed as a
result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.
Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(e),
the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with
such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all
administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the
taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option,
either direct the Employee to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a refund
or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Employee
agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any
administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one
or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided,
however, that if the Company directs the Employee to pay such claim
and xxx for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such
payment to the Employee, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify
and hold the Employee harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise
Tax or income tax (including related interest or penalties) imposed
with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income
with respect to such advance. The Company's control of the contest
shall be limited to issues that may impact Gross-Up Payments or
reduction in Payments under this Section 9, and the Employee shall be
entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue
raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.
(f) If, after the receipt by the Employee of an amount advanced by the
Company pursuant to Section 9(e), the Employee becomes entitled to
receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Employee shall
(subject to the Company's complying with the requirements of Section
9(e)) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together
with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable
thereto). If, after the receipt by the Employee of an amount advanced
by the Company pursuant to Section 9(e), a determination is made that
the Employee shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such
claim and the Company does not notify the Employee in writing of its
intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of
thirty (30) days after such determination, then such advance shall be
forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid.
10. Non-Delegation of Employee's Rights. The obligations, rights and
benefits of the Employee hereunder are personal and may not be delegated,
assigned or transferred in any manner whatsoever, nor are such obligations,
rights or benefits subject to involuntary alienation, assignment or transfer.
11. Confidential Information. The Employee acknowledges that in his
capacity as an employee of the Company he will occupy a position of trust and
confidence and he further
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acknowledges that he will have access to and learn substantial information about
the Company and its affiliates and their operations that is confidential or not
generally known in the industry including, without limitation, information that
relates to purchasing, sales, customers, marketing, and the Company's and its
affiliates' financial positions and financing arrangements. The Employee agrees
that all such information is proprietary or confidential, or constitutes trade
secrets and is the sole property of the Company and/or its affiliates, as the
case may be. The Employee will keep confidential, and will not reproduce, copy
or disclose to any other person or firm, any such information or any documents
or information relating to the Company's or its affiliates' methods, processes,
customers, accounts, analyses, systems, charts, programs, procedures,
correspondence or records, or any other documents used or owned by the Company
or any of its affiliates, nor will the Employee advise, discuss with or in any
way assist any other person, firm or entity in obtaining or learning about any
of the items described in this Section 11. Accordingly, the Employee agrees that
during the Employment Term and at all times thereafter he will not disclose, or
permit or encourage anyone else to disclose, any such information, nor will he
utilize any such information, either alone or with others, outside the scope of
his duties and responsibilities with the Company and its affiliates.
12. Non-Competition During Employment Term. The Employee agrees that,
during the Employment Term, he will devote such business time, attention and
energies reasonably necessary to the diligent and faithful performance of the
services to the Company and its affiliates, and he will not engage in any way
whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in any business that is a direct competitor
with the Company's or its affiliates' principal business, nor solicit customers,
suppliers or employees of the Company or affiliates on behalf of, or in any
other manner work for or assist any business which is a direct competitor with
the Company's or its affiliates' principal business. For purposes of
clarification, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. and its affiliates
shall not be considered to be competitive with the Company and its affiliates,
for purposes of Section 12 and Section 13 of this Agreement. In addition, during
the Employment Term, the Employee will undertake no planning for or organization
of any business activity competitive with the work he performs as an employee of
the Company, and the Employee will not combine or conspire with any other
employee of the Company or any other person for the purpose of organizing any
such competitive business activity.
13. Non-Competition After Employment Term. The parties acknowledge that as
an executive officer of the Company the Employee will acquire substantial
knowledge and information concerning the business of the Company and its
affiliates as a result of his employment. The parties further acknowledge that
the scope of business in which the Company and its affiliates are engaged as of
the Effective Date is national and very competitive and one in which few
companies can successfully compete. Competition by an executive officer such as
the Employee in that business after the Employment Term is terminated would
severely injure the Company and its affiliates. Accordingly, for a period of one
(1) year after the Employee's employment terminates for any reason whatsoever,
except as otherwise stated herein below, the Employee agrees (a) not to become
an employee, consultant, advisor, principal, partner or substantial shareholder
of any firm or business that directly competes with the Company or its
affiliates in their principal products and markets, and (b), on behalf of any
such competitive firm or business, not to solicit any person or business that
was at the time of such termination and remains a customer or prospective
customer, a supplier or prospective supplier, or an employee of the Company or
an affiliate. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions to the contrary,
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the Employee shall not be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section
13 under the following circumstances:
(a) if the Employee's employment is terminated by the Company without
Cause;
(b) if the Employee's employment is terminated as a result of the
Company's unwillingness to extend the Employment Term;
(c) if the Employee terminates employment for Good Reason; or
(d) if the Employee terminates employment without Good Reason, any time
during the one (1) year period immediately following a Change in
Control.
14. Return of Company Documents. Upon termination of the Employment Term,
Employee shall return immediately to the Company all records and documents of or
pertaining to the Company or its affiliates and shall not make or retain any
copy or extract of any such record or document, and other property of the
Company or its affiliates.
15. Improvements and Inventions. Any and all improvements or inventions,
which the Employee may make or participate in during the Employment Term, unless
wholly unrelated to the business of the Company and its affiliates and produced
not in the scope of Employee's employment hereunder, shall be the sole and
exclusive property of the Company. The Employee will, whenever requested by the
Company, execute and deliver any and all documents which the Company shall deem
appropriate in order to apply for and obtain patents for improvements or
inventions or in order to assign and convey to the Company the sole and
exclusive right, title and interest in and to such improvements, inventions,
patents or applications.
16. Actions. The parties agree and acknowledge that the rights conveyed by
this Agreement are of a unique and special nature and that the Company will not
have an adequate remedy at law in the event of a failure by the Employee to
abide by its terms and conditions nor will money damages adequately compensate
for such injury. It is, therefore, agreed between and hereby acknowledged by the
parties that, in the event of a breach by the Employee of any of his obligations
contained in this Agreement, the Company shall have the right, among other
rights, to damages sustained thereby and to obtain an injunction or decree of
specific performance from any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain or
compel the Employee to perform as agreed herein. The Employee hereby
acknowledges that obligations under Sections 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall
survive the termination of his employment and he shall be bound by their terms
at all times subsequent to the termination of his employment for the periods
specified therein. Nothing herein contained shall in any way limit or exclude
any other right granted by law or equity to the Company.
17. Release. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the
Company will require that, prior to payment of any amount or provision of any
benefit under Section 8 or payment of any Gross-Up Payment pursuant to Section 9
of this Agreement (other than due to the Employee's death), the Employee shall
have executed a complete release of the Company and its affiliates and related
parties in such form as is reasonably required by the Company, and any waiting
periods contained in such release shall have expired.
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18. No Mitigation. The Company agrees that, if the Employee's employment
hereunder is terminated during the Employment Term, the Employee is not required
to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable
to the Employee by the Company hereunder. Further, the amount of any payment or
benefit provided for hereunder (other than pursuant to Section 8(a)(v) hereof)
shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Employee as the result of
employment by another employer, by retirement benefits or otherwise.
19. Entire Agreement and Amendment. This Agreement embodies the entire
agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject
matter of this Agreement, and supersedes and replaces all prior agreements,
understandings and commitments with respect to such subject matter. This
Agreement may be amended only by a written document signed by both parties to
this Agreement.
20. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Florida, excluding any conflicts or
choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or
interpretation of this Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.
Any litigation pertaining to this Agreement shall be adjudicated in courts
located in Xxxxx County, Florida.
21. Successors. In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any
successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether direct
or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to 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 succession
had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as
herein before defined and any such successor that expressly assumes this
Agreement or otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this
Agreement by operation of law.
22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
23. Attorneys' Fees. If any party finds it necessary to employ legal
counsel or to bring an action at law or other proceedings against the other
party to interpret or enforce any of the terms hereof, the party prevailing in
any such action or other proceeding shall be paid by the other party its
reasonable legal fees, court costs, litigation expenses, all as determined by
the court and not a jury; provided, however, that on or after a Change in
Control, if any party finds it necessary to employ legal counsel or to bring an
action at law or other proceedings against the other party to interpret or
enforce any of the terms hereof, the Company shall pay (on an ongoing basis) to
the Employee to the fullest extent permitted by law, all legal fees, court costs
and litigation expenses reasonably incurred by the Employee or others on his
behalf (such amounts collectively referred to as the "Reimbursed Amounts");
provided, further, that the Employee shall reimburse the Company for the
Reimbursed Amounts if it is determined that a majority of the Employee's claims
or defenses were frivolous or without merit.
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24. Severability. If any section, subsection or provision hereof is found
for any reason whatsoever to be invalid or inoperative, that section, subsection
or provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the force and
validity of any other provision of this Agreement. If any covenant herein is
determined by a court to be overly broad thereby making the covenant
unenforceable, the parties agree and it is their desire that such court shall
substitute a reasonable judicially enforceable limitation in place of the
offensive part of the covenant and that as so modified the covenant shall be as
fully enforceable as if set forth herein by the parties themselves in the
modified form. The covenants of the Employee in this Agreement shall each be
construed as an agreement independent of any other provision in this Agreement,
and the existence of any claim or cause of action of the Employee against the
Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute
a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants in this Agreement.
25. Notices. Any notice, request, or instruction to be given hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when personally delivered or three
(3) days after being sent by United States Certified Mail, postage prepaid, with
Return Receipt Requested, to the parties at their respective addresses set forth
below:
To the Company:
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
To the Employee:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
c/o Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
26. Waiver of Breach. The waiver by any party of any provisions of this
Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any prior or
subsequent breach by the other party.
27. Tax Withholding. The Company or an affiliate may deduct from all
compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement any taxes or withholdings
the Company is required to deduct pursuant to state, federal or local laws.
28. Code Section 409A. To the extent applicable, it is intended that this
Agreement and any payment made hereunder shall comply with the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code, and any related regulations or other guidance
promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury
or the Internal Revenue Service ("Code Section 409A"). Any provision that would
cause the Agreement or any payment hereof to fail to satisfy Code Section 409A
shall have no force or effect until amended to comply with Code Section 409A,
which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Code Section 409A.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Agreement to be effective
as of the date first set forth above.
FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------------------
Its: Executive Vice President and
Co-Chief Operating Officer
XXXXXXX X. XXXX
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
----------------------------------------
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