Execution Copy
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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of June 2, 1997, between The ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its principal office at ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ (the "Corporation"), and ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, residing at
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
RECITALS
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A. On April 5, 1993, The ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Companies, Inc. ("▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇")
and certain of its subsidiaries each filed a voluntary petition for relief under
chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the "Code") with the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the "Court").
B. By order, dated April 21, 1997, the Court confirmed that certain
Fourth Amended and Restated Joint Plan of Reorganization for Debtors Pursuant to
Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the "Plan").
C. Up to and including the Effective Date, the Executive has served
as the Chairman, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Sportswear Group of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇,
predecessor-in-interest to the Corporation.
D. The Corporation desires to secure the continued services of the
Executive, and the Executive desires to continue to furnish services to the
Corporation, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
E. In accordance with the Plan and the designations filed with the
Court in connection therewith, the Executive has been appointed to serve on the
Board from and after the Effective Date.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
1. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, the following
terms shall have the respective meanings specified below and be equally
applicable to the singular and plural of terms defined:
(a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(b) "Cause" shall mean (i) conviction by the Executive of a felony,
(ii) perpetration by the Executive of (X) an in illegal act which causes
significant economic injury to the Corporation or (y) a common law fraud against
the Corporation, or (iii) willful violation by the Executive of a specific
written direction from the Board concerning one or more matters of a material
nature for the Corporation or its business or operations (following a warning in
writing in respect thereto from the Board).
(c) "Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of any person or
"group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) acquiring
"beneficial ownership" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the aggregate voting
power of the capital stock of the Corporation, except for any such person or
group that has such beneficial ownership on the Effective Date.
(d) Corporation Senior Managers" shall mean, to the extent that the
following persons are employees of the Corporation during the applicable fiscal
year of the Corporation, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
(e) "Disabled" shall mean, with respect to the Executive, being
physically or mentally disabled, whether totally or partially, so that he is
substantially unable to perform his services hereunder for a consecutive period
of more than six (6) months or for shorter periods aggregating six months during
any twelve-month period.
(f) "EBITDA" shall mean for any fiscal year of the Corporation, the
consolidated earnings (including licensing revenues from the businesses or
products of Hue, Inc.) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of
the Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, as determined pursuant to
generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of
America from time 'to time, provided that for purposes of determining EBITDA
hereunder, EBITDA shall (i) be calculated before determination of the Cash Bonus
Pool (as hereinafter defined), (ii) exclude allocations to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and
Sassco businesses and Transco (as defined in the financial reporting package
periodically presented to the Creditors' Committee) in the Chapter 11 Case of
the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Companies, Inc. and (iii) be increased by $300,000.
(g) "Effective Date" shall mean June 2, 1997.
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(h) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
(i) "Good Reason" shall mean the continuation of any of the
following events for more than ten (10) days after the Corporation's receipt
from the Executive of written notice thereof:
(i) the Executive shall be removed from the position of
President of the Corporation at any time during the Term (other than for
Cause);
(ii) the Executive shall fail to be vested with the powers and
authority of President of the Corporation as described in Section 4(a)
hereof, or the powers and authority of such position or his
responsibilities with respect thereto shall be diminished in any
material respect;
(iii) the Executive shall have assigned to him without his
express written consent any duties, functions, authority or
responsibilities that are inconsistent with the Executive's positions
described in Section 4 hereof;
(iv) the Executive's principal place of employment is changed to
a location more than twenty-five (25) miles from the prior location
without the Executive's prior written consent;
(v) any material failure by the Corporation to fulfill any of
its obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the
failure to make any material payment required to be made by the
Corporation pursuant to Sections 5 and 6 hereof within five (5) business
days after the date such payment is required to be made;
(vi) any purported termination by the Corporation of the
Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by, and in
compliance with all condi tions and procedures of, this Agreement;
(vii) the Corporation shall fail to comply with the provisions
of Section 14 or 19(a) hereof; or
(viii) there shall occur a Change of Control, other than a
Change of Control in connection with, or resulting in whole or part
from, the acquisition by the Ex ecutive or any Affiliate of the
Executive of "beneficial ownership" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the
Exchange Act),
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directly or indirectly, of shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
(j) "Target EBITDA" shall mean (a) for 1997, Five Million Four
Hundred Forty-Three Thousand Dollars ($5,443,000.00) and (b) for all years
thereafter, the targeted EBITDA for the Corporation as a whole established by
the Board in good faith.
2. Employment. The Corporation shall employ the Executive, and the
Executive shall serve the Corporation, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth.
3. Term. Subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
the term of the Executive's employment hereunder shall commence on the Effective
Date and shall continue until the first (1st) anniversary of the Effective Date,
unless earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section 8, 9 or 10
hereof (the "Term").
4. Duties and Extent of Services. During the Term, the Executive
shall serve as President of the Corporation faithfully and to the best of his
ability, and shall devote substantially all of his business time, energy and
skill to such employment, it being understood and agreed that the Executive may
serve on the boards of directors or equivalent governing bodies of other
business corporations or other business organizations; provided, however, that
(i) such other corporations or other organizations are not in direct competition
with the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries and (ii) such service does not
materially interfere with the performance by the Executive of his duties
hereunder. The Executive shall be invested with the duties and authority that
are customarily delegated to a President of a corporation, and shall report to
and be subject to the direction of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
The Executive shall also perform such specific duties and services of a senior
executive nature as the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall request,
including, without limitation, serving as a senior officer and/or director of
any of the Corporation's subsidiaries.
5. Base Salary. During the Term, the Corporation shall pay the
Executive a base salary ("Base Salary") of $400,000, or such higher amount as
the Board may from time to time determine, payable in equal weekly installments.
6. Incentive Compensation. If the Corporation's EBITDA for the
fiscal year is greater than or equal to eighty-five percent (85%) (the "Minimum
Percentage") of Target EBITDA, the Corporation shall pay a bonus ("Cash Bonus
Pool") to the
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Corporation Senior Managers no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after
the end of the fiscal year, in an amount equal to the sum of (x) nine and
six-tenths percent (9.6%) of the Corporation's EBITDA plus (y) two-tenths
percent (0.2%) of the Corporation's EBITDA for each percentage point, if any, of
Target EBITDA by which the Corporation's EBITDA exceeds the Minimum Percentage;
provided, however, that in no event shall the Cash Bonus Pool exceed twelve and
one-half percent (12.5%) of the Corporation's EBITDA. Upon payment of the Cash
Bonus Pool, the Executive shall be entitled to receive a portion thereof in
accordance with the terms and provisions of the understanding by and among the
Corporation Senior Managers.
7. Employee Benefits.
(a) During the Term, the Executive shall receive coverage and/or
benefits under any and all medical insurance, life insurance, long-term
disability insurance and pension plans and other employee benefit plans of the
Corporation generally made available to senior executives of the Corporation
from time to time.
(b) During the Term, the Corporation shall provide (x) the Executive and
members of his immediate family with (i) supplemental disability coverage and
(ii) medical insurance for all medical costs and services incurred by the
foregoing, including costs of dental, vision and custodial care, and (y) an
automobile allowance of $1,140 per month and a clothing allowance of $0 per
month.
(c) The Executive shall be entitled to paid vacations (taken
consecutively or in segments), in accordance with the standard vacation policy
of the Corporation for senior ex ecutives, but in no event less than four (4)
weeks each calendar year during the Term. Such vacations shall be taken at times
consistent with the effective discharge of the Executive's duties.
(d) During the Term, the Executive shall be accorded office facilities
and secretarial assistance commensurate with his position as President of the
Corporation and adequate for the performance of his duties hereunder.
8. Termination -- Death or Disability.
(a) In the event of the termination of the Executive's employment
because of the death of the Executive during the Term, the Corporation shall pay
to any one or more benefi ciaries designated by the Executive pursuant to notice
to the Corporation, or, failing such designation, to the Executive's
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estate, (i) the unpaid Base Salary owing to the Employee through the end of the
month of his death, in a lump sum within five (5) business days after his death,
and (ii) a bonus for the year in which such termination occurs, equal to the
bonus (if any) that would have been paid for such year if no such termination
had occurred, times a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months
in such year through the end of the month in which such termination occurs, and
the denominator of which is twelve (12) (such bonus to be computed and paid at
the time and in the manner specified in Section 6 hereof).
(b) In the event that the Executive shall become Disabled, the
Corporation shall have the right to terminate the Executive's employment
hereunder by giving him written notice of such termination. Upon receipt of such
notice, the Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate. In the event of
such termination, the Corporation shall pay to the Executive (i) the unpaid Base
Salary owing to the Executive through the end of the month of such termination,
in a lump sum within five (5) business days of such termination, and (ii) a
bonus for the year in which such termination occurs, equal to the bonus (if any)
that would have been paid for such year if no such termination had occurred,
times a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in such year
through the end of the month in which such termination occurs, and the
denominator of which is twelve (12) (such bonus to be computed and paid at the
time and in the manner specified in Section 6 hereof).
9. Termination for Cause by Corporation.
(a) The Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated by the
Corporation for Cause upon compliance with the provisions of Section 9(b)
hereof. In the event that Executive's employment hereunder shall validly be
terminated by the Corporation for Cause pursuant to this Section 9(a), the
Corporation shall promptly pay accrued but unpaid Base Salary and reimburse or,
pay any other accrued but unpaid amounts due under sections 6 and 13 hereof as
of the date of termination, and thereafter shall have no further obligations
under this Agree ment. Upon termination of the Executive's employment hereunder
for Cause, the Executive shall nonetheless remain bound by the obligations
provided for in Sections 11 and 12 hereof.
(b) Termination for Cause shall be effected only by action of a majority
of the Board then in office (excluding the Executive) at a meeting duly called
and held upon at least ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Executive
specifying the particulars of the action or inaction alleged to constitute
"Cause" (and at which meeting the Executive and his counsel
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were entitled to be present and given reasonable opportunity to be heard).
10. Termination for Good Reason by the Executive; Severance Payment.
(a) The Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason by providing written notice to the Corporation to such
effect (such termination to be effective on the date specified in such notice,
which date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than thirty (30)days
after date of such notice).
(b) If at any time (i) the Executive terminates his employment for Good
Reason (other than on the grounds of Section 1(i)(viii) hereof) or (ii) the
Corporation terminates the Executive's employment (or fails or declines to
extend the Term) without Cause, then the Corporation shall pay to the Executive,
in lieu of any other amounts that might otherwise have been payable hereunder
(other than pursuant to Sections 6 and 13 hereof), an amount ("Compensation")
equal to the greater of (i) the sum of (x) the aggregate amount which would have
been payable to the Executive had he continued to be employed by the Corporation
as Base Salary through the end of the Term (at the rate in effect as of the date
of termination), (y) the bonus (if any) through the end of the Term, such bonus
to be calculated and paid in the manner described in Section 6 (it being
understood and agreed that, if the end of the Term occurs before the end of a
fiscal year, such bonus will be pro rated through the end of such Term) and (z)
the automobile and clothing allowances provided for hereunder, and (ii) the
aggregate amount (the "Minimum Severance Amount") which would have been payable
to the Executive had he continued to be employed by the Corporation as
Compensation for six (6) months following the date of termination (at the rate
in effect as of the date of termination, in the case of Base Salary), which
Compensation shall in the case of Base Salary be payable within ten (10) days
following such termination; provided, however, that, if the Executive terminates
his employment for Good Reason solely on the grounds of Section 1(i) (viii),
then the Corporation shall pay to the Executive within ten (10) days following
such termination, in lieu of any other amounts that might otherwise have been
payable hereunder (other than pursuant to Sections 6 and 13) the greater of (i)
the Minimum Severance Amount and (ii) the excess, if any, of (x), the aggregate
amount which would have been payable to the Executive had he continued to be
employed by the Corporation as Compensation for one (1) year following the date
of termination (it being understood and agreed that, the bonus portion of
Compensation, in this instance, will be deemed earned, based on Target EBIDTA
for the
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fiscal year in which the Change of Control occurs, if, and only if, the Change
of Control is a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Corporation) over (y) the profit (if any) realized by the
Executive, in connection with the Change of Control giving rise to such
termination, on (aa) options for capital stock of the Corporation or (bb)
capital stock of the Corporation issued upon exercise of such options.
11. Confidential Information. In addition to any other
confidentiality obligation the Executive may have to the Corporation, from and
after the date hereof, and until the end of the original Term, the Executive
shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not use for his
benefit or the benefit of others, any and all confidential information relating
to the Corporation and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, customer
lists, financial plans or projections, pricing policies, marketing plans or
strategies, business acquisition or divestiture plans, new personnel acquisition
plans, designs, and, except in connection with the performance of his duties
hereunder, the Executive shall not disclose any such information to anyone
outside the Corporation and any of its subsidiaries, except as required by law
(provided prior written notice thereof is given by the Executive to the
Corporation) or except with the Corporation's prior written consent, unless such
information is known generally to the public or the trade through sources other
than the Executive's unauthorized disclosure.
12. Competitive Activity. The Executive hereby agrees that, during
his employment hereunder, and, following a termination of his employment other
than termination by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Corporation without
Cause, for the balance of the original Term (if any), the Executive shall not,
without the prior consent of the Board (i) directly or indirectly, engage or be
interested in (as owner, partner, shareholder, employee, director, officer,
agent, consultant or otherwise), with or without compensation, any business
wherever located in the world engaged in the manufacture, distribution, design
marketing or sale of women's apparel, if such business is a material competitor
of the Corporation or (ii) induce or attempt to persuade any employee of the
Corporation or of any subsidiary of the Corporation, or any person who was
employed by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation within the
preceding six months, to leave the employ of the Corporation or any subsidiary
of the Corporation (but the foregoing shall not be deemed to prevent the
Executive in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation from
hiring or dismissing any employee of the Corporation or any subsidiary for the
benefit of the Corporation). Nothing in this Section 12 shall
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prohibit the Executive from acquiring or holding not more than five percent (5%)
of any class of publicly traded securities of any business.
13. Expenses. The Corporation shall reimburse the Executive for all
reasonable, ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by the Executive in the
performance of the Executive's duties hereunder; provided, however, that, in
connection with such reimbursement, the Executive shall account to the
Corporation for such expenses in the manner customarily prescribed by the
Corporation for its senior executives.
14. Directors, and Officers, Insurance; Indemnification. Within
thirty (30) days after the execution and delivery hereof, the Executive shall be
provided with directors' and officers' insurance in connection with his
employment hereunder (and, to the extent contemplated hereby, his service as a
Director) with such coverage (including with respect to unpaid wages and taxes
not remitted when done) as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Executive and
with aggregate limits of liability for all covered officers and directors of not
less than Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00), and the Corporation
shall maintain such insurance in effect for the period of the Executive's
employment hereunder and for not less than five (5) years thereafter; provided,
however, that, in the event that the Corporation shall not obtain such
insurance, it shall provide or cause the Executive to be provided with indemnity
(or a combination of indemnity and directors, and officers, insurance) in
connection with his employment hereunder with substantially equivalent coverage
and amounts, and the Corporation shall maintain such indemnity (or combination
of indemnity and directors' and officers, insurance) or cause such indemnity (or
such combination) to be maintained for the period of the Executive's employment
hereunder and for not less than five (5) years thereafter.
15. No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive shall have no duty to
mitigate the severance amounts or any other amounts payable to the Executive
hereunder and such amounts shall not be subject to reduction for any
compensation received by the Executive from employment in any capacity or other
source following the termination of Executive's employment with the Corporation
and its subsidiaries.
16. Prior Agreements; Amendments; No Waiver. This Agreement contains
the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject
matter hereof. This Agreement may not be changed orally, but only by an
instrument in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any
waiver, change, modification, extension or discharge is sought.
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No failure on the part of either party to exercise, and no delay in exercising,
any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any partial
exercise of any right hereunder preclude any further exercise thereof.
17. Survival of Provisions. The provisions of Sections 11, 12 and 25
shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement as provided
therein. Such provisions are unique and extraordinary, which give them a value
peculiar to the Corporation, and cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated
in damages for its loss and any breach by the Executive of such provisions will
cause the Corporation irreparable injury and damage. Therefore, the Corporation,
in addition to all other remedies available to it, shall be entitled to
injunctive and other available equitable relief in any court of competent
jurisdiction to prevent or otherwise restrain a breach of such provisions for
the purposes of enforcing such provisions.
18. Withholding. The Corporation shall be entitled to withhold from
any and all amounts payable to the Executive hereunder such amounts as may from
time to time be required to be withheld pursuant to applicable tax laws and
regulations.
19. Succession, Assignability and Binding Effect.
(a) The Corporation will require any successor or successors (whether
direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Corporation expressly to
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Corporation would be required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place. Failure of the Corporation to obtain such agreement
prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall constitute Good Reason
for resignation by the Executive.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding
upon the Corporation and its successors and permitted assigns and upon the
Executive and his heirs, execu tors, legal representatives, successors and
permitted assigns; provided, however, that without prejudice to the rights of
the Corporation under Section 19(a) hereof, neither party may assign, transfer,
pledge, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this Agreement or any of
its or his rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the other
party, and any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, encumbrance,
hypothecation or other disposition without such consent shall be null and void
and without effect.
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20. Headings. The paragraph headings contained herein are included
solely for convenience of reference and shall not control or affect the meaning
or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
21. Notices. Any notices or other communications hereunder by either
party shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered personally to the other party or, if sent by registered or certified
mail, upon receipt, to the other party at his or its address set forth at the
beginning of this Agreement or at such other address as such other party may
designate in conformity with the foregoing.
22. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York,
without giving effect to the principles thereof relating to the conflict of
laws.
23. Legal Fees and Expenses. In order to induce the Executive to
enter into this Agreement and to provide the Executive with reasonable assurance
that the purposes of this Agreement will not be frustrated by the cost of its
enforcement, the Corporation shall pay and be solely responsible for any
attorneys' fees and expenses and court costs incurred by the Executive as a
result of the failure by the Corporation to perform this Agreement or any
provision hereof to be performed by it or in connection with any action which
may be brought, by or in the name or for the benefit of the Corporation or any
subsidiary contesting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any
provision hereof to be performed by the Corporation, which action shall have
been dismissed by a final, nonappealable court order.
24. Opportunity to Review. The Executive acknowledged that he has
been given the opportunity to discuss this Agreement, including this Section 24,
with his private legal counsel and has availed himself of that opportunity to
the extent he wishes to do so.
25. Arbitration.
(a) Disputes Subject to Arbitration. In the event that the Corporation
terminates the Executive's employment on the grounds set forth in clause (iii)
of the definition of "Cause", the Corporation and the Executive mutually consent
to the resolution by arbitration of any dispute between the Corporation and the
Executive as to whether such Cause has occurred (a "Dispute"). Unless the
Corporation and the Executive otherwise agree, no other disputes, issues, claims
or controversies
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arising out of the Executive's employment (or its termination), or any other
matter whatsoever, shall be submitted to or resolved by arbitration.
(b) Arbitration Procedures. (i) The Corporation and the Executive agree
that, except as provided in this Agreement, any arbitration shall be in
accordance with the then current Model Employment Arbitration Procedures of the
American Arbitration Association ("AAA") before an arbitrator who is licensed to
practice law in the state in which the arbitration is convened (the
"Arbitrator"). The arbitration shall take place in or near the city in the
Executive is or was last employed by the Corporation.
(ii) Upon designation as a Dispute, the AAA shall give each party a list
of eleven (11) arbitrators drawn from its panel of labor and employment
arbitrators. The Corporation and the Executive may strike all names on the list
which it deems unacceptable. If only one common name remains on the lists of all
parties, said individual shall be designated as the Arbitrator. If more than one
common name remains on the lists of all parties, the parties shall strike names
alternatively until only one remains. If no common name remains on the lists of
all parties, the AAA shall furnish an additional list and the parties shall
alternate striking names on such second list until an arbitrator is selected.
(iii) The Arbitrator shall apply the law of the State of New York
applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly in that state (without
giving effect to the principles thereof relating to conflicts of law). The
Federal Rules of Evidence shall apply. The Arbitrator, and not any federal,
state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any
dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability or formation of the term
"Cause". The Arbitrator shall render a decision within thirty (30) days of the
date upon which the Arbitrator is selected pursuant to Section 25(b)(ii), which
decision shall be final and binding upon the parties. In the event that the
Arbitrator decides that Material insubordination has (x) occurred, then the
Executive's employment shall be deemed to have been terminated for Cause
pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof or (y) not occurred, then the Executive's
employment shall be deemed to have been terminated without Cause pursuant to
Section 10(b) hereof.
(iv) The Arbitrator shall have jurisdiction to hear and rule on
pre-hearing disputes and is authorized to hold
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pre-hearing conferences by telephone or in person as the Arbitrator deems
necessary. The Arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to
dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the
standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
(v) Either party, at its expense, may arrange for and pay the costs of a
court reporter to provide a stenographic report of proceedings.
(vi) Either party, upon request at the close of hearing, shall be given
leave to file a post-hearing brief. The time for filing such a brief shall be
set by the Arbitrator.
(vii) Either party may bring an action in any court of competent
jurisdiction to compel arbitration under this Section 25. Except as otherwise
provided in this Section 25, both the Corporation and the Executive agree that
neither such party shall initiate or prosecute any lawsuit or administrative
action in any way related to any Dispute covered by this Section 25.
(viii) The arbitrator shall render an opinion in the form typically
rendered in labor arbitrations.
(c) Arbitration Fees and Costs. The Corporation and the Executive shall
equally share the fees and costs of the Arbitrator. Each party will deposit
funds or post other appropriate security for its share of the Arbitrator's fee,
in an amount and manner determined by the Arbitrator, ten (10) days before the
first day of hearing. Each party shall pay for its own costs and attorneys'
fees, if any. However, if any party prevails on a statutory claim that affords
the prevailing party attorneys' fees, the Arbitrator may award reasonable fees
to the prevailing party.
(d) Opportunity to Review. The Executive acknowledged that he has been
given the opportunity to discuss this Agreement, including this Section 25, with
his private legal counsel and has availed himself of that opportunity to the
extent he wishes to do so.
(e) Law Governing. The parties agree that the arbitration provisions set
forth in this Section 25 will be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9
U.S.C. 1-16, ("FAA"). The parties further agree that all Disputes, whether
arising under state or federal law, will be subject to the FAA, notwithstanding
any state or local laws to the contrary.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement
on the day and year first above written.
THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ COMPANY, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
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Executive
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