EXHIBIT A
Section 1. Confidential Information. As Participant is an employee of the Company in a position eligible to participate in the Plan, Participant acknowledges that in and as a result of his or her employment with Company, he or she will receive, make use of, acquire, have access to and/or become familiar with various trade secrets and proprietary and confidential information of Company and its Affiliates, including, but not limited to, processes, computer programs, compilations of information, records, financial information, sales reports, sales procedures, customer requirements, pricing techniques, customer lists, methods of doing business, identities, locations, performance and compensation levels of employees and other confidential information which are owned by Company and/or its Affiliates and regularly used in the operation of its business, and as to which Company and/or its Affiliates take precautions to prevent dissemination to persons other than certain directors, officers and employees (collectively, “Trade Secrets”).
Participant promises not to use in any way or disclose any of the Trade Secrets, directly or indirectly, either during or after his or her employment by Company, except as required in the course of his or her employment, if required in connection with a judicial or administrative proceeding, or if the information becomes public knowledge other than as a result of an unauthorized disclosure by Participant. Participant agrees that upon receipt of any subpoena, process or other request to produce or divulge, directly or indirectly, any Trade Secrets to any entity, agency, tribunal or person, whether received during or after the term of Participant’s employment with Company, Participant will timely notify and promptly provide a copy of the subpoena, process or other request to Company. For this purpose, Participant irrevocably nominates and appoints Company (including any attorney retained by Company), as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact, to act in Participant’s name, place and stead to perform any reasonable and prudent act that Participant might perform to defend and protect against any disclosure of any Trade Secrets.
The parties agree that the above restrictions on confidentiality and disclosure are completely severable and independent agreements supported by good and valuable consideration and, as such, will survive the termination of this Plan Agreement for whatever reason. The parties further agree that any invalidity or unenforceability of any one or more of such restrictions on confidentiality and disclosure will not render invalid or unenforceable any remaining restrictions on confidentiality and disclosure. Additionally, should an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction determine that the scope of any provision of this Section 1 is too broad to be enforced as written, the parties intend that the court reform the provision to such narrower scope as it determines to be reasonable and enforceable.
Section 2. Agreement Not to Solicit Employees. Participant covenants and agrees that during Participant’s employment with Company and thereafter during the Restricted Period, Participant will not, on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any other person, partnership, association, corporation, or other entity, (a) directly, indirectly, or through a third party hire, cause to be hired or solicit any employee of Company or its Affiliates or (b) in any manner attempt to influence or induce any employee of Company or its Affiliates to leave the employment of Company or its Affiliates, nor will he or she use or disclose to any person, partnership, association, corporation or other entity any information concerning the names and addresses of any employees of Company or its Affiliates. The restrictions contained in this Section 3 will be tolled on a day-for-day basis for each day during which Participant participates in any activity in violation of such restriction.
The parties agree that the above restrictions on the solicitation of employees are completely severable and independent agreements supported by good and valuable consideration and, as such, will survive the termination of this Plan Agreement for whatever reason. The parties further agree that any invalidity or unenforceability of any one or more of such restrictions on the solicitation of employees will not render invalid or unenforceable any remaining restrictions on the solicitation of employees. Additionally, should an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction determine that the scope of any provision of this Section 3 is too broad to be enforced as written, the parties intend that the court reform the provision to such narrower scope as it determines to be reasonable and enforceable.
Section 3. Nondisparagement. Participant covenants and agrees that he or she will not make any public statements, comments, or communications in any form, oral, written, or electronic (all of the foregoing, for purposes of this paragraph, “Communications”), which in any way could constitute libel, slander, or disparagement of Company, its Affiliates, its and/or their employees, officers, and/or directors, or which may be considered to be derogatory or detrimental to its or their good name or business.
Section 4. Reasonableness of Restrictions. Participant agrees that Participant and Company are engaged in a highly competitive business and, due to Participant’s position with Company and the nature of Participant’s work, Participant’s engaging in any business that is competitive with that of Company will cause Company great and irreparable harm. Participant represents and warrants that the restrains created and the time, scope and geographic area restricted by the foregoing Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 pertaining to confidential information, non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-disparagement are reasonable, that the enforcement of the restrictions contained in such Sections would not be unduly burdensome to Participant, and that Participant will be able to earn a reasonable living while abiding by the terms included herein. Participant agrees that the restraints created by the covenants in Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 pertaining to confidential information, non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-disparagement are not outweighed by either the hardship to Participant or any injury likely to the public. If any arbitrator or court determines that any portion of this Exhibit A is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Exhibit A will not thereby be affected and will be given full effect without regard to the invalid provisions. If any court construes any of the provisions of this Exhibit A, or any part thereof, to be unreasonable because of the duration or scope of such provision, such court will have the power to reduce the duration or scope of such provision and to enforce such provision as so reduced.
