EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made as of this 2nd day of
January, 2001, by and between Alain Briancon (the "Employee"), and InterDigital
Communications Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of the design
and development of advanced wireless technologies and products that drive voice
and data communications and the licensing of wireless digital technology and
patents, as such business may be redefined from time to time and described as
such in the Company's then current Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Business").
WHEREAS, the Company has offered Employee employment as
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, and Employee is willing
to accept such offer, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
obligations contained herein, and intending to be legally bound, the parties,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, agree as follows:
1. Employment and Term. The Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby
accepts employment with the Company, as Executive Vice President and Chief
Technology Officer of the Company (such position, Employee's "Position") for a
period commencing on January 2, 2001 and continuing until employment hereunder
is terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof (the "Term").
2. Duties. During the term of his employment, Employee shall serve the Company
faithfully and to the best of his ability and shall devote his full time,
attention, skill and efforts to the performance of the duties required by or
appropriate for his Position. Employee agrees to assume such duties and
responsibilities as may be customarily incident to such position, and as may be
assigned to Employee from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. Employee shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
3. Other Business Activities. During the Term, Employee will not, without the
prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly engage in any other
business activities or pursuits whatsoever, except activities in connection with
any charitable or civic activities, personal investments and serving as an
executor, trustee or in other similar fiduciary capacity; provided, however,
that such activities do not interfere with his performance of his
responsibilities and obligations pursuant to this Agreement.
4. Compensation.
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A. Base Salary. The Company shall pay Employee, and Employee hereby
agrees to accept, as compensation for all services rendered hereunder and for
Employee's covenant not to compete as provided for in Section 8 hereof, a base
salary at the annual rate of Two Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand Dollars
(subject to any increase from time to time in accordance with Company
compensation policies, the "Base Salary"). The Base Salary shall be inclusive of
all applicable income, social security and other taxes and charges which are
required by law to be withheld by the Company or which are requested to be
withheld by Employee, and which shall be withheld and paid in accordance with
the Company's normal payroll practice for its similarly situated employees from
time to time in effect.
B. Signing Bonus. Employee shall be paid a signing bonus of Forty
Thousand Dollars ($40,000) provided that Employee shall continue in the employ
of the Company through February 2, 2001. Nothing in this provision shall be
construed to alter Employee's status as an employee at will.
C. Annual Incentive Bonus. Employee shall be eligible to participate in
the Company's Employee Incentive Bonus Plan, as amended from time to time (the "
Bonus Plan"), on the terms and conditions no less favorable than those provided
to the other Company senior and executive officers. For the Year 2001, Employee
shall have a target bonus level of 45%, based on the achievement of business and
personal goals to be set by the Board of Directors. The bonus shall be subject
to the terms of the Bonus Plan, as amended from time to time.
D. Stock Options. Effective on the first date of Employee's employment
with the Company, Employee will be granted non-qualified options to purchase
50,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price equal to the
closing market price on the NASDAQ of the Company's common stock on the date of
grant as reported in the Wall Street Journal ("FMV"). Such options shall be
granted pursuant to, and shall be governed by, the terms and conditions of the
Company's 2000 Stock Award and Incentive Plan and the terms and conditions in
effect thereunder (together, the "Incentive Plan") under which such options are
granted. Subject to such terms and conditions of the Incentive Plan, the stock
options shall vest as follows:
June 30, 2001 8,333 shares
December 31, 2001 8,333 shares
June 30, 2002 8,333 shares
December 31, 2002 8,333 shares
June 30, 2003 8,334 shares
December 31, 2003 8,334 shares
5. Benefits and Expenses.
A. Company Plan Participation. Employee and his dependants shall be
entitled to receive those employee benefits (including without limitation
medical plan, dental plan, optional 401K participation and expense
reimbursement) as shall be provided to similarly situated executive employees of
the Company ("Benefits").
B. Vacation. Employee will be entitled to 23 days PTO (Paid Time Off)
with the ability to carry over any unused PTO earned in a given year to the
following year.
C. Tax Gross-Up. In the event any amount or benefit payable to the
Employee under this Agreement or under any other plan, agreement or arrangement
applicable to the Employee, is subject to an excise tax imposed under Section
4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") (or imposed
under any successor provision of the Code imposing a tax liability on "excess
parachute payments" as that term is defined in Code Section 280G), Employee
shall be entitled, in addition to any other amounts payable under the terms of
this Agreement or under any other plan, agreement or arrangement applicable to
the Employee, to a cash payment in an amount sufficient to indemnify the
Employee (or such other person as may be liable for the payment of such excise
tax) for the amount of any such excise tax, and leaving Grantee with an amount,
net after all federal, state and local taxes, equal to the amount Grantee would
have had if no portion of his benefit under the Plan constituted an "excess
parachute payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the determination of the
amount necessary to indemnify the Employee shall be made taking into account all
other payments made to the Employee under any plans, agreements or arrangements
aside from this Agreement that are intended to indemnify the Employee with
respect to excise taxes on "excess parachute payments." Any disputes as to
calculations to be made under this paragraph shall be resolved by the Company's
independent auditors, whose determinations shall be final and binding.
6. Confidentiality. Employee recognizes and acknowledges that the Proprietary
Information (as hereinafter defined) is a valuable, special and unique asset of
the Business of the Company. As a result, both during the Term and thereafter,
Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, for any
reason either directly or indirectly divulge to any third-party or use for his
own benefit, or for any purpose other than the exclusive benefit of the Company,
any confidential, proprietary, business and technical information or trade
secrets of the Company or of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company
("Proprietary Information") revealed, obtained or developed in the course of his
employment with the Company. Such Proprietary Information shall include, but
shall not be limited to, the intangible personal property described in Section
7(b) hereof, any information relating to methods of production and manufacture,
research, computer codes or instructions (including source and object code
listings, program logic algorithms, subroutines, modules or other subparts of
computer programs and related documentation, including program notation),
computer processing systems and techniques, concepts, layouts, flowcharts,
specifications, know-how, any associated user or service manuals or other like
textual materials (including any other data and materials used in performing the
Employee's duties), all computer inputs and outputs (regardless of the media on
which stored or located), hardware and software configurations, designs,
architecture, interfaces, plans, sketches, blueprints, and any other materials
prepared by the Employee in the course of, relating to or arising out of his
employment by the Company, or prepared by any other Company employee,
representative, or contractor for the Company, or its customers, costs, business
studies, business procedures, finances, marketing data, methods, plans and
efforts, the identities of licensees, strategic partners, customers, contractors
and suppliers and prospective licensees, strategic partners, customers,
contractors and suppliers, the terms of contracts and agreements with licensees,
strategic partners, customers, contractors and suppliers, the Company's
relationship with actual and prospective licensees, strategic partners,
customers, contractors and suppliers and the needs and requirements of, and the
Company's course of dealing with, any such actual or prospective licensees,
strategic partners, customers, contractors and suppliers, personnel information,
customer and vendor credit information, and any other materials that have not
been made available to the general public, provided, that nothing herein
contained shall restrict Employee's ability to make such disclosures during the
course of his employment as may be necessary or appropriate to the effective and
efficient discharge of the duties required by or appropriate for his Position or
as such disclosures may be required by law; and further provided, that nothing
herein contained shall restrict Employee from divulging or using for his own
benefit or for any other purpose any Proprietary Information that is readily
available to the general public so long as such information did not become
available to the general public as a direct or indirect result of Employee's
breach of this Section 6. Failure by the Company to mark any of the Proprietary
Information as confidential or proprietary shall not affect its status as
Proprietary Information under the terms of this Agreement.
7. Property.
A. Ownership. All right, title and interest in and to Proprietary
Information shall be and remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company
(or its partners, customers, vendors, etc., as the case may be). During the
Term, Employee shall not remove from the Company's offices or premises any
documents, records, notebooks, files, correspondence, reports, memoranda or
similar materials of or containing Proprietary Information, or other materials
or property of any kind belonging to the Company unless necessary or appropriate
in accordance with the duties and responsibilities required by or appropriate
for his Position and, in the event that such materials or property are removed,
all of the foregoing shall be returned to their proper files or places of
safekeeping as promptly as possible after the removal shall serve its specific
purpose. Employee shall not make, retain, remove and/or distribute any copies of
any of the foregoing for any reason whatsoever except as may be necessary in the
discharge of his assigned duties and shall not divulge to any third person the
nature of and/or contents of any of the foregoing or of any other oral or
written information to which he may have access or with which for any reason he
may become familiar, except as disclosure shall be necessary in the performance
of his duties; and upon the termination of his employment with the Company, he
shall leave with or return to the Company all originals and copies of the
foregoing then in his possession, whether prepared by Employee or by others.
B. Assignment
(i) Employee agrees that all right, title and interest in and
to any innovations, designs, systems, analyses, ideas for marketing programs,
and all copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade names, or similar intangible
personal property which have been or are developed or created in whole or in
part by Employee (1) at any time and at any place while the Employee is employed
by Company and which, in the case of any or all of the foregoing, are related to
and used in connection with the Business of the Company, (2) as a result of
tasks assigned to Employee by the Company, or (3) from the use of premises or
personal property (whether tangible or intangible) owned, leased or contracted
for by the Company (collectively, the "Intellectual Property"), shall be and
remain forever the sole and exclusive property of the Company. The Employee
shall promptly disclose to the Company all Intellectual Property, and the
Employee shall have no claim for additional compensation for the Intellectual
Property.
(ii) The Employee acknowledges that all the Intellectual
Property that is copyrightable shall be considered a work made for hire under
United States Copyright Law. To the extent that any copyrightable Intellectual
Property may not be considered a work made for hire under the applicable
provisions of the United States Copyright Law, or to the extent that,
notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Employee may retain an interest in
any Intellectual Property that is not copyrightable, the Employee hereby
irrevocably assigns and transfers to the Company any and all right, title, or
interest that the Employee may have in the Intellectual Property under
copyright, patent, trade secret and trademark law, in perpetuity or for the
longest period otherwise permitted by law, without the necessity of further
consideration. The Company shall be entitled to obtain and hold in its own name
all copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and trademarks with respect thereto.
(iii) Employee further agrees to reveal promptly all
information relating to the same to an appropriate officer of the Company and to
cooperate with the Company and execute such documents as may be necessary or
appropriate (1) in the event that the Company desires to seek copyright, patent
or trademark protection, or other analogous protection, thereafter relating to
the Intellectual Property, and when such protection is obtained, to renew and
restore the same, or (2) to defend any opposition proceedings in respect of
obtaining and maintaining such copyright, patent or trademark protection, or
other analogous protection.
(iv) In the event the Company is unable after reasonable
effort to secure Employee's signature on any of the documents referenced in
Section 7.1(iii) hereof, whether because of Employee's physical or mental
incapacity or for any other reason whatsoever, Employee hereby irrevocably
designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents
as Employee's agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in his behalf and stead
to execute and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted
acts to further the prosecution and issuance of any such copyright, patent or
trademark protection, or other analogous protection, with the same legal force
and effect as if executed by Employee.
8. Covenant Not to Compete. The Employee shall not, during the Term and
thereafter for the Restricted Period (as defined below), do any of the
following, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the
Company:
A. engage or participate in any business activity competitive with the
Company's Business, or the business of any of the Company's subsidiaries or
affiliates, as same are conducted during the Term with respect to any period
during the Term, or upon the termination of Employee's employment hereunder with
respect to any period thereafter;
B. become interested in (as owner, stockholder, lender, partner,
co-venturer, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant or otherwise) any
person, firm, corporation, association or other entity engaged in any business
that is competitive with the Business of the Company or of any subsidiary or
affiliate of the Company as conducted during the Term with respect to any period
during the Term, or upon the termination of Employee's employment hereunder with
respect to any period thereafter, or become interested in (as owner,
stockholder, lender, partner, co-venturer, director, officer, employee, agent,
consultant or otherwise) any portion of the business of any person, firm,
corporation, association or other entity where such portion of such business is
competitive with the business of the Company or of any subsidiary or affiliate
of the Company as conducted during the Term with respect to any period during
the Term, or upon termination of Employee's employment hereunder with respect to
any period thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may hold not more
than one percent (1%) of the outstanding securities of any class of any
publicly-traded securities of a company that is engaged in activities referenced
in Section 7(a) hereof;
C. influence or attempt to influence any licensee, strategic partner,
supplier, or customer of the Company or potential licensee, strategic partner,
supplier or customer of the Company to terminate or modify any written or oral
agreement or course of dealing with the Company; or
D. influence or attempt to influence any person to either (i) terminate
or modify his employment, consulting, agency, distributorship or other
arrangement with the Company, or (ii) employ or retain, or arrange to have any
other person or entity employ or retain, any person who has been employed or
retained by the Company as an employee, consultant, agent or distributor of the
Company at any time during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding
the termination of Employee's employment hereunder.
For purposes of this Agreement, the Restricted Period shall constitute
(as applicable) (i) the period, if any, that Employee shall receive
severance as set forth in Section 9 hereof, (ii) in the event
Employee's employment hereunder is terminated for cause pursuant to
Section 9.2 hereof, a period of one (1) year following such
termination, or (iii) in the event that Employee terminates this
Agreement without Good Reason, so long as the Company voluntarily pays
severance to Employee (which the Company shall be under no obligation
to do), for the period that Employee shall receive such severance, but
in no event for a period longer than one (1) year. In the case of (iii)
above, Employee's termination notice shall specify the name of any
employer that Employee intends to accept employment with and the nature
of the proposed position. Company shall render its decision whether or
not to enforce the Restricted Period and notify Employee thereof within
thirty days of Employee's notice of termination to Company.
9. Termination. Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated during the
Term upon the occurrence of any one of the events described in this Section 9.
Upon termination, Employee shall be entitled only to such compensation and
benefits as described in this Section 9.
A. Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate Employee's
employment hereunder at any time, for Good Reason or without Good Reason,
effective upon the date designated by Employee in written notice of the
termination of his employment hereunder pursuant to this Section 9.1. For
purposes of this Agreement, Good Reason shall mean the failure by the Company to
pay in a timely manner base salary or any other material form of compensation or
material Benefit to be paid or provided to Employee which failure is not cured
within ten (10) business days after notice to Company. In the event of a
termination of Employee's employment hereunder pursuant to this Section 9.1,
this Agreement shall terminate effective upon receipt by Company of Employee's
notice of termination. In such event, Employee's rights to compensation and
benefits hereunder shall terminate as of the date of termination, except that
Employee shall be entitled to the accrued and unpaid base salary, employee
benefits (including expense reimbursement) as provided herein ("Benefits") and
other forms of compensation and bonus payable herein ("Other Compensation") up
through the date of termination. In addition, solely if such termination is for
Good Reason and provided Employee signs Company's standard form termination
letter as provided for in Section 10 below, Employee shall be entitled to
receive (i) severance in an amount equal to the Employee's base salary, and (ii)
medical and dental coverage on terms and conditions comparable to those most
recently provided to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement, both for the
period of twelve (12) months commencing upon the date of such termination.
Except as specifically set forth in this Section 9.1, all base salary, Benefits
and Other Compensation shall cease at the time of such termination, subject to
the terms of any benefit or compensation plan then in force and applicable to
Employee. Except as specifically set forth in this Section 9.1, the Company
shall have no liability or obligation to Employee or any other person claiming
under or through him by reason of such termination.
B. Termination for Cause. If Company terminates Employee's employment
for Cause, then this Agreement shall terminate immediately and Employee's rights
to compensation and benefits hereunder shall terminate as of the date of
termination, except that Employee shall be entitled to the accrued and unpaid
portion of his base salary, Benefits and Other Compensation up through the date
of termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Cause" shall mean (i)
any material breach of Employee's employment obligations, which breach remains
uncured seven (7) days after written notice of such breach from the Company, or
(ii) Employee commits an act or omission which results in or is intended to
result in gain or personal enrichment of Employee at the expense of Company; or
(iii) an act by Employee involving any type of willful misconduct with respect
to the Company, including without limitation fraud, embezzlement, theft or
proven dishonesty in the course of his employment; or (iv) during the term of
Employee's employment, Employee's conviction of a felony. Except as specifically
set forth in this Section 9.2, the Company shall have no liability or obligation
to Employee or any other person claiming under or through him by reason of such
termination.
C. Termination on Death. If Employee dies, then this Agreement shall
terminate immediately and Employee's rights to compensation and benefits
hereunder shall terminate as of the date of death, except that Employee's
executors, legal representatives or administrators shall be entitled to the
accrued and unpaid portion of his base salary, Benefits and Other Compensation
up through the date of death. Except as specifically set forth in this Section
9.3, the Company shall have no liability or obligation hereunder to Employee's
executors, legal representatives, administrators, heirs or assigns or any other
person claiming under or through him by reason of Employee's death, except that
Employee's executors, legal representatives, administrators, or beneficiaries
will be entitled to receive the payment prescribed under any life, death or
disability benefits plan in which he is a participant as an employee of the
Company, and to exercise any rights afforded under any compensation or benefit
plan then in effect.
D. Termination on Disability. In the event of a long-term disability of
the Employee (as such term is defined in the Company's Long-Term Disability
Plan) such that the Employee is not otherwise qualified to perform the essential
functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation ("Disability"),
Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company. In such event,
this Agreement shall terminate on the date of termination and Employee will be
entitled to receive all accrued and unpaid base salary and Benefits and Other
Compensation, including payments prescribed under any disability insurance plan
or arrangement in which Employee is a participant. Except as specifically set
forth in this Section 9.4, the Company shall have no liability or obligation to
Employee or any other person claiming under or through him by reason of
Employee's disability or such termination.
E. Termination Without "Cause". The Company may terminate Employee's
employment hereunder at any time, for any reason, without cause, effective upon
the date designated by the Company. In the event Company terminates Employee's
employment without Cause or Disability, as set forth above, this Agreement shall
terminate on the date of termination and Employee shall be entitled to receive
all accrued but unpaid base salary, Benefits and Other Compensation up to the
date of termination. In addition, provided Employee signs Company's standard
form termination letter as provided for in Section 7 below, Employee shall be
entitled to receive (i) severance in an amount equal to the Employee's base
salary, and (ii) medical and dental coverage on terms and conditions comparable
to those most recently provided to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement, both
for the period of twelve (12) months commencing upon the date of such
termination. Such severance shall be inclusive of all applicable income, social
security and other taxes and charges which are required by law to be withheld by
the Company and shall be withheld and paid in accordance with the Company's
normal payroll practice for its employees from time to time in effect. Except as
specifically set forth in this Section 9.5, the Company shall have no liability
or obligation to Employee or any other person claiming under or through him by
reason of such termination.
F. Termination for Absenteeism
(i) Regular attendance at work or in conducting work is an
essential element of Employee's job. Without limiting the Company's right to
terminate Employee pursuant to Section 9.2 or 9.4 herein, in the event that
Employee is absent for more than one hundred and fifty (150) days within any
twelve (12) month period, Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated by
Company.
(ii) In the event of a termination of Employee's employment
hereunder pursuant to Section 9.6(a), Employee will be entitled to receive all
accrued and unpaid (as of the date of such termination) base salary and Benefits
and Other Compensation, including payments prescribed under any disability or
life insurance plan or arrangement in which Employee is a participant or to
which Employee is a party as an employee of the Company. In addition, provided
Employee signs Company's standard form termination letter as provided for in
Section 10 below, Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) severance in an
amount equal to the Employee's base salary, and (ii) medical and dental coverage
on terms and conditions comparable to those most recently provided to the
Employee pursuant to this Agreement (to the extent such coverage is not provided
under other Company policies, plans or programs relating to Disability), both
for the period of twelve (12) months commencing upon the date of such
termination. Such severance amounts shall be reduced by the amount of payments
received by the Employee with respect to this period pursuant to any Social
Security entitlement or any long term disability or any other employee benefit
plan, policy or program maintained to provide benefits in the event of
disability in which the Employee was entitled to participate at the time of
termination under Section 9.6(a). Except as specifically set forth in this
Section 9.6(b), the Company shall have no liability or obligation to Employee
for compensation or benefits hereunder by reason of such termination.
G. Change of Control.
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(i) If there is a Change of Control during the Term, and
Employee's employment with the Company hereunder is terminated within one (1)
year following such Change of Control by the Company (except for cause) or by
Employee (whether or not for Good Reason) and provided Employee signs Company's
standard form termination letter as provided for in Section 10 below, Employee
shall be entitled to receive all accrued but unpaid (as of the effective date of
such termination) base salary, Benefits and Other Compensation. In addition, (i)
Employee shall be entitled to receive, on the date of such termination, an
amount equal to (a) two (2) years' worth of Employee's base salary, and (b) 100%
of the target annual bonus; and (ii) all stock options granted to Employee by
Company which pursuant to the terms of the applicable Option Plan vest upon a
Change in Control shall vest, and (iii) all restrictions on restricted stock and
RSUs, to the extent the Company in its sole discretion subsequently grants such
securities, which pursuant to the terms of the applicable restricted stock plan
lift (including as to vesting) shall be lifted. Except as specifically set forth
in this Section 9.7, all base salary, Benefits and Other Compensation shall
cease at the time of such termination, subject to the terms of any benefit or
compensation plans then in force and applicable to Employee, and the Company
shall have no liability or obligation hereunder by reason of such termination.
(ii) For purposes of this Section 9.7, a "Change of Control"
means the acquisition (including by merger or consolidation, or by the issuance
by the Company of its securities) by one or more persons in one transaction or a
series of related transactions, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting
power represented by the outstanding stock of the Company on the date hereof or
a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company. For these purposes,
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture,
association, trust, unincorporated association, other entity or association.
10. Termination Letter. As a condition precedent to the Company's payment of
severance and continuation of medical and dental insurance coverage pursuant to
Sections 9.1, 9.5, 9.6 and 9.7 above, Employee must sign and deliver to Company
termination letter, without revocation, which includes a broad-based employment
release (containing, without limitation, a release of claims for age
discrimination), an obligation to return Company property and a reiteration of
Employee's confidentiality obligations, within the time frame specified in the
termination letter.
11. Company Understanding. The Company does not want to benefit from any
proprietary or other information, in any form, that Employee is under a duty not
to use or divulge, whether it be from Employee's current employer or any other
person or entity. Accordingly and as a condition of employment hereunder,
Employee is instructed not to violate the terms of any such restriction or
otherwise breach said duty. In furtherance thereof, and without limiting other
action, Employee represents and warrants to the Company that:
A. There are no restrictions, agreements or understandings whatsoever
to which Employee is a party which would prevent or make unlawful Employee's
execution of this Agreement or Employee's employment hereunder, or which are or
would be inconsistent or in conflict with this Agreement or Employee's
employment hereunder, or would prevent, limit or impair in any way the
performance by Employee of his obligations hereunder,
B. Employee's execution of this Agreement and Employee's employment
hereunder shall not constitute a breach of any contract, agreement or
understanding, oral or written, to which Employee is a party or by which
Employee is bound, and
C. Employee is free to execute this Agreement and to enter into the
employ of the Company pursuant to the provisions set forth herein.
12. Survival of Provisions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, all representations, warranties, obligations of performance,
statements, responsibilities, indemnities, terms or conditions impliedly or
expressly involving performance subsequent to the expiration or termination of
this Agreement, or which cannot be determined to have been fully performed until
after such time, or which by a fair reading of their nature are intended to
survive shall be deemed to survive. If for any reason Employee shall continue to
be employed by the Company following the termination of Employee's employment
under this Agreement, Employee shall have no right to receive any severance or
other payments hereunder until Employee ceases to be employed by the Company,
whereupon Employee's right to severance or other payments, if any, shall be
governed by the provisions of Section 9 hereof with respect to the particular
circumstances involved in the Employee's termination of employment.
13. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and Employee and their respective successors,
executors, administrators, heirs and/or permitted assigns; provided, however,
that neither Employee nor the Company may make any assignments of this Agreement
or any interest herein, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior
written consent of the other parties hereto.
14. Employee Benefits. This Agreement shall not be construed to be in lieu or to
the exclusion of any other rights, benefits and privileges to which Employee may
be entitled as an employee of the Company under any retirement, pension,
profit-sharing, insurance, hospital or other plans or benefits which may now be
in effect or which may hereafter be adopted.
15. Notice. Any notice or communication required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be made in writing and sent by certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested, by hand delivery, or by recognized overnight courier,
addressed as follows:
If to Employee:
Alain Briancon
c/o InterDigital Communications Corporation
2 Huntington Quadrangle
Melville, N.Y. 11747
If to Company:
InterDigital Communications Corporation
781 Third Avenue
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
Attn: Howard E. Goldberg, CEO
or to such other address as either party may from time to time
duly specify by notice given to the other party n the manner
specified above.
16. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
and understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof,
and merges and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous discussions, agreements
and understandings of every nature between the parties hereto relating to the
employment of Employee with the Company excepting the non-disclosure agreement
and the Statement of Ethics signed by Employee at the commencement of Employee's
employment with the Company, various forms related to the commencement of
Employee's employment with the Company and Employee's participation in employee
benefit plans offered by the Company (including, without limitation, option and
restricted stock agreements), and agreements to be bound by Company policies to
the extent that these other agreements do not conflict with the terms of this
Agreement.. This Agreement may not be changed or modified, except by an
Agreement in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
17. Waiver. The waiver of the breach of any term or provision of this Agreement
shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent
breach of this Agreement.
18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
19. Invalidity. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
the validity of any other provision of this Agreement, and such provision(s)
shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
20. Section Headings. The section headings in this Agreement are for convenience
only; they form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its
interpretation.
21. Number of Days. In computing the number of days for purposes of this
Agreement, all days shall be counted, including Saturdays, Sundays and legal
holidays; provided, however, that if the final day of any time period falls on a
Saturday, Sunday or day which is a holiday in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
then such final day shall be deemed to be the next day which is not a Saturday,
Sunday or legal holiday.
22. Specific Enforcement; Extension of Period.
A. Employee acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Sections 6,
7, and 8 hereof are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests
of the Company and its affiliates and that the Company would not have entered
into this Agreement in the absence of such restrictions. Employee also
acknowledges that any breach by him of Sections 6, 7, and 8 hereof will cause
continuing and irreparable injury to the Company for which monetary damages
would not be an adequate remedy. The Employee shall not, in any action or
proceeding to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, assert the claim
or defense that an adequate remedy at law exists. In the event of such breach by
Employee, the Company shall have the right to enforce the provisions of Sections
6, 7, and 8 of this Agreement by seeking injunctive or other relief in any
court, and this Agreement shall not in any way limit remedies of law or in
equity otherwise available to the Company. If an action at law or in equity is
necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing
party shall be entitled to recover, in addition to any other relief, reasonable
attorneys' fees, costs and disbursements. In the event that the provisions of
Sections 6, 7, and 8 hereof should ever be adjudicated to exceed the time,
geographic, or other limitations permitted by applicable law in any applicable
jurisdiction, then such provisions shall be deemed reformed in such jurisdiction
to the maximum time, geographic, or other limitations permitted by applicable
law.
B. In the event that Employee shall be in breach of any of the
restrictions contained in Section 8 hereof, then the Restricted Period shall be
extended for a period of time equal to the period of time that Employee is in
breach of such restriction.
23. Consent to Suit. Any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement shall be instituted in the District Court of the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania, or if such court does not have jurisdiction or will not accept
jurisdiction, in any court of general jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and the Employee hereby consents to the personal and exclusive
jurisdiction of such court and hereby waives any objection that the Employee may
have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding and any claim or defense of
inconvenient forum.
24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall be
deemed to be one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to
be executed the day and year first written above.
ATTEST: INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS
CORPORATION
By: /s/Jane Schultz By: /s/Howard E Goldberg
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Title: Asst. Secr. Title: President & CEO
Alain Briancon
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ALAIN BRIANCON