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EXHIBIT 10.4
FORM: CONTROLLER TREASURER
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into this
1st day of January, 2001, but is effective for all purposes as of the
Commencement Date (as hereinafter defined), by and between HORNBECK-LEEVAC
MARINE OPERATORS, INC., a Delaware corporation, (the "Employer"), and PAUL M.
ORDOGNE, residing at 3051 Walden Place, Mandeville, Louisiana 70448 (the
"Employee").
WITNESSETH:
1. Employment. Employer hereby employs Employee, and Employee hereby
accepts such employment, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement. Employee shall be employed by Employer but may serve (and if
requested by Employer shall serve) as an officer and/or director of its parent,
HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), or any
subsidiary or affiliate of Employer or Parent.
2. Term. The term of employment under this Agreement shall commence on
January 1, 2001 (the "Commencement Date") and shall continue through December
31, 2003; provided, however, that beginning on January 1, 2004, and on every
second January 1 thereafter (each a "Renewal Date"), the term of this Agreement
shall automatically be extended two additional years unless either party gives
the other written notice of termination at least ninety (90) days prior to any
such Renewal Date. Written notice by Employer shall be solely pursuant to duly
adopted resolution of Employer's or Parent's board of directors or, at such time
as Parent is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, the compensation committee of Parent's board of
directors. If Employee is terminated by Employer pursuant to such notice of
nonrenewal, Employer shall pay to Employee as severance pay an amount equal to
one half of Employee's basic annualized salary for the year preceding such
termination and shall continue Employee's medical insurance and other benefits
for six months following such termination. Employee shall have no further rights
or obligations hereunder.
3. Compensation and Benefits.
(a) Employer shall pay to Employee as compensation for all
services rendered by Employee a basic annualized salary of $116,000
during the initial two (2) year term of this Agreement (the "Basic
Salary"), or such other sums as the parties may agree on from time to
time, payable semi-monthly or in other more frequent installments, as
determined by the Board (as hereinafter defined). The compensation
committee of the board of directors of Parent, by providing direction
through the board of directors of Employer (collectively, the board of
directors of Parent, the compensation committee of Parent and the board
of directors of Employer are referred to as the "Board") shall have the
right to increase Employee's compensation from time to time and
Employee shall be entitled to an annual review thereof or more
frequently as determined by the Board. In addition, the Board, in its
discretion, may, with respect to any year during the term hereof, award
a bonus or bonuses to Employee.
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The compensation provided for in this Section 3(a) shall be in addition
to any pension or profit sharing payments set aside or allocated for the benefit
of Employee in either a tax qualified plan or otherwise.
(b) If the Board determines in its sole discretion that
general economic conditions, the economic conditions of the oil and gas
industry or the financial condition of Parent require such measures,
the Board may reduce Employee's compensation hereunder, but in any such
case by no more nor less than the percentage by which it has reduced
and only if it reduces concurrently the compensation of all executive
management and mid-management shore-based employees of Parent and its
subsidiaries.
(c) Employer shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable
expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of his duties under
this Agreement; provided, however, that Employee must furnish to
Employer an itemized account, satisfactory to Employer, in
substantiation of such expenditures.
(d) Employee shall be entitled to such fringe benefits
including, but not limited to, medical and family insurance benefits as
may be provided from time to time by Employer to other senior officers
of Employer; provided, however, that any health insurance shall not
provide for a preexisting condition limitation, and, provided further,
that during the term of this Agreement, such fringe benefits shall
always be equal to, at a minimum, the maximum fringe benefits provided
in a particular year to any other officer of Employer or Parent other
than with respect to the grant of an award under any Incentive
Compensation Plan of Employer.
(e) To the extent permitted by applicable law and terms of the
benefit plans, Employer shall include in Employee's credited service,
in any case where credited service is relevant in determining
eligibility for or benefits under any employee benefits plan, the
Employee's service for any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of Employer
or for any predecessor thereof and time served at prior employers.
(f) Employer shall provide Employee with an automobile during
the term of the Agreement as approved by the CEO and President.
Employer will also pay for auto insurance, maintenance and fuel.
Employee may use the automobile for personal use and will pay all taxes
related to such personal use.
(g) Employee shall be eligible to participate in such
incentive compensation and stock option plans that have been approved
or may in the future be approved by the shareholders of Parent or
Employer and administered by the Board.
4. Duties. Employee is engaged and shall serve as Controller Treasurer,
or such other offices, including, but not limited to, Treasurer, in lieu of
Controller Treasurer and such other duties as may from time to time be
reasonably assigned to him by the Board, of (i) Parent, (ii) Hornbeck Offshore
Services, Inc., (iii) Employer, (iv) LEEVAC Marine, Inc. and (v) any other
subsidiaries of Parent that may be formed or acquired.
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5. Extent of Services; Vacations and Days Off.
(a) During the term of his employment under this Agreement,
Employee shall devote his full business time, energy and attention to
the benefit and business of Employer as may be necessary in performing
his duties pursuant to this Agreement. Employee shall not provide
services of a business nature to any other person other than that which
has been disclosed and permitted by the Employer.
(b) Employee shall be entitled to vacations and holidays with
pay and to such personal and sick leave with pay in accordance with the
policy of Employer as may be established from time to time by Employer
and applied to other senior officers of Employer; provided, however,
that Employee shall annually be entitled to the maximum number of
vacation days and holidays afforded to any other officer of Employer or
Parent.
6. Facilities. Employer shall provide Employee with a fully furnished
office, and the facilities of Employer shall be generally available to Employee
in the performance of his duties pursuant to this Agreement; it being understood
and contemplated by the parties that all equipment, supplies and office
personnel required for Employee's performance of duties under this Agreement
shall be supplied by Employer.
7. Illness or Incapacity, Termination on Death.
(a) If Employee dies during the term of his employment,
Employer shall pay to the estate of Employee such compensation,
including any bonus compensation earned but not yet paid, as would
otherwise have been payable to Employee for a period of six (6) months
following his death and shall continue to provide medical insurance and
other benefits to which Employee's dependents would otherwise have been
entitled for the same period. Except for the benefits set forth in the
preceding sentence and any life insurance benefits included in the
benefit package provided at such time by Employer to Employee, Employer
shall have no additional financial obligation under this Agreement to
Employee or his estate. After receiving the payments and health
insurance benefits provided in this subparagraph (a), Employee and his
estate shall have no further rights under this Agreement.
(b)
(i) During any period of disability, illness or
incapacity during the term of this Agreement that renders
Employee at least temporarily unable to perform the services
required under this Agreement for a period that shall not
equal or exceed ninety (90) continuous days (provided that a
return to full work status of less than five full days shall
be deemed not to interrupt the calculation of such 90 days),
Employee shall receive the compensation payable under Section
3(a) of this Agreement plus any bonus compensation earned
through the last day of such ninety (90) day period but not
yet paid, less any benefits received by him under any
disability insurance carried by or provided by Employer. All
rights of Employee under this Agreement (other than rights
already accrued) shall terminate as provided below upon
Employee's permanent disability (as defined below), although
Employee shall continue to receive any disability benefits to
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which he may be entitled under any disability income insurance
that may be carried by or provided by Employer from time to
time; Employer hereby agrees to provide such insurance on a
same occupation basis.
(ii) The term "permanent disability" as used in this
Agreement shall mean "permanent disability" under any long
term disability plan maintained by Employer that covers
Employee. In the absence of such a plan, "permanent
disability" shall mean the inability of Employee, as
determined by the Board, by reason of physical or mental
disability to perform the duties required of him under this
Agreement for a period of at least ninety (90) days in any
one-year period. Upon such determination, the Board may
terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement upon ten
(10) days' prior written notice. If any determination of the
Board with respect to permanent disability is disputed by
Employee, the parties hereto agree to abide by the decision of
a panel of three physicians. Employee and the Board shall each
appoint one member, and the third member of the panel shall be
appointed by the other two members. Employee agrees to make
himself available for and submit to examinations by such
physicians as may be directed by the Board. Failure to submit
to any such examination shall constitute a breach of a
material part of this Agreement.
8. Other Terminations.
(a)
(i) Employee may terminate his employment hereunder
for any reason whatsoever upon giving at least thirty (30)
days' prior written notice. In addition, Employee shall have
the right to terminate his employment hereunder on the
conditions and at the times provided for in Section 8(d) of
the Agreement.
(ii) If Employee gives notice pursuant to Section
8(a)(i) above, Employer shall have the right to relieve
Employee, in whole or in part, of his duties under this
Agreement (without reduction in compensation through the
termination date).
(b)
(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
Employer may terminate the employment of Employee hereunder
only for "good cause" (as defined below) and upon written
notice.
(ii) As used herein, "good cause" shall include:
(1) Employee's conviction of either a felony
involving moral turpitude or any crime in connection
with his employment by Employer that causes Employer
a substantial detriment, but specifically shall not
include traffic offenses;
(2) actions or inactions by Employee that
clearly are contrary to the best interests of
Employer;
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(3) Employee's willful failure to take
actions permitted by law and necessary to implement
policies of the Board that the Board has communicated
to him in writing, provided that such policies that
are reflected in minutes of a Board meeting attended
in its entirety by Employee shall be deemed
communicated to Employee;
(4) Employee's continued failure to devote
his full business time, energy and attention to his
duties as an executive officer of Employer or its
affiliates, following written notice from the Board
to Employee of such failure; or
(5) any condition that either resulted from
Employee's substantial dependence on alcohol, or any
narcotic drug or other controlled or illegal
substance. If any determination of substantial
dependence is disputed by Employee, the parties
hereto agree to abide by the decision of a panel of
three physicians appointed in the manner specified in
Section 7(b)(ii) of this Agreement.
(6) With respect to (2) through (5) above,
such circumstances shall not constitute "good cause"
unless Employee has failed to cure such circumstances
within 10 business days following written notice
thereof from the Board identifying in reasonable
detail the manner in which the Employer believes that
Employee has not performed such duties and indicating
the steps Employer requires to cure such
circumstances.
(iii) Termination of the employment of Employee for
reasons other than those expressly specified in this Agreement
as good cause shall be deemed to be a termination of
employment "without good cause."
(c)
(i) If Employer shall terminate the employment of
Employee without good cause effective on a date earlier than
the termination date provided for in Section 2 (with the
effective date of termination as so identified by Employer
being referred to herein as the "Accelerated Termination
Date"), Employee, until the termination date provided for in
Section 2 or until the date that is six (6) months after the
Accelerated Termination Date, whichever is later, shall
continue to receive the salary and other compensation and
benefits specified in Section 3, in each case in the amount
and kind and at the time provided for in Section 3; provided
that, notwithstanding such termination of employment,
Employee's covenants set forth in Sections 10 and 11 shall
remain in full force and effect; provided further that, at
Employer's option, Employee's covenants set forth in Sections
10 and 11 shall remain in full force and effect for an
additional six (6) months following the period referred to in
Sections 10 and 11 if Employer elects to provide and provides
to Employee the salary and other compensation and other
benefits specified in Section 3 for an additional period of
six (6) months following the period referred to in the first
sentence of this Section (8)(c)(i).
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(ii) If Employer shall terminate the employment of
Employee without good cause effective on a date earlier than
the termination date provided for in Section 2, any and all
options, rights or awards granted in conjunction with Parent's
or Employer's incentive compensation and stock option plans
shall immediately vest.
(iii) The parties agree that, because there can be no
exact measure of the damage that would occur to Employee as a
result of a termination by Employer of Employee's employment
without good cause, the payments and benefits paid and
provided pursuant to this Section 8(c) shall be deemed to
constitute liquidated damages and not a penalty for Employer's
termination of Employee's employment without good cause, and
Employer agrees that Employee should not be required to
mitigate his damages.
(d)
(i) If a Change in Control of Employer, as defined in
Section 8(d)(ii) shall occur, and Employee shall:
(1) have his employment constructively
terminated by Employer because Employer:
(A) has after the Change in Control
reduced Employee's annual base salary or
potential bonus level or any incentive
compensation or stock option plan benefit
(as in effect immediately before such Change
in Control);
(B) has relocated Employee's office
to a location that is more than 35 miles
from the location in which Employee
principally works for Employer or Parent
immediately before such Change in Control;
(C) has relocated the principal
executive office of Parent, Employer or the
office of Employer's operating group for
which Employee performed the majority of his
services for Employer during the year before
the Change in Control to a location that is
more than 35 miles from the location of such
office immediately before such Change in
Control;
(D) has required Employee, in order
to perform duties of substantially equal
status, dignity and character to those
duties Employee performed immediately before
the Change in Control, to travel on
Employer's business to a substantially
greater extent than is consistent with
Employee's travel obligations immediately
before such Change in Control;
(E) has failed to continue to
provide Employee with benefits substantially
equivalent to those enjoyed by Employee
under any of Employer's life insurance,
medical, health and
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accident or disability plans and incentive
compensation or stock option plans in which
Employee was participating immediately
before the Change in Control;
(F) has taken any action that would
directly or indirectly materially reduce any
of such benefits or deprive Employee of any
material fringe benefit enjoyed by Employee
immediately before the Change in Control;
(G) has failed to provide Employee
with at least the number of paid vacation
days to which Employee is entitled on the
basis of years of service under Employer's
normal vacation policy in effect immediately
before the Change in Control giving credit
for time served at prior employers;
(2) voluntarily terminate his employment
within one year following such Change in Control and
such termination shall be as a result of Employee's
good faith determination that as a result of the
Change in Control and a change in circumstances
thereafter significantly affecting his position other
than those listed in Section 8(d)(i)(1) above, he can
no longer adequately exercise the authorities,
powers, functions or duties attached to his position
as an executive officer of Employer, Parent or any of
their affiliates; or
(3) voluntarily terminate his employment
within one year following such Change in Control, and
such termination shall be as a result of Employee's
good faith determination that he can no longer
perform his duties as an executive officer of
Employer by reason of a substantial diminution in his
responsibilities, status, title or position;
(4) have his employment terminated by
Employer for reasons other than those specified in
Section 8(b)(ii) within one (1) year following such
Change in Control;
then in any of the above four cases, Employee shall have, instead of the rights
described in Section 3(a), the right to immediately terminate this Agreement and
receive from Employer, within fifteen business days following the date Employee
notifies Employer of his constructive or voluntary termination pursuant to this
Section 8(d)(i)(1), (2) or (3) or within three business days of having his
employment terminated under 8(d)(i)(4) above, (A) a lump sum cash payment equal
to one and one-half times the amount of Employee's Basic Salary with respect to
the year in which such termination has occurred plus one and one-half times the
amount of any bonus awarded to Employee with respect to the year immediately
preceding the year in which such termination occurred, provided, however, that
if Employee for any reason did not receive a bonus in the immediately preceding
year, Employee shall be deemed for purposes of this Section 8(d)(i) to have
received a bonus in the amount of one-fourth of his annual Basic Salary for such
year, and (B) medical plan coverage and other insurance benefits provided for
himself and his spouse and dependents (to the extent his spouse and dependents
are covered under the
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medical plan and other insurance benefits as of the date of Employee's
termination of employment) for a period of eighteen (18) months following the
date of Employee's termination of employment, and (C) any and all options,
rights or awards granted in conjunction with the Parent's or Employer's
incentive compensation or stock option plans shall immediately vest. Employee
shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this
Section 8(d)(i) by seeking other employment or otherwise. To the extent the
provision of any such medical benefits are taxable to Employee or his spouse or
dependents, Employer shall "gross up" Employee for such taxes based on
Employee's actual tax rate (certified to Employer by Employee), up to 35%
(without a "gross up" on the initial gross up). The obligation to provide this
medical plan coverage shall terminate in the event Employee becomes employed by
another employer that provides a medical plan that fully covers Employee and his
dependents without a preexisting condition limitation.
(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in
Control" shall mean:
(1) the obtaining by any party or group
acting in concert (other than current stockholders
and warrantholders or their affiliates) of fifty
percent (50%) or more of the voting shares of Parent
pursuant to a "tender offer" for such shares as
provided under Rule d-2 promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any
subsequent comparable federal rule or regulation
governing tender offers; or
(2) individuals who were members of the
Parent's board of directors immediately prior to any
particular meeting of any Parent's shareholders that
involves a contest for the election of directors fail
to constitute a majority of the members of such
Parent's board of directors following such election;
or
(3) Parent executing an agreement concerning
the sale of substantially all of its assets to a
purchaser that is not the Employer, Parent or a
direct or indirect subsidiary of Parent or the
affiliate of Parent; or
(4) Parent's or Employer's adoption of a
plan of dissolution or liquidation; or
(5) Parent's executing an agreement
concerning a merger or consolidation in which Parent
is not the surviving corporation or if, immediately
following such merger or consolidation, less than
fifty percent (50%) of the surviving corporation's
outstanding voting stock is held by persons who were
shareholders and/or warrantholders of Parent
immediately prior to the merger or consolidation or
their affiliates.
(iii) The provisions of Section 8(c) and this Section
8(d) are mutually exclusive; provided, however, that if within
one year following commencement of a Section 8(c) payout there
shall be a Change in Control as defined in Section 8(d)(ii),
then Employee shall be entitled to the amount payable to
Employee under Section 8(d)(i) reduced by the amount that
Employee has received under Section 8(c) up to the date of the
Change in Control. The triggering of the lump sum
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payment requirement of this Section 8(d) shall cause the
provisions of Section 8(c) to become inoperative. The
triggering of the continuation of payment provisions of
Section 8(c) shall cause the provisions of Section 8(d) to
become inoperative except to the extent provided in this
Section 8(d)(iii).
(e) If the employment of Employee is terminated for good cause
under Section 8(b)(ii) of this Agreement, or if Employee voluntarily
terminates his employment by written notice to Employer under Section
8(a) of this Agreement without reliance on Section 8(d), Employer shall
pay to Employee any compensation earned but not paid to Employee prior
to the effective date of such termination. Under such circumstances,
such payment shall be in full and complete discharge of any and all
liabilities or obligations of Employer to Employee hereunder, and
Employee shall be entitled to no further benefits under this Agreement.
9. Inventions and Other Intellectual Property. Employee hereby agrees
that any design, invention, copyright or trademark materials made or created as
a result of or in connection with the duties of Employee hereunder shall be the
sole and exclusive property of Employer, and Employee hereby assigns and
transfers to Employer the entire right, title and interest of Employee in and to
the foregoing. Employee further agrees that, at Employer's request and expense,
Employee will execute any deeds, assignments or other documents necessary to
transfer any such design, invention, copyright or trademark materials to
Employer and will cooperate with Employer or its nominee in perfecting
Employer's title (or the title of Employer's nominee) in such materials. During
the term of his employment, Employee shall keep Employer informed of the
development of all designs, inventions or copyright materials made, conceived or
reduced to practice by Employee, in whole or in part, alone or with others, that
either result from any work Employee may do for or at the request of Employer or
any affiliate of Employer or are related to the present or contemplated
activities, investigations or obligations of Employer or any affiliate of
Employer. If any such design, invention, or copyright material relating in any
manner to the business of Employer or Parent or any research and development of
Employer or any affiliate of Employer is disclosed by Employee within six (6)
months after leaving the employ of Employer, it shall be presumed that such
design, invention, copyright or trademark materials resulted or were conceived
from developments made during the period of the employment by Employer of
Employee (unless Employee can conclusively prove that such design, invention,
copyright or trademark materials were conceived, made and discovered solely
during the period following termination of employment hereunder) and Employee
agrees that any such design, invention, copyright or trademark materials shall
belong to Employer.
10. Confidentiality. During the term of Employee's employment, whether
pursuant to this Agreement, any automatic or other renewal hereof or otherwise,
and for a period of six (6) months thereafter, and except as may be otherwise
herein provided, Employee agrees to keep in strict secrecy and confidence any
and all information Employee assimilates or to which he has access during his
employment by Employer or its predecessor and which has not been publicly
disclosed and is not a matter of common knowledge in the fields of work of
Employer, including, but not limited to, customer list, vessel designs,
operational methods and procedures, cost structures and contract terms. Employee
agrees that both during and for a period of six (6) months after the term of his
employment by Employer, he will not, without the prior written
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consent of Employer, disclose any such confidential information to any third
person, partnership, joint venture, company, corporation or other organization,
nor exploit such information (either for Employee's or any other person's
benefit). In the event that either party receives notice from any person that it
may become legally compelled to disclose any of the other party's information,
such party will immediately supply the other party with written notice thereof
and such party shall not disclose any such information until the other party has
had an opportunity to seek a protective order or other arrangement to prevent
the disclosure of the information.
11. Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation. Employee hereby acknowledges
that, during and, in some instances, solely as a result of his employment by
Employer, he has received or shall receive and shall continue to receive access
to confidential information and business and professional contacts of Employer.
In consideration of the special and unique opportunities afforded to Employee by
Employer as a result of Employee's employment, as outlined in the previous
sentence, Employee hereby agrees as follows:
(a) During the term of Employee's employment, whether pursuant
to this Agreement, any automatic or other renewal hereof or otherwise,
and for a period of six (6) months thereafter, and, except as may be
otherwise herein provided, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly,
enter into, engage in, be employed by or consult any business which
competes with the business of Employer by selling, offering to sell,
soliciting offers to buy, or producing, or by consulting with others
concerning the selling or producing of, any product or service
substantially similar to those now sold, produced or provided by
Employer in those locations where Employer or any of its affiliates has
provided or offered to provide products or services ("Competitor").
Employee shall not engage in such prohibited activities, either as an
individual, partner, officer, director, stockholder, employee, advisor,
independent contractor, joint venturer, consultant, agent, or
representative or salesman for any person, firm, partnership,
corporation or other entity so competing with Employer. The
restrictions of this Section 11 shall not be violated by (i) the
ownership of no more than 5% of the outstanding securities of any
company whose stock is publicly traded, (ii) other outside business
investments approved in writing by the Chief Executive Officer or
President of Employer that do not in any manner conflict with the
services to be rendered by Employee for Employer and its affiliates and
that do not diminish or detract from Employee's ability to render his
attention to the business of Employer and its affiliates, or (iii)
employment by a firm that may have as a client or customer: (A) a
Competitor to Employer or (B) any of the clients or customers of
Employer with whom Employee did business during the term of Employee's
employment, so long as Employee does not indirectly serve, advise or
consult in any way such Competitor to Employer or client or customer of
Employer, respectively, for a period of six (6) months after Employee's
termination.
(b) During his employment with Employer and for a period of
six (6) months thereafter, and except as may be otherwise herein
provided, Employee agrees he will refrain from and will not, directly
or indirectly, as an individual, partner, officer, director,
stockholder, employee, advisor, independent contractor, joint venturer,
consultant, agent, representative, salesman or otherwise (1) solicit
any of the employees of Employer to terminate their employment or (2)
accept employment with or seek remuneration by any
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of the clients or customers of Employer with whom Employer did business
during the term of Employee's employment.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the foregoing restrictive
covenants set forth in Sections 11(a) and (b) are essential elements of
this Agreement, and that, but for the agreement of Employee to comply
with such covenants, Employer would not have agreed to enter into this
Agreement. Such covenants by Employee shall be construed as agreements
independent of any other provision in this Agreement. The existence of
any claim or cause of action of Employee against Employer, whether
predicated on this Agreement, or otherwise, shall not constitute a
defense to the enforcement by Employer of such covenants.
(d) The parties hereto agree that if any portion of the
covenants set forth in this Section 11 are held to be invalid,
unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, then such portion of
such covenants shall be considered divisible both as to time and
geographical area. Employer and Employee agree that, if any court of
competent jurisdiction determines the specified time period or the
specified geographical area applicable to this Section 11 to be
invalid, unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, a lesser
time period or geographical area which is determined to be reasonable,
non-arbitrary and not against public policy may be enforced against
Employee. Employer and Employee agree that the foregoing covenants are
appropriate and reasonable when considered in light of the nature and
extent of the business conducted by Employer.
12. Injunctive Relief. Employee agrees that damages at law will be an
insufficient remedy to Employer if Employee violates or attempts or threatens to
violate the terms of Sections 9, 10 or 11 of this Agreement and that Employer
would suffer irreparable damage as a result of such violation or attempted or
threatened violation. Accordingly, it is agreed that Employer shall be entitled,
upon application to a court of competent jurisdiction, to obtain injunctive
relief to enforce the provisions of such Sections, which injunctive relief shall
be in addition to any other rights or remedies available to Employer, at law or
in equity. In the event either party commences legal action relating to the
enforcement of the terms of Sections 9, 10 or 11 of this Agreement, the
prevailing party in such action shall be entitled to recover from the other
party all of the costs and expenses in connection therewith, including
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (both at trial and in appellate
proceedings).
13. Compliance with Other Agreements. Employee represents and warrants
that the execution of this Agreement by him and his performance of his
obligations hereunder will not conflict with, result in the breach of any
provision of or the termination of or constitute a default under any agreement
to which Employee is a party or by which Employee is or may be bound.
14. Waiver of Breach. The waiver by Employer of a breach of any of the
provisions of this Agreement by Employee shall not be construed as a waiver of
any subsequent breach by Employee.
15. Binding Effect; Assignment. The rights and obligations of Employer
under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of
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Employer. This Agreement is a personal employment contract and the rights,
obligations and interests of Employee hereunder may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or hypothecated.
16. Indemnification. Employee shall be entitled throughout the term of
this Agreement and thereafter to indemnification by Parent and Employer in
respect of any actions or omissions as an employee, officer or director of
Parent, Employer (or any successor thereof) to the fullest extent permitted by
law. Parent and Employer also agree to obtain directors and officers (D&O)
insurance in a reasonable amount determined by the Board and to maintain such
insurance during the term of this Agreement (as such Agreement may be extended
from time to time) and for a period of six (6) months following the termination
of this Agreement, as so extended.
17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with
respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be changed only by an
agreement in writing signed by the party against whom any waiver, change,
amendment, modification or discharge is sought.
18. Construction and Interpretation.
(a) The Board shall have the sole and absolute discretion to
construe and interpret the terms of this Agreement, unless another
individual or entity is charged with such responsibility.
(b) This Agreement shall be construed pursuant to and governed
by the laws of the State of Louisiana (but any provision of Louisiana
law shall not apply if the application of such provision would result
in the application of the law of a state or jurisdiction other than
Louisiana).
(c) The headings of the various sections in this Agreement are
inserted for convenience of the parties and shall not affect the
meaning, construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
(d) Any provision of this Agreement that is determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be prohibited, unenforceable or not
authorized in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition, unenforceability or
non-authorization without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof
or affecting the validity, enforceability or legality of such provision
in any other jurisdiction. In any such case, such determination shall
not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and the remaining
provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If
any provision or term of this Agreement is susceptible to two or more
constructions or interpretations, one or more of which would render the
provision or term void or unenforceable, the parties agree that a
construction or interpretation that renders the term or provision valid
shall be favored.
19. Notice. All notices that are required or may be given under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
received if personally delivered; when transmitted if transmitted by telecopy or
similar electronic transmission method; one working day after it is sent, if
sent by recognized expedited delivery service; and five days after
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it is sent, if mailed, first class mail, certified mail, return receipt
requested, with postage prepaid. In each case notice shall be sent to:
To Employer:
HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, Inc.
Attention: Christian G. Vaccari, CEO
414 N. Causeway Blvd.
Mandeville, LA 70448
To Employee at his address herein first above written.
20. Venue; Process. The parties to this Agreement agree that
jurisdiction and venue in any action brought pursuant to this Agreement to
enforce its terms or otherwise with respect to the relationships between the
parties shall properly lie in the 22nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of
St. Tammany or in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Louisiana, New Orleans Division, New Orleans Office. Such jurisdiction and venue
are merely permissive; jurisdiction and venue shall also continue to lie in any
court where jurisdiction and venue would otherwise be proper.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement the
day and year first above written.
EMPLOYER:
HORNBECK-LEEVAC MARINE OPERATORS, INC.
By: /s/ CHRISTIAN G. VACCARI
---------------------------------------
Name: Christian G. Vaccari
-------------------------------------
Title: CEO
------------------------------------
EMPLOYEE:
/s/ PAUL M. ORDOGNE
------------------------------------------
PAUL M. ORDOGNE
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ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO FOR PURPOSES OF GUARANTEEING THE FINANCIAL
OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYER TO EMPLOYEE:
HORNBECK-LEEVAC MARINE SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ CHRISTIAN G. VACCARI
---------------------------------
Name: Christian G. Vaccari
-------------------------------
Title: CEO
------------------------------
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