Employment Agreement - GT Interactive Software Corp. and David Chemerow
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AGREEMENT (together with all exhibits hereto, the
"Agreement"), made in New York, New York as of the 15th day of May, 1997 and
amended on April 28, 1998, between GT INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE CORP., a Delaware
corporation having its executive offices and principal place of business in New
York, New York (the "Company"), and DAVID CHEMEROW, the undersigned individual
("Executive").
IN CONSIDERATION, therefore, of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter set forth, the Company and Executive agree as follows:
1. Agreement Term.
The term of this Agreement shall be the three-year period
commencing on May 15, 1997 and ending on May 14, 2000 (the "Agreement Term").
2. Employment.
(a) Employment by the Company. Executive agrees to be employed by
the Company for the Agreement Term upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Agreement. Executive shall serve as an executive of the
Company and shall have such duties as may be prescribed by the Chief Executive
Officer.
(b) Performance of Duties. Throughout the Agreement Term,
Executive shall faithfully and diligently perform Executive's duties in
conformity with the directions of the Company and serve the Company to the best
of Executive's ability. Executive shall devote Executive's entire working time,
attention and energies to the business and affairs of the Company, subject to
vacations and sick leave in accordance with Company policy, provided, that
Executive may devote a reasonable amount of time to civic, community and charity
work, and may serve on the Boards of Directors of the two corporations set forth
on Schedule A, in each case to the extent that such activities do not conflict
with Executive's performance of his duties as required hereunder. Executive
shall have the title and shall report to one of the persons set forth on
Schedule A hereto.
(c) Place of Performance. During the Agreement Term, Executive
shall be based at the Company's principal executive offices in New York City
(or, if such principal executive offices are relocated, at such relocated
principal
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executive offices) and, in this regard, Executive shall maintain Executive's
personal residence in such city or such other location(s) within reasonable
access to Executive's place of employment, and shall not be required to relocate
such residence to any location more than 40 miles from such city (or such
relocated principal executive offices).
3. Compensation and Benefits.
(a) Base Salary. The Company agrees to pay to Executive for
employment hereunder a base salary ("Base Salary") at the annual rate of
$360,000 during the Agreement Term, payable in installments consistent with the
Company's payroll practices; provided, however, that the Board of Directors will
review such Base Salary not later than April 30, 1999 and may, in its
discretion, increase such Base Salary based upon its assessment of Executive's
performance or other factors; provided, that such Base Salary, as increased from
time to time, shall not be reduced.
(b) Benefits and Perquisites; Bonus. Executive shall be entitled
to participate in, to the extent Executive is otherwise eligible under the terms
thereof, the benefit plans and programs, and receive the benefits and
perquisites, generally provided to executives of the same level and
responsibility as Executive. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the
Company from terminating or amending from time to time any employee benefit plan
or program. Executive shall be eligible for an annual bonus, not to exceed an
amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of Executive's Base Salary, at such times
and in such amounts as shall be determined at the discretion of the Chief
Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of the Company based on their
assessment of Executive's performance of his duties and on the financial
performance of the Company; provided, however, that Executive shall receive a
minimum bonus for calendar year 1997 in the amount of $40,000 ("Guaranteed 1997
Bonus"). Subject to the minimum amount for 1997, such bonus shall be based on
the same criteria as the incentive bonus program for the Company's other senior
executives, based upon criteria set forth in the Company's Senior Level Bonus
Plan 1997 Summary, or such Bonus Plan as is in effect in any future year.
(c) Travel and Business Expenses. Upon submission of itemized
expense statements in the manner specified by the Company, Executive shall be
entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel and other reasonable business
expenses duly incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive's duties
under this Agreement in accordance with the policies and procedures established
by the Company from time to time for executives of the same level and
responsibility as Executive.
(d) Grant of Option and Terms Thereof; Company Policy on Pooling
of Interests Restrictions. Simultaneous with
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the commencement of employment, Executive shall be granted an option (the
"Option"), pursuant to the Company's 1995 Stock Incentive Plan or the 1997 Stock
Incentive Plan (together, the "Plan"), to purchase three hundred fifty thousand
(350,000) shares of the Company's common stock (the "Option Shares"). The
exercise price for each Option Share shall be the per share Fair Market Value
(as such term is defined in the Plan) on the date of the grant and the Option
shall vest in four equal annual installments commencing one year from the date
of grant. The terms (including exercisability) of the Option shall be governed
by the Plan, as well as the applicable option agreement entered into pursuant to
the terms of such plan. The Board of Directors of the Company has approved such
grant.
Executive acknowledges and agrees to abide by the Company's policy
that prohibits executive officers who may be deemed affiliates under SEC policy
interpretations, from selling any shares of the Company's Common Stock at a time
when such officer is advised by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief
Financial Officer (based upon advice from the Company's independent certified
public accountants) that such sale could adversely affect pooling of interests
accounting treatment of any acquisition or other business combination engaged in
or to be engaged in by the Company. If requested, Executive will execute an
"affiliate" agreement confirming such agreement in connection with any such
acquisition or business combination.
(e) No Other Compensation or Benefits; Payment. The compensation
and benefits specified in Sections 3 and 5 of this Agreement shall be in lieu of
any and all other compensation and benefits. Payment of all compensation and
benefits to Executive hereunder shall be made in accordance with the relevant
Company policies in effect from time to time, including normal payroll
practices, and shall be subject to all applicable employment and withholding
taxes.
(f) Cessation of Employment. In the event Executive shall cease
to be employed by the Company for any reason, then Executive's compensation and
benefits shall cease on the date of such event, except as otherwise provided
herein or in any applicable employee benefit plan or program.
4. Exclusive Employment; Noncompetition.
(a) No Conflict; No Other Employment. During the period of
Executive's employment with the Company, Executive shall not: (i) engage in any
activity which conflicts or interferes with or derogates from the performance of
Executive's duties hereunder nor shall Executive engage in any other business
activity, whether or not such business activity is pursued for gain or profit,
except as approved in advance in writing by the Chief Executive Officer or the
Board of Directors of the Company; or (ii) accept any other full-time or
substantially full-time
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employment, whether as an executive or consultant or in any other capacity, and
whether or not compensated therefor.
(b) No Competition. Without limiting the generality of the
provisions of Sections 2(b) or 4(a), during a period ending on the later of (i)
the end of the Agreement Term, and (ii) the end of the Severance Period
described in Section 5(d)(i) hereof if severance payments are required to be
made to the Executive under any provision of Section 5(d) (or, if the
Executive's employment is terminated for disability pursuant to Section 5(c)
hereof prior to an event described in either clause (i) or clause (ii) above,
then during a period ending upon such termination); Executive shall not,
directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, participate in,
invest in or otherwise be connected or associated with, in any manner, including
as an officer, director, employee, independent contractor, partner, consultant,
advisor, agent, proprietor, trustee or investor, any Competing Business located
in the United States; provided, however, that ownership of 1% or less of the
stock or other securities of a corporation, the stock of which is listed on a
national securities exchange or is quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market, shall not
constitute a breach of this Section 4, so long as Executive does not in fact
have the power to control, or direct the management of, or is not otherwise
associated with, such corporation; provided further, however, that if
Executive's employment is terminated under Section 5(d), then the provisions of
this Section 4(b) shall remain in effect only so long as and during the period
in which the Company continues to pay to Executive amounts as severance pursuant
to Section 5(d). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if
the Executive's employment with the Company shall not have terminated prior to
the happening of a Change of Control (as defined in Section 5(d)(iii) hereof),
then the Executive's obligation pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be limited
to a period equal to the greater of (A) two (2) years from the date of the
happening of such Change of Control, and (B) the period during which Executive
remains in the employ of the Company or its successor and parent company, if
any.
For purposes hereof, the term "Competing Business" shall mean any
business or venture which develops, manufactures, publishes, licenses, sells,
distributes or supplies entertainment, educational or "edutainment" computer
software or video games (or any related books or other intellectual property or
merchandise relating thereto) for commercial use, whether for retail
distribution, by direct marketing, electronically, by license to others, or
otherwise; or any other business which is substantially similar to the whole or
any significant part of the business conducted by the Company.
(c) No Solicitation of Employment. During the Agreement Term and
for a period of two years thereafter, Executive shall not solicit or encourage
any other employee to leave the Company for any reason, nor assist any business
in
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doing so, nor employ such an employee in a Competing Business or any other
business.
(d) Company Customers. Executive shall not, during the period
which is coincident with Executive's obligation not to compete under Section
4(b) hereof, except as required by the Company in the performance by Executive
of his duties under this Agreement, directly or indirectly, contact, solicit or
do business with (i) Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Target Stores, Caldor, Phar-mor,
Best Buy, Comp U.S.A., Kmart, Office Depot (or any of their respective
affiliated operations), for the purpose of selling entertainment, educational or
"edutainment" computer software, video games or any other product then sold by
the Company or proposed to be sold during the Agreement Term; (ii) any
"customers" (as defined below) of the Company for the purpose of selling
computer software, video games or any other product then sold by the Company or
proposed to be sold during the Agreement Term; or (iii) any supplier, licensor
or licensee of the Company (or any such supplier, licensor or licensee solicited
by the Company prior to or during the Agreement Term) with respect to purchasing
or licensing computer software, video games or other intellectual property to or
from such person.
For the purposes of the provisions of this Section 4(d), "customer" shall
include any entity that purchased or licensed computer software, video games or
any other product from the Company during, or prior to, the Agreement Term. The
term "customer" also includes any former customer or potential customer of the
Company which the Company has solicited prior to or during such Agreement Term,
for the purpose of selling computer software, video games or any other product
then sold by the Company or proposed to be sold during the Agreement Term.
5. Termination of Employment.
(a) Termination. The Company may terminate Executive's employment
for Cause (as defined below) or for any breach of this Agreement, in which case
the provisions of Section 5(b) shall apply. The Company may also terminate
Executive's employment in the event of Executive's Disability (as defined
below), in which case the provisions of Section 5(c) shall apply. The Company
may also terminate the Executive's employment for any other reason by written
notice to Executive, in which case the provisions of Section 5(d) shall apply.
If Executive's employment is terminated by reason of Executive's death,
retirement or voluntary resignation, the provisions of Section 5(b) shall apply.
(b) Termination for Cause; Termination by Reason of Death or
Retirement or Voluntary Resignation. In the event that Executive's employment
hereunder is terminated during the Agreement Term (x) by the Company for Cause
(as defined below), (y) by reason of Executive's death or retirement or (z) by
reason of Executive's voluntary resignation, then the Company shall pay
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to Executive, within thirty (30) days of the date of such termination, only the
Base Salary through such date of termination. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Cause" shall mean (i) conviction of any crime (whether or not involving the
Company) constituting a felony in the jurisdiction involved; (ii) engaging in
any substantiated act involving moral turpitude; (iii) gross neglect or willful
misconduct in the performance of Executive's duties hereunder; (iv) willful
failure or refusal to perform such duties as may be delegated to Executive
commensurate with Executive's position as set forth in Section 2 hereof; or (v)
material breach of any provision of this Agreement by Executive; provided,
however, that with respect to clause (iii), clause (iv) and clause (v),
Executive shall have received written notice from the Company setting forth the
manner in which he has been grossly negligent or engaged in misconduct, he has
wilfully failed to perform his duties prior to such notice or has materially
breached any provision of this Agreement, and Executive shall not have cured
such gross neglect, misconduct, willful failure or refusal to perform or breach,
to the extent curable, within 10 business days of such notice; provided,
however, Executive's good faith inability to perform shall not constitute
Executive's wilful failure to perform or a material breach of any provision of
this Agreement.
(c) Disability. If, as a result of Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness, Executive shall have been absent from Executive's
duties hereunder on a full time basis for either (i) one hundred twenty (120)
days within any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period, or (ii) ninety (90)
consecutive days, and within thirty (30) days after written notice of
termination is given shall not have returned to the performance of Executive's
duties hereunder on a full time basis, the Company may terminate Executive's
employment hereunder for "Disability". In that event, the Company shall pay to
Executive, within thirty (30) days, of the date of such termination, only the
Base Salary through such date of termination. During any period that Executive
fails to perform Executive's duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to
physical or mental illness (a "Disability Period"), Executive shall continue to
receive the compensation and benefits provided by Section 3 hereof until
Executive's employment hereunder is terminated; provided, however, that the
amount of compensation and benefits received by Executive during the Disability
Period shall be reduced by the aggregate amounts, if any, payable to Executive
under disability benefit plans and programs of the Company or under the Social
Security disability insurance program.
(d) Termination By Company For Any Other Reason.
(i) In the event that Executive's employment hereunder is
terminated by the Company during the Agreement Term for any reason other than as
provided in Sections 5(b) or 5(c) hereof, or this Agreement expires and the
Company terminates the employment of Executive for any reason other than as
provided in
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Sections 5(b) or 5(c) hereof had this Agreement remained in effect, then the
Company shall pay to Executive within thirty (30) days of the date of such
termination, the Base Salary through such date of termination and, in lieu of
any further compensation and benefits for the balance of the Agreement Term, or
otherwise, severance pay equal to the Base Salary for a period of two (2) years
from the effective date of such termination if the Agreement Term shall not have
expired at the time of such termination, or one (1) year if the Agreement Term
shall have expired prior to the time of such termination, which severance pay
shall be paid commencing with such date of termination at the times and in the
amounts such Base Salary would have been paid in the normal course hereunder.
Under such circumstances, except as set forth below, for the balance of the two
(2)-year period or one (1)-year period, as the case may be (the "Severance
Period"), Executive shall also continue to participate in and receive the
benefits and perquisites provided for in Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof
(including the Guaranteed 1997 Bonus, but excluding any other bonus and stock
options) to the same extent as if Executive's employment hereunder had not been
terminated; provided, however, that in the event that Executive shall breach
Sections 4 or 6 hereof, in addition to any other remedies the Company may have
in the event Executive breaches this Agreement, the Company's obligation
pursuant to this Section 5(d) to continue such salary, Guaranteed 1997 Bonus,
benefits and perquisites shall cease and Executive's rights thereto shall
terminate and shall be forfeited. In addition, the Company shall provide
out-placement services to Executive, using a mutually acceptable out-placement
firm, for up to six (6) months from the date of termination under this Section
5(d); provided, however, that the cost to the Company for such services shall
not exceed $20,000. Any changes by the Company in Executive's title, duties,
reporting responsibility or place of performance as set forth in Section 2
hereof, without the consent of Executive, shall be deemed a termination pursuant
to this Section 5(d).
(ii) In addition to any severance amounts payable hereunder, in
the event the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company or its
successor or parent company, if any, during the Agreement Term for any reason
other than as provided in Sections 5(b) or 5(c) hereof (including a deemed
termination by reason of any changes referred to in the last sentence of Section
5(d)(i)), then all options previously granted to Executive pursuant to the
Company's 1995 Stock Incentive Plan, 1997 Stock Incentive Plan or otherwise
shall immediately vest and be exercisable by Executive in full, and Executive
shall thereafter be entitled to exercise such options for the balance of the
Severance Period referred to in Section 5(d)(i) hereof.
(iii) Upon the happening of a Change of Control, as hereinafter
defined, then all options previously granted to Executive pursuant to the
Company's 1995 Stock Incentive Plan, 1997 Stock Incentive Plan or otherwise
shall immediately vest and be exercisable by Executive in full, and
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Executive shall thereafter be entitled to exercise (x) the Option for the
balance of its term, and (y) all other options then held by Executive, for a
period of two (2) years from the termination of Executive's employment with the
Company or its successor for any reason whatsoever following such Change of
Control. In addition, if following a Change of Control, (A) Executive's
employment is terminated by the Company or its successor or parent company, if
any, for any reason other than as provided in Sections 5(b) or (c) (including a
deemed termination by reason of any changes referred to in the last sentence of
Section 5(d)(i)), or (B) Executive is required to relocate to an office of the
Company located outside the Tri-State Area (i.e., New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut) (whether or not such office is the principal executive office of
the Company), then at any time within ninety (90) days of any deemed termination
referred to above or the occurrence of an event referred to in clause (iii)(B)
hereof, Executive may voluntarily resign from employment with the Company or its
successor and parent company, and thereupon (and following the happening of the
event specified in clause (iii)(A)), the Company and its successor and parent
company shall be obligated to make severance payments and provide benefits and
perquisites as provided in Section 5(d)(i) hereof with the same effect as if the
Company terminated the employment of Executive as contemplated by the provisions
of Section 5(d)(i); provided, that following such voluntarily resignation (or
termination of Executive's employment as specified in clause (iii)(A)) and
during the applicable Severance Period described in Section 5(d)(i) hereof (but
subject to the limitations contained in the last sentence of Section 4(b)),
Executive shall be bound by the provisions of Section 4(b) hereof so long as the
Company, or its successor and parent company, if any, continue to make the
severance payments required by this Section 5(d). For purposes hereof, Change of
Control shall mean any of the following occurrences:
(1) any "person" as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") (other than (A) the
Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under
an employee benefit plan of the Company, (B) Joseph Cayre, Stanley
Cayre, Kenneth Cayre and their respective spouses or children or
trusts for such children, (C) General Atlantic Partners or any
entity managed or controlled by General Atlantic Partners ((A), (B)
and (C) together or individually, a "Current Owner"), or (D) any
entity more than 50% of whose voting and equity interests are owned
beneficially by a Current Owner), is or becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more
of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
securities (other than as a result of a merger or consolidation
covered by clause (3)(i) below in connection with a merger involving
the Company which
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would result in voting securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent more than 50% of
the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or
the surviving entity (or its parent) outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation);
(2) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the
Company, and any new director (other than a director designated by a
person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect
a transaction described in clause (1), (3) or (4) of this
definition) whose election by the Board or nomination for election
by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either
were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;
(3) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of
the Company with any other entity, other than (i) a merger or
consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or
such surviving entity (or its parent) outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation or (ii) a merger or consolidation
effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar
transaction) in which no "person" (as hereinabove defined) acquires
more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities; or
(4) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets.
(e) No Further Liability; Release. Payment made and performance
by the Company in accordance with this Section 5 shall operate to fully
discharge and release the Company and its directors, officers, employees,
subsidiaries, affiliates, stockholders, successors, assigns, agents and
representatives from any further obligation or liability with respect to
Executive's employment and termination of employment. Other than paying
Executive's Base Salary through the date of termination of Executive's
employment and making any severance payment and continuing benefits and
perquisites pursuant to and in accordance
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with this Section 5 (as applicable), the Company and its directors, officers,
employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, stockholders, successors, assigns, agents
and representatives shall have no further obligation or liability to Executive
or any other person under this Agreement. The Company shall have the right to
condition the payment of any severance or other amounts pursuant to Sections
5(c) or 5(d) hereof upon the delivery by Executive to the Company of a release
in form and substance satisfactory to the Company of any and all claims
Executive may have against the Company and its directors, officers, employees,
subsidiaries, affiliates, stockholders, successors, assigns, agents and
representatives arising out of or related to Executive's employment by the
Company and termination of such employment.
(f) Option Term in the Event of Death or Disability. In the event
that this Agreement is terminated by reason of Executive's death or disability,
he or his estate, as the case may be, shall be entitled to exercise any Options
which have vested as of the date of such termination, for a period of one year
from such termination, and the applicable option agreement between the Company
and Executive shall reflect such extension.
6. Confidential Information.
(a) Existence of Confidential Information. The Company owns and
has developed and compiled, and will develop and compile, certain proprietary
techniques and confidential information which have great value to its business
(referred to in this Agreement, collectively, as "Confidential Information").
Confidential Information includes not only information disclosed by the Company
to Executive, but also information developed or learned by Executive during the
course or as a result of employment with the Company, which information shall be
the property of the Company. Confidential Information includes all information
that has or could have commercial value or other utility in the business in
which the Company is engaged or contemplates engaging, and all information of
which the unauthorized disclosure could be detrimental to the interests of the
Company, whether or not such information is specifically labelled as
Confidential Information by the Company. By way of example and without
limitation, Confidential Information includes any and all information developed,
obtained, licensed by or to or owned by the Company concerning trade secrets,
techniques, know-how (including designs, plans, procedures, merchandising,
marketing, distribution and warehousing know-how, processes, and research
records), software, computer programs and designs, development tools, and any
other intellectual property created, used or sold (through a license or
otherwise) by the Company, Electronic Data Information know-how and processes,
innovations, discoveries, improvements, research, development, test results,
reports, specifications, data, formats, marketing data and plans,
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business plans, strategies, forecasts, unpublished financial information,
orders, agreements and other forms of documents, price and cost information,
merchandising opportunities, expansion plans, store plans, budgets, projections,
customer, supplier, licensee, licensor and subcontractor identities,
characteristics, agreements and operating procedures, and salary, staffing and
employment information.
(b) Protection of Confidential Information. Executive
acknowledges and agrees that in the performance of duties hereunder the Company
discloses to and entrusts Executive with Confidential Information which is the
exclusive property of the Company and which Executive may possess or use only in
the performance of duties for the Company. Executive also acknowledges that
Executive is aware that the unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information,
among other things, may be prejudicial to the Company's interests, an invasion
of privacy and an improper disclosure of trade secrets. Executive shall not,
directly of indirectly, use, make available, sell, disclose or otherwise
communicate to any corporation, partnership, individual or other third party,
other than in the course of Executive's assigned duties and for the benefit of
the Company, any Confidential Information, either during the Agreement Term or
thereafter. In the event Executive desires to publish the results of Executive's
work for or experiences with the Company through literature, interviews or
speeches, Executive will submit requests for such interviews or such literature
or speeches to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company at least fourteen (14)
days before any anticipated dissemination of such information for a
determination of whether such disclosure is in the best interests of the
Company, including whether such disclosure may impair trade secret status or
constitute an invasion of privacy. Executive agrees not to publish, disclose or
otherwise disseminate such information without the prior written approval of the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(c) Delivery of Records, Etc. In the event Executive's employment
with the Company ceases for any reason, Executive will not remove from the
Company's premises without its prior written consent any records (written or
electronic), files, drawings, documents, equipment, materials and writings
received from, created for or belonging to the Company, including those which
relate to or contain Confidential Information, or any copies thereof. Upon
request or when employment with the Company terminates, Executive will
immediately deliver the same to the Company.
7. Assignment and Transfer.
(a) Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by, and may be assigned by the Company to, any purchaser of all or
substantially all of the Company's business or assets, any successor to the
Company or any
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assignee thereof (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation
or otherwise). The Company will require any such purchaser, successor or
assignee to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it
if no such purchase, succession or assignment had taken place.
(b) Executive. Executive's rights and obligations under this
Agreement shall not be transferable by Executive by assignment or otherwise, and
any purported assignment, transfer or delegation thereof shall be void;
provided, however, that if Executive shall die, all amounts then payable to
Executive hereunder shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement
to Executive's devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such
designee, to Executive's estate.
8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Other Obligations. Executive represents and warrants that
neither Executive's employment with the Company nor Executive's performance of
Executive's obligations hereunder will conflict with or violate or otherwise are
inconsistent with any other obligations, legal or otherwise, which Executive may
have.
(b) Nondisclosure; Other Employers. Executive will not disclose
to the Company, or use, or induce the Company to use, any proprietary
information, trade secrets or confidential business information of others.
Executive represents and warrants that Executive has returned all property,
proprietary information, trade secrets and confidential business information
belonging to all prior employers.
(c) Cooperation. Following termination of employment with the
Company, Executive shall cooperate with the Company, as requested by the
Company, to affect a transition of Executive's responsibilities and to ensure
that the Company is aware of all matters being handled by Executive.
(d) No Duty to Mitigate. Executive shall be under no duty to
mitigate with respect to any severance or other amounts payable pursuant to
Sections 5(c) or 5(d) hereof.
(e) Protection of Reputation. During the Agreement Term and
thereafter, the Company and Executive agree that neither will take any action
which is intended, or would reasonably be expected, to harm the other or its
reputation or which would reasonably be expected to lead to unwanted or
unfavorable publicity to the other.
(f) Governing Law. This Agreement, including the validity,
interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement, shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to
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principles of conflicts of law. All actions and proceedings relating directly or
indirectly to this Agreement shall be litigated in any state court or federal
court located in New York, New York. The parties hereto expressly consent to the
jurisdiction of any such court and to venue therein and consent to the service
of process in any such action or proceeding by certified or registered mailing
of the summons and complaint therein directed to Executive at the address as
provided in Section 8(m) hereof and to the Company's designated agent for
service of process (which initially shall be GT Interactive Software Corp., 417
Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, Attn: Director of Legal Affairs; which
agent may be changed by the Company upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice
to Executive).
(g) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibit
hereto) contains the entire agreement and understanding between the parties
hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes, cancels and
annuls any prior or contemporaneous written or oral agreements, understandings,
commitments and practices between them respecting the subject matter hereof,
including all prior employment agreements, if any, between the Company and
Executive, which agreement(s) hereby are terminated and shall be of no further
force or effect.
(h) Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing
which makes express reference to this Agreement as the subject of such amendment
and which is signed by Executive and, on behalf of the Company, by its duly
authorized officer.
(i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or condition
of this Agreement or part thereof, or the application thereof to any person,
place or circumstance, shall be held to be invalid, unenforceable or void by a
court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement and such term,
provision, covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect, and any
such invalid, unenforceable or void term, provision, covenant or condition shall
be deemed, without further action on the part of the parties hereto, modified,
amended and limited, and the court shall have the power to modify, to the extent
necessary to render the same and the remainder of this Agreement valid,
enforceable and lawful. In this regard, Executive acknowledges that the
provisions of Sections 4 and 6 are reasonable and necessary for the protection
of the Company.
(j) Construction. The headings and captions of this Agreement are
provided for convenience only and are intended to have no effect in construing
or interpreting this Agreement. The language in all parts of this Agreement
shall be in all cases construed according to its fair meaning and not strictly
for or against the Company or Executive. The use herein of the word "including,"
when following any general provision, sentence, clause, statement, term or
matter, shall be deemed to mean
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<PAGE> 14
"including, without limitation". As used herein, "Company" shall mean the
Company and its subsidiaries and any purchaser of, successor to or assignee
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) of
all or substantially all of the Company's business or assets which is obligated
to perform this Agreement by operation of law, agreement pursuant to Section 7
hereof or otherwise. As used herein, the words "day" or "days" shall mean a
calendar day or days.
(k) Nonwaiver. Neither any course of dealing nor any failure or
neglect of either party hereto in any instance to exercise any right, power or
privilege hereunder or under law shall constitute a waiver of any other right,
power or privilege or of the same right, power or privilege in any other
instance. All waivers by either party hereto must be contained in a written
instrument signed by the party to be charged and, in the case of the Company, by
its duly authorized officer.
(l) Remedies for Breach. The parties hereto agree that Executive
is obligated under this Agreement to render personal services during the
Agreement Term of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual
character, thereby giving this Agreement peculiar value, and, in the event of a
breach or threatened breach of any covenant of Executive herein, the injury or
imminent injury to the value and the goodwill of the Company's business could
not be reasonably or adequately compensated in damages in an action at law.
Accordingly, Executive expressly acknowledges that the Company shall be entitled
to specific performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy against
Executive, without the posting of a bond, in the event of any breach or
threatened breach of any provision of this Agreement by Executive (including
Sections 4 and 6 hereof). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if
Executive breaches Sections 4 or 6 hereof, such breach will entitle the Company
to enjoin Executive from disclosing any Confidential Information to any
Competing Business, to enjoin such Competing Business from receiving Executive
or using any such Confidential Information and/or to enjoin Executive from
rendering personal services to or in connection with such Competing Business.
The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and shall not be
exclusive, and each such party shall be entitled to pursue all legal and
equitable rights and remedies and to secure performance of the obligations and
duties of the other under this Agreement, and the enforcement of one or more of
such rights and remedies by a party shall in no way preclude such party from
pursuing, at the same time or subsequently, any and all other rights and
remedies available to it.
(m) Notices. Any notice, request, consent or approval required or
permitted to be given under this Agreement or pursuant to law shall be
sufficient if in writing, and if and when sent by certified or registered mail,
return receipt
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<PAGE> 15
requested, with postage prepaid, to Executive's residence (as reflected in the
Company's records or as otherwise designated by Executive on thirty (30) days'
prior written notice to the Company) or to the Company's principal executive
office, attention: President (with copies to the Director of Legal Affairs), as
the case may be. All such notices, requests, consents and approvals shall be
effective upon being deposited in the United States mail. However, the time
period in which a response thereto must be given shall commence to run from the
date of receipt on the return receipt of the notice, request, consent or
approval by the addressee thereof. Rejection or other refusal to accept, or the
inability to deliver because of changed address of which no notice was given as
provided herein, shall be deemed to be receipt of the notice, request, consent
or approval sent.
(n) Assistance in Proceedings, Etc. Executive shall, without
additional compensation, during and after expiration of the Agreement Term, upon
reasonable notice, furnish such information and proper assistance to the Company
as may reasonably be required by the Company in connection with any legal or
quasi-legal proceeding, including any external or internal investigation,
involving the Company or any of its affiliates or in which any of them is, or
may become, a party.
(o) Survival. Cessation or termination of Executive's employment
with the Company shall not result in termination of this Agreement. The
respective obligations of Executive and rights and benefits afforded to the
Company as provided in this Agreement shall survive cessation or termination of
Executive's employment hereunder. This Agreement shall not terminate upon, and
shall remain in full force and effect following, expiration of the Agreement
Term and all rights and obligations of the parties hereto as and to the extent
provided herein shall survive such expiration.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed on its behalf by an officer thereunto duly authorized and Executive has
duly executed this Agreement, all as of the date and year first written above.
GT Interactive Software Corp. EXECUTIVE:
By: /s/ Ronald Chaimowitz /s/ David Chemerow
-------------------------- --------------------------
Name: Ronald Chaimowitz David Chemerow
Title: Chief Executive Officer
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<PAGE> 16
Schedule A
Title: President and Chief Operating Officer
Reporting to: The Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company.
Boards of
Directors: Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
Dunham's Athleisure Corp.
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