Employment Agreement - Tickets.com Inc. and Ronald Bension
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") is dated effective as of
December 18, 2001 (the "Date of this Agreement"), between Tickets.com, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Company"), and Ronald Bension ("Executive"). In
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
EMPLOYMENT
1.1 Term. The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive
hereby accepts such employment, for a term commencing as of the Date of this
Agreement and ending on the fifth anniversary of such date, unless sooner
terminated in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.
1.2 Duties. During the Term, Executive shall be employed by the
Company as its Chief Executive Officer (and the Company's highest ranking
officer), and as such, Executive shall faithfully perform for the Company the
duties and have the powers customary for such position. The Executive shall
devote substantially all of his business time and effort to the performance of
Executive's duties hereunder, and shall work primarily at the Company's main
business offices.
ARTICLE II
COMPENSATION
2.1 Salary. The Company shall pay Executive during the Term a
salary at the rate of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) per annum (the
"Annual Salary"), in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the
Company applicable to senior executives, provided the payments are no less
frequent than semi-monthly. The Annual Salary shall be reviewed annually by the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or such committee of the Board
as they shall designate for such purpose from time to time for possible
increases and, in the event of a "going private" transaction or a material
equity financing by the Company, the Board will review Executive's total
compensation package, and consult with Executive and his representatives, and
adjust it appropriately to ensure it remains equitable. Any increased Annual
Salary shall thereupon be the "Annual Salary" for the purposes hereof. The
Executive's Annual Salary shall not be decreased without his prior written
consent at any time during the Term.
2.2 Incentive Compensation. During the Term, Executive shall be
eligible to receive, in addition to his Annual Salary, an annual bonus (the
"Bonus") of up to fifty percent (50%) of Executive's Annual Salary. The
performance standards or goals required to be attained in order to receive such
Bonus shall be set by the Board, or such committee of the Board as they shall
designate for such purpose from time to time, with input from Executive, and all
such standards or goals shall be based on reasonable performance metrics for the
Company. The Bonus shall be calculated on or before January 31 and paid not
later than the end of the first quarter following the year for which the Bonus
is being paid.
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2.3 Supplemental Retirement Plan. During the Term, the Company
shall contribute the following amounts, on the anniversaries of the Date of this
Agreement indicated, to a supplemental retirement plan for the benefit of
Executive:
First Anniversary $ 50,000
Second Anniversary $ 75,000
Third Anniversary $100,000
Fourth Anniversary $125,000
Fifth Anniversary $150,000
Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.4(d) hereof, if Executive ceases to be
employed by the Company for any reason prior to the date a contribution to the
supplemental retirement plan is due as provided for above, the Company's
obligation to make any further contributions to the supplemental retirement plan
shall terminate and ownership of the supplemental retirement plan shall be
transferred to Executive.
2.4 Stock Options. On the Date of this Agreement, Executive will
be granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock, vesting with respect to 150,000 shares on the Date of
this Agreement with the balance vesting quarterly over a four year period. All
stock options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock granted to
Executive prior to the Date of this Agreement and all stock options granted to
Executive during the Term of this Agreement shall accelerate and become fully
vested immediately upon a Corporate Transaction or Change of Control, as those
terms are defined in Article IV, during the Term.
2.5 Benefits. Except otherwise provided herein, during the Term
Executive shall participate in any group life, medical or disability insurance
plans, health programs, retirement plans, fringe benefit programs and similar
benefits that may be available to other senior executives of the Company
generally, on the same terms as such other executives, to the extent that
Executive is eligible under the terms of such plans or programs as they may be
in effect from time to time.
2.6 Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse Executive for
all ordinary and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred (and, in
the case of reimbursement, paid) by Executive during the Term in the performance
of Executive's services under this Agreement, provided that Executive submits
reasonable proof of such expenses, with the properly completed forms as
prescribed from time to time by the Company.
2.7 Vacations and Holidays. During the Term, Executive shall be
entitled to an annual vacation leave of four (4) weeks at full pay, or such
greater vacation benefits as may be provided for by the Company's vacation
policies applicable to senior executives. Executive shall be entitled to such
holidays as are established by the Company for all employees.
2.8 Automobile Allowance. During the Term, the Company shall
provide Executive with an automobile allowance of $750 per month (the
"Automobile Allowance").
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2.9 Option Loan. For a period of thirty (30) days following the
Date of this Agreement, the Company shall permit Executive to pay the option
exercise price with respect to vested stock options to purchase up to 100,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock by delivering a full-recourse,
interest-bearing promissory note. The terms of the promissory note shall be
mutually agreed to by the Company and Executive, but shall be sufficient to
allow the Company to record the promissory note as a receivable with no
discount.
ARTICLE III
NONDISCLOSURE AND NON-SOLICITATION
3.1 Proprietary Information.
(a) The Executive recognizes that Executive's relationship
with the Company is one of high trust and confidence by reason of Executive's
access to and contact with the trade secrets and confidential and proprietary
information of the Company including, without limitation, information not
previously disclosed to the public regarding current and projected revenues,
expenses, costs, profit margins and any other financial and budgeting
information; marketing and distribution plans and practices; business plans,
opportunities, projects and any other business and corporate strategies; product
information; names, addresses, terms of contracts and other arrangements with
customers, suppliers, agents and employees of the Company; confidential and
sensitive information regarding other employees, including information with
respect to their job descriptions, performance strengths and weaknesses, and
compensation; and other information not generally known regarding the business,
affairs and plans of the Company (collectively, the "Proprietary Information").
The Executive acknowledges and agrees that Proprietary Information is the
exclusive property of the Company and that Executive shall not at any time,
either during Executive's employment with the Company or thereafter disclose to
others, or directly or indirectly use for Executive's own benefit or the benefit
of others, any of the Proprietary Information. For purposes of this Article III,
the "Company" shall mean the Company and each of its subsidiaries.
(b) The Executive acknowledges that the unauthorized use or
disclosure of Proprietary Information would be detrimental to the Company and
would reasonably be anticipated to materially impair the Company's value.
(c) The Executive's undertakings and obligations under this
Section 3.1 will not apply, however, to any Proprietary Information which: (i)
is or becomes generally known to the public through no action on Executive's
part, (ii) is generally disclosed to third parties by the Company without
restriction on such third parties, (iii) is approved for release by written
authorization of the Board, (iv) is known to Executive other than as a result of
work performed for the Company, or (v) is required to be disclosed by law or
governmental or court process or order.
(d) Upon termination of Executive's employment with the
Company or at any other time upon reasonable request, Executive will promptly
deliver to the Company all notes, memoranda, notebooks, drawings, records,
reports, written computer code, files and other documents (and all copies or
reproductions of such materials) in Executive's possession or under
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Executive's control, whether prepared by Executive or others, which contain
Proprietary Information. The Executive acknowledges that this material is the
sole property of the Company.
3.2 Absence of Restrictions upon Disclosure and Competition.
(a) The Executive hereby represents that, except as Executive
has disclosed in writing to the Company on Exhibit A attached hereto, Executive
is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other
party to refrain from using or disclosing any trade secret or confidential or
proprietary information in the course of Executive's employment with the Company
or to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such
previous employer or any other party.
(b) The Executive further represents that Executive's
performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an employee of the Company
does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary
information, knowledge or data acquired by Executive in confidence or in trust
prior to his employment with the Company, and Executive will not disclose to the
Company or induce the Company to use any confidential or proprietary information
or material belonging to any previous employer or others.
3.3 Prohibition on Solicitation of Customers. During the Term and
for a period of eighteen (18) months thereafter, Executive agrees not to,
directly or indirectly, either for Executive or for any other person or entity,
solicit any person or entity to terminate such person's or entity's contractual
and/or business relationship with the Company, nor will Executive interfere with
or disrupt or attempt to interfere with or disrupt any such relationship. None
of the foregoing shall be deemed a waiver of any and all rights and remedies the
Company may have under applicable law.
3.4 Prohibition on Solicitation of Employees, Agents or
Independent Contractors. During the Term and for a period of eighteen (18)
months thereafter, Executive agrees not to solicit any of the employees, agents
or independent contractors of the Company to leave the employ of the Company for
a competitive company or business. However, Executive may solicit any employee,
agent or independent contractor who voluntarily terminates his or her employment
with the Company after a period of ninety (90) days have elapsed since the
termination date of such employee, agent or independent contractor. None of the
foregoing shall be deemed a waiver of any and all rights and remedies the
Company may have under applicable law.
3.5 Other Obligations. The Executive acknowledges that the
Company from time to time may have agreements with other persons, which impose
obligations or restrictions on the Company regarding inventions made during the
course of work under such agreements or regarding the confidential nature of
such work. The Executive agrees to be bound by all such obligations and
restrictions which are made known to Executive and to take all reasonable action
necessary to discharge the obligations of the Company under such agreements.
3.6 Rights and Remedies upon Breach. The Executive acknowledges
and agrees that any material breach by him of any of the provisions of Article
III (the "Restrictive
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Covenants") would result in irreparable injury and damage for which money
damages may not provide an adequate remedy. Therefore, if Executive materially
breaches any of the provisions of Article III, the Company shall have the
following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be
independent of the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights and
remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and
remedies available to the Company under law or in equity (including, without
limitation, the recovery of damages): the right and remedy to have the
Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced (without posting bond and without
the need to prove damages) by any court having equity jurisdiction, including,
without limitation, the right to an entry against Executive of restraining
orders and injunctions (preliminary, mandatory, temporary and permanent) against
violations, threatened or actual, and whether or not then continuing, of such
covenants.
ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION
4.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
definitions shall apply to the terms set forth below:
(a) Cause. "Cause" shall mean:
(i) habitual neglect or insubordination (defined as a
refusal to execute or carry out directions from the Board which are consistent
with Executive's title and position) where Executive has been given written
notice of the acts or omissions constituting such neglect or insubordination and
Executive has failed to cure such conduct, where susceptible to cure, within
thirty (30) days following notice;
(ii) conviction of any felony or any crime involving
moral turpitude;
(iii) participation in any fraud against the Company;
(iv) willful breach of Executive's material duties to the
Company, including but not limited to theft from the Company and failure to
fully disclose personal pecuniary interest in a transaction involving the
Company;
(v) intentional damage to any property of the Company;
(vi) conduct by Executive which in the good faith,
reasonable determination of the Board demonstrates gross unfitness to serve
including, but not be limited to, gross neglect, non-prescription use of
controlled substances, any abuse of controlled substances whether or not by
prescription, or habitual drunkenness, intoxication, or other impaired state
induced by consumption of any drug, including alcohol; or
(vii) material breach by the Executive of the Restrictive
Covenants.
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(b) Change in Control. "Change in Control" shall mean a
change in ownership or control of the Company effected through either of the
following transactions:
(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any
person or related group of persons (other than the Company or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, the Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of
the 1934 Securities Exchange Act, as amended) of securities possessing more than
forty-six percent (46%) of the total combined voting power of the Company's
outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to
the Company's stockholders, or
(ii) a change in the composition of the Company's Board
such that a majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more
contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who
either (A) have been Board members continuously since the Date of this Agreement
or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members described in
clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election
or nomination.
(c) Corporate Transaction. "Corporate Transaction" shall mean
either of the following stockholder-approved transactions to which the Company
is a party:
(i) a merger, consolidation or reorganization in which
securities possessing more than forty-six percent (46%) of the total combined
voting power of the Company's outstanding securities are transferred to a person
or persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior
to such transaction, or
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets; or
(iii) complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(d) Good Reason. "Good Reason" shall mean, unless otherwise
consented to in writing by Executive:
(i) assignment of the Executive to a position,
responsibilities or duties of a materially lesser status or degree of
responsibility than his position, responsibilities or duties as of the Date of
this Agreement;
(ii) relocation of the Executive outside of the Orange
County area;
(iii) a reduction by the Company of the Executive's
Annual Salary below the initial Annual Salary or, following a Corporate
Transaction or Change in Control, below Executive's Annual Salary at the time of
the Corporate Transaction or Change in Control;
(iv) a failure by the Company to continue in effect,
without substantial change, any benefit plan or arrangement in which the
Executive was participating or
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the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect the
Executive's participation in or materially reduce his benefits under any benefit
plan (unless such failure, action or changes apply equally to substantially all
other management employees of Company); or
(v) any material breach by the Company of any provision
of this Agreement without the Executive having committed any material breach of
Executive's obligations hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) Good Reason shall not be deemed to exist
unless notice of termination on account thereof (specifying a termination date
no later than thirty (30) days from the date of such notice) is given no later
than sixty (60) days after the time at which the event or condition purportedly
giving rise to Good Reason first occurs or arises (or when Executive first
becomes aware of such circumstances); and (y) the Company shall have thirty (30)
days from the date notice of such a termination is given to cure such event or
condition if curable and, if the Company does so fully cure such event or
condition, such event or condition shall not constitute Good Reason hereunder.
4.2 Termination upon Death or Disability. If Executive dies
during the Term, the Term shall terminate as of the date of death, and the
obligations of the Company to or with respect to Executive shall terminate in
their entirety upon such date except as otherwise provided under this Section
4.2. If Executive becomes disabled for purposes of the long-term disability plan
of the Company for which Executive is eligible, or, in the event that there is
no such plan, if Executive by virtue of ill health or other disability is unable
to perform substantially and continuously the material duties assigned to him
for more than 180 consecutive or non-consecutive days out of any consecutive
12-month period, then the Company shall have the right, to the extent permitted
by law, to terminate the employment of Executive upon notice in writing to
Executive. If Executive is given such notice of termination for disability, the
Term shall terminate as of the date of such notice, and the obligations of the
Company to Executive shall terminate in their entirety upon such date except as
otherwise provided under this Section 4.2. Upon termination of employment due to
death or disability, Executive (or Executive's estate or beneficiaries in the
case of the death of Executive) shall be entitled to receive:
(a) any Annual Salary and other benefits earned and accrued
under this Agreement prior to the date of termination (and reimbursement under
this Agreement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination),
including, but not limited to a pro-rata Bonus for the year of termination
(calculated by measuring target performance levels against actual performance at
the time of termination) to be paid at such time as Bonuses are ordinarily paid;
(b) his Annual Salary and Automobile Allowance payable in
accordance with the Company's customary payroll practices for twelve (12) months
following such termination;
(c) reimbursement for COBRA payments equal to Executive's
regular monthly contributions toward Executive's health insurance benefits for
the twelve (12) months following such termination date if Executive elects COBRA
benefits;
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(d) acceleration and immediate vesting of all stock options
to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock granted to Executive which
would have vested and become exercisable pursuant to the scheduled vesting for
such options had Executive continued as an employee of the Company for twelve
(12) months following such termination; and
(e) the right to exercise any and all vested stock options
for a period of twelve (12) months following such termination (after which they
shall expire and no longer be exercisable); provided, however, that in no event
shall the exercise period extend later than the expiration term of such option
as set forth in the applicable Notice of Grant.
Executive (or, in the case of Executive's death, Executive's
estate and beneficiaries) shall have no further rights to any other compensation
or benefits hereunder on or after the termination of employment, or any other
rights hereunder, except as otherwise provided in the plans and policies of the
Company.
4.3 Termination for Cause; Termination of Employment by Executive
without Good Reason. The Company may terminate Executive's employment hereunder
for Cause immediately, and Executive may terminate his employment for any or no
reason on at least thirty (30) days' and not more than sixty (60) days' written
notice given to the Company. If during the Term the Company terminates Executive
for Cause, or Executive terminates his employment and the termination by
Executive is not covered by Section 4.2 or 4.4, Executive shall receive any
Annual Salary and other benefits earned and accrued under this Agreement prior
to the termination of employment (and reimbursement under this Agreement for
expenses incurred prior to the termination of employment) and Executive shall
have no further rights to any other compensation or benefits hereunder on or
after the termination of employment, or any other rights hereunder, except as
otherwise provided in the plans and policies of the Company. In addition, in the
event Executive is terminated hereunder for Cause, all stock options to purchase
shares of the Company's Common Stock granted to Executive, vested or unvested,
shall immediately cease to be exercisable and shall terminate upon the effective
date of such termination.
4.4 Termination by the Company without Cause; or by Executive for
Good Reason. The Company may terminate Executive's employment at any time for
any reason or no reason and Executive may terminate Executive's employment with
the Company for Good Reason. If during the Term the Company terminates
Executive's employment and the termination is not covered by Section 4.2 or 4.3,
or Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, Executive shall receive:
(a) any Annual Salary and other benefits earned and accrued
under this Agreement prior to the termination of employment (and reimbursement
under this Agreement for expenses incurred prior to the termination of
employment);
(b) his Annual Salary and Automobile Allowance payable in
accordance with the Company's customary payroll practices for eighteen (18)
months following such termination;
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(c) reimbursement for COBRA payments equal to Executive's
regular monthly contributions toward Executive's health insurance benefits for
the eighteen (18) months following such termination date if Executive elects
COBRA benefits;
(d) if, and only if, Executive's employment with the Company
terminates after the first anniversary of the Date of this Agreement,
continuation of the contributions to a supplemental retirement plan as provided
by Section 2.3 hereof which would have been required had Executive continued as
an employee of the Company for a period of eighteen (18) months following such
termination pro rated for any partial year;
(e) acceleration and immediate vesting of all stock options
to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock granted to Executive which
would have vested and become exercisable pursuant to the scheduled vesting for
such options had Executive continued as an employee of the Company for eighteen
(18) months, and following such termination; and
(f) the right to exercise any and all vested stock options to
purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock then held by Executive for a
period of twelve (12) months following such termination or, if such termination
occurs within twenty-four (24) months following a Corporate Transaction or
Change in Control, then for a period of eighteen (18) months following such
termination (after which they shall expire and no longer be exercisable);
provided, however, that in no event shall the exercise period extend later than
the expiration term of such option as set forth in the applicable Notice of
Grant.
In order to be eligible to receive the benefits specified under
Sections 4.4(b)-(f), Executive must execute a general release of claims in a
form reasonably acceptable to the Company and Executive and signed by Executive.
Executive shall have no further rights to any other compensation or benefits
hereunder on or after the termination of employment, or any other rights
hereunder, except as otherwise provided in the plans and policies of the
Company.
In the event Executive is terminated by the Company pursuant to
this Section 4.4, Executive shall not have a duty to seek substitute employment
and the Company shall not have the right to offset any compensation due
Executive against any compensation or income received by Executive after the
date of such termination.
4.5 Benefit Limit. In the event that any payment or benefit
(including salary continuation payments, accelerated option vesting or continued
health care coverage) received or to be received by Executive pursuant to this
Agreement (collectively the `Payments") would constitute a parachute payment
within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), then the following limitation shall apply:
The aggregate present value of those Payments shall be limited in
amount to the greater of the following dollar amounts (the "Benefit
Limit"):
(a) 2.99 times Executive's Average Compensation, or
(b) the amount which yields Executive the greatest after-tax
amount of Payments under this Agreement after taking into account any
excise tax imposed under Code Section 4999 on those Payments.
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The present value of the Payments will be measured as of the date
of the Change in Control or Corporate Transaction and determined in accordance
with the provisions of Code Section 280G(d)(4).
Average Compensation means the average of Executive's W-2 wages
from the Company for the five (5) calendar years (or such fewer number of
calendar years of employment with the Company) completed immediately prior to
the calendar year in which the Change of Control or Corporate Transaction is
effected. Any W-2 wages for a partial year of employment will be annualized, in
accordance with the frequency which such wages are paid during such partial
year, before inclusion in Average Compensation.
4.6 Resolution Procedure. For purposes of the foregoing Benefit
Limit, the following provisions will be in effect:
(a) In the event there is any disagreement between Executive
and the Company as to whether one or more Payments to which Executive becomes
entitled under this Agreement constitute parachute payments under Code Section
280G or as to the determination of the present value thereof, such dispute will
be resolved as follows:
(i) In the event temporary, proposed or final Treasury
Regulations in effect at the time under Code Section 280G (or applicable
judicial decisions) specifically address the status of any such Payment or the
method of valuation therefor, the characterization afforded to such Payment by
the Regulations (or such decisions) will, together with the applicable valuation
methodology, be controlling.
(ii) In the event Treasury Regulations (or applicable
judicial decisions) do not address the status of any Payment in dispute, the
matter will be submitted for resolution to a nationally-recognized independent
accounting firm mutually acceptable to Executive and the Company ("Independent
Accountant"). The resolution reached by the Independent Accountant will be final
and controlling; provided, however, that if in the judgment of the Independent
Accountant the status of the payment in dispute can be resolved through the
obtainment of a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, a
formal and proper request for such ruling will be prepared and submitted, and
the determination made by the Internal Revenue Service in the issued ruling will
be controlling. All expenses incurred in connection with the retention of the
Independent Accountant and (if applicable) the preparation and submission of the
ruling request shall be borne by the Company.
4.7 Reduction of Benefits. To the extent the aggregate present
value of the Payments would exceed the Benefit Limit, the salary continuation
payments will first be reduced, and then the accelerated vesting of the options
(based on their parachute value under Code Section 280G) will be reduced, to the
extent necessary to assure that such Benefit Limit is not exceeded.
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ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
5.1 Severability. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that (i)
he has had an opportunity to seek advice of counsel in connection with this
Agreement and (ii) the Restrictive Covenants are reasonable in geographical and
temporal scope and in all other respects. If it is determined that any of the
provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, any of the
Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the
remainder of the provisions of this Agreement shall not thereby be affected and
shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portions.
5.2 Duration and Scope of Covenants. If any court or other
decision-maker of competent jurisdiction determines that any of Executive's
covenants contained in this Agreement, including, without limitation, any of the
Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the
duration or geographical scope of such provision, then, after such determination
has become final and unappealable, the duration or scope of such provision, as
the case may be, shall be reduced so that such provision becomes enforceable
and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be
enforced.
5.3 Arbitration.
(a) Except as provided in Section 3.6, any controversy,
dispute, or claim between the parties to this Agreement, including any claim
arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to the formation,
interpretation, performance or breach of this Agreement shall be settled
exclusively by arbitration, before a single arbitrator experienced in employment
matters, in accordance with this section and the then most applicable rules of
the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon any award rendered by the
arbitrator may be entered by any state or federal court having jurisdiction
thereof. Such arbitration shall be administered by the American Arbitration
Association. Arbitration shall be the exclusive remedy for determining any such
dispute, regardless of its nature. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party
may in an appropriate matter apply to a court pursuant to California Code of
Civil Procedure Section 1281.8, or any comparable provision, for provisional
relief, including a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction, on
the ground that the award to which the applicant may be entitled in arbitration
may be rendered ineffectual without provisional relief.
(b) In the event the parties are unable to agree upon an
arbitrator, the parties shall select a single arbitrator from a list of nine
arbitrators drawn by the parties at random from the "Independent" (or "Gold
Card") list of retired judges or, at Executive's option, from a list of nine
persons from the Employment Panel provided by the American Arbitration
Association. If the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator from the list
so drawn, then the parties shall each strike names alternately from the list,
with the first to strike being determined by lot. After each party has used four
strikes, the remaining name on the list shall be the arbitrator. If such person
is unable to serve for any reason, the parties shall repeat this process until
an arbitrator is selected.
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(c) This agreement to resolve any disputes by binding
arbitration shall extend to claims against any parent, subsidiary or affiliate
of each party, and, when acting within such capacity, any officer, director,
shareholder, employee or agent of each party, or of any of the above, and shall
apply as well to claims arising out of state and federal statutes and local
ordinances as well as to claims arising under the common law. In the event of a
dispute subject to this paragraph the parties shall be entitled to reasonable
discovery subject to the discretion of the arbitrator. The remedial authority of
the arbitrator shall be the same as, but no greater than, would be the remedial
power of a court having jurisdiction over the parties and their dispute. The
arbitrator shall, upon an appropriate motion, dismiss any claim without an
evidentiary hearing if the party bringing the motion establishes that he, she or
it would be entitled to summary judgment if the matter had been pursued in court
litigation. In the event of a conflict between the applicable rules of the
American Arbitration Association and these procedures, the provisions of these
procedures shall govern.
(d) Any filing or administrative fees shall be borne
initially by the party requesting arbitration. The Company shall be initially
responsible for the costs and fees of the arbitrator, unless Executive wishes to
contribute (up to 50%) of the costs and fees of the arbitrator. The prevailing
party in such arbitration, as determined by the arbitrator, and in any
enforcement or other court proceedings, shall be entitled, to the extent
permitted by law, to reimbursement from the other party for all of the
prevailing party's costs (including but not limited to the arbitrator's
compensation), expenses, and attorneys' fees.
(e) The arbitrator shall render an award and written opinion,
and the award shall be final and binding upon the parties. If any of the
provisions of this Section 5.3, or of this Agreement, are determined to be
unlawful or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, such determination
shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, and this
Agreement shall be reformed to the extent necessary to carry out its provisions
to the greatest extent possible and to insure that the resolution of all
conflicts between the parties, including those arising out of statutory claims,
shall be resolved by neutral, binding arbitration. If a court should find that
this Section's arbitration provisions are not absolutely binding, then the
parties intend any arbitration decision and award to be fully admissible in
evidence in any subsequent action, given great weight by any finder of fact, and
treated as determinative to the maximum extent permitted by law.
(f) Unless mutually agreed by the parties otherwise, any
arbitration shall take place in Orange County, California.
5.4 Proprietary Information and Inventions. Contemporaneously
with the execution of this Agreement, Executive shall execute a Proprietary
Information and Inventions Agreement with the Company. The terms of said
agreement are incorporated by reference in this Agreement, and Executive agrees
to be bound thereby.
5.5 Covenant to Notify Management. Executive agrees to abide by
the ethics policies of the Company as well as the Company's other rules,
regulations, policies and procedures which he has received in writing. Executive
agrees to comply in full with all governmental laws and regulations as well as
ethics codes applicable to the business or profession. In the event that
Executive is aware or suspects the Company, or any of its officers
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or agents, of violating any such laws, ethics codes, rules, regulations,
policies or procedures, Executive agrees to bring all such actual and suspected
violations to the attention of the Company immediately so that the matter may be
properly investigated and appropriate action taken.
5.6 Notices. All notices or deliveries authorized or required
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when in writing
and when (i) deposited in the U.S. mail, certified, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, or (ii) otherwise delivered by hand or by overnight delivery,
against written receipt, by a common carrier or commercial courier or delivery
service addressed to the parties at the following addresses or to such other
addresses as either may designate in writing to the other party:
to the Company: Tickets.com, Inc.
555 Anton Blvd., 11th Floor
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: (714) 327-5400
Facsimile: (714) 327-5410
to Executive: Ronald Bension
633 Inverness Drive
La Canada, CA 91011
with a copy to: Joel Katz, Esq.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
3290 Northside Parkway
Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30327
5.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, along with the Proprietary
Information and Inventions Agreement by and between Executive and Company of
even date herewith and the stock option agreements described in Section 2.3,
contain the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral,
with respect thereto.
5.8 Waivers and Amendments. This Agreement may be amended,
superseded, canceled, renewed or extended, and the terms hereof may be waived,
only by a written instrument signed by the parties or, in the case of a waiver,
by the party waiving compliance. No delay on the part of any party in exercising
any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor
shall any waiver on the part of any party of any such right, power or privilege
nor any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege,
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such
right, power or privilege.
5.9 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT REGARD
TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.
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5.10 Assignment. This Agreement, and Executive's rights and
obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by Executive; any purported
assignment by Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void. In the event
of any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets or business, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, the
Company may assign this Agreement and its rights hereunder; provided that such
assignment shall not limit the Company's liability under this Agreement to
Executive.
5.11 Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from
any payments or deemed payments any amount of tax withholding required by law.
5.12 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, permitted
assigns, heirs, executors and legal representatives.
5.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered
shall be an original but all such counterparts together shall constitute one and
the same instrument. Each counterpart may consist of two copies hereof each
signed by one of the parties hereto.
5.14 Survival. Anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, the provisions of Article III, Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.5,
5.9 and 5.16, and the other provisions of this Section 5 (to the extent
necessary to effectuate the survival of Article III, Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.5, 5.9
and 5.16), shall survive termination of this Agreement and any termination of
Executive's employment hereunder.
5.15 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference
only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
5.16 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance. To the
fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless Executive from and against all actual or threatened actions, suits or
proceedings, whether civil or criminal, administrative or investigative,
together with all attorneys' fees and costs, fines, judgments or settlements
imposed upon or incurred by Executive in connection therewith, that arise from
Executive's employment by, or serving as an officer of, the Company, so long as
Executive acted or refrained from acting legally and in good faith or reasonably
believed that his actions or refraining from acting were legal and performed or
omitted in good faith. Company currently has directors and officers liability
insurance and will use reasonable efforts to maintain such insurance coverage
and Executive's coverage thereunder during the Term and for a period of three
(3) years thereafter. The Company will notify Executive within three (3)
business days of the termination of its directors and officers liability
insurance.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.
"EMPLOYER"
TICKETS.COM, INC., a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Eric P. Bauer
---------------------------------------
Eric P. Bauer, Executive Vice President
Administration and CFO
"EXECUTIVE"
/s/ Ronald Bension
--------------------------------------------
Ronald Bension
15
Exhibit 10.19 - employment agreement
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
------------------
NON-DISCLOSURE AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT
Please list terms of any agreements with any previous employer or other
party which restrains you from using or disclosing any trade secret or
confidential or proprietary information in the course of your employment with
Tickets.com, Inc. or restrains you from competing directly or indirectly with
the business of such previous employer or any other party.
Date Signed by
Executive:
___________________________________ /s/ Ronald Bension
----------------------
Signature of Executive
Ronald Bension
-------------------------
Printed Name of Executive
Reviewed and accepted by
___________________________________
On ________________________________
By: _______________________________
Exhibit 10.19 - Employment Agreement