AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.30
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (Agreement) is entered into by and between Robert Dzielak (Executive) and Expedia, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and is effective as of May 9, 2012 (the Effective Date).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish its right to the services of Executive, in the capacity described below, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and Executive is willing to accept such employment on such terms and conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, Executive and the Company have agreed and do hereby agree as follows:
1.A. EMPLOYMENT. The Company agrees to employ Executive as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company; Executive accepts and agrees to such employment. During Executives employment with the Company, Executive shall perform all services and acts necessary or advisable to fulfill the duties and responsibilities as are commensurate and consistent with Executives position and shall render such services on the terms set forth herein. During Executives employment with the Company, Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or such person(s) as from time to time may be designated by the Company (hereinafter referred to as the Reporting Officer). Executive shall have such powers and duties with respect to the Company as may reasonably be assigned to Executive by the Reporting Officer, to the extent consistent with Executives position and status. Executive agrees to devote all of Executives working time, attention and efforts to the Company and to perform the duties of Executives position in accordance with the Companys policies as in effect from time to time. Executives principal place of employment shall be the Companys offices located in Bellevue, Washington.
2.A. TERM OF AGREEMENT. The term (Term) of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue through the third anniversary of the Effective Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of the Standard Terms and Conditions attached hereto.
3.A. | COMPENSATION. |
(a) BASE SALARY. For the period from April 10, 2012 through the Term, the Company shall pay Executive an annualized base salary of $375,000.00 (the Base Salary), payable in equal biweekly installments or in accordance with the Companys payroll practice as in effect from time to time. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term Base Salary shall refer to Base Salary as in effect from time to time. Not later than the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the Base Salary shall be subject to review and increase at the discretion of the Companys Chief Executive Officer.
(b) DISCRETIONARY BONUS. For the period from September 1, 2011 though the Term, Executive shall be eligible to receive discretionary annual bonuses with an annual target bonus equal to 70% of Base Salary, with amounts, if any, for any partial year payable on a pro rata basis (based on the number of days of employment during any such partial year relative to 365 days). Any such annual bonus shall be paid not later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year with respect to which such annual bonus relates (unless Executive has elected to defer receipt of such bonus pursuant to an arrangement that meets the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)). Not later than the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the annual bonus target percentage shall be subject to review and increase at the discretion of the Companys Chief Executive Officer.
(c) BENEFITS.
(i) Retirement and Welfare Plans. During the Term, from the Effective Date through the date of termination of Executives employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any welfare, health and life insurance and pension benefit plans as may be adopted from time to time by the Company on the same basis as that provided to similarly situated executives of the Company generally, consistent with the terms of such plans.
(ii) Reimbursement for Business Expenses. During the Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by Executive in performing Executives duties for the Company, on the same basis as similarly situated executives of the Company generally and in accordance with the Companys policies as in effect from time to time.
(iii) Vacation. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to annual paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company applicable to similarly situated executives of the Company generally.
4.A. NOTICES. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by first-class mail, certified or registered with return receipt requested or hand delivery acknowledged in writing by the recipient personally, and shall be deemed to have been duly given three days after mailing or immediately upon duly acknowledged hand delivery to the respective persons named below:
If to the Company: | Expedia, Inc. | |
333 108th Avenue NE | ||
Bellevue, Washington 98004 | ||
Attention: General Counsel | ||
If to Executive: | At the most recent address on record for Executive at the Company |
Either party may change such partys address for notices by notice duly given pursuant hereto.
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5.A. GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION. This Agreement and the legal relations thus created between the parties hereto shall be governed by and construed under and in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Washington without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws. Any and all disputes between the parties which may arise pursuant to this Agreement will be heard and determined before an appropriate federal court in Washington, or, if not maintainable therein, then in an appropriate Washington state court. The parties acknowledge that such courts have jurisdiction to interpret and enforce the provisions of this Agreement, and the parties consent to, and waive any and all objections that they may have as to, personal jurisdiction and/or venue in such courts.
6.A COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Executive expressly understands and acknowledges that the Standard Terms and Conditions attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference, deemed a part of this Agreement and are binding and enforceable provisions of this Agreement. References to this Agreement or the use of the term hereof shall refer to this Agreement and the Standard Terms and Conditions attached hereto, taken as a whole.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer and Executive has executed and delivered this Agreement.
EXPEDIA, INC. |
/s/ Connie L. Symes |
By: Connie L. Symes |
Title: EVP, HR |
/s/ Robert Dzielak |
Robert Dzielak |
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STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. | TERMINATION OF EXECUTIVES EMPLOYMENT. |
(a) DEATH. Upon termination of Executives employment prior to the expiration of the Term by reason of Executives death, the Company shall pay Executives designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, within 30 days of Executives death in a lump sum in cash, (i) Executives Base Salary from the date of Executives death through the end of the month in which Executives death occurs and (ii) any Accrued Obligations (as defined in Section 1(f) below).
(b) DISABILITY. If, as a result of Executives disability (as provided under Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) and Treasury regulation section 1.409A-3(i)(4) and other official guidance issued thereunder) (Disability), Executive shall have been absent from the full-time performance of Executives duties with the Company for a period of four consecutive months and, within 30 days after written notice is provided to Executive by the Company (in accordance with Section 4A hereof), Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of Executives duties, Executives employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company for Disability. During any period prior to such termination during which Executive is absent from the full-time performance of Executives duties with the Company due to Disability, the Company shall continue to pay Executives Base Salary at the rate in effect at the commencement of such period of Disability, offset by any amounts payable to Executive under any disability insurance plan or policy provided by the Company. Upon termination of Executives employment due to Disability, the Company shall pay Executive within 30 days of such termination (i) Executives Base Salary through the end of the month in which Executives termination of employment for Disability occurs in equal biweekly installments in accordance with the Companys payroll practice as in effect from time to time, offset by any amounts payable to Executive under any disability insurance plan or policy provided by the Company; and (ii) any Accrued Obligations.
(c) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE; RESIGNATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON. The Company may terminate Executives employment under this Agreement with or without Cause at any time and Executive may resign under this Agreement with or without Good Reason at any time. As used herein, Cause shall mean: (i) the plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, conviction for, or the commission of, a felony offense by Executive; provided, however, that after indictment, the Company may suspend Executive from the rendition of services, but without limiting or modifying in any other way the Companys obligations under this Agreement; (ii) a material breach by Executive of a fiduciary duty owed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) a material breach by Executive of any of the covenants made by Executive in Section 2 hereof; (iv) the willful or gross neglect by Executive of the material duties required by this Agreement; or (v) a knowing and material violation by Executive of any Company policy pertaining to ethics, legal compliance, wrongdoing or conflicts of interest that, in the case of the conduct described in clauses (iv) or (v) above, if curable, is not cured by Executive within 30 days after Executive is provided with written notice thereof. Upon Executives (A) termination of employment by the Company for Cause prior to the expiration of the Term or (B) resignation without Good Reason prior to the expiration of the Term, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligation by the Company, except for the payment of any Accrued Obligations.
(d) TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY OTHER THAN FOR DEATH, DISABILITY OR CAUSE OR RESIGNATION BY EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD REASON. Upon termination of Executives employment prior to the expiration of the Term by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or by Executive for Good Reason (as defined below), then:
(i) the Company shall continue to pay Executive his Base Salary through the longer of (x) one year or (y) through the end of the Term, payable over the course of such period (such period, the Severance Period) in equal biweekly installments;
(ii) the Company shall pay Executive in a lump sum (without regard to whether Executive actually elects COBRA coverage) an amount equal to 12 months of monthly premiums with respect to COBRA continuation coverage under the Companys group health plans in existence on the date of termination, and at the level of coverage Executive participated in, as of the date of termination;
(iii) the Company shall pay or otherwise provide Executive within 30 days of the date of such termination any Accrued Obligations;
(iv) the Company will consider in good faith the payment of a discretionary bonus on a pro rata basis for the year in which the Termination of Employment occurs, any such payment to be paid (if at all) based on actual performance during the year in which termination has occurred and based on the number of days of employment during such year relative to 365 days (payable in a lump sum at the time such annual bonus would otherwise have been paid);
(v) any compensation awards of Executive based on, or in the form of, Company equity (e.g. restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options or similar instruments) (Equity Awards) that are outstanding and unvested at the time of such termination but which would, but for a termination of employment, have vested during the 12 months following such termination (such period, the Equity Acceleration Period) shall vest (and with respect to awards other than stock options and stock appreciation rights, settle) as of the date of such termination of employment; provided that any outstanding award with a vesting schedule that would, but for a termination of employment, have resulted in a smaller percentage (or none) of the award being vested through the end of such Equity Acceleration Period than if it vested annually pro rata over its vesting period shall, for purposes of this provision, be treated as though it vested annually pro rata over its vesting period (e.g., if 100 restricted stock units (RSUs) were granted 2.7 years prior to the date of the termination and vested pro rata on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant date and 100 RSUs were granted 1.7 years prior to the date of termination and vested on the fifth anniversary of the grant date, then on the date of termination 20 RSUs from the first award and 40 RSUs from the second award would vest and settle); provided further that any amount that would vest under this provision but
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for the fact that outstanding performance conditions have not been satisfied shall vest (and with respect to awards other than stock options and stock appreciation rights, settle) only if, and at such point as, such performance conditions are satisfied; and provided further that if any Equity Awards made subsequent to the Effective Date of this Agreement specifies a more favorable post-termination vesting schedule for such equity, the terms of the award agreement for such Equity Award shall govern; and
(vi) any then vested options of Executive (including options vesting as a result of (v) above) to purchase Company equity, shall remain exercisable through the date that is 18 months following the date of such termination or, if earlier, through the original scheduled expiration date of such options.
The expiration of this Agreement shall not give rise to any payment or acceleration obligation under this Agreement.
The payment to Executive of the severance pay and benefits described in Sections 1(d)(i), (ii), (iv), (v) and (vi) (the Severance Payments & Benefits) above is contingent upon (i) Executives compliance with the offset provisions in Section 1(e) below, (ii) Executives compliance with the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 2, and (iii) Executive signing and not revoking a separation agreement and release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates in a form that is satisfactory to the Company upon Executives termination of employment that becomes effective no later than sixty (60) days following Executives employment termination date or such earlier date required by the release agreement (such deadline, the Release Deadline). If the release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline, Executive will forfeit any rights to severance. In no event will severance payments or benefits be paid or provided until the release actually becomes effective and irrevocable. Upon the release becoming effective and irrevocable, any payments delayed from the date Executive terminates employment through the effective date of the release will be payable in a lump sum without interest as soon as administratively practicable after the Release Deadline and all other amounts will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Any Severance Payments & Benefits that would be considered Deferred Payments (as defined below) will be paid on or, in the case of installments, will not commence until the sixtieth (60th) day following Executives separation from service or, if later, the Delayed Initial Payment Date (as defined below). Any installment payment that would have been made to Executive during the sixty (60)-day period immediately following Executives separation from service, but for the preceding sentence, will be paid to Executive on the sixtieth (60th) day following Executives separation from service and the remaining payments shall be made as provide in this Agreement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Severance Payments & Benefits constitute good and valuable consideration for such release.
As used herein, Good Reason shall mean the occurrence of any of the following without Executives prior consent: (A) the Companys material breach of any material provision of this Agreement, (B) the material reduction in Executives duties or level of responsibilities as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, excluding for this purpose any such reduction that is an isolated and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith or that is authorized pursuant to this Agreement, (C) the material reduction in Executives Base Salary or (D) the
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relocation of Executives principal place of employment more than 50 miles outside the Greater Seattle metropolitan area, provided that in no event shall Executives resignation be for Good Reason unless (x) an event or circumstance set forth in clauses (A) through (D) shall have occurred and Executive provides the Company with written notice thereof within 30 days after the occurrence or existence of such event or circumstance, which notice specifically identifies the event or circumstance that Executive believes constitutes Good Reason, (y) the Company fails to correct the circumstance or event so identified within 30 days after receipt of such notice, and (z) the Executive resigns within 90 days after the date of delivery of the notice referred to in clause (x) above.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of Section 1(d), in the event that Executive is a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, including any regulations and guidance issued thereunder (Section 409A)) on the date of termination of Executives employment with the Company and the Severance Payments and Benefits to be paid within the first six months following such date (the Initial Payment Period) exceed the amount referenced in Treas. Regs. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A) (the Limit), then (1) any portion of the Severance Payments & Benefits that is a short-term deferral within the meaning of Treas. Regs. Section 1.409A-1(b)(4)(i) shall be paid at the times set forth in Section 1(d), (2) any portion of the Severance Payments & Benefits (in addition to the amounts contemplated by the immediately preceding clause (1)) that is payable during the Initial Payment Period that does not exceed the Limit shall be paid at the times set forth in Section 1(d) as applicable, (3) any portion of the 409A Payments that exceeds the Limit and is not a short-term deferral (and would have been payable during the Initial Payment Period but for the Limit) (the Deferred Payments) shall be paid, with Interest, on the first business day of the first calendar month that begins after the six-month anniversary of Executives separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A) (the Delayed Initial Payment Date) and (4) any portion of the Severance Payments & Benefits that is payable after the Initial Payment Period shall be paid at the times set forth in Section 1(d), as applicable. For purposes of this Agreement, Interest shall mean interest at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code, from the date on which a payment would otherwise have been made but for any required delay through the date of payment.
(e) OFFSET. If Executive obtains other employment during the Salary Continuation Period, any payments to be made to Executive under Section 1(d) hereof after the date such employment is secured shall be offset by the amount of compensation earned by Executive from such employment. For purposes of this Section 1(e), Executive shall have an obligation to inform the Company regarding Executives employment status following termination and during the Salary Continuation Period, but shall have no affirmative duty to seek alternate employment.
(f) ACCRUED OBLIGATIONS. As used in this Agreement, Accrued Obligations shall mean the sum of (i) any portion of Executives accrued and earned but unpaid Base Salary through the date of death or termination of employment for any reason, as the case may be; (ii) any compensation previously earned but deferred by Executive (together with any interest or earnings thereon) that has not yet been paid and that is not otherwise paid at a later date pursuant to any deferred compensation arrangement of the Company to which Executive is a party, if any
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(provided, that any election made by Executive pursuant to any deferred compensation arrangement that is subject to Section 409A regarding the schedule for payment of such deferred compensation shall prevail over this Section 1(f) to the extent inconsistent herewith); and (iii) other than in the event of Executives resignation without Good Reason or termination by the Company for Cause (except as required by applicable law), any portion of Executives accrued but unpaid vacation pay through the date of death or termination of employment.
(g) OTHER BENEFITS. Upon any termination of Executives employment prior to the expiration of the Term, Executive shall remain entitled to receive any vested benefits or amounts that Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of, or any other contract or agreement with, the Company in accordance with the terms thereof (other than any such plan, policy, practice or program of the Company that provides benefits in the nature of severance or continuation pay).
(h) SECTION 409A. This Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A to the extent Section 409A is applicable to this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall be interpreted, operated and administered by the Company in a manner consistent with such intention and to avoid the pre-distribution inclusion in income of amounts deferred under this Agreement and the imposition of any additional tax or interest with respect thereto. Each payment under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A.
2. | CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NON-COMPETITION; NON-SOLICITATION; AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS. |
(a) CONFIDENTIALITY. Executive acknowledges that while employed by the Company Executive will occupy a position of trust and confidence. The Company has provided and shall continue to provide Executive with Confidential Information. Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and shall not, except as may be required to perform Executives duties hereunder or as required by applicable law, without limitation in time, communicate, divulge, disseminate, disclose to others or otherwise use, whether directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information. Confidential Information shall mean information about the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and their respective businesses, employees, consultants, contractors, suppliers, clients and customers that is not disclosed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for financial reporting purposes and that was learned by Executive in the course of employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including (without limitation) any proprietary knowledge, trade secrets, data, formulae, processes, methods, research, secret data, costs, names of users or purchasers of their respective products or services, business methods, operating procedures or programs or methods of promotion and sale, information relating to accounting or tax strategies and data, information and client and customer lists and all papers, resumes, and records (including computer records) of the documents containing such Confidential Information. For purposes of this Section 2(a), information shall not cease to be Confidential Information merely because it is embraced by general disclosures for financial reporting purposes or because individual features or combinations thereof are publicly available. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if Executive is required to disclose any
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such confidential or proprietary information pursuant to applicable law or a subpoena or court order, Executive shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any such requirement so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order or other appropriate remedy or waive compliance with the provisions hereof. Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company to obtain such a protective order or other remedy. If such order or other remedy is not obtained prior to the time Executive is required to make the disclosure, or the Company waives compliance with the provisions hereof, Executive shall disclose only that portion of the confidential or proprietary information which he is advised by counsel that he is legally required to so disclose. Executive acknowledges that such Confidential Information is specialized, unique in nature and of great value to the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates, and that such information gives the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates a competitive advantage. Executive agrees to deliver or return to the Company, at the Companys request at any time or upon termination or expiration of Executives employment, all documents, computer tapes and disks, plans, initiatives, strategies, records, lists, data, drawings, prints, notes and written information (and all copies thereof) created by or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates or prepared by Executive in the course of Executives employment by the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates. As used in this Agreement, subsidiaries and affiliates shall mean any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.
(b) NON-COMPETITION. In consideration of the Companys promise to disclose, and disclosure of, its Confidential Information and other good and valuable consideration provided hereunder, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by Executive, Executive hereby agrees and covenants that: Until the longer of (i) the last day of the Term and (ii) a period of 18 months beyond Executives date of termination of employment for any reason, including the expiration of the Term (the Restricted Period), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in, assist or become associated with a Competitive Activity. For purposes of this Section 2(b): (i) a Competitive Activity means, at the time of Executives termination, any business or other endeavor in any jurisdiction of a kind being conducted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (or demonstrably anticipated by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates), including, without limitation, those that are engaged in the provision of any lodging or travel related services (including, without limitation, corporate travel services), in any jurisdiction as of the Effective Date or at any time thereafter (such affiliates including, without limitation, Hotels.com, and Hotwire, Inc.); and (ii) Executive shall be considered to have become associated with a Competitive Activity if Executive becomes directly or indirectly involved as an owner, principal, employee, officer, director, independent contractor, representative, stockholder, financial backer, agent, partner, advisor, lender, or in any other individual or representative capacity with any individual, partnership, corporation or other organization that is engaged in a Competitive Activity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may make and retain investments during the Restricted Period, for investment purposes only, in less than five percent of the outstanding capital stock of any publicly-traded corporation engaged in a Competitive Activity if stock of such corporation is either listed on a national stock exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System if Executive is not otherwise affiliated with such corporation.
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(c) NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. Executive recognizes that he or she will possess Confidential Information about other employees, officers, directors, agents, consultants and independent contractors of the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates relating to their education, experience, skills, abilities, compensation and benefits, and inter-personal relationships with suppliers to and customers of the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates. Executive recognizes that the information he or she will possess about these employees, officers, directors, agents, consultants and independent contractors is not generally known, is of substantial value to the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates in developing their respective businesses and in securing and retaining customers, and will be acquired by Executive because of Executives business position with the Company. Executive agrees (i) that, during the Restricted Period, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, hire or solicit or recruit the employment or services of (i.e., whether as an employee, officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor), or encourage to change such persons relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, any employee, officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates provided, however, that a general solicitation of the public for employment shall not constitute a solicitation hereunder so long as such general solicitation is not designed to target, or does not have the effect of targeting, any employee, officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and (ii) that Executive will not convey any Confidential Information or trade secrets about any employees, officers, directors, agents, consultants and independent contractors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to any other person except within the scope of Executives duties hereunder.
(d) NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS, PARTNERS. During the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, solicit, attempt to do business with, or do business with any customers of, suppliers (including providers of travel inventory) to, business partners of or business affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, Trade Relationships) on behalf of any entity engaged in a Competitive Activity, or encourage (regardless of who initiates the contact) any Trade Relationship to use the services of any competitor of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, or encourage any Trade Relationship to change its relationship with the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
(e) PROPRIETARY RIGHTS; ASSIGNMENT. All Executive Developments (as defined below) shall be made for hire by Executive for the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. Executive Developments means any idea, discovery, invention, design, method, technique, improvement, enhancement, development, computer program, machine, algorithm or other work or authorship, in each case, (i) that (A) relates to the business or operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or (B) results from or is suggested by any undertaking assigned to Executive or work performed by Executive for or on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, whether created alone or with others, during or after working hours and (ii) that is conceived or developed during the Term. All Confidential Information and all Executive Developments shall remain the sole property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. Executive shall acquire no proprietary interest in any Confidential Information or Executive Developments developed or acquired during the Term. To the extent Executive may, by operation of law or otherwise, acquire any right, title or interest
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in or to any Confidential Information or Executive Development, Executive hereby assigns to the Company all such proprietary rights. Executive shall, both during and after the Term, upon the Companys request, promptly execute and deliver to the Company all such assignments, certificates and instruments, and shall promptly perform such other acts, as the Company may from time to time in its reasonable discretion deem necessary or desirable to evidence, establish, maintain, perfect, enforce or defend the Companys rights in Confidential Information and Executive Developments.
(f) COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. During the Term, Executive shall adhere to the policies and standards of professionalism set forth in the Companys Policies and Procedures as they may exist from time to time.
(g) REMEDIES FOR BREACH. Executive expressly agrees and understands that Executive will notify the Company in writing of any alleged breach of this Agreement by the Company, and the Company will have 30 days from receipt of Executives notice to cure any such breach. Executive expressly agrees and understands that the remedy at law for any breach by Executive of this Section 2 will be inadequate and that damages flowing from such breach are not usually susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, it is acknowledged that upon Executives violation of any provision of this Section 2 the Company shall be entitled to obtain from any court of competent jurisdiction immediate injunctive relief and obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach as well as an equitable accounting of all profits or benefits arising out of such violation. Nothing in this Section 2 shall be deemed to limit the Companys remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 2, which may be pursued by or available to the Company.
(h) SURVIVAL OF PROVISIONS. The obligations contained in this Section 2 shall, to the extent provided in this Section 2, survive the termination or expiration of Executives employment with the Company and, as applicable, shall be fully enforceable thereafter in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Section 2 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.
3. TERMINATION OF PRIOR AGREEMENTS. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and terminates and supersedes any and all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has made, and is not making, and in executing this Agreement, the Executive has not relied upon, any representations, promises or inducements except to the extent the same is expressly set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all stock option agreements and restricted stock unit agreements between Executive and the Company survive and are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement.
4. ASSIGNMENT; SUCCESSORS. This Agreement is personal in its nature and none of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the others, assign or transfer this Agreement or
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any rights or obligations hereunder, provided that, in the event of a transfer of Executive to any entity affiliated with the Company and/or the merger, consolidation, transfer, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company with or to any other individual or entity, this Agreement shall, subject to the provisions hereof, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of such successor and such successor shall discharge and perform all the promises, covenants, duties, and obligations of the Company hereunder, and all references herein to the Company shall refer to such successor.
5. WITHHOLDING. The Company shall make such deductions and withhold such amounts from each payment and benefit made or provided to Executive hereunder, as may be required from time to time by applicable law, governmental regulation or order.
6. HEADING REFERENCES. Section headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose. References to this Agreement or the use of the term hereof shall refer to these Standard Terms and Conditions and the Employment Agreement attached hereto, taken as a whole.
7. WAIVER; MODIFICATION. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right or power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times. This Agreement shall not be modified in any respect, or extended beyond expiration of the Term (regardless of continued employment), except by a writing executed by each party hereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the assignment of Executive to a different Reporting Officer due to a reorganization or an internal restructuring of the Company or its affiliated companies nor a change in the title of the Reporting Officer shall constitute a modification or a breach of this Agreement.
8. SEVERABILITY. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any portion of this Agreement is in violation of any law or public policy, only the portions of this Agreement that violate such law or public policy shall be stricken. All portions of this Agreement that do not violate any statute or public policy shall continue in full force and effect. Further, any court order striking any portion of this Agreement shall modify the stricken terms as narrowly as possible to give as much effect as possible to the intentions of the parties under this Agreement.
9. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless for acts and omissions in Executives capacity as an officer, director or employee of the Company to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Expedia, Inc. (Delaware).
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ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE:
EXPEDIA, INC. |
/s/ Connie L. Symes |
By: Connie L. Symes |
Title: EVP, HR |
/s/ Robert Dzielak |
Robert Dzielak |
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