eex-ex101_7.htm



Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of November ___, 2020 (this “Agreement”), by and between Emerald X, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Hervé Sedky (the “Executive”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “Party,” and collectively, the “Parties”) and, solely for purposes of Sections 1.2, 2.3(b), 2.4, and 8.1, Emerald Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) is effective as of the date hereof.

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive and wishes to acquire and be assured of the Executive’s services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and 

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valid consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1.Employment.

1.1.Term.  Subject to Section 3 hereof, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, in each case pursuant to this Agreement, for a period commencing on January 22, 2021 (the “Start Date”) and ending on the fourth anniversary of the Start Date (the “Initial Term”); provided, however, that the period of the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter (each, a “Renewal Term”), in each case unless either Party provides the other Party with written notice that such period shall not be so extended at least six (6) months in advance of the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term, as applicable (the Initial Term and all Renewal Terms, collectively, the “Term”).  Each additional one-year Renewal Term shall be added to the end of the next scheduled expiration date of the Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable, as of the first day after the last date on which notice may be given pursuant to the preceding sentence.  

1.2.Duties.  Beginning on the Start Date, the Executive shall serve as the Company’s and Parent’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and in such other positions as an officer or director of the Company and such Affiliates (as defined in Section 8.12 below) of the Company as the Executive and the board of directors of Parent (the “Board”) shall mutually agree from time to time. The Executive shall report directly to the Board beginning on the Start Date and during the Term, and shall perform such duties, functions and responsibilities during the Term as are commensurate with his position at such time, as reasonably and lawfully directed by the Board; provided that, during the period that the Limited Non-Compete (as defined below) remains in effect, the Executive shall have no duties, functions and responsibilities related to any jewelry events (including, but not limited to, Couture, JA New York; Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch) or any fasteners events (including, but not limited to, International Fastener Expo; Match & Meet). On or as soon as practicable following the Start Date, the Board shall appoint the Executive to the Board and during the Term, Parent shall use its best efforts to nominate the Executive for reelection to the Board. The Executive shall not receive separate or additional compensation for such Board service. The Executive’s principal place of employment shall at all 

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times during the Term be the Company’s offices in New York, New York (subject to reasonable accommodations in light of COVID-19-related or similar considerations).

1.3.Exclusivity.  During the Term, the Executive shall devote substantially all of the Executive’s business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, shall faithfully serve the Company, and shall conform to and comply with the lawful and reasonable directions and instructions given to the Executive by the Board, consistent with Section 1.2 hereof.  During the Term, the Executive shall use the Executive’s best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company and shall not engage in any other business activity, whether or not such activity shall be engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided that the Executive may (a) serve any civic, charitable, educational or professional organization, (b) manage the Executive’s personal investments, and (c) serve as a director on an outside board of directors with the Board’s advance written consent, in each case so long as any such activities do not (X) violate the terms of this Agreement (including Section 4) or (Y) interfere with the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company in any material respect.

Section 2.Compensation.

2.1.Salary.  As compensation for the performance of the Executive’s services hereunder, during the Term, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at an annual rate of $650,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies, which will be reviewed for increase annually during the Term (as increased from time to time, the “Base Salary”).

2.2.Annual Bonus.  For each calendar year ending during the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) to be based upon Company performance and other criteria for each such calendar year as determined by the Board after consultation with the Executive.  The Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity for each calendar year that ends during the Term shall be 107.69% of the Base Salary ($700,000 based on the Base Salary in effect at the Start Date) (the “Target Annual Bonus Opportunity”).  For the first twelve (12) months of the Term, however, the Annual Bonus shall be guaranteed at an amount equal to the Target Annual Bonus Opportunity, which guarantee shall, to the extent the Start Date does not fall on the first day of a calendar year, be pro-rated for the number of days within the first twelve (12) months of the Term occurring within each of the first two calendar years of the Term. Subject to the foregoing (and to the extent an Annual Bonus in respect of the first twelve (12) months is paid over two calendar years, with respect to the remaining portion of the Annual Bonus in respect of the second calendar year), the amount of the Annual Bonus actually paid shall depend on the extent to which the performance goals, set annually by the Board as described above, are achieved or exceeded.  The Annual Bonus shall be paid in the calendar year following the calendar year in respect of which it is earned at the same time as the Company normally pays bonuses to other senior executives; provided, that, if Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated prior to the Annual Bonus payment date (a) by the Company for Cause or (b) by the Executive voluntarily without Good Reason and not for death or Disability, the Annual Bonus shall not be payable. 

 

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2.3. Sign-On Compensation. 

(a) The Company shall pay the Executive a cash sign-on bonus in an amount equal to $100,000 (the “Sign-On Bonus”), which Sign-On Bonus shall be payable to the Executive in lump sum within thirty (30) days following the Start Date. 

(b) Within ten (10) days following the Start Date, Parent shall grant to the Executive a number of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) pursuant to Parent’s 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan (the “Plan”) and the forms of award agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.  The common stock of Parent (“Common Stock”) underlying the RSUs shall have an aggregate value of $1,250,000 on the date of grant, valued based on the fair market value of the Common Stock as of the date of grant (as determined pursuant to the Plan), but in no case shall more than 355,000 RSUs be issued pursuant to the foregoing. 

2.4.Equity.  The Executive shall be provided the following equity incentive interests and/or rights to purchase equity interests in Parent:

(a) Initial Equity Grants.  Within ten (10) days following the Start Date, Parent shall grant to the Executive a combination of RSUs and an option to purchase Common Stock (an “Option”) pursuant to the Plan and the forms of award agreements substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit B and Exhibit C, respectively.  

(b) Equity Purchase.  As soon as practicable following the Start Date (or, if mutually agreed with the Company, prior to the Start Date), the Executive shall purchase a number of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate fair market value of $200,000 on the date of purchase (based on a purchase price per share equal to the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of purchase).

2.5. Employee Benefits.  During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such health and other group insurance, perquisites and other employee benefit plans and programs of the Company as in effect from time to time on the same basis as other senior executives of the Company.  

2.6. Vacation.  During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to an unlimited number of vacation days, pursuant to the Company’s MyTime policy.

2.7. Business Expenses.  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable business out-of-pocket expenses that the Executive incurs during the Term in performing the Executive’s duties under this Agreement in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the Company as approved by the Board (or a committee thereof), as in effect from time to time.  To the extent that any travel requires a flight approximately two hours or longer, the Executive shall be permitted to fly business class.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense or reimbursement described in this Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Agreement shall meet the following requirements: (a) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to the Executive during any calendar 

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year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to the Executive in any other calendar year; (b) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which the applicable expense is incurred; (c) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (d) the reimbursements shall be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary Company policies and procedures regarding such reimbursement of expenses.

2.8.Legal Fees.  Within ten (10) days of the date the Executive submits applicable documentation for reimbursement, the Company shall reimburse the Executive reasonable, documented legal fees and related expenses incurred in connection with the drafting, negotiation and execution of this Agreement, the Executive’s equity arrangements and the other agreements and arrangements related to the Executive’s employment transition and commencement of employment with the Company.

Section 3.Employment Termination.  

3.1.Termination of Employment.  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, and the Executive may voluntarily terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Term at any time, in each case upon not less than 15 days’ notice to the Company or the Executive, as applicable (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “Termination Date”).  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (a) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the Termination Date, (b) any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for calendar years completed prior to the Termination Date (payable in the ordinary course pursuant to Section 2.2), (c) vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements and (d) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Sections 2.8 and 2.9 hereof (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”).  

3.2. Certain Terminations. 

(a) Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason.  If (1) the Executive’s employment is terminated (X) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (Y) by the Executive for Good Reason, (2) the Term expires due to the Company’s provision of a non-renewal notice pursuant to Section 1.1, or (3) the Executive is not permitted by the Company to commence employment with the Company pursuant to the terms hereof, other than due to any action taken by Executive that would constitute Cause under this Agreement, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, the Executive shall be entitled to: (i) a payment equal to one (1) times the sum of the Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date (or, in the case of clause (3), on the Start Date) and the amount of any Annual Bonus actually earned in respect of the last completed fiscal year prior to the year in which the Termination Date occurs, or if terminated prior to any non-pro rated Annual Bonus being paid, an amount equal to the Target Annual Bonus Opportunity (the “Severance Amount”); (ii) the Pro Rata Bonus (as defined below), (iii) pro rata vesting of a number of then unvested Options and then unvested RSUs granted to Executive equal to the number of unvested RSUs and unvested Options that would have become vested in the 

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ordinary course (calculated on a grant-by-grant basis) had the Executive remained employed with the Company for an additional twelve (12) months, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive was employed by the Company from the last vesting date for the applicable award (or, in the case of the first vesting tranche, since the vesting commencement date) and the denominator of which is 365; and (iv) subject to the timely election of continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”) and the Executive’s copayment of premiums associated with such coverage consistent with amounts paid by the Executive during the year in which the Termination Date occurs, the Company shall reimburse the Executive, on a monthly basis, an after-tax amount equal to the excess costs of continued health benefits for himself and his covered dependents for the twelve (12)-month period following the Termination Date (“Medical Benefit Continuation”).

The Company’s obligations to pay the Severance Amount and to provide Medical Benefit Continuation shall be conditioned upon (i) the Executive’s continued compliance with the Executive’s obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement and (ii) the Executive executing and delivering to the Company a general release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Release”) and the Release becoming irrevocable within 60 days following the Termination Date (the date that the Release becomes irrevocable, the “Release Effective Date”).  Payment of the Severance Amount will be made in equal installments on the Company’s payroll dates occurring in the 12 month period following the Release Effective Date, and payments of the Medical Benefit Continuation will be paid, in each case commencing on the first payroll date of the Company following the Release Effective Date; provided, that, if the 60-day period referred to in the preceding sentence spans two calendar years, payments shall in all cases be paid or commence to be paid on the first payroll date in the second calendar year; provided, further, that, the first payment will include any installments that would have been paid prior thereto but for this sentence; and provided further in the event that a “change in control event” under Section 409A of the Code has occurred within two (2) years prior to the date on which the Severance Amount becomes payable, the Severance Amount shall be paid in a lump sum on the 60th day that follows such change in control event.    

If the Executive is not permitted to continue participation in the Company’s medical insurance plan pursuant to the terms of such plan or pursuant to a determination by the Company’s insurance providers or such continued participation in any plan would result in the imposition of an excise tax on the Company pursuant to Section 4980D of the Code, the Company shall use reasonable efforts to obtain individual insurance policies providing medical benefits to the Executive and his covered dependents during the Medical Benefits Continuation period, but shall be required to pay for such policies only an amount equal to the amount the Company would have paid had the Executive continued participation in the Company’s medical plans; provided, that, if such coverage cannot be obtained, the Company shall pay to the Executive monthly during the Medical Benefit Continuation period an amount equal to the amount the Company would have paid had the Executive continued participation in the Company’s medical plan.

(b) Termination by Death or Disability.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, the Company shall pay the Executive (or the Executive’s heirs upon a termination by death) a pro-rata bonus for the year of termination, equal to the Annual Bonus the Executive would have been entitled to receive had the Executive’s employment not been terminated, based on the actual performance of the Company 

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for the full year, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during the applicable year prior to and including the Termination Date and the denominator of which is 365, payable at the time when annual bonuses are paid generally (the “Pro Rata Bonus”).

(c) Definitions.  For purposes of Section 3, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1)“Cause” shall mean the Executive’s having engaged in any of the following: (A) willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of any of the Executive’s duties to the Company, which, if capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Board written notice of such willful misconduct or gross negligence; (B) intentional failure or refusal to perform reasonably assigned duties or to cooperate with an internal investigation being conducted by or at the direction of the Board, which is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Board written notice of such failure or refusal; (C) any indictment for, conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, (1) any felony (other than motor vehicle offenses the effect of which do not materially affect the performance of the Executive’s duties) or (2) any crime (whether or not a felony) involving fraud, theft, breach of trust or similar acts, whether of the United States or any state thereof or any similar foreign law to which the Executive may be subject; (D) any willful failure to comply with any written rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the Company which, if not complied with, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Company, which in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure or (E) abuse of alcohol or another controlled substance which materially impacts the Executive’s performance of Executive’s duties hereunder.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive of that fact on or before the termination of employment. However, if, within 60 days following the termination, the Company first discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by the Company at the time of the termination, then the Company may provide Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case the Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for Cause termination under this Agreement, and Executive shall be required to immediately return to the Company all amounts previously paid or provided to the Executive pursuant to Section 3.2(a), and the Company shall have the right to cease to pay or provide any future amounts pursuant to Section 3.2(a). 

(2)“Disability” shall mean the Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental illness, to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 270 day consecutive day period.

(3)“Good Reason” shall mean one of the following has occurred: (A) a material breach by the Company of any of the terms in this Agreement; (B) any reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary or Target Annual Bonus Opportunity; (C) the relocation 

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of the Executive’s principal place of employment that would increase the Executive’s one-way commute by more than 20 miles; or (D) any material and adverse change in the Executive’s position, title or status or any change in the Executive’s job duties, authority or responsibilities to those of lesser status.  A termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the termination, setting forth the conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason, within 60 days of the first date on which the Executive has knowledge of such conduct. The Executive shall further provide the Company at least 30 days following the date on which such notice is provided to cure such conduct.  Failing such cure, a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period. 

(d) Section 409A.  The provisions herein, and plans and arrangements referenced hereunder, are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and will be administered, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.   If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, to the extent the Severance Amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A, payment thereof shall be delayed until the day after the first to occur of (i) the day which is six months from the Termination Date and (ii) the date of the Executive’s death, with any delayed amounts being paid in a lump sum together with interest on such amount at the applicable federal rate (as defined in and under Section 1274(d) of the Code) on such date and any remaining payments being made in the normal course.  For purposes of this Agreement, the terms “terminate,” “terminated” and “termination” mean a termination of the Executive’s employment that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the default rules under Section 409A.  For purposes of Section 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

3.3. Exclusive Remedy.  The foregoing payments upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits due the Executive under this Agreement upon a termination of the Executive’s employment, unless otherwise provided in any agreement that post-dates this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing sentence relates solely to this Agreement and does not impact or alter any rights to payments or benefits the Executive may have under the Plan and award agreements thereunder.  

3.4. Resignation from All Positions.  Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall, if requested, resign as of the Termination Date, from all positions the Executive then holds as an officer, director and member of the boards of directors (and any committee thereof) of the Company and its Affiliates.  The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

3.5. Cooperation.  Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, upon reasonable request from the Company and at the Company’s expense and subject to the Executive’s reasonable availability, the Executive shall respond and provide information with respect to matters in which the Executive has knowledge as a result of his services to the Company and its subsidiaries, and will provide reasonable assistance to the Company in defense of any claims that may be made against the Company, and will assist 

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the Company in the prosecution of any claims that may be made by the Company, to the extent that such claims may relate to the period of the Executive’s employment with the Company.  The Company shall compensate the Executive for all hours of time spent in complying with this Section 3.5 above 5 hours in any calendar month, at an hourly rate based on his Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s termination of employment.  

3.6. No Mitigation or Offset.  The Executive is not be required to seek other employment or otherwise mitigate the payment obligations of the Company pursuant to this Agreement, nor will any such payments be reduced by any earnings the Executive may receive from any other source.


	
 
	
Section 4.
	
Unauthorized Disclosure; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Interference with Business Relationships; Proprietary Rights.




4.1. Unauthorized Disclosure.  The Executive agrees and understands that in the Executive’s position with the Company, the Executive will be exposed to and will receive information relating to the confidential affairs of the Company and its Affiliates, including, without limitation, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing plans, strategies, customer information, software, other information concerning the products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies and practices of the Company and its Affiliates and other forms of information considered by the Company and its Affiliates to be confidential or in the nature of trade secrets (including, without limitation, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals) (collectively, the “Confidential Information”).  Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 4.1 or disclosure by a third party who is known by the Executive to owe the Company an obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information.  The Executive agrees that at all times during the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not disclose such Confidential Information to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof (each a “Person”), except in connection with Executive’s employment with the Company, and shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any Person following Executive’s employment with the Company  without the prior written consent of the Company, and shall not use or attempt to use any such information in any manner other than in connection with the Executive’s employment with the Company, unless required or permitted by law to disclose such information, in which case the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of such requirement as far in advance of such anticipated disclosure as reasonably practicable.  This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction.  Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly following request supply to the Company all property, keys, notes, memoranda, writings, lists, files, reports, customer lists, correspondence, tapes, disks, cards, surveys, maps, logs, machines, technical data and any other tangible product or document which has been produced by, received by or otherwise submitted to the Executive during the Executive’s employment with the Company (other than any documents relating to the Executive’s employment, benefits, personal tax related-matters or personal contacts), and any copies thereof, in each case, to the extent remaining in the Executive’s 

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(or capable of being reduced to the Executive’s) possession.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Executive from disclosing Confidential Information to the extent required by law.  Additionally, nothing herein shall preclude the Executive’s right to communicate, cooperate or file a complaint with any U.S. federal, state or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”) with respect to possible violations of any U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation, or otherwise make disclosures to any Governmental Entity, in each case, that are protected under the whistleblower or similar provisions of any such law or regulation; provided that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law.  Nothing herein shall preclude the Executive’s right to receive an award from a Governmental Entity for information provided under any whistleblower or similar program.  The Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law.  The Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, provided that such filing is made under seal.  If the Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, the Executive may disclose the trade secret to the Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information in any related court proceeding, provided that the Executive files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret except pursuant to court order.

4.2. Non-Competition.  By and in consideration of the Company entering into this Agreement, and in further consideration of the Executive’s exposure to the Confidential Information, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Term and for a period of 12 months after the Executive’s termination of employment for any reason (the “Restriction Period”), directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as a stockholder, director, officer, consultant, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Enterprise (as defined below); provided that in no event shall (X) ownership by the Executive of two percent or less of the outstanding securities of any class of any issuer whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such issuer other than rights as a shareholder thereof,  (Y) being employed by or otherwise providing services to an entity, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as the entity has more than one discrete and readily distinguishable part of its business and the Executive’s duties are not at or involving the part of the entity’s business that is actively engaged in a Restricted Enterprise or (Z) subject to prior written approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board, being a passive investor or equity holders in a private equity, venture or similar fund that invests in Restricted Enterprises or providing services to a private equity, venture or similar management firm that invests in Restricted Enterprises, be prohibited by this Section 4.2, so long as such services do not involve directing investments in or providing services to such Restricted Enterprises.  For purposes of this paragraph, “Restricted Enterprise” shall mean (1) any Person that is engaged in the operation of business-to-business live events including trade shows, conferences and hosted buyer events, and/or (2) any Person that is engaged in the operation of a business in material competition with any other business line in which the Company is engaged, 

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which business line generates an annual revenue equal to or in excess of $10 million; in each case, in any country or territory in which Parent or any of its subsidiaries markets any of its services or products, and during the Term (or, in the case of enforcement after the Termination Date, during the two (2) year period preceding the Termination Date).  In accordance with Massachusetts law, you are hereby advised that you have the right to consult with counsel before signing this Agreement.     

4.3. Non-Solicitation of Employees.  During the Restriction Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly hire, contact, induce or solicit (or assist any Person to hire, contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within 12 months prior to the date of such hiring, contacting, inducing or solicitation was, an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the Executive from placing advertisements in publications of general circulation or on job search websites, so long as the Executive is not personally involved in recruiting any individual who responds to such an advertisement.

4.4. Interference with Business Relationships.  During the Restriction Period (other than in connection with carrying out the Executive’s responsibilities for the Company and its Affiliates), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly induce or solicit (or assist any Person to induce or solicit) any customer or client of the Company or its subsidiaries to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with the Company or its Affiliates, or directly or indirectly interfere with (or assist any Person to interfere with) any material relationship between the Company or its Affiliates and any of its or their customers or clients so as to cause harm to the Company or its Affiliates. 

4.5. Extension of Restriction Period.  The Restriction Period shall be tolled for any period during which the Executive is in breach of any of Section 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 hereof.

4.6. Proprietary Rights.  Except to the extent any rights in any inventions, discoveries, and improvements (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes), and all patentable or copyrightable works, initiated, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, or made by the Executive, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and related to the business or activities of the Company and its Affiliates (the “Developments”) constitute a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. that are owned ab initio by the Company and/or its applicable Affiliate, the Executive assigns and agrees to assign all of the Executive’s right, title and interest in all Developments (including all intellectual property rights therein) to the Company or its nominee without further compensation, including all rights or benefits therefor, including without limitation the right to sue and recover for past and future infringement.  The Executive acknowledges that any rights in any Developments constituting a work made for hire under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 101 et seq. are owned upon creation by the Company and/or its applicable Affiliate as the Executive’s employer.  The Executive hereby expressly and irrevocably waives any and all moral rights in the Developments including, without limitation, the right to attribution or anonymity in respect of authorship, the right to restrain any distortion, mutilation or other modification of any such Developments and the right to prohibit any use of any such Developments in association with a product, service, cause or institution that may be 

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prejudicial to his honor or reputation.  Whenever reasonably requested to do so by the Company, and at the expense of the Company, the Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Company shall reasonably deem necessary to apply for and obtain trademarks, patents or copyrights of the United States or any foreign country or otherwise protect the interests of the Company and its Affiliates therein with respect to the Developments.  These obligations shall continue beyond the end of the Executive’s employment with the Company with respect to Developments initiated, conceived or made by the Executive while employed by the Company, and shall be binding upon the Executive’s employers, assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.  In connection with the Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the Executive has informed the Company in writing of any interest in any inventions or intellectual property rights related to the Company’s business that the Executive holds as of the date hereof.  If the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to obtain the Executive’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions described in this Section 4.6, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact to act for and on the Executive’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 4.6 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive. 

4.7. Remedies.  The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 4 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach, threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all Persons acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity.  The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from the Executive.  The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants contained in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company and its Affiliates because of the Executive’s access to Confidential Information and the Executive’s material participation in the operation of such businesses.

Section 5.Representations.  The Executive represents and warrants that (a) the Executive is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits the Executive’s ability to enter into and fully perform the Executive’s obligations under this Agreement and (b) the Executive is not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform the Executive’s obligations under this Agreement.  In the event of a material breach of any representation in this Section 5, the Company may terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment with the Company without any liability to the Executive.

Section 6.Non-Disparagement.  From and after the Start Date and following termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company (i) the Executive agrees not to make any statement that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, Affiliates, employees, officers, directors or stockholders, and (ii) the Company 

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agrees that it will issue no public statements and will instruct its directors and executive officers not to make any statement that is intended to become public, or that should reasonably be expected to become public, and that criticizes, ridicules, disparages or is otherwise derogatory of the Executive.  

Section 7.Taxes; Clawbacks.

7.1.Withholding.  All amounts paid to the Executive under this Agreement during or following the Term shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by applicable law.  The Executive shall be solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on the Executive relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.

7.2. Section 280G.  

(a) In the event that shareholder approval is not obtained pursuant to Section 7.2(c) below (or payments or benefits are not eligible for a “cure” vote under Section 280G of the Code), if (i) the aggregate of all amounts and benefits due to the Executive under this Agreement or under any other Company arrangement would, if received by the Executive in full and valued under Section 280G of the Code, constitute “parachute payments” as defined in and under Section 280G of the Code (collectively, “280G Benefits”), and if (ii) such aggregate would, if reduced by all federal, state and local taxes applicable thereto, including the excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code, be less than the amount the Executive would receive, after all taxes, if the Executive received aggregate 280G Benefits equal (as valued under Section 280G of the Code) to only three times the Executive’s “base amount” as defined in and under Section 280G of the Code, less $1.00, then (iii) such 280G Benefits as the Executive shall select shall (to the extent that the reduction of such 280G Benefits can achieve the intended result and such 280G Benefits are not subject to Section 409A of the Code) be reduced or eliminated to the extent necessary so that the aggregate 280G Benefits received by the Executive will not constitute parachute payments.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any 280G Benefits are subject to Section 409A of the Code or if the Executive fails to select an order under the preceding sentence, any such reduction shall occur in the following order: (i) by eliminating the acceleration of vesting of any stock options for which the exercise price exceeds the fair market value (and if there is more than one option award so outstanding, then the acceleration of the vesting of the most “under water” option shall be reduced first, and so-on), starting with those assigned the most value for under Q&A 24 of Treas. Reg. 1.280G-1 and so-on; (ii) by reducing any cash payments not subject to Section 409A of the Code; (iii) by reducing any benefit continuation payments (and if there be more than one such payment, by reducing the payments in reverse order, with the payments made the latest being reduced first); (iv), by reducing any cash payments that are subject to Section 409A of the Code (and if there be more than one such payment, by reducing the payments in reverse order, with the payments made the latest being reduced first); (v) by reducing the payments of any restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards or similar equity-based awards that have been awarded to the Executive by the Company that are subject to performance-based vesting (and if there be more than one such award held by the Executive, by reducing the awards in the reverse order of the date of their award, with the most-recently awarded reduced first and the oldest award reduced last); (vi) by reducing the payments of any restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards or similar equity-based awards that have been 

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awarded to the Executive by the Company that are subject to time-based vesting (and if there be more than one such award held by Executive, by reducing the awards in the reverse order of the date of their award, with the most-recently awarded reduced first and the oldest award reduced last) starting with those assigned the most value for under Q&A 24 of Treas. Reg. 1.280G-1 and so-on; and (vii) by reducing the acceleration of vesting of any stock options that are not described in (i), above starting with those assigned the most value for under Q&A 24 of Treas. Reg. 1.280G-1 and so-on.

(b) It is possible that after the determinations and selections made pursuant to this Section 7.2, the Executive will receive 280G Benefits that are, in the aggregate, either more or less than the amount provided under this Section 7.2 (hereafter referred to as an “Excess Payment” or “Underpayment,” respectively).  If it is established, pursuant to a final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding that has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Payment has been made, then the Executive shall promptly pay an amount equal to the Excess Payment to the Company, together with interest on such amount at the applicable federal rate (as defined in and under Section 1274(d) of the Code) from the date of the Executive’s receipt of such Excess Payment until the date of such payment.  In the event that it is determined (i) by a court or (ii) by the Company’s third-party auditor, that an Underpayment has occurred, the Company shall promptly pay an amount equal to the Underpayment to the Executive, together with interest on such amount at the applicable federal rate from the date such amount would have been paid to the Executive had the provisions of this Section 7.2 not been applied until the date of such payment.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it appears that any amount or benefit that is to be paid to the Executive under this Agreement or any other plan, program, agreement, or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates may constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, the Company (if eligible to use such exemption) shall (if then eligible to do so) use its best reasonable efforts to obtain shareholder approval of such payments for purposes of Section 280G(b)(5) of the Code.

(d) The costs of all analysis pursuant to this Section 7.2 shall be borne exclusively by the Company and the Company shall provide the Executive with written records of its analysis performed hereunder.

7.3. Clawbacks.  If any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its Affiliates (including any rule or requirement of any nationally recognized stock exchange on which the stock of the Company or its Affiliates has been listed), or any policy of the Company or its Affiliates reasonably designed to comply therewith, requires the forfeiture or recoupment of any amount paid or payable to the Executive hereunder (or under any other agreement between the Executive and the Company or its Affiliates or under any plan in which the Executive participates), the Executive hereby consents to such forfeiture or recoupment, in each case in the time and manner determined by the Company in its reasonable good faith discretion.  Furthermore, if the Executive engages in any act of embezzlement, fraud or dishonesty involving the Company or its 

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Affiliates which results in a financial loss to the Company or its Affiliates, the Company shall be entitled to recoup an amount from the Executive determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion to be commensurate with such financial loss.

Section 8.Miscellaneous.

8.1. Indemnification; D&O Insurance. On the Start Date, Parent and the Executive shall enter into the standard form of indemnification agreement that Parent offers to its Section 16 officers, as referenced in Parent’s Form 10-K filed in February 2020. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless the Executive (including by advancing all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive within fifteen (15) days of receipt of documentation thereof to the Executive) against any claims, cost and expenses the Executive may incur as a result of any alleged violation of the non-competition restrictions requiring the Executive to refrain from participating in any jewelry events (including, but not limited to, Couture, JA New York, and Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch) or any fasteners events (including, but not limited to, International Fastener Expo, and Match & Meet) contained in an agreement to be entered into by and between the Executive and Reed Elsevier Inc. (the “Limited Non-Compete”) solely in connection with the execution of, or provision of services under, this Agreement or the Executive’s required equity investment in the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing indemnification of the Executive shall not apply with respect to any claims, cost and expenses the Executive may incur as a result any alleged violation of the Limited Non-Compete not in connection with the Executive’s execution of, or provision of services under, this Agreement. The Executive shall be covered under any directors’ and officers’ insurance that the Company and Parent maintain for its directors and other officers in the same manner and on the same basis as the Company’s and Parent’s other directors and other senior officers during the Term and for so long as any claims may be made against the Executive consistent with applicable statutes of limitation after the Term. 

8.2. Amendments and Waivers.  This Agreement and any of the provisions hereof may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the Parties hereto; provided that the observance of any provision of this Agreement may be waived in writing by the Party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver.  The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of either Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such Party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.  

8.3. Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive, and any purported assignment by the Executive in violation hereof shall be null and void.  Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon any Person not a party to this Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this 

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Agreement, except the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of the Executive.  The Company is authorized to assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder without the consent of the Executive as part of the transfer of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any other Person or entity; provided that no such transfer shall operate to expand the scope of any restrictive covenant set forth herein unless otherwise agreed by the Executive in writing in connection with such transfer.

8.4. Notices.  Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications provided for under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing.  Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be sent by (i) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt, (ii) e-mail, (iii) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt or (iv) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:


	
 
	
If to the Company or Parent: 
	






	

	
 




Emerald X, LLC 

100 Broadway, 14th Floor

New York, NY 10005

Attention:  Chairman of the Board and General Counsel

 

with a copy to:

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP


	

	
One New York Plaza





	

	
New York, NY  10004





	

	
Attention:  Jeffrey Ross, Esq.




 


	
 
	

	
If to the Executive:At the Executive’s principal office at the Company (during the Term), and at all times to the Executive’s principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company. If by e-mail, to the Executive’s email as reflected in the Company’s records.




 

with a copy (not constituting notice hereunder) to:

Moulton | Moore | Stella LLP

Frank Gehry Building

2431 Main Street, Suite C

Santa Monica, CA 90405

Attention:   Adam Stella

Email:adam@moultonmoore.com.

 

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given when received (or the following business day in the case of emails or facsimiles 

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delivered after normal business hours at the location of the recipient).  Either Party may change its address or email address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Parties hereto notice in the manner then set forth.

 

8.5. Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights and obligations of the Parties hereto shall be governed by, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof. 

8.6. Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.  The Executive agrees that jurisdiction and venue for any action arising from or relating to this Agreement or the relationship among the Parties hereto, including but not limited to matters concerning validity, construction, performance, or enforcement, shall be exclusively in the federal and state courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts located in Suffolk County (collectively, the “Selected Courts”) (provided, that a final judgment in any such action shall be conclusive and enforced in other jurisdictions) and further agree that service of process may be made in any matter permitted by law.  The Executive irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert (i) any objection which he may ever have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the Selected Courts, and (ii) any claim that any such action brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  This Section 8.6 is intended to fix the location of potential litigation among the Parties hereto and does not create any causes of action or waive any defenses or immunities to suit.  EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY, TO THE EXTENT LAWFUL, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS.

8.7. Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, including that provision or portion of any provision, in any other jurisdiction.  In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement, including those contained in Section 4 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the Parties agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.

8.8. Entire Agreement.  From and after the Start Date, this Agreement (including all Exhibits hereto and documents referenced herein) constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties hereto, and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings (including any prior course of dealings), both written and oral, among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

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8.9. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by .pdf or facsimile signatures in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

8.10.Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the successors and assigns of each of the Parties hereto, including, without limitation, the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate and any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company or Parent.

8.11.General Interpretive Principles.  The name assigned to this Agreement and headings of the sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses and subclauses of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.  Words of inclusion shall not be construed as terms of limitation herein, so that references to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall not be limiting and shall be regarded as references to non-exclusive and non-characterizing illustrations.  Any reference to a Section of the Code shall be deemed to include any successor to such Section.

8.12.Affiliates.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Affiliates” means any person or entity Controlling, Controlled by, or Under Common Control with the Company.  The term “Control,” including the correlative terms “Controlling,” “Controlled By,” and “Under Common Control with” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities of any company or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a person or entity.  

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.


		
	
 
	
 

EMERALD X, LLC


 

By:

Name: 

Title:  

 

 

	
 
	
EMERALD HOLDING, INC. (solely for purposes of Sections 1.2, 2.3(b), 2.4, and 8.1 of this Agreement)

 

 

By:  _____________________________

        Name:

        Title:

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

	
 
	
Hervé Sedky 




  

[Signature Page to Sedky Employment Agreement]



 

 

 

 
 


 

Exhibit A

Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

[To be provided.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 
 


 

Exhibit B

Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

[To be provided.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 
 


 

Exhibit C

Option Award Agreement

[To be provided.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 
 


 

Exhibit D

You should consult with an attorney before signing this release of claims.

Release

1.In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement, dated as of November ___,  2020 (the “Employment Agreement”), by and between Hervé Sedky (the “Executive”) and Emerald X, LLC, (the “Company”) (each of the Executive and the Company, a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”), and solely for the purpose of Sections 1.2, 2.3(b), 2.4, and 8.1 of the Employment Agreement, Emerald Holding, Inc., (“Parent”), the sufficiency of which the Executive acknowledges, the Executive, with the intention of binding the Executive and the Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge the Company and each of its subsidiaries and Affiliates (the “Company Affiliated Group”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, insurers, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Company Released Parties”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and Affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims (i) for severance, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (ii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iii) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (iv) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only:


	
 
	
A.
	
rights of the Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3 of the Employment Agreement;





	
 
	
B.
	
the right of the Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law; 





	
 
	
C.
	
claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) of the Company Affiliated Group; 






 

 

 

 
 


 


	
 
	
D.
	
rights to indemnification the Executive has or may have under the by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force; and





	
 
	
E.
	
rights granted to the Executive during the Executive’s employment related to the purchase and/or grant of equity of Emerald Holding, Inc. 




2.The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Release is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.

3.This Release applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.  

4.The Executive specifically acknowledges that the Executive’s acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of the Executive’s rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive.

5.The Executive acknowledges that the Executive has been given a period of twenty-one (21) days to consider whether to execute this Release.  If the Executive accepts the terms hereof and executes this Release, the Executive may thereafter, for a period of seven (7) days following (and not including) the date of execution, revoke this Release.  Any revocation within this period must be submitted, in writing, to Angelique Carbo, Executive Vice President, People and Culture (or her successor), Emerald X, LLC, 100 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10005, and must state: “I hereby revoke my acceptance of the Release of Claims.”  The revocation must be either: (a) personally delivered to Angelique Carbo (or her successor) within 7 calendar days after the day Executive signs the Release; (b) mailed to Angelique Carbo (or her successor) at the address specified above by First Class United States mail and postmarked within 7 calendar days after the day Executive signs the Release; or (c) sent by e-mail to Angelique Carbo (or her successor) to her Company issued e-mail address; or (d) delivered to Angelique Carbo (or her successor) at the address specified above through a reputable overnight delivery service with documented evidence that it was sent within 7 calendar days after the day Executive signed the Release.  If no such revocation occurs, this Release shall become irrevocable in its entirety, and binding and enforceable against the Executive, on the day next following the day on which the foregoing seven-day period has elapsed.  If such a revocation occurs, the Executive shall irrevocably forfeit any right to payment of the Severance Amount and provision of the Medical Benefit Continuation (as each is defined in the Employment Agreement), but the remainder of the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force.

6.The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Executive has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, filed or caused to be filed, and is not presently a party to, any complaints, charges or lawsuits against any Company 



 

 

 

 
 


 

Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal.  The Executive agrees to immediately withdraw or dismiss any complaints, charges or lawsuits that she has filed or caused to be filed, or to which she is a party, against any Company Released Party.  Solely with respect to the claims waived in this Release, the Executive (a) agrees not to file or maintain any complaint, charge or lawsuit against any Company Released Party and (b) agrees not to (i) participate in, or encourage the pursuit of, any claims, or (ii) accept payment from any litigation or threatened litigation against any Company Released Party, unless compelled to testify pursuant to subpoena or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

7.THE EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN ADVISED TO SEEK, AND HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK, THE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE OF AN ATTORNEY WITH REGARD TO THIS RELEASE, AND HAS BEEN GIVEN A SUFFICIENT PERIOD WITHIN WHICH TO CONSIDER THIS RELEASE.

8.The Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.

9.The Executive acknowledges that the severance payments and benefits the Executive is receiving in connection with this Release and the Executive’s obligations under this Release are in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is entitled from the Company.

10.Each provision hereof is severable from this Release, and if one or more provisions hereof are declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Release is so broad, in scope, or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable. 

11.This Release constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements between the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof except to the extent set forth herein.  For the avoidance of doubt, however, nothing in this Release shall constitute a waiver of any Company Released Party’s right to enforce any obligations of the Executive under the Employment Agreement that survive the Employment Agreement’s termination, including without limitation, any non-competition covenant, non-solicitation covenant or any other restrictive covenants contained therein.

12.The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Release or to require at any time performance by another party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect the validity of this Release, or any part hereof, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance with the terms of this Release.

13.This Release may be executed in counterparts, both of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Signatures delivered by facsimile, email or pdf shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

14.This Release shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Executive and the Company.



 

 

 

 
 


 

15.Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Massachusetts without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.  

16.Employee further affirms that he has timely been paid or has received all compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions and benefits to which he may be entitled and that no other leave (paid or unpaid), compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions or benefits are due to him except as follows:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

[signature page follows]






 

 

 

 
 


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties, all as of ____________________.

 

 


		
	
 
	
EMERALD X, LLC

 

 

By:

Name:

Title:  

 

	
 
	
 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

Hervé Sedky