Document:

Exhibit
10.26 (b)

 

NONCOMPETE AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement is made as
of December 1, 1999 by and between Equitable Resources, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation (Equitable Resources, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company”), and John A. Bergonzi
(the “Employee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, in order to
protect the business and goodwill of the Company, the Company desires to obtain
certain non-competition covenants from the Employee and the Employee desires to
agree to such covenants in exchange for the Company’s agreement to pay certain
severance benefits in the event that the Employee’s employment with the Company
is terminated in certain events; and

 

WHEREAS, the Employee is
willing to enter into this Agreement, which contains, among other things,
specific non-competition agreements, in consideration of the simultaneous
execution by the Company and the Employee of a new Change of Control Agreement
(the “Change of Control Agreement”), which enhances and clarifies in certain
respects the benefits that the Company will pay to the Employee if the Employee’s
employment with the Company is terminated in certain events following a change
of control of the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained
herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

 

1.             If the employment of the Employee with the Company is
terminated by the Company for any reason other than Cause (as defined below) or
if the Employee terminates his or her employment with the Company for Good
Reason (as defined below), the Company shall pay the Employee, from the date of
termination, in addition to any payments to which the Employee is entitled
under the Company’s severance pay plan, twelve (12) months of base salary at
the Employee’s annual base salary level in effect at the time of such
termination or immediately prior to the salary reduction that serves as the
basis for termination for Good Reason. 
Such base salary amount shall be paid by the Company to the Employee in
one lump sum payable within thirty (30) days after the Employee’s termination
or resignation hereunder.  Solely for
purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (i)  a conviction of a felony, a crime of moral
turpitude or fraud, (ii) the Employee’s willful and continuous engagement in
conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, or (iii)
the willful and continued refusal by the Employee to perform the duties of his
or her position in a reasonable manner for thirty (30) days after written
notice is given to the Employee by the Company specifying in reasonable detail
the nature of the deficiency in the Employee’s performance.  Solely for purposes of this Agreement,
termination for “Good Reason” shall mean termination of employment by the
Employee within ninety (90) days after (i) being demoted, or (ii) being given
notice of a reduction in his or her annual base

 

 

salary (other than a reduction of not more than 10%
applicable to all senior officers of the Company).

 

2.             While the Employee is employed by the Company and for a
period of twelve (12) months after date of Employee’s termination of employment
with Company for any reason, the Employee shall not (i) directly or indirectly
engage, whether as an employee, consultant, partner, owner, agent, stockholder,
officer, director or otherwise, alone or in association with any other person
or entity, in (A) [the energy] [the utility] [the energy services] [the oil and
gas exploration and production] business [in the markets in which the Company
conducted such business or contemplated (with the Employee’s knowledge)
conducting such business at the time of the termination of Employee’s
employment] [within a fifty (50) mile radius of any location at which the
Company engages in such business], or (B) any business activity that competes
with any project or proposed project which was discussed by or with the
Employee in the course of his or her employment with the Company or any project
or proposed project with respect to which the Company initiated any business
activity during the course of his or her employment (for purposes of this
subsection (i) employment or engagement by a customer of the Company to provide
or manage services that are provided by the Company shall be deemed to violate
this subsection (i)); (ii) directly or indirectly on his or her own behalf or
on behalf of any other person or entity contact (A) any customer of the Company
with whom he or she had contact while employed by the Company, or (B) any
person or entity to whom he or she attempted to market the Company’s products
and services while employed by the Company, in either case, for the purpose of
soliciting the purchase of any product or service that competes with any
product or service offered by the Company or which was considered to be offered
by the Company while the Employee was employed by the Company; (iii) take away
or interfere, or attempt to interfere, with any custom, trade or existing
contractual relations of the Company, including any business project or any
contemplated business project which representatives of the Company have
discussed with any potential participant in such project; or (iv) directly or
indirectly on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity
solicit or induce, or cause any other person or entity to solicit or induce, or
attempt to induce, any employee or consultant to leave the employ of or
engagement by the Company or its successors, assigns, or affiliates, or to
violate the terms of their contracts with the Company.

 

3.             The Company may terminate this Agreement by giving
twelve (12) months’ prior written notice to the Employee; provided that all
provisions of this Agreement shall apply if any event specified in sections 1
or 2 occurs prior to the expiration of such twelve (12) month period.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, this Agreement shall immediately terminate and be of no further
force and effect upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control” as such term is
defined in the Change of Control Agreement and neither the Company nor the
Employee shall be bound by the terms of this Agreement following a Change of
Control as so defined.

 

4.             The provisions of this Agreement are severable.  To the extent that any provision of this
Agreement is deemed unenforceable in any court of law the parties intend that
such provision be construed by such court in a manner to make it enforceable.

 

 

5.             The Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) this
Agreement is necessary for the protection of the legitimate business interests
of the Company; (ii) the restrictions contained in this Agreement are
reasonable; (iii) the Employee has no intention of competing with the Company
within the limitations set forth above; (iv) the Employee acknowledges and
warrants that Employee believes that Employee will be fully able to earn an
adequate likelihood for Employee and Employee’s dependents if the covenant not
to compete contained in this Agreement is enforced against the Employee; and
(v) the Employee has received adequate and valuable consideration for entering
into this Agreement.

 

6.             The Employee stipulates and agrees that any breach of
this Agreement by the Employee will result in immediate and irreparable harm to
the Company, the amount of which will be extremely difficult to ascertain, and
that the Company could not be reasonably or adequately compensated by damages
in an action at law.  For these reasons,
the Company shall have the right, without objection from the Employee, to
obtain such preliminary, temporary or permanent mandatory or restraining
injunctions, orders or decrees as may be necessary to protect the Company
against, or on account of, any breach by the Employee of the provisions of
Section 2 hereof.  In the event the
Company obtains any such injunction, order, decree or other relief, in law or
in equity, (i) the duration of any violation of Section 2 shall be added to the
12 month restricted period specified in Section 2, and (ii) the Employee shall
be responsible for reimbursing the Company for all costs associated with
obtaining the relief, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and
costs of suit.  Such right to equitable
relief is in addition to the remedies the Company may have to protect its
rights at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

7.             This Agreement (including the covenant not to compete
contained in Section 2) shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
successors and assigns of the Company.

 

8.             This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  For the purpose of any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, Employee irrevocably
consents and submits to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal
court located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.  Employee agrees that service of the summons
and complaint and all other process which may be served in any such suit,
action or proceeding may be effected by mailing by registered mail a copy of
such process Employee at the addresses set forth below.  Employee irrevocably waives any objection
which they may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit, action or
proceeding brought in such court and any claim that such suit, action or
proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and
agrees that service of process in accordance with this Section will be deemed
in every respect effective and valid personal service of process upon Employee.  Nothing in this Agreement will be construed
to prohibit service of process by any other method permitted by law.  The provisions of this Section will not limit
or otherwise affect the right of the Company to institute and conduct an action
in any other appropriate manner, jurisdiction or court.  The Employee agrees that final judgment in
such suit, action or proceeding will be conclusive and may be enforced in any
other jurisdiction by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by
law.

 

9.             This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings, oral

 

 

or written (other than the Change of Control
Agreement).  This Agreement may not be
changed, amended, or modified, except by a written instrument signed by the
parties.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its officers thereunto duly
authorized, and the Employee has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and
year first above written.

 

	
  ATTEST:

  	
  EQUITABLE RESOURCES,
  INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  /s/
  Jean F. Marks

  	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/
  Gregory R. Spencer

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  WITNESS:

  	
  EMPLOYEE:

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  /s/
  David J. Smith

  	
   

  	
  /s/
  John A. BergonziExhibit 10.27 (b)

 

NONCOMPETE AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement is made as
of October 30, 2000 by and between Equitable Resources, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation (Equitable Resources, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company”), and Philip P. Conti
(the “Employee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, in order to
protect the business and goodwill of the Company, the Company desires to obtain
certain non-competition covenants from the Employee and the Employee desires to
agree to such covenants in exchange for the Company’s agreement to pay certain
severance benefits in the event that the Employee’s employment with the Company
is terminated in certain events; and

 

WHEREAS, the Employee is
willing to enter into this Agreement, which contains, among other things,
specific non-competition agreements, in consideration of the simultaneous
execution by the Company and the Employee of a Change of Control Agreement (the
“Change of Control Agreement”), which enhances in certain respects the benefits
that the Company will pay to the Employee if the Employee’s employment with the
Company is terminated in certain events following a change of control of the
Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained
herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

 

1.             If the employment of the Employee with the Company is
terminated by the Company for any reason other than Cause (as defined below) or
if the Employee terminates his or her employment with the Company for Good
Reason (as defined below), the Company shall pay the Employee, from the date of
termination, in addition to any payments to which the Employee is entitled
under the Company’s severance pay plan, twenty-four (24) months of base salary
at the Employee’s annual base salary level in effect at the time of such
termination or immediately prior to the salary reduction that serves as the
basis for termination for Good Reason. 
Employee will also be entitled to twenty-four (24) months of health
benefits continuation and outplacement assistance for a period not to exceed
twelve (12) months.  Such base salary
amount shall be paid by the Company to the Employee in one lump sum payable
within thirty (30) days after the Employee’s termination or resignation
hereunder.  Solely for purposes of this
Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (i) a conviction of a felony, a crime of moral
turpitude or fraud, (ii) the Employee’s willful and continuous engagement in
conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, or (iii)
the willful and continued refusal by the Employee to perform the duties of his
or her position in a reasonable manner for thirty (30) days after written
notice is given to the Employee by the Company specifying in reasonable detail
the nature of the deficiency in the Employee’s performance.  Solely for purposes of this Agreement,
termination for “Good Reason” shall mean termination of employment by the
Employee within ninety (90) days after (i) being demoted, or (ii) being given
notice of a reduction in his or her annual base salary (other than a reduction
of not more than 10% applicable to all senior officers of the Company).

 

 

2.             While the Employee is employed by the Company and for a
period of twelve (12) months after date of Employee’s termination of employment
with Company for any reason, the Employee shall not (i) directly or indirectly
engage, whether as an employee, consultant, partner, owner, agent, stockholder,
officer, director or otherwise, alone or in association with any other person
or entity, in (A) the energy industry, including the exploration, production,
transmission, distribution and marketing of oil, natural gas or electricity and
the provision of related energy services (including project development and
engineering analysis, construction management, project financing, equipment
operation and maintenance, energy savings metering, monitoring and
verification, and facilities management (developing and operating private
power, cogeneration and central plant facilities)) anywhere in the continental
United States east of the Mississippi River (excluding the Gulf of Mexico),
except that the restriction as to the regulated distribution of oil, natural
gas or electricity shall be limited to the markets in which the Company
conducted such business or contemplated (with the Employee’s knowledge)
conducting such business at the time of the termination of Employee’s
employment, or (B) any business activity that competes with any project or
proposed project which was discussed by or with the Employee in the course of
his or her employment with the Company or any project or proposed project with
respect to which the Company initiated any business activity during the course
of his or her employment (for purposes of this subsection (i) employment or
engagement by a customer of the Company to provide or manage services that are
provided by the Company shall be deemed to violate this subsection (i)); (ii)
directly or indirectly on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any other
person or entity contact (A) any customer of the Company with whom he or she
had contact while employed by the Company, or (B) any person or entity to whom
he or she attempted to market the Company’s products and services while
employed by the Company, in either case, for the purpose of soliciting the
purchase of any product or service that competes with any product or service
offered by the Company or which was considered to be offered by the Company
while the Employee was employed by the Company; (iii) take away or interfere,
or attempt to interfere, with any custom, trade or existing contractual
relations of the Company, including any business project or any contemplated
business project which representatives of the Company have discussed with any
potential participant in such project; or (iv) directly or indirectly on his or
her own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity solicit or induce, or
cause any other person or entity to solicit or induce, or attempt to induce,
any employee or consultant to leave the employ of or engagement by the Company
or its successors, assigns, or affiliates, or to violate the terms of their
contracts with the Company.  Employee may
purchase or otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) 1% of any class of
securities of any enterprise (but without otherwise participating in the
activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national
securities exchange or have been registered under Section 12(g) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

3.             The Company may terminate this Agreement by giving
twenty-four (24) months’ prior written notice to the Employee; provided that
all provisions of this Agreement shall apply if any event specified in sections
1 or 2 occurs prior to the expiration of such twenty-four (24) month
period.  Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control as such
term is defined in the Change of Control Agreement, this Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect and may not thereafter be terminated (even if notice
of termination has been given in the previous twenty-four (24) months under the
first sentence of this paragraph), except upon written notice by Employee to
the Company.  If Employee receives
payment of benefits under the Change of Control Agreement, he shall not

 

 

receive benefits under this Agreement, which shall
thereupon terminate and be of no further force or effect.

 

4.             The provisions of this Agreement are severable.  To the extent that any provision of this
Agreement is deemed unenforceable in any court of law the parties intend that
such provision be construed by such court in a manner to make it
enforceable.  In an action by the Company
to enforce the covenants set forth in paragraph 2 hereof, any claims asserted
by Employee against the Company, including but not limited to a claim by the
Employee for breach of this Agreement, shall not constitute a defense to the
Company’s action to enforce the aforementioned covenants.

 

5.             The Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) this
Agreement is necessary for the protection of the legitimate business interests
of the Company; (ii) the restrictions contained in this Agreement are
reasonable; (iii) the Employee has no intention of competing with the Company
within the limitations set forth above; (iv) the Employee acknowledges and
warrants that Employee believes that Employee will be fully able to earn an
adequate livelihood for Employee and Employee’s dependents if the covenant not
to compete contained in this Agreement is enforced against the Employee; and
(v) the Employee has received adequate and valuable consideration for entering
into this Agreement.

 

6.             The Employee stipulates and agrees that any breach of
this Agreement by the Employee will result in immediate and irreparable harm to
the Company, the amount of which will be extremely difficult to ascertain, and
that the Company could not be reasonably or adequately compensated by damages
in an action at law.  For these reasons,
the Company shall have the right, without objection from the Employee, to
obtain such preliminary, temporary or permanent mandatory or restraining
injunctions, orders or decrees as may be necessary to protect the Company
against, or on account of, any breach by the Employee of the provisions of
Section 2 hereof.  In the event the
Company obtains any such injunction, order, decree or other relief, in law or
in equity, (i) the duration of any violation of Section 2 shall be added to the
12 month restricted period specified in Section 2, and (ii) the Employee shall
be responsible for reimbursing the Company for all costs associated with
obtaining the relief, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and
costs of suit.  Such right to equitable
relief is in addition to the remedies the Company may have to protect its
rights at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

7.             This Agreement (including the covenant not to compete
contained in Section 2) shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
successors and assigns of the Company.

 

8.             This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  For the purpose of any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, Employee irrevocably
consents and submits to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal
court located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.  Employee agrees that service of the summons
and complaint and all other process which may be served in any such suit, action
or proceeding may be effected by mailing by registered mail a copy of such
process Employee at the addresses set forth below.  Employee irrevocably waives any objection
which they may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit, action or
proceeding brought in such court and any claim that such suit, action or
proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and
agrees that service of process in accordance with this Section will be deemed
in every respect effective and valid personal service of process upon
Employee.  Nothing in this Agreement will
be construed to prohibit service of

 

 

process by any other method permitted by law.  The provisions of this Section will not limit
or otherwise affect the right of the Company to institute and conduct an action
in any other appropriate manner, jurisdiction or court.  The Employee agrees that final judgment in
such suit, action or proceeding will be conclusive and may be enforced in any
other jurisdiction by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by
law.

 

9.             This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings, oral or written (other than the Change of
Control Agreement).  This Agreement may
not be changed, amended, or modified, except by a written instrument signed by
the parties.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its officers thereunto duly
authorized, and the Employee has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and
year first above written.

 

	
  ATTEST:

  	
  EQUITABLE RESOURCES,
  INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  /s/ Stephanie L. Macus

  	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/
  Gregory R. Spencer

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  WITNESS:

  	
  EMPLOYEE:

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  /s/ Carolann Bobash

  	
   

  	
  /s/ Philip P. Conti

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