EMPLOYMENT SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This
Employment Separation Agreement (the “Agreement”) is effective as of February 2,
2009, by and between PDI, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), having
its principal place of business at 0 Xxxxx 00 Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx
00000, and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, residing at (the “Executive”),
pursuant to which the aforementioned parties agree:
1.
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Employment.
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In
connection with the Executive’s continued employment, the Company shall
employ the Executive as Senior Vice President – Sales Services of the
Company, which employment shall terminate upon notice by either party, for
any reason. Executive
understands and agrees that Executive’s employment with the Company is at
will and can be terminated at any time by either party, and for any or no
reason.
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2.
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Compensation
and Benefits Payable Upon Involuntary Termination without Cause or
Resignation for Good Reason.
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a.
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Triggering
Event. In further consideration for Executive’s
continued employment, Executive will receive the compensation and benefits
set forth in Section 2(b) if the following requirements are
met:
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i.
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Executive’s
employment is terminated involuntarily by the Company at any time for
reasons other than death, total disability or Cause, or Executive resigns
from employment for Good Reason;
and
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ii.
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As
of the 30th day following his or her termination date, Executive has
executed the Agreement and General Release in substantially the form
attached to this Agreement or in such form as may be provided by the
Company (the “Release”), any applicable revocation period has expired and
Executive has not revoked the
Release.
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b.
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Compensation
and Benefits. The Company will provide the following
compensation and benefits to
Executive:
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i.
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The
Company will pay Executive a lump sum payment equal to the product of
twelve (12) times Executive’s Base Monthly Salary (excluding incentives,
bonuses, and other compensation), plus the average of the cash incentive
compensation paid to Executive during the three (3) calendar years immediately
preceding the termination date (or, if the Executive was not employed by
the Company during the three (3) immediately preceding calendar years, the
average of or actual cash incentive compensation paid to Executive during
the two (2) preceding calendar years or one (1) preceding calendar year, as
applicable).. Subject to Section 2(c) below, such payment shall
be made within forty-five (45) days after Executive’s termination
date.
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ii.
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The
Company will reimburse Executive for the cost of the premiums for COBRA
group health continuation coverage under the Company’s group health plan
paid by Executive for coverage during the period beginning following
Executive’s termination date and ending on the earlier of
either: (A) first anniversary of Executive’s termination date;
or (B) the date on which Executive becomes eligible for other group health
coverage, provided that no reimbursement shall be paid unless and until
Executive submits proof of payment acceptable to the Company within 90
days after Executive incurs such expense. Any reimbursements of
the COBRA premium that are taxable to the Executive shall be made on or
before the last day of the year following the year in which the COBRA
premium was incurred, the
amount
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of
the COBRA premium eligible for reimbursement during one year shall not
affect the amount of COBRA premium eligible for reimbursement in any other
year, and the right to reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation
or exchange for another benefit.
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x.
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Xxxxx
of Payment to Comply with Code Section
409A. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
if at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company,
Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section
409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder, then the Company shall
delay the commencement of such payments (without any reduction) by a
period of six (6) months after Executive’s termination of employment and
any payments so deferred shall earn interest calculated at the prime rate
of interest reported by The Wall Street Journal as of the date of
termination. Any payments that would have been paid during such
six (6) month period but for the provisions of the preceding sentence
(including interest thereon as provided in the foregoing provisions of
this Section 2(c)) shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive six (6) months
and one (1) day after Executive’s termination of
employment. The 6-month payment delay requirement of this
Section 2(c) shall apply only to the extent that the payments under this
Section 2 are subject to Code Section 409A. With respect to
payments or benefits under this Agreement that are subject to Code Section
409A, whether Executive has had a termination of employment shall be
determined in accordance with Code Section 409A and applicable guidance
issued thereunder.
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3. Other
Compensation.
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a.
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Except
as may be provided under this Agreement, any benefits to which Executive
may be entitled pursuant to the plans, policies and arrangements of the
Company shall be determined and paid in accordance with the terms of such
plans, policies and arrangements, and Executive shall have no right to
receive any other compensation or benefits, or to participate in any other
plan or arrangement, following the termination of Executive’s employment
by either party for any reason.
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b.
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Notwithstanding
any provision contained herein to the contrary, in the event of any
termination of employment, the Company shall pay Executive his or her
earned, but unpaid, base salary within 10 days of Executive’s termination
date and shall reimburse Executive for any accrued, but unpaid, reasonable
business expenses, in each case, earned or accrued as of the date of
termination. Executive shall submit documentation of any
business expenses within 90 days of his or her termination date and any
reimbursements of such expenses that are taxable to the Executive shall be
made on or before the last day of the year following the year in which the
expense was incurred, the amount of the expense eligible for reimbursement
during one year shall not affect the amount of reimbursement in any other
year, and the right to reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation
or exchange for another benefit.
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4.
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Withholding. All
amounts otherwise payable under this Agreement shall be subject to
customary withholding and other employment taxes, and shall be subject to
such other withholding as may be required in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement or applicable law.
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5.
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Confidentiality,
Non-Solicitation and Covenant Not to Compete
Agreement. In the event Executive’s employment with the
Company is terminated by either party for any reason, Executive shall
continue to be bound by the Company’s Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation
and Covenant Not to Compete Agreement for the periods set forth therein (a
copy of which is attached to this
Agreement).
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6. Definitions.
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a.
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Cause
shall mean: (i) the failure of Executive to use Executive’s best efforts
in accordance with Executive’s position, skill and abilities to achieve
Executive’s goals as periodically set by the Company that continues
unremedied for a period of ten (10) business days after the Chief
Executive Officer and/or his designee has given written notice to
Executive specifying in reasonable detail Executive’s failure; (ii) the
failure by Executive to comply with the reasonable instructions of the
Chief Executive Officer and/or his designee and which such refusal
continues unremedied for a period of ten (10) business days after the
Chief Executive Officer and/or his designee has given written notice to
Executive specifying in reasonable detail the instructions Executive has
failed to comply with; (iii) the failure by Executive to adhere to the
Company’s documented policies and procedures that continues unremedied for
a period of ten (10) business days after the Chief Executive Officer
and/or his designee has given written notice to Executive specifying in
reasonable detail Executive’s breach of such policies and/or procedures;
(iv) the failure of Executive to adhere to moral and ethical business
principles consistent with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and
Guidelines on Corporate Governance as in effect from time to time that
continues unremedied for a period of ten (10) business days after the
Chief Executive Officer and/or his designee has given written notice to
Executive specifying in reasonable detail Executive’s failure; (v)
Executive's conviction of a criminal offense (including the entry of a
nolo contendere plea); or (vi) any documented act of material dishonesty
or fraud by the Executive in the commission of his or her duties; or (vii)
Executive engages in an act or series of acts constituting misconduct
resulting in a misstatement of the Company’s financial statements due to
material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirement within
the meaning of Section 304 of The Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of
2002.
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b.
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Base
Monthly Salary shall mean an amount equal to one-twelfth of
Executive’s then current annual base salary. Base Monthly
Salary shall not include incentives, bonus(es), health and welfare
benefits, car allowances, long term disability insurance or any other
compensation or benefit provided to executive employees of the
Company.
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c.
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Change
of Control shall mean: (i) any merger by the Company into another
corporation or corporations which results in the stockholders of the
Company immediately prior to such transaction owning less than 51% of the
surviving corporation; (ii) any acquisition (by purchase, lease or
otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company by any
person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly; (iii)
the acquisition of beneficial ownership of voting securities of the
Company (defined as common stock of the Company or any securities having
voting rights that the Company may issue in the future) or rights to
acquire voting securities of the Company (defined as including, without
limitation, securities that are convertible into voting securities of the
Company (as defined above) and rights, options, warrants and other
agreements or arrangements to acquire such voting securities) by any
person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly, in
such amount or amounts as would permit such person, corporation or other
entity or group thereof acting jointly to elect a majority of the members
of the Board, as then constituted; or (iv) the acquisition of beneficial
ownership, directly or indirectly, of voting securities and rights to
acquire voting securities having voting power equal to 51% or more of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities
by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting
jointly. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any transaction that
involves a mere change in identity form or place of organization within
the
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meaning
of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code, or a transaction of similar effect,
shall not constitute a Change of
Control.
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d. Good
Reason. Executive’s termination of employment with the Company
shall be for Good Reason if (i) Executive notifies the Company in
writing that one of the Good Reason Events (as defined below) has occurred,
which notice shall be provided within ninety (90) days after he or she first
becomes aware of the occurrence of such Good Reason Event, (ii) the Company
fails to cure such Good Reason Event within thirty (30) days after receipt of
the written notice from Executive, and (iii) Executive resigns employment within
thirty (30) days following expiration of the cure period. For
purposes of this Agreement, a “Good Reason Event” shall mean any of the
following which occur without Executive’s consent:
i. Prior
to a Change in Control,
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A.
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The
failure by the Company to pay Executive any material amount of his or her
current salary, or any material amount of his or her compensation deferred
under any plan, agreement or arrangement of or with the Company that is
currently due and payable;
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B.
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A
material reduction in Executive’s annual base salary; provided that a
reduction consistent with reductions made to the annual base salaries for
similarly situated senior executives of no more than 15% shall not
constitute Good Reason; or
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C.
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The
relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more
than 50 miles from Executive’s current principal place of
employment.
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ii. During
the two (2) year period following any Change in Control,
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A.
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The
failure by the Company to pay Executive any material amount of his or her
current salary, or any material amount of his or her compensation deferred
under any plan, agreement or arrangement of or with the Company that is
currently due and payable;
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B.
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A
material reduction in Executive’s annual base salary; provided that a
reduction consistent with reductions made to the annual base salaries for
similarly situated senior executives of no more than 15% shall not
constitute Good Reason;
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C.
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The
relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more
than 50 miles from Executive’s current principal place of
employment;
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D.
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A
material adverse alteration of Executive’s duties and responsibilities
from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in
Control;
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E.
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An
intentional, material reduction by the Company of Executive’s aggregate
target incentive awards under any short-term and/or long-term incentive
plans; and
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F.
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The
material failure of the Company to maintain Executive’s relative level of
coverage under its material employee benefit, retirement, or fringe
benefit
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plans,
policies, practices, or arrangements in which Executive participates, both
in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the relative level of
Executive’s participation as in effect immediately before a Change in
Control and with all improvements therein subsequent thereto (other than
those plans or improvements that have expired thereafter in accordance
with their original terms), or the taking of any action which would
materially reduce Executive’s benefits under such plans or deprive him of
any material fringe benefit enjoyed by him immediately before a Change in
Control. For this purpose, the Company may eliminate and/or
modify existing employee benefit plans and coverage levels on a consistent
and non-discriminatory basis applicable to all such executives; provided,
however, that Executive’s level of coverage under all such programs must
be at least as great as is such coverage provided to employees who have
the same or lesser levels of reporting responsibilities within the
organization.
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e.
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Code
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
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7.
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Integration;
Amendment. This Agreement, the Company’s
Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation and Covenant Not to Compete Agreement,
and the Executive’s Individual Stock Agreement (if any) (a copy of which
are attached to this Agreement) constitute the entire agreement between
the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and
supersede and render of no force and effect all prior understandings and
agreements between the parties with respect to the matters set forth
herein. No amendments or additions to such agreements shall be
binding unless in writing and signed by both parties, provided, however,
that this Agreement may be unilaterally amended by the Company where
necessary to ensure any benefits payable hereunder are either excepted
from Code Section 409A or otherwise comply with Code Section
409A.
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8.
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Governing
Law; Headings. This Agreement and its construction,
performance and enforceability shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to
its conflicts of law provisions. Headings and titles herein are
included solely for convenience and shall not affect, or be used in
connection with, the interpretation of this
Agreement.
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9.
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Jurisdiction. Except
as otherwise provided for herein, each of the parties: (a) irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state court sitting in Bergen
County, New Jersey or federal court sitting in New Jersey in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement; (b) agrees that
all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in any such court; (c) agrees not to bring any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other
court; and (d) waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury
with respect to any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement. Each of the parties waives any defense of
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceedings so
brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be
required of any other party with respect thereto. Any party may
make service on another party by sending or delivering a copy of the
process to the party to be served at the address set forth above or such
updated address as may be provided to the other party. Nothing in this
Section 9, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal
process in any other manner permitted by
law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties
have duly executed this Employment Separation Agreement as of the date first
above written.
EXECUTIVE
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
PDI, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
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