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EXHIBIT 10(a)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of August 14, 1996 (the "Effective Date"), by and
between OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. (the "Corporation"), having a principal office
in Darien, Connecticut, and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (the "Employee").
WHEREAS, the Employee is currently serving as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation;
WHEREAS, the Employee and the Corporation have previously entered
into an employment agreement, dated August 13, 1991 (the "Prior Agreement"), and
desire to have this Agreement supersede and override the Prior Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board") has
approved and authorized the Corporation's entry into this Agreement with the
Employee; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement setting
forth the terms and conditions for the continued employment relationship of the
Corporation and the Employee;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, the Corporation and the Employee agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Employee is employed as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation. As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
the Employee shall render executive, policy and other management services to the
Corporation of the type customarily performed by persons serving in a similar
executive officer capacity, subject to the powers by law vested in the Board and
in the Corporation's stockholders. The Employee shall perform such other related
duties as the Board may from time to time reasonably direct. The Employee shall
be a full time employee of the Corporation; provided, that the Employee shall
have the right to devote time to other directorships and business endeavors, so
long as such activities do not materially impair the Employee's performance of
the duties of his office. During the term of this Agreement, there shall be no
material increase or decrease in the duties and responsibilities of the
Employee, unless the Corporation and the Employee otherwise agree in writing.
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The Employee shall perform his duties and responsibilities under this
Agreement faithfully, diligently and to the best of the Employee's ability, and
in compliance with all applicable laws and the Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws, as they may be amended from time to time.
2. Term. The initial term of employment under this Agreement shall be
for a period of two (2) years commencing on the Effective Date (the "Term").
This Agreement shall be extended automatically for two (2) additional years on
the second anniversary date of the Effective Date and on each second anniversary
of the Effective Date thereafter, unless either the Corporation or the Employee
gives contrary written notice to the other not less than three (3) months in
advance of such anniversary of the Effective Date. References herein to the Term
shall refer both to such initial term and such successive terms. Upon a "Change
in Control" (as defined in Section 7(a)) of the Corporation, the Term shall be
extended to two (2) years from the date of such Change in Control, unless notice
to terminate the Term has been properly provided prior to the date of such
Change in Control, and such Change in Control date shall be treated as the
Effective Date for purposes of renewals of this Agreement. The Term shall end
upon the termination of the Employee's employment under this Agreement.
3. Compensation. The Corporation agrees to pay the Employee during
the Term a rate of annual base salary as follows: for the period through
December 31, 1996, a base salary at least equal to the Employee's base salary as
of the Effective Date. The Employee's base salary shall be reviewed at least
annually during the Term by the Board, and the Employee shall receive such base
salary increases, if any, as the Compensation Committee of the Board (the
"Committee") in its absolute discretion may determine, together with such
performance or merit increases, if any, as the Committee in its absolute
discretion may determine. Participation with respect to discretionary bonuses,
retirement and other employee benefit plans and fringe benefits shall not reduce
the base salary payable to the Employee under this Section 3. Such compensation
shall be payable to the Employee in equal installments in conformity with the
Corporation's normal payroll periods.
4. Withholding Obligation. The Corporation shall have the ability to
withhold from the compensation otherwise due to the Employee under this
Agreement any federal income tax, Federal Insurance Contribution Act tax,
Federal Unemployment Act tax, or
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other amounts required to be withheld from compensation from time to time under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or under any state
or municipal laws or regulations.
5. Fringe Benefits.
(a) Vacations and Leave. During the Term, the Employee shall be
entitled to an annual paid vacation of eight (8) weeks per year or such longer
period as the Committee may approve. The Employee shall schedule the timing of
paid vacations in a reasonable manner. The Employee shall also be entitled to
such other leave, with or without compensation, as shall be mutually agreed upon
by the Committee and the Employee.
(b) Participation in Retirement and Employee Benefit Plans.
During the Term, the Employee shall be entitled to participate in the
Corporation's 1991 Stock Option Plan, annual incentive compensation plan, the
Oxford Specialty Holdings, Inc. 1996 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan and any
other plan of the Corporation or its subsidiaries relating to stock options,
stock appreciation, stock purchases, pension, thrift, deferred compensation,
profit sharing, group life insurance, medical coverage, education or other
retirement or employee benefits that the Corporation may adopt for the benefit
of its executive employees.
(c) Disability. If the Employee shall become disabled or
incapacitated during the Term to the extent that he is unable to perform his
duties and responsibilities hereunder, he shall be entitled to receive
disability benefits of the type currently provided to him, or, if more favorable
to the Employee, benefits of the type provided for other executive employees in
similar positions with the Corporation.
(d) Death. If the Employee shall die during the Term, the
Corporation shall pay to such person as the Employee has designated in a notice
filed with the Corporation, or, if no such notice is filed, to his estate, in
substantially equal monthly installments, from the date of his death through the
Term (in effect as of the date of death and without further renewal), an amount
equal to the Employee's base salary as of his date of death.
(e) Other Benefits. During the Term, the Employee shall be
entitled to participate in any other fringe benefits which are or may become
applicable to the Corporation's executive employees, including the use of an
automobile, a reasonable
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expense account, the payment of reasonable expenses for attending annual and
periodic meetings of trade associations, and any other benefits which are
commensurate with the duties and responsibilities to be performed by the
Employee under this Agreement.
6. Termination of Employment. The Employee's employment hereunder
may be terminated under the circumstances set forth in paragraphs (a) through
(e) below:
(a) Death. The Employee's employment hereunder shall terminate
upon his death.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of the Employee's incapacity due
to physical or mental illness, the Employee shall have been absent from his
duties hereunder on a full-time basis for the entire period of six (6)
consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after written Notice of
Termination is given (which may occur before or after the end of such six (6)
month period) shall not have returned to the performance of his duties hereunder
on a full-time basis, the Corporation may terminate the Employee's employment
hereunder for "Disability."
(c) Cause. The Corporation may terminate the Employee's
employment hereunder for Cause or without Cause. Except as provided in Section
7(b) hereof following a Change in Control, termination for Cause shall mean
termination because the Employee (i) engages in the following conduct in
connection with his employment with the Corporation: personal dishonesty,
willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, breach
of a restrictive covenant against competition, disclosure of confidential
information of the Corporation, consistent intentional failure to perform stated
duties after notice, or (ii) willfully violates any law, rule, or regulation
(other than traffic violations or similar offenses), which willful violation
materially impacts the Employee's performance of his duties to the Corporation.
(d) Good Reason. The Employee may terminate his employment
hereunder with or without Good Reason; provided, however, that the Employee
agrees not to terminate his employment hereunder (other than for Good Reason or
for Retirement) during the ninety-day period following a Change in Control.
Except as provided in Section 7(c) hereof following a Change in Control, for
purposes of this Agreement "Good Reason" shall mean any (i) removal of the
Employee from, or failure to re-appoint or re-elect the Employee to, his
positions as Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board, except in
connection with termination of the Employee for Cause, or (ii) failure by
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the Corporation to comply with Section 3 hereof in any material respect.
(e) Retirement. For purposes of this Agreement, "Retirement"
shall mean termination of the Employee's employment by either the Employee
(other than for Good Reason) or the Corporation (other than for Cause) on or
after the Employee's normal retirement age under the terms of the Corporation's
pension plan (or, any other tax-qualified plan, if no pension plan exists);
provided, that, following a Change in Control such normal retirement age may not
be reduced for purposes of this Agreement without the consent of the Employee.
(f) Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Date
of Termination" means (1) the effective date on which the Employee's employment
by the Corporation terminates as specified in a Notice of Termination by the
Corporation or the Employee, as the case may be, or (2) if the Employee's
employment terminates by reason of death, the date of death of the Employee.
Notwithstanding the previous sentence, (i) if the Employee's employment is
terminated for Disability (as defined in Section 6(b)), then such Date of
Termination shall be no earlier than thirty (30) days following the date on
which a Notice of Termination is received, and (ii) if the Employee's employment
is terminated by the Corporation other than for Cause, then such Date of
Termination shall be no earlier than thirty (30) days following the date on
which a Notice of Termination is received.
(g) Payment Upon Termination. Upon any termination of employment
hereunder, the Corporation shall pay the Employee, within ten (10) days
following his Date of Termination, a lump sum cash amount equal to the sum of
(i) the Employee's unpaid base salary through the Date of Termination, (ii) any
bonus payments which have become payable (other than deferred amounts), to the
extent not theretofore paid, and (iii) any vacation pay owed with respect to
accrued, but unused, vacation.
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(h) Termination Without Cause, For Good Reason or Upon Failure
to Renew. In addition to the payments set forth in Section 6(g) hereof, in the
event that the Employee's employment with the Corporation terminates either (1)
prior to a Change in Control or (2) following the two-year period immediately
subsequent to a Change in Control (including as a result of a notice of
non-renewal of the Term by the Corporation provided during such two-year
period), as a result of (i) a termination by the Employee for Good Reason, (ii)
a termination by the Corporation without Cause (other than for Retirement or
Disability) or (iii) notice by the Corporation of non-renewal of the Term (other
than for Retirement), then the Corporation shall pay to the Employee, in
twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments in conformity with the Corporation's
normal payroll periods, an amount equal to (x) the sum of the base salary earned
by the Employee from the Corporation and its subsidiaries during the
twelve-month period immediately preceding the Employee's Date of Termination,
plus the annual bonus earned by the Employee from the Corporation and its
subsidiaries in respect of the fiscal year immediately preceding the Employee's
Date of Termination, divided by (y) twelve (12).
7. Termination of Employment Following a Change in Control.
(a) Change in Control Defined. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Change in Control" shall be deemed to have taken place if:
(i) any "person" (as defined below) is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")), directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Corporation representing 30% or more of the total voting power
represented by the Corporation's then outstanding voting securities;
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation occurs, as a result of which fewer than two-thirds (2/3)
of the incumbent directors are directors who either (A) had been directors
of the Corporation on the "look-back date" (as defined below) or (B) were
elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the
directors who had been directors of the Corporation on the "look-back
date" and who were still in office at the time of the election or
nomination;
(iii) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a merger or
consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation, other than a
merger or consolidation
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which would result in the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
entity) at least 80% of the total voting power represented by the voting
securities of the Corporation or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation; or
(iv) the stockholders of the Corporation approve (A) a plan of
complete liquidation of the Corporation or (B) an agreement for the sale
or disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the
Corporation's assets.
For purposes of paragraph (a)(i), the term "person" shall have the same
meaning as when used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but
shall exclude (1) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Corporation or of a parent or subsidiary of
the Corporation or (2) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the
stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of the common stock of the Corporation.
For purposes of paragraph (a)(ii), the term "look-back date" shall mean
the later of (A) the date twenty-four (24) months prior to the change in
the composition of the Board and (B) the Effective Date.
Any other provision of this Section 7(a) notwithstanding, the term "Change
in Control" shall not include either of the following events, if
undertaken at the election of the Corporation:
(x) a transaction, the sole purpose of which is
to change the state of the Corporation's
incorporation; or
(y) a transaction, the result of which is to
sell all or substantially all of the assets
of the Corporation to another corporation or
entity (the "surviving entity"); provided
that the voting power represented by the
surviving entity's securities (or other
equity interests) is owned directly or
indirectly by the stockholders of the
Corporation immediately following such
transaction in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of the voting
power represented by the Corporation's
common stock
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immediately preceding such transaction; and
provided, further, that the surviving entity
expressly assumes this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if
the Employee's employment terminates prior to a Change in Control, and the
Employee reasonably demonstrates that such termination was at the request or
suggestion of a third party who has indicated an intention or taken steps
reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control (a "Third Party"), then for
all purposes of this Agreement, the date of a Change in Control shall mean the
date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment.
(b) Cause. During the two-year period following a Change in
Control, "Cause" shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure of the
Employee to substantially perform his duties with the Corporation (other than
any such failure resulting from the Employee's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the Employee being delivered a
notice of termination without Cause by the Corporation or delivering a notice of
termination for Good Reason to the Corporation) after a written demand for
substantial performance is delivered to the Employee by the Board which
specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Employee
has not substantially performed the Employee's duties, or (ii) the willful
engaging by the Employee in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is
demonstrably and materially injurious to the Corporation or its subsidiaries.
For purpose of this paragraph (b), no act or failure to act by the Employee
shall be considered "willful" unless done or omitted to be done by the Employee
in bad faith and without reasonable belief that the Employee's action or
omission was in the best interests of the Corporation or its affiliates. Any
act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly
adopted by the Board, based upon the advice of counsel for the Corporation,
shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the
Employee in good faith and in the best interests of the Corporation. Cause shall
not exist unless and until the Corporation has delivered to the Employee a copy
of a resolution duly adopted by two-thirds (2/3) of the entire Board at a
meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice
to the Employee and an opportunity for the Employee, together with counsel, to
be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board
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an event set forth in clause (i) or (ii) has occurred and specifying the
particulars thereof in detail. Following a Change in Control, the Corporation
must notify the Employee of any event constituting Cause within ninety (90) days
following the Corporation's knowledge of its existence or such event shall not
constitute Cause under this Agreement.
(c) Good Reason. During the two-year period following a Change
in Control, "Good Reason" shall mean, without the Employee's express written
consent, the occurrence of any of the following events:
(1) (i) the assignment to the Employee of any duties or
responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) inconsistent in
any material and adverse respect with the Employee's duties and
responsibilities with the Corporation immediately prior to such Change
in Control (including any diminution of such duties or
responsibilities); provided, however, that Good Reason shall not be
deemed to occur upon a change in duties or responsibilities that is
solely and directly a result of the Corporation no longer being a
publicly traded entity, and does not involve any other event set forth
in this paragraph (c), or (ii) a material and adverse change in the
Employee's reporting responsibilities, titles or offices (other than
membership on the Board) with the Corporation as in effect immediately
prior to such Change in Control;
(2) a reduction by the Corporation in the Employee's rate of
annual base salary or annual target bonus opportunity (including any
adverse change in the formula for such annual bonus target) as in
effect immediately prior to such Change in Control or as the same may
be increased from time to time thereafter;
(3) any requirement of the Corporation that the Employee (i)
be based anywhere more than thirty (30) miles from the office where the
Employee is located at the time of the Change in Control or (ii) travel
on the Corporation's business to an extent substantially greater than
the travel obligations of the Employee immediately prior to such Change
in Control;
(4) the failure of the Corporation to (i) continue in effect
any employee benefit plan, compensation plan, welfare benefit plan or
material fringe benefit plan in which the Employee is participating
immediately prior to such Change in Control, or the taking of any
action by the Corporation which would adversely affect the Employee's
participation in or reduce the Employee's benefits under any
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such plan, unless the Employee is permitted to participate in other
plans providing the Employee with substantially equivalent aggregate
benefits (at substantially comparable cost with respect to welfare
benefit plans), or (ii) provide the Employee with paid vacation in
accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and
practices of the Corporation and its affiliated companies as in effect
for the Employee immediately prior to such Change in Control; or
(5) the failure of the Corporation to obtain the assumption
agreement from any successor as contemplated in Section 11(a) hereof.
Any event or condition described in Section 7(c)(1) through
(4) which occurs prior to a Change in Control, but with respect to which the
Employee is able to reasonably demonstrate was at the request or suggestion of a
Third Party, shall constitute Good Reason following a Change in Control for
purposes of this Agreement (as if a Change in Control had occurred immediately
prior to the occurrence of such event or condition) notwithstanding that it
occurred prior to the Change in Control. An isolated, insubstantial and
inadvertent action taken in good faith and which is remedied by the Corporation
promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Employee shall not
constitute Good Reason. The Employee's right to terminate employment for Good
Reason shall not be affected by the Employee's incapacity due to mental or
physical illness and the Employee's continued employment shall not constitute
consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any event or condition
constituting Good Reason. Following a Change in Control, the Employee must
provide notice of termination of employment within ninety (90) days of the
Employee's knowledge of an event constituting Good Reason or such event shall
not constitute Good Reason under this Agreement.
(d) In addition to the payments set forth in Section 6(g)
above, in the event the Employee's employment with the Corporation terminates
within two (2) years following a Change in Control either (i) by the Corporation
without Cause (other than for Retirement or Disability) or (ii) by the Employee
for Good Reason, then the Corporation shall (1) pay to the Employee, within ten
(10) days following the Employee's Date of Termination, a lump sum cash amount
equal to three (3) times the sum of the highest (i) annual rate of base salary
of the Employee during the 3-year period immediately preceding the Employee's
Date of Termination and (ii) annual bonus earned by Employee in respect of the
three (3) fiscal years of the Corporation immediately preceding the year
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in which the Employee's Date of Termination occurs and (2) continue to provide,
for a period of three (3) years following the Date of Termination, the Employee
(and the Employee's dependents if applicable) with the same level of medical,
dental, accident, disability and life insurance benefits upon substantially the
same terms and conditions (including cost of coverage to the Employee) as
existed immediately prior to the Employee's Date of Termination (or, if more
favorable to the Employee, as such benefits and terms and conditions existed
immediately prior to the Change in Control); provided, that, if the Employee
cannot continue to participate in the Corporation plans providing such benefits,
the Corporation shall otherwise provide such benefits on the same after-tax
basis as if continued participation had been permitted. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event the Employee becomes reemployed with another employer
and becomes eligible to receive welfare benefits from such employer, the welfare
benefits described herein shall be secondary to such benefits during the period
of the Employee's eligibility, but only to the extent that the Corporation
reimburses the Employee for any increased cost and provides any additional
benefits necessary to give the Employee the benefits hereunder.
(e)(i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or
distribution, or any acceleration of vesting of any benefit or award, by the
Corporation or its affiliated companies to or for the benefit of the Employee
(whether paid or payable, distributed or distributable or accelerated or subject
to acceleration pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but
determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section
7(e)) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999
of the Code, or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Employee with
respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and
penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then
the Employee shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up
Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the Employee of all taxes
imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment and any interest or penalties imposed with
respect to such taxes, the Employee retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment
equal to the sum of (x) the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments and (y) the
product of any deductions disallowed because of the inclusion of the Gross-Up
Payment in the Employee's adjusted gross income and the highest applicable
marginal rate of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the
Gross-Up
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Payment is to be made. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up
Payment, the Employee shall be deemed to (A) pay federal income taxes at the
highest marginal rates of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which
the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, (B) pay applicable state and local income
taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation for the calendar year in which
the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal
income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local
taxes and (C) have otherwise allowable deductions for federal income tax
purposes at least equal to those which could be disallowed because of the
inclusion of the Gross-Up Payment in the Employee's adjusted gross income. The
payment of a Gross-Up Payment under this Section 7(e) shall in no event be
conditioned upon the Employee's termination of employment or the receipt of
severance benefits under this Agreement.
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(ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(e)(i), all
determinations required to be made under this Section 7(e), including whether
and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment
and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be
made by the public accounting firm that is retained by the Corporation as of the
date immediately prior to the Change in Control (the "Accounting Firm") which
shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Corporation and the
Employee within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of notice from the
Corporation or the Employee that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time
as is requested by the Corporation (collectively, the "Determination"). In the
event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the
individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control, the Employee may
appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the
determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred
to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of the Accounting
Firm shall be borne solely by the Corporation and the Corporation shall enter
into any agreement requested by the Accounting Firm in connection with the
performance of its services hereunder. The Gross-Up Payment under this Section
7(e) with respect to any Payment shall be made no later than thirty (30) days
following such Payment. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is
payable by the Employee, it shall furnish the Employee with a written opinion to
such effect, and to the effect that failure to report the Excise Tax, if any, on
the Employee's applicable federal income tax return will not result in the
imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. The Determination by the
Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Corporation and the Employee. As a
result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the
time of the Determination, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not
have been made by the Corporation should have been made ("Underpayment") or
Gross-Up Payments are made by the Corporation which should not have been made
("Overpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder.
In the event that the Employee thereafter is required to make payment of any
additional Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the
Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment (together with interest
at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2) of the Code) shall be promptly paid
by the Corporation to or for the benefit of the Employee. In the event the
amount of the Gross-Up Payment exceeds the amount necessary to reimburse the
Employee for his Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm
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shall determine the amount of the Overpayment that has been made and any such
Overpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)
of the Code) shall be promptly paid by the Employee to or for the benefit of the
Corporation. The Employee shall cooperate, to the extent his expenses are
reimbursed by the Corporation, with any reasonable requests by the Corporation
in connection with any contests or disputes with the Internal Revenue Service in
connection with the Excise Tax.
8. Covenants Not to Compete; Confidentiality.
(a) The Employee covenants that if he voluntarily terminates
his employment with the Corporation prior to the end of the term of this
Agreement, unless such termination either is approved by the Board or is within
the two-year period following a Change in Control, he shall not, for a period of
one (1) year following such Date of Termination:
(1) engage or be interested, whether alone or together with or
on behalf or through any other person, firm, association, trust,
venture, or corporation, whether as sole proprietor, partner,
shareholder, agent, officer, director, employee, adviser, consultant,
trustee, beneficiary or otherwise, in any business principally and
directly engaged in the operation of health maintenance organizations
or the health insurance business or in the management of specialty
medical care through case rate contracting; which business operates in
a geographic area in which, at the time of such termination of
employment, the Corporation is conducting business or plans to conduct
business (a "competing business");
(2) assist others in conducting any competing business;
(3) directly or indirectly recruit or induce or hire any
person who is an employee of the Corporation or any of its
subsidiaries, or solicit any of the Corporation's customers, clients or
providers; or
(4) own any capital stock or any other securities of, or have
any other direct or indirect interest in, any entity which owns or
operates a competing business, other than the ownership of (i) less
than five percent (5%) of any such entity whose stock is listed on a
national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market
and which is not controlled by the Employee or any affiliate of
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the Employee or (ii) any limited partnership interest in such an
entity.
Nothing contained in this section, however, shall prohibit the
Employee from taking any of the actions set forth in clause (1), (2), (3) or (4)
above if (i) the Employee's employment has been terminated other than for Cause,
or (ii) the Employee has terminated employment for Good Reason.
(b) In the event that the Employee breaches or threatens to
breach any of the terms of this Section 8, the Employee acknowledges that the
Corporation's remedy at law would be inadequate and that the Corporation shall
be entitled to an injunction restraining the Employee from committing or
continuing such breach.
9. Payment Obligation Absolute. Except with respect to
continued welfare benefits under Section 7(d), the Corporation's obligation to
pay the Employee the compensation and other benefits provided herein shall be
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by an circumstances,
including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or
other right which the Corporation may have against the Employee. All amounts
payable by the Corporation hereunder shall be paid without notice or demand.
10. Notice.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, all notices and other
communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or five (5) days after deposit in
the United States mail, certified and return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
If to the Employee:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xx 00000
If to the Corporation:
Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
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or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
(b) A written notice (a "Notice of Termination") of the
Employee's Date of Termination by the Corporation or the Employee, as the case
may be, to the other, shall (i) indicate the specific termination provision in
this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of the Employee's employment under the provision so indicated and
(iii) specify the Date of Termination. The failure by the Employee or the
Corporation to set forth in such notice any particular fact or circumstance
which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right
of the Employee or the Corporation hereunder or preclude the Employee or the
Corporation from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Employee's
or the Corporation's rights hereunder.
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11. General Provisions.
(a) No Assignments. This Agreement is personal to each of the
parties hereto. Neither party may assign or delegate any of his or its rights or
obligations hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of the other
party; provided, however, that the Corporation agrees that concurrently with any
merger or sale of assets which would constitute a Change in Control hereunder,
it will cause any successor or transferee unconditionally to assume, by written
instrument delivered to the Employee (or his beneficiary or estate), all of the
obligations of the Corporation hereunder. Failure of the Corporation to obtain
such assumption prior to the effectiveness of any such merger or sale of assets,
shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall constitute Good Reason hereunder
and shall entitle the Employee to compensation and other benefits from the
Corporation in the same amount and on the same terms as the Employee would be
entitled hereunder if the Employee's employment were terminated following a
Change in Control under Section 7(d) hereof. For purposes of implementing the
foregoing, the date on which any such merger or sale of assets becomes effective
shall be deemed the date Good Reason occurs, and shall be the Date of
Termination if requested by the Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Employee's
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Employee shall die while any amounts
would be payable to the Employee hereunder had the Employee continued to live,
all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons appointed in writing
by the Employee to receive such amounts or, if no person is so appointed, to the
Employee's estate.
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(b) Indemnification of Employee. In the event the employment
of the Employee is terminated by the Corporation without Cause or by the
Employee for Good Reason hereof and the Corporation fails to make timely payment
of the amounts then owed to the Employee under this Agreement, the Employee
shall be entitled to indemnification for all reasonable costs (as such costs are
incurred), including attorneys' fees and disbursements, incurred by the Employee
in taking action to collect such amounts or otherwise to enforce this Agreement,
plus interest on all such amounts at the annual rate of one percent above the
prime rate (defined as the base rate on corporate loans at large U.S. money
center commercial banks as published by the Wall Street Journal), compounded
monthly, for the period from the time payment is due until payment is made to
the Employee. The Employee shall also be entitled to interest (at the rate
described in the immediately preceding sentence) on such reasonable costs
incurred from the date the Employee delivers a receipt to the Corporation for
such costs until the date they are reimbursed to the Employee. Such
indemnification and interest shall be in addition to all rights to which the
Employee is otherwise entitled under this Agreement.
(c) Entire Agreement; Amendments or Additions; Action by
Board. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes all prior
oral and written agreements, memoranda, understandings and undertakings between
the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof, including the Prior
Agreement. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding unless
in writing and signed by both parties. The prior approval by a two-thirds (2/3)
affirmative vote of the full Board shall be required in order for the
Corporation to authorize any amendments or additions to this Agreement, to give
any consents or waivers of provisions of this Agreement, or to take any other
action under this Agreement including any termination of the employment of the
Employee with or without Cause. For purposes of Board approval with respect
hereto, if the Employee is also a director of the Corporation, he shall abstain
from acting on matters pertaining to this Agreement and shall not be counted as
a Board member for purposes of the two-thirds (2/3) requirement.
(d) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the
laws of the State of Connecticut as to all matters, including, but not limited
to, matters of validity, construction, effect and practice.
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(e) Arbitration. Except with respect to injunctive relief
under Section 8(b) hereof, any dispute or controversy under this Agreement shall
be settled exclusively by arbitration in Norwalk, Connecticut by three (3)
arbitrators in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association
then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitration award in any court
having jurisdiction. The Corporation shall bear all costs and expenses arising
in connection with any arbitration proceeding pursuant to this Section 11(e).
(f) Employment with Subsidiaries. Employment with the
Corporation for purposes of this Agreement shall include employment with any
subsidiary of the Corporation.
(g) Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
(h) Section Headings. The section headings used in this
Agreement are included solely for convenience and shall not affect, or be used
in connection with, the interpretation of this Agreement.
(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
President
Dated: August 13, 1996 /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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