AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.7
AMENDED AND RESTATED
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Executive Severance Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of this 5th day of May, 2006, between Apria Healthcare Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (the “Executive”).
RECITALS
A. It is the desire of the Company to retain the services of the Executive and to recognize the Executive’s contribution to the Company.
B. The Company and the Executive wish to set forth certain terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment.
C. The Company wishes to provide to the Executive certain benefits in the event that his employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined below) or in the event that he terminates employment for Good Reason (as defined below), in order to encourage the Executive’s performance and continued commitment to the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements set forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Positions and Duties. The Executive shall serve in such positions and undertake such duties and have such authority as the Company, through its Chief Executive Officer, shall assign to the Executive from time to time in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion. The Company has the right to change the nature, amount or level of authority and responsibility assigned to the Executive at any time, for any reason or no reason, and with or without cause. The Company may also change the title or titles assigned to the Executive at any time, for any reason or no reason, and with or without cause. The Executive agrees to devote substantially all of his working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company. The Executive further agrees that he shall not undertake any outside activities which create a conflict of interest with his duties to the Company, or which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or Board of Directors of the Company, interfere with the performance of the Executive’s duties to the Company.
2. Compensation and Benefits.
a. Salary. The Executive’s salary shall be such salary as the Company assigns to him from time to time in accordance with its regular practices and policies. The parties to this Agreement recognize that the Company may, in its sole discretion, change such salary on a prospective basis at any time.
b. Bonus. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Executive Bonus Plan or such other bonus plans applicable to his position as may be in effect from time to time. The parties to this Agreement recognize that such bonus plans may be amended and/or terminated by the Company at any time without the consent of the Executive in accordance with the terms of such bonus plans.
c. Expenses. During the term of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for all reasonable and customary expenses incurred by the Executive in performing services for the Company in accordance with the Company’s reimbursement policies as they may be in effect from time to time. The parties to this Agreement recognize that such policies may be amended and/or terminated by the Company at any time without the consent of the Executive.
d. Other Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements of the Company (including, without limitation, stock option plans or agreements and insurance, retirement and vacation plans, the deferred compensation plan and any other programs and arrangements), in accordance with the terms of such plans, programs or arrangements as they shall be in effect from time to time during the period of the Executive’s employment; provided, however, that nothing herein shall entitle the Executive to any specific awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans or other discretionary employee benefit plans. The parties to this Agreement recognize that the Company may terminate or modify such plans, programs or arrangements at any time without the consent of the Executive.
3. Grounds for Termination. The Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Company or the Executive at any time, for any reason or no reason, with or without Cause or Good Reason (as such terms are defined below), and except as expressly provided herein, with or without any advance notice. the Executive’s employment may end for any one of the following reasons:
a. Without Cause or Good Reason. The Executive or the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time, without Cause (in the case of the Company) or for Good Reason (in the case of the Executive), by giving the other party to this Agreement at least 30 days advance written notice of such termination.
b. Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon his death.
c. Disability. If, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable to perform the essential functions of his position, even with reasonable accommodation that does not impose an undue hardship on the Company, 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-month period), shall not have returned to the performance of his duties hereunder on a full-time basis (a “disability”), the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment on account of such disability.
d. Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement (except as set forth below), “Cause” shall mean that the Company, acting in good faith based upon the information then known to the Company, determines that the Executive has (i) engaged in or committed willful misconduct; (ii) engaged in or committed theft, fraud or other illegal conduct; (iii) refused or demonstrated an unwillingness to substantially perform his duties after written demand for substantial performance is delivered by the Company that specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes the Executive has not substantially performed his duties; (iv) refused or demonstrated an unwillingness to reasonably cooperate in good faith with any Company or government investigation or provide testimony therein (other than such failure resulting from the Executive’s disability); (v) engaged in or committed insubordination; (vi) engaged in or committed any willful act that is likely to and which does in fact have the effect of injuring the reputation or business of the Company; (vii) willfully violated his fiduciary duty or his duty of loyalty to the Company or the Company’s Code of Ethical Business Conduct in any material respect; (viii) used alcohol or drugs (other than drugs prescribed to the Executive by a physician and used by the Executive for their intended purpose for which they had been prescribed) in a manner which materially and repeatedly interferes with the performance of his duties hereunder or which has the effect of materially injuring the reputation or business of the Company; or (ix) engaged in or committed a breach of any term of this Agreement. For purposes of the above clauses (i), (vi) and (vii) of this Section 3(d), no act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be considered willful unless done or omitted to be done, by him not in good faith or without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for purposes of any termination of employment that occurs within the period that (i) begins with the first to occur of (1) the initial public announcement of a Change of Control (as defined below), or (2) the 90th day preceding a Change of Control and (ii) ends two years following such Change of Control, “Cause” shall instead mean only the occurrence of either or both of the following: (A) the Executive’s conviction for committing an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or other act constituting a felony (other than traffic related offenses or as a result of vicarious liability); or (B) the willful engaging by the Executive in misconduct that is significantly injurious to the Company. For purposes of the above clause (B) of this Section 3(d), no act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be considered willful unless done or omitted to be done, by him not in good faith or without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause without delivery to the Executive of a notice of termination signed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or President stating that, in the good faith opinion of the officer signing such notice, the Executive has engaged in or committed conduct of the nature described above in this Section 3(d), and specifying the particulars thereof.
e. Resignation for Good Reason. the Executive may resign on account of Good Reason (as defined below).
4. Payments upon Termination.
a. Without Cause or with Good Reason. In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than death, disability or Cause as defined in Sections 3(b), (c) and (d) of this Agreement, or in the event that the Executive terminates his employment hereunder with Good Reason as defined in Section 4(c) of this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to receive severance pay in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of his Annual Compensation, which shall be paid, subject to Section 12, in periodic installments in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices over a period of one (1) year, less any amounts required to be withheld by applicable law, in exchange for a valid release of all claims the Executive may have against the Company in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (which may be modified only to the extent necessary to reflect developments in applicable law that would jeopardize enforceability of such release unless the modifications are not made) and continued compliance with the restrictive covenants described in Sections 7-9 below. The Company will also pay to the Executive any earned but unused vacation time at the rate of pay in effect on the date of the notice of termination.
b. Annual Compensation. For purposes of this Section 4, the term “Annual Compensation” means an amount equal to the Executive’s annual base salary at the rate in effect on the date on which the Executive received or gave written notice of his termination, plus the sum of (i) an amount equal to the average of the annual bonuses with respect to the Company’s two (2) most recently completed fiscal years, if any, determined to be payable and/or paid to the Executive under the Company’s the Executive Bonus Plan (or comparable bonus plan) prior to such notice of termination, and (ii) an amount determined by the Company from time to time in its sole discretion to be equal to the annual cost for the Executive of obtaining medical, dental and vision insurance under COBRA, which annual amount is hereby initially estimated to be $20,000.
c. Good Reason. For purposes of this Section 4 (except as set forth below) the term “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following, without the written consent of the Executive, unless such event is rescinded within ten (10) business days after the Executive notifies the Company that the Executive objects thereto:
| (i) | any reduction in the Executive’s annual base salary, except for a general one-time “across-the-board” salary reduction not exceeding ten percent (10%) which is imposed simultaneously on all executive officers of the Company; |
| or (ii) |
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provided, however, that “Good Reason” shall cease to exist for an event on the 60th day following the earlier of the Company’s written notice of the change to the Executive or the Executive’s becoming aware thereof, unless the Executive has given the Company written notice of his objection thereto prior to such date.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for purposes of any termination of employment that occurs within the period that (i) begins with the first to occur of (1) the initial public announcement of a Change of Control (as defined below), or (2) the 90th day preceding a Change of Control and (ii) ends two years following such Change of Control, “Good Reason” shall instead mean, without the Executive’s express written consent, the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
| (a) | a material reduction in the nature, status or scope of the Executive’s authorities, duties, and/or responsibilities, (when such authorities, duties, and/or responsibilities are viewed in the aggregate) from their level in effect on the day immediately prior to the Change of Control (provided, however, that neither of (A) a change in the Executive’s title or reporting relationships, nor (B) an adjustment in the nature of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities that in either case does not remove from him the authority with respect to the Company’s functional area, employees or products and services that the Executive had immediately prior to such change or adjustment shall constitute “Good Reason”); |
| (b) | a reduction in the Executive’s base salary from its highest level in effect at any point in the three months preceding the Change of Control or a significant reduction in the Executive’s aggregate incentive opportunities under the Company’s short and/or long-term incentive programs, as such opportunities exist immediately prior to the Change of Control; |
| (c) | the failure of the Company to maintain the Executive’s relative level of coverage and accruals (as compared to other Company executives) under the Company’s employee benefit and/or retirement plans, policies, practices, or arrangements in which the Executive participates immediately prior the Change of Control (both in terms of the amount of benefits provided, and amounts accrued) (for this purpose, the Company may eliminate and/or modify existing programs and coverage levels without the Executive’s consent; provided, however, that the Executive’s level of coverage under all such programs must be at least as great as is provided to executives who have the same or lesser levels of reporting responsibilities within the Company’s organization); or |
| (d) | the Executive is informed by the Company that his principal place of employment for the Company will be relocated to a location that will result in an increase of more than thirty (30) miles in the Executive’s one-way commute (as compared to the Executive’s one-way commute prior to the Change of Control). |
d. Release of all Claims. The Executive understands and agrees that the Company’s obligation to pay the Executive severance pay under this Agreement is subject to the Executive’s execution of a valid written waiver and release of all claims which the Executive may have against the Company and/or its successors in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (modified only to the extent necessary to have the same legal effect on the date of execution as it would if it were executed on the date hereof).
e. No Mitigation or Offset. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Section 4 shall not be reduced, offset or subject to recovery by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates by reason of any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason. In addition, the Executive shall be under no obligation to seek other employment or to take any other actions to mitigate the amounts payable under this Section 4.
f. Death, Disability or Cause. In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated due to death, disability or Cause, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the Executive any amount other than earned unused vacation, reimbursement for business expenses incurred prior to his termination and in compliance with the Company’s reimbursement policies, any unpaid salary for days worked prior to the termination, all other amounts accrued or earned by the Executive through the date of termination under the then existing plans and policies of the Company, and any amounts owing in respect of the Company’s indemnification obligations to the Executive.
g. Change of Control. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of Control” shall, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or Compensation Committee thereof prior to the consummation of the Change of Control, be deemed to have occurred if:
| (i) | any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d)and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) is, becomes or enters a contract to become, the “beneficial owner,” as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, directly or indirectly, of securities representing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the voting common stock of the Company; |
| (ii) | all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company are disposed of, or a contract is entered to dispose of all of the business of the Company pursuant to a merger, consolidation other transaction in which (a) the Company is not the surviving parent company or (b) the stockholders of the Company prior to the transaction do not continue to own at least sixty percent (60%) of the surviving parent company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such transaction; or |
| (iii) | the Company is materially or completely liquidated. |
Notwithstanding clause (i) above, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred solely because a person shall be, become or enter into a contract to become the beneficial owner of 25% or more, but less than 40%, of the voting common stock of the Company, if and for so long as such person is bound by, and in compliance with, a contract with the Company providing that such person may not nominate, vote for, or select more than a minority of the directors of the Company. The exception provided by the preceding sentence shall cease to apply with respect to any person upon expiration, waiver, or non-compliance with any such contract, by which such person was bound.
h. In the event that at any time following a Change of Control the Executive initiates arbitration pursuant to Section 16 to enforce his rights to any payments under Section 4, or the Company seeks to deny, dispute or reduce any such payments for any reason, then:
| (i) | the burden of proving that the Executive is not entitled to such payments shall be on the Company; |
| (ii) | the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the Executive in prosecuting or defending any such proceeding as they are incurred by the Executive in advance of the final disposition of such dispute, together with any tax liability incurred by the Executive in connection with the receipt of such amounts; provided, however, that the payment of such expenses incurred in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the Executive, to repay all amounts so advanced to the extent the arbitrator in such proceeding affirmatively determines that the Company is the prevailing party, taking into account all claims made by any such party to such proceeding; and |
| (iii) | all such payments or benefits described in this Agreement shall continue to be made or provided on the dates provided herein as if all assertions or claims made by the Executive are accurate without any offsets, claims or charges of any kind whatsoever being asserted by the Company, except in the event a final determination pursuant to the arbitration provisions of Section 16 has been rendered and such determination provides that the Company is entitled to assert any such offset, claim or charge against the Executive. |
5. Successors; Binding Agreement.
a. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as he would be entitled to hereunder if he terminated his employment for Good Reason, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the date of termination. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as herein before defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 5 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
b. This Agreement and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrator, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.
6. Notices. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally, by telecopy, telex or other form of written electronic transmission, by overnight courier or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Executive:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
00000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company:
Apria Healthcare Group Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
With a copy to the attention of: Senior Vice President, Human Resources 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.
7. Antisolicitation.
a. The Executive promises and agrees that, during the period of his employment by the Company and for a period of one year thereafter, he will not influence or attempt to influence customers or patients of the Company or any of its present or future subsidiaries or affiliates, either directly or indirectly, to divert their business to any individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity then in competition with the business of the Company, or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, where the identity of the customer or patient, or any information concerning the relationship between the customer or patient and the Company, is a trade secret or other Confidential Material (as defined below).
b. The Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that if the Company has a reasonable good faith belief that he is in violation of any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Section 7, then the Company, following written notice to the Executive explaining the basis for its belief, may, except as provided in Section 4(h), suspend any future payments scheduled to be made pursuant to Section 4, unless and until the Executive establishes to the Company’s reasonable good faith satisfaction that no such violation has occurred. In addition, the Company and the Executive acknowledge and agree that such cessation of payments shall be the Company’s sole and exclusive remedy of any breach by the Executive of any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Section 7. In order to implement the principle of this Section 7(c), in the event that an arbitrator determines that the Executive has violated the provisions of this Section 7, the arbitrator may require that the Executive return to the Company any amounts paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 4(h) following the date of such violation.
8. Soliciting Employees. The Executive promises and agrees that, for a period of one year following termination of his employment, he will not, directly or indirectly, solicit any of the Company employees who earned annually $50,000 or more as a Company employee during the last six months of his or her own employment, or facilitate the hiring of any such employee, to work for any other business, individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or other entity.
9. Confidential Information.
a. The Executive, in the performance of his duties on behalf of the Company, shall have access to, receive and be entrusted with confidential information, including but not limited to systems technology, field operations, reimbursement, development, marketing, organizational, financial, management, administrative, clinical, customer, distribution and sales information, data, specifications and processes presently owned or at any time in the future developed, by the Company or its agents or consultants, or used presently or at any time in the future in the course of its business that is not otherwise part of the public domain (collectively, the “Confidential Material”). All such Confidential Material is considered secret and will be available to the Executive in confidence. Except in the performance of duties on behalf of the Company, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly for any reason whatsoever, disclose or use any such Confidential Material, unless such Confidential Material ceases (through no fault of the Executive’s) to be confidential because it has become part of the public domain. All records, files, drawings, documents, notes, disks, diskettes, tapes, magnetic media, photographs, equipment and other tangible items, wherever located, relating in any way to the Confidential Material or otherwise to the Company’s business, which the Executive prepares, uses or encounters during the course of his employment, shall be and remain the Company’s sole and exclusive property and shall be included in the Confidential Material. Upon termination of this Agreement by any means, or whenever requested by the Company, the Executive shall promptly deliver to the Company any and all of the Confidential Material, not previously delivered to the Company, that may be or at any previous time has been in the Executive’s possession or under the Executive’s control.
b. The Executive hereby acknowledges that the sale or unauthorized use or disclosure of any of the Company’s Confidential Material by any means whatsoever and at any time before, during or after the Executive’s employment with the Company shall constitute unfair competition. The Executive agrees he shall not engage in unfair competition either during the time employed by the Company or any time thereafter.
c. The Executive promises and agrees that for a period of one year following termination of his employment, he will not, other than as required by law or by order of a court or other competent authority, make or publish, or cause any other person to make or publish, any statement that is disparaging or that reflects negatively upon the Company, or that is or reasonably would be expected to be damaging to the reputation of the Company.
10. Parachute Limitation.
a. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that any amount or benefit that may be paid or otherwise provided to or in respect of the Executive by or on behalf of the Company or any affiliate, whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (collectively, “Covered Payments”), is or may become subject to the tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (or any successor provision or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign law) (“Excise Tax”), then the portion of the Covered Payments that would be treated as “parachute payments” under Code Section 280G (“Covered Parachute Payments”) shall be reduced so that the Covered Parachute Payments, in the aggregate, are reduced to the Safe Harbor Amount (as defined below). For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Safe Harbor Amount” means the largest portion of the Covered Payments that would result in no portion of the Covered Payments being subject to the Excise Tax. In the event that it is determined that the amount of any Covered Payments will be reduced in accordance with this Section 10, the Executive shall have the right to designate which of the Covered Payments shall be reduced and to what extent, provided that the Executive may not so elect to the extent that, in the determination of counsel to the Company, such election would cause the Executive to be subject to the Excise Tax.
b. The determination of (i) whether an event described in Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Code has occurred, (ii) the value of any Covered Parachute Payments and the Safe Harbor Amount, (iii) whether any reduction in the Covered Payments is required under Section 10(a), and (iv) the amount of any such reduction, shall be made initially by an accounting firm selected by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (as constituted prior to the occurrence of any Change of Control), or, if no such firm is selected, by the independent compensation consulting firm retained by the Compensation Committee prior to any Change of Control to provide consulting advice to the Compensation Committee (the “Accountants”). For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 10, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the Code, and other applicable legal authority. The Company and the Executive shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section 10. The Company shall bear and be solely responsible for all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 10.
c. If, notwithstanding any reduction described in this Section 10, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) determines that the Executive is liable for the Excise Tax as a result of the receipt of amounts payable under this Agreement or otherwise as described above, then the Executive shall be obligated to pay back to the Company, within thirty (30) days after a final IRS determination or in the event that the Executive challenges the final IRS determination, a final judicial determination, a portion of such amounts equal to the “Repayment Amount”. The Repayment Amount with respect to the payment of benefits shall be the smallest such amount as shall be required to be paid to the Company so that the Executive is not subject to the Excise Tax.
11. Funding Upon Change Of Control.
a. Immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall fund, to the extent it has not done so, a sum equal to the present value on the date of the Change of Control of any amounts that are or would reasonably be expected to become payable to the Executive under the provisions of Sections 4 and 12 hereof (including a good faith estimate of expenses of the trust in the event that the Company does not timely pay such expenses) and the provisions of that certain Noncompetition Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2006, by and between the Executive and the Company (the “Noncompetition Agreement”), which in any event shall be no less than 125% of such present value (determined using an interest rate equal to the short-term applicable federal rate (with annual compounding) established under Section 1274(d) of the Code for the month in which the Change of Control), by establishing and irrevocably funding a trust for the benefit of the Executive. In addition, immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall contribute to the trust established under this Section 11, to the extent it has not done so, a number of shares of common stock of the Company equal to the total number of shares subject to all outstanding awards (whether vested or unvested) of stock options, restricted stock purchase rights and restricted stock units held by the Executive as of immediately prior to the Change of Control. The trustee of such trust shall be instructed to pay out any such amounts as and to the extent such amounts become payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the agreements documenting the terms of the Executive’s outstanding stock awards.
b. The trust established under this Section 11 shall be a grantor trust described in Section 671 of the Code. The Company shall be solely responsible for and shall directly pay all fees and expenses of the trust; provided, however, in the event that the Company does not pay all of the fees and expenses of the trust, the trustee shall have the authority to pay such fees from the assets of the trust.
c. Any payments of compensation, severance or other benefits by the trust established pursuant to this Section 11 shall, to the extent thereof, discharge the Company’s obligation to pay compensation, pension, severance and other benefits hereunder, it being the intent of the Company that assets in such trust be held for the purpose of discharging any obligation of the Company to pay compensation, severance and other benefits under this Agreement and all equity compensation agreements between the Company and the Executive under such circumstances in which such trust is in effect.
d. The trust established under this Section 11 shall not terminate until the date on which all payments and benefits to be funded out of the trust have been satisfied and discharged in full. Upon termination of the trust any assets remaining in the trust shall be returned to the Company.
12. Effect of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Company determines (a) that on the date the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates or at such other time that the Company determines to be relevant, the Executive is a “specified employee” (as such term is defined under Section 409A) of the Company and (b) that any payments to be provided to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement are or may become subject to the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code or any other taxes or penalties imposed under Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A Taxes”) if provided at the time otherwise required under this Agreement then (i) such payments shall be delayed until the date that is six months after date of the Executive’s “separation from service” (as such term is defined under Section 409A of the Code) with the Company, or such shorter period that, as determined by the Company, is sufficient to avoid the imposition of Section 409A Taxes (the “Payment Delay Period”) and (ii) such payments shall be increased by an amount equal to interest on such payments for the Payments Delay Period at a rate equal to the prime rate in effect as of the date the payment was first due plus one point (for this purpose, the prime rate will be based on the rate published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal).
13. Modification and Waiver. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflicts of law principles.
14. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and in the event that a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is in violation of any law or public policy, in whole or in part, only the portions of this Agreement that violate such law or public policy shall be stricken. All portions of this Agreement that do not violate any statute or public policy shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect. Further, any court order striking any portion of this Agreement shall modify the stricken terms as narrowly as possible to give as much effect as possible to the intentions of the parties under this Agreement.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
16. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement or the Executive’s employment by the Company shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a single neutral arbitrator in accordance with the American Arbitration Association’s National Rules for Resolution of Employment Disputes as then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Company shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any continuation of any violation of the provisions of Sections 7, 8 or 9 of this Agreement and the Executive hereby consents that such restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of the Company’s posting any bond, and provided, further, that the Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of his right to be paid until the date of employment termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement. Each party shall pay its own attorneys’ fees and costs. If any party prevails on a statutory claim which affords attorneys’ fees and costs, the arbitrator may award reasonable attorneys’ fees and/or costs to the prevailing party. The fees and expenses of the arbitrator and the arbitration shall be borne by the Company.
17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto; and any prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein is hereby terminated and canceled.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
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APRIA HEALTHCARE GROUP INC. By ____________________________ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx Chief Executive Officer |
THE EXECUTIVE By ____________________________ Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
EXHIBIT A
GENERAL RELEASE
THIS GENERAL RELEASE (this “Release”) is made as of the ___ day of __________, 20___, by and between _______________, an individual (“Executive”), and Apria Healthcare Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Apria”). In consideration of the payments and benefits to be provided to Executive pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Executive Severance Agreement, dated May 5, 2006, to which Executive and Apria are parties (the “Severance Agreement”), the sufficiency of which is acknowledged hereby, Executive and Apria agree as follows:
1. Neither this Release nor anything in this Release shall be construed to be or shall be admissible in any proceeding as evidence of an admission by Apria or Executive of any violation of Apria’s policies or procedures, or state or federal laws or regulations. This Release may be introduced, however, in any proceeding to enforce the Release. Such introduction shall be pursuant to an order protecting its confidentiality.
2. Except for (i) those obligations created by or arising out of this Release, (ii) any rights Executive may have under stock option agreements with Apria and any retirement, 401(k), or similar benefit plans of Apria, and (iii) the continuing right to indemnification as provided by applicable law or in Apria’s bylaws and articles of incorporation in connection with acts, suits or proceedings by reason of the fact that he was an officer or employee of Apria where the basis of the claims against him consists of acts or omissions taken or made in such capacity, Executive on behalf of himself, his descendants, dependents, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, and successors, and each of them, hereby covenants not to xxx and fully releases and discharges Apria, and its predecessors, subsidiaries and affiliates, past and present, and each of them, as well as its and their trustees, directors, officers, agents, attorneys, insurers, employees, stockholders, representatives, assigns, and successors, past and present, and each of them, hereinafter together and collectively (including Apria) referred to as the “Apria Releasees,” with respect to and from any and all claims, wages, demands, rights, liens, agreements, contracts, covenants, actions, suits, causes of action, obligations, debts, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, damages, judgments, orders and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, and whether or not concealed or hidden, which he now owns or holds or he has at any time heretofore owned or held as against the Apria Releasees, arising out of or in any way connected with his employment relationship with any Apria Releasee, or his voluntary resignation from employment with the Apria Releasees or any other transactions, occurrences, actions, omissions, claims, losses, damages or injuries whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, resulting from any act or omission by or on the part of any Apria Releasee committed or omitted prior to the date of this Release, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Fair Employment Practices Act, the Equal Pay Laws, the Workers’ Compensation Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code, the state and federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the California Business and Professions Code, or any common law or statutory claim for fraud, wrongful termination, violation of public policy or defamation, or any claim for compensation, severance pay, bonus, sick leave, holiday pay, vacation pay, life insurance, health or medical insurance or any other fringe benefit, workers’ compensation or disability.
Except for those obligations created by or arising out of this Release, and except as provided below, Apria on behalf of itself and the Apria Releasees (to the extent the matter in question arises on the basis of their relationship to Apria) hereby acknowledges full and complete satisfaction of and releases and discharges, and covenants not to xxx, Executive from and with respect to any and all claims, agreements, obligations, losses, damages, injuries, demands and causes of action, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, whether or not concealed or hidden, arising out of or in any way connected with Executive’s employment relationship with any Apria Releasee or his voluntary resignation from employment with the Apria Releasees, or any other transactions, occurrences, actions, omissions, claims, losses, damages or injuries whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which Apria now owns or holds or has at any time heretofore owned or held as against Executive.
3. It is the intention of Apria and Executive in executing this Release that the same shall be effective as a bar to each and every claim, demand and cause of action hereinabove specified. In furtherance of this intention, Apria and Executive hereby expressly waive any and all rights and benefits conferred upon them by the provisions of SECTION 1542 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE and expressly consent that this Release shall be given full force and effect according to each and all of its express terms and provisions, including those related to unknown and unsuspected claims, demands and causes of action, if any, as well as those relating to any other claims, demands and causes of action hereinabove specified. SECTION 1542 provides:
“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”
Apria and Executive, and each of them, acknowledge that either may hereafter discover claims or facts in addition to or different from those which either or both of them now knows or believes to exist with respect to the subject matter of this Release and which, if known or suspected at the time of executing this Release, may have materially affected this settlement. Nevertheless, Apria and Executive each hereby waive any right, claim or cause of action that might arise as a result of such different or additional claims or facts. Apria and Executive each acknowledge that it or he understands the significance and consequence of such release and such specific waiver of SECTION 1542.
4. The terms and conditions of this Release shall remain confidential as between the parties and professional advisers to the parties and neither of them shall disclose them to any other person, except as provided herein or as required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or as otherwise may be required by law or court order. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither Apria nor Executive will respond to or in any way participate in or contribute to any public discussion concerning, or in any way relating to, the execution of this Release or the events which led to its execution. Except as provided above with respect to SEC rules and regulations or as otherwise may be required by law or court order, if inquiry is made of Apria concerning any of the claims released by this Release or relating to Executive’s employment with Apria, Apria shall provide to third parties Executive’s dates of employment with Apria and its predecessors and his job titles during such employment, in accordance with the normal practices of Apria’s human resources department.
5. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by entering into this Release, he is waiving any and all rights or claims that may have arisen under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, which have arisen on or before the date of execution of this Release. Executive further expressly acknowledges that:
a. He is hereby advised in writing by this Release to consult with an attorney before signing this Release;
b. He was given a copy of this Release on _______________, and informed that he had 21 days within which to consider the Release, although he is free to accept this Release anytime within that 21-day period and
c. He was informed that he has seven days following the date of his execution of this Release in which to revoke the Release, which revocation may be effected by means of a written notice sent to the General Counsel of Apria at Apria’s corporate headquarters.
d. Apria and Executive agree that this Release will not become effective or enforceable until the seven-day revocation period has expired without his having revoked this Release.
6. Apria and Executive each warrant and represent that neither has heretofore assigned or transferred to any person not a party to this Release any released matter or any part or portion thereof and each shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other from and against any claim (including the payment of attorneys’ fees and costs actually incurred whether or not litigation is commenced) based on or in connection with or arising out of any such assignment or transfer made, purported or claimed.
7. Apria and Executive acknowledge that any employment or contractual relationship between them (including with any other Apria Releasee) will terminate on _______________, that they have no further employment or contractual relationship except as may arise out of this Release and that Executive waives any right or claim to reinstatement as an employee of any Apria Releasee and will not seek employment in the future with Apria, unless by mutual consent.
8. This Release shall be incorporated into and made a part of the Severance Agreement as of the date hereof. This Release together with the Severance Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written discussions, agreements and understandings of any kind or nature. This Release shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns. This Release does not, however, affect Executive’s rights under any Apria retirement, 401(k), or similar benefit plan. This Release also does not modify the provisions of any of Executive’s stock options, restricted stock purchase rights or restricted stock units.
9. If any provision of this Release or the application thereof is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or applications of this Release which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications and to this end the provisions of this Release are declared to be severable.
10. This Release has been executed and delivered by Executive within the State of California, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of California without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
11. This Release may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart, when executed, shall have the efficacy of a signed original. Photographic copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
12. Any dispute or controversy between Executive on the one hand, and Apria (or any other Apria Releasee), on the other hand, in any way arising out of, related to, or connected with this Release or the subject matter hereof, or otherwise in any way arising out of, related to, or connected with Executive’s employment with any Apria Releasee or the termination of Executive’s employment with any Apria Releasee, shall be submitted for resolution by arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Severance Agreement. APRIA AND EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE UNDER THIS RELEASE, EACH PARTY HAS WAIVED ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND A JUDICIAL RESOLUTION OF THE DISPUTE.
13. No waiver of any breach of any term or provision of this Release shall be construed to be, or shall be, a waiver of any other breach of this Release. No waiver shall be binding unless in writing and signed by the party waiving the breach.
14. In entering this Release, the parties represent that they have relied upon the advice of their attorneys, who are attorneys of their own choice, and that they have read the Release and have had the opportunity to have the Release explained to them by their attorneys, and that those terms are fully understood and voluntarily accepted by them.
15. All parties agree to cooperate fully and to execute any and all supplementary documents and to take all additional actions that may be necessary or appropriate to give full force to the terms and intent of this Release and which are not inconsistent with its terms.
16. Executive hereby declares as follows:
I, ________________, hereby acknowledge that I was given 21 days to consider the foregoing Release and voluntarily chose to sign the Release prior to the expiration of the 21-day period.
I have read the foregoing Release and I accept and agree to the provisions it contains and hereby execute it voluntarily with full understanding of its consequences.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and delivered this Release this ___ day of __________, 20__.
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____________________________ Executive APRIA HEALTHCARE GROUP INC. By ____________________________ [Name] [Title] |
