EXHIBIT 10.16
FORM OF EXECUTIVE RETENTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT by and between VIASYS HEALTHCARE INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and _________________ (the "Executive") is made as of ****,
**** (the "Effective Date").
WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that, as is the case with many
publicly-held corporations, the possibility of a change in control of the
Company exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions
which it may raise among key personnel, may result in the departure or
distraction of key personnel to the detriment of the Company and its
stockholders;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined
that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued
employment and dedication of the Company's key personnel without distraction
from the possibility of a change in control of the Company and related events
and circumstances; and
NOW, THEREFORE, as an inducement for and in consideration of the Executive
remaining in its employ, the Company agrees that the Executive shall receive the
severance benefits set forth in this Agreement in the event the Executive's
employment with the Company is terminated under the circumstances described
below subsequent to a Change in Control (as defined in Section 1.1).
1. KEY DEFINITIONS.
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective
meanings:
1.1 "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means an event or occurrence set forth in any
one or more of subsections (a) through (d) below (including an event or
occurrence that constitutes a Change in Control under one of such subsections
but is specifically exempted from another such subsection):
(a) the acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within
the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership of
any capital stock of the Company if, after such acquisition, such Person
beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) 40% or more of either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common
stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting
Securities"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that for purposes of this subsection (a), the
following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any
acquisition by the Company, (ii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the
Company, or (iii) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction
which complies with clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (c) of this Section 1.1;
or
(b) such time as the Continuing Directors (as defined below) do
not constitute a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the Board of
Directors of a successor corporation to the Company), where the term "Continuing
Director" means at any date a member of the Board (i) who was a member of the
Board on the date of the execution of this Agreement or (ii) who was nominated
or elected subsequent to such date by at least a majority of the directors who
were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election or whose
election to the Board was recommended or endorsed by at least a majority of the
directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or
election; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that there shall be excluded from this clause (ii)
any individual whose initial assumption of office occurred as a result of an
actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of
directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents, by
or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or
(c) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization or statutory share exchange involving the Company or a sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in
one or a series of transactions (a "Business Combination"), unless, immediately
following such Business Combination, each of the following two conditions is
satisfied: (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were
the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of the then-outstanding
shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors,
respectively, of the resulting or acquiring corporation in such Business
Combination (which shall include, without limitation, a corporation which as a
result of such transaction owns the Company or substantially all of the
Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (such
resulting or acquiring corporation is referred to herein as the "Acquiring
Corporation") in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding Company
Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, respectively; and (ii)
no Person (excluding the Acquiring Corporation or any employee benefit plan (or
related trust) maintained or sponsored by the Company or by the Acquiring
Corporation) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 40% or more of the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the Acquiring Corporation, or of the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or
(d) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
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1.2 "CHANGE IN CONTROL DATE" means the first date during the Term (as
defined in Section 2) on which a Change in Control occurs. Anything in this
Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if (a) a Change in Control occurs,
(b) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated prior to the date
on which the Change in Control occurs, and (c) it is reasonably demonstrated by
the Executive that such termination of employment (i) was at the request of a
third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in
Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of a
Change in Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Change in
Control Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such
termination of employment.
1.3 "CAUSE" means the Executive's willful engagement in illegal conduct or
gross misconduct after the Change in Control Date which is materially and
demonstrably injurious to the Company. For purposes of this Section 1.3, no act
or failure to act by the Executive shall be considered "willful" unless it is
done, or omitted to be done, in bad faith and without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.
1.4 "GOOD REASON" means the occurrence, without the Executive's written
consent, of any of the events or circumstances set forth in clauses (a) through
(g) below. Notwithstanding the occurrence of any such event or circumstance,
such occurrence shall not be deemed to constitute Good Reason if, prior to the
Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination (each as defined in
Section 3.2(a)) given by the Executive in respect thereof, such event or
circumstance has been fully corrected and the Executive has been reasonably
compensated for any losses or damages resulting therefrom (provided that such
right of correction by the Company shall only apply to the first Notice of
Termination for Good Reason given by the Executive).
(a) the assignment to the Executive of duties inconsistent in any
material respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices,
titles and reporting requirements), authority or responsibilities in effect
immediately prior to the earliest to occur of (i) the Change in Control Date,
(ii) the date of the execution by the Company of the initial written agreement
or instrument providing for the Change in Control or (iii) the date of the
adoption by the Board of Directors of a resolution providing for the Change in
Control (with the earliest to occur of such dates referred to herein as the
"Measurement Date") or a material diminution in such position, authority or
responsibilities;
(b) a reduction in the Executive's annual base salary as in effect on
the Measurement Date or as the same was or may be increased thereafter from time
to time;
(c) the failure by the Company to (i) continue in effect any material
compensation or benefit plan or program (including without limitation any life
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insurance, medical, health and accident or disability plan and any vacation or
automobile program or policy) (a "Benefit Plan") in which the Executive
participates or which is applicable to the Executive immediately prior to the
Measurement Date, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing
substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan or
program, (ii) continue the Executive's participation therein (or in such
substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable than
the basis existing immediately prior to the Measurement Date (iii) award cash
bonuses to the Executive in amounts and in a manner substantially consistent
with past practice in light of the Company's financial performance or (iv)
continue to provide any material fringe benefit enjoyed by Executive immediately
prior to the Measurement Date;
(d) a change by the Company in the location at which the
Executive performs his or her principal duties for the Company to a new location
that is both (i) outside a radius of 50 miles from the Executive's principal
residence immediately prior to the Measurement Date and (ii) more than 30 miles
from the location at which the Executive performed his or her principal duties
for the Company immediately prior to the Measurement Date; or a requirement by
the Company that the Executive travel on Company business to a substantially
greater extent than required immediately prior to the Measurement Date;
(e) the failure of the Company to obtain the agreement from any
successor to the Company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement, as
required by Section 6.1;
(f) a purported termination of the Executive's employment which
is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements
of Section 3.2(a); or
(g) any failure of the Company to pay or provide to the
Executive any portion of the Executive's compensation or benefits due under any
Benefit Plan within seven days of the date such compensation or benefits are
due, or any material breach by the Company of this Agreement or any employment
agreement with the Executive.
The Executive's right to terminate his or her employment for Good Reason
shall not be affected by the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental
illness.
1.5 "DISABILITY" means the Executive's absence from the full-time
performance of the Executive's duties with the Company for 180 consecutive
calendar days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which
is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company
or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal
representative.
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2. TERM OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement, and all rights and obligations of
the parties hereunder, shall take effect upon the Effective Date and shall
expire upon the first to occur of (a) the expiration of the Term (as defined
below) if a Change in Control has not occurred during the Term, (b) the date 18
months after the Change in Control Date, if the Executive is still employed by
the Company as of such later date, or (c) the fulfillment by the Company of all
of its obligations under Sections 4 and 5.2 if the Executive's employment with
the Company terminates within 18 months following the Change in Control Date.
"Term" shall mean the period commencing as of the Effective Date and continuing
in effect through December 31, [insert year]; PROVIDED, however, that commencing
on January 1, [insert year] and each January 1, thereafter, the Term shall be
automatically extended for one additional year unless, not later than 90 days
prior to the scheduled expiration of the Term (or any extension thereof), the
Company shall have given the Executive written notice that the Term will not be
extended.
3. EMPLOYMENT STATUS; TERMINATION FOLLOWING CHANGE IN CONTROL.
3.1 NOT AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. The Executive acknowledges that this
Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment or impose on the Company
any obligation to retain the Executive as an employee and that this Agreement
does not prevent the Executive from terminating employment at any time. If the
Executive's employment with the Company terminates for any reason and
subsequently a Change in Control shall occur, the Executive shall not be
entitled to any benefits hereunder except as otherwise provided pursuant to
Section 1.2.
3.2 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If the Change in Control Date occurs during the Term, any
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company or by the Executive
within 18 months following the Change in Control Date (other than due to the
death of the Executive) shall be communicated by a written notice to the other
party hereto (the "Notice of Termination"), given in accordance with Section 7.
Any Notice of Termination shall: (i) indicate the specific termination provision
(if any) of this Agreement relied upon by the party giving such notice, (ii) to
the extent applicable, set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) specify the Date of
Termination (as defined below). The effective date of an employment termination
(the "Date of Termination") shall be the close of business on the date specified
in the Notice of Termination (which date may not be less than 15 days or more
than 120 days after the date of delivery of such Notice of Termination), in the
case of a termination other than one due to the Executive's death, or the date
of the Executive's death, as the case may be. In the event the Company fails to
satisfy the requirements of Section 3.2(a) regarding a Notice of Termination,
the purported termination of the Executive's employment pursuant to such Notice
of Termination shall not be effective for purposes of this Agreement.
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(b) The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in
the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a
showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or
the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company,
respectively, from asserting any such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(c) Any Notice of Termination for Cause given by the Company
must be given within 90 days of the occurrence of the event(s) or
circumstance(s) which constitute(s) Cause. Prior to any Notice of Termination
for Cause being given (and prior to any termination for Cause being effective),
the Executive shall be entitled to a hearing before the Board of Directors of
the Company at which the Executive may, at the Executive's election, be
represented by counsel and at which the Executive shall have a reasonable
opportunity to be heard. Such hearing shall be held on not less than 15 days
prior written notice to the Executive stating the Board of Directors' intention
to terminate the Executive for Cause and stating in detail the particular
event(s) or circumstance(s) which the Board of Directors believes constitutes
Cause for termination.
(d) Any Notice of Termination for Good Reason given by the
Executive must be given within 90 days of the occurrence of the event(s) or
circumstance(s) which constitute(s) Good Reason.
4. BENEFITS TO EXECUTIVE.
4.1 STOCK ACCELERATION. If the Change in Control Date occurs during
the Term, then, effective upon the Change in Control Date, (a) each outstanding
option to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company held by the Executive
shall become immediately exercisable in full and will no longer be subject to a
right of repurchase by the Company and (b) each outstanding restricted stock
award shall be deemed to be fully vested and will no longer be subject to a
right of repurchase by the Company.
4.2 COMPENSATION. If the Change in Control Date occurs during the
Term and the Executive's employment with the Company terminates within 18 months
following the Change in Control Date, the Executive shall be entitled to the
following benefits:
(a) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR FOR GOOD REASON. If the
Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company (other than
for Cause, Disability or Death) or by the Executive for Good Reason within 18
months following the Change in Control Date, then the Executive shall be
entitled to the following benefits:
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(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash
within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of the following
amounts:
(1) the sum of (A) the Executive's base salary through the
Date of Termination, (B) the product of (x) the annual bonus paid or payable
(including any bonus or portion thereof which has been earned but deferred) for
the most recently completed fiscal year and (y) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of
Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (C) the amount of any
compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued
interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case to the
extent not previously paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (A),
(B), and (C) shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued Obligations"); and
(2) the amount equal to [(A) two multiplied by (b)] the sum
of (x) the Executive's highest annual base salary in any twelve-month period (on
a rolling basis) during the five-year period prior to the Change in Control Date
and (y) the Executive's highest annual bonus in any twelve-month period (on a
rolling basis) during the five-year period prior to the Change in Control Date.
(ii) for [one year] [two years] after the Date of Termination, or
such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan,
program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue to provide benefits to
the Executive and the Executive's family at least equal to those which would
have been provided to them if the Executive's employment had not been
terminated, in accordance with the applicable Benefit Plans in effect on the
Measurement Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and the Executive's
family, in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to
receive a particular type of benefits (e.g., health insurance benefits) from
such employer on terms at least as favorable to the Executive and the
Executive's family as those being provided by the Company, then the Company
shall no longer be required to provide those particular benefits to the
Executive and the Executive's family;
(iii) to the extent not previously paid or provided, the Company
shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits
required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive
following the Executive's termination of employment under any plan, program,
policy, practice, contract or agreement of the Company and its affiliated
companies (such other amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as
the "Other Benefits"); and
(iv) for purposes of determining eligibility (but not the time of
commencement of benefits) of the Executive for retiree benefits to which the
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Executive is entitled, the Executive shall be considered to have remained
employed by the Company until [one year] [two years] after the Date of
Termination.
(b) RESIGNATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON; TERMINATION FOR DEATH OR
DISABILITY. If the Executive voluntarily terminates his or her employment with
the Company within 18 months following the Change in Control Date, excluding a
termination for Good Reason, or if the Executive's employment with the Company
is terminated by reason of the Executive's death or Disability within 18 months
following the Change in Control Date, then the Company shall (i) pay the
Executive (or the Executive's estate, if applicable), in a lump sum in cash
within 30 days after the Date of Termination, the Accrued Obligations and (ii)
timely pay or provide to the Executive the Other Benefits.
(c) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. If the Company terminates the
Executive's employment with the Company for Cause within 18 months following the
Change in Control Date, then the Company shall (i) pay the Executive, in a lump
sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination, the sum of (A) the
Executive's annual base salary through the Date of Termination and (B) the
amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, in each case to
the extent not previously paid, and (ii) timely pay or provide to the Executive
the Other Benefits.
4.3 TAXES.
(a) In the event that the Company undergoes a "Change in Ownership or
Control" (as defined below), and thereafter, the Executive becomes eligible to
receive "Contingent Compensation Payments" (as defined below) the Company shall,
as soon as administratively feasible after the Executive becomes so eligible
determine and notify the Executive (with reasonable detail regarding the basis
for its determinations) (i) which of the payments or benefits due to the
Executive following such Change in Ownership or Control constitute Contingent
Compensation Payments, (ii) the amount, if any, of the excise tax (the "Excise
Tax") payable pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), by the Executive with respect to such Contingent
Compensation Payment and (iii) the amount of the "Gross-Up Payment" (as defined
below) due to the Executive with respect to such Contingent Compensation
Payment. Within 30 days after delivery of such notice to the Executive, the
Executive shall deliver a response to the Company (the "Executive Response")
stating either (A) that the Executive agrees with the Company's determination
pursuant to the preceding sentence or (B) that the Executive disagrees with such
determination, in which case the Executive shall indicate which payment and/or
benefits should be characterized as a Contingent Compensation Payment, the
amount of the Excise Tax with respect to such Contingent Compensation Payment
and the amount of the Gross-Up Payment due to the Executive with respect to such
Contingent Compensation Payment. If the Executive states in the Executive
Response that the Executive agrees with the Company's determination, the Company
shall make the Gross-Up Payment to the Executive within
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three business days following delivery to the Company of the Executive Response.
If the Executive states in the Executive Response that the Executive disagrees
with the Company's determination, then, for a period of 15 days following
delivery of the Executive Response, the Executive and the Company shall use good
faith efforts to resolve such dispute. If such dispute is not resolved within
such 15-day period, such dispute shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in
Boston, Massachusetts, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration
Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in
any court having jurisdiction. The Company shall, within three business days
following delivery to the Company of the Executive Response, make to the
Executive those Gross-Up Payments as to which there is no dispute between the
Company and the Executive regarding whether they should be made. The balance of
the Gross-Up Payments shall be made within three business days following the
resolution of such dispute. The amount of any payments to be made to the
Executive following the resolution of such dispute shall be increased by the
amount of the accrued interest thereon computed at the prime rate announced from
time to time by The Wall Street Journal compounded monthly from the date that
such payments originally were due. In the event that the Executive fails to
deliver an Executive Response on or before the required date, the Company's
initial determination shall be final.
(b) For purposes of this Section 4.3, the following terms shall have
the following respective meanings:
(i) "Change in Ownership or Control" shall mean a change in the
ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a
substantial portion of the assets of the Company determined in accordance with
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code.
(ii) "Contingent Compensation Payment" shall mean any payment (or
benefit) in the nature of compensation that is made or supplied to a
"disqualified individual" (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code) and that
is contingent (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Code) on a
Change in Ownership or Control of the Company.
(iii) "Gross-Up Payment" shall mean an amount equal to the sum of
(i) the amount of the Excise Tax payable with respect to a Contingent
Compensation Payment and (ii) the amount necessary to pay all additional taxes
imposed on (or economically borne by) the Executive (including the Excise Taxes,
state and federal income taxes and all applicable withholding taxes)
attributable to the receipt of such Gross-Up Payment. For purposes of the
preceding sentence, all taxes attributable to the receipt of the Gross-Up
Payment shall be computed assuming the application of the maximum tax rates
provided by law.
4.4 OUTPLACEMENT SERVICES. In the event the Executive is terminated
by the Company (other than for Cause, Disability or Death), or the Executive
terminates
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employment for Good Reason, within 18 months following the Change in Control
Date, the Company shall provide outplacement services through one or more
outside firms of the Executive's choosing up to an aggregate of [$15,000], with
such services to extend until the earlier of (i) 12 months following the
termination of Executive's employment or (ii) the date the Executive secures
full time employment.
4.5 MITIGATION. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment or benefits provided for in this Section 4 by seeking
other employment or otherwise. Further, except as provided in Section
4.2(a)(ii), the amount of any payment or benefits provided for in this Section 4
shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as a result of
employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any
amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the Company or otherwise.
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5. DISPUTES.
5.1 SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES; ARBITRATION. All claims by the Executive
for benefits under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company and shall be in writing. Any denial by the
Board of Directors of a claim for benefits under this Agreement shall be
delivered to the Executive in writing and shall set forth the specific reasons
for the denial and the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon. The
Board of Directors shall afford a reasonable opportunity to the Executive for a
review of the decision denying a claim. Any further dispute or controversy
arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively
by arbitration in Boston, Massachusetts, in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction.
5.2 EXPENSES. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full
extent permitted by law, all legal, accounting and other fees and expenses which
the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any claim or contest
(regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others
regarding the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision
of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result
of any contest by the Executive regarding the amount of any payment or benefits
pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed payment
at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the
Code.
6. SUCCESSORS.
6.1 SUCCESSOR TO COMPANY. The Company shall require any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company expressly to
assume and agree to perform this Agreement 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 an assumption of this Agreement at or prior to the
effectiveness of any succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall
constitute Good Reason if the Executive elects to terminate employment, 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 defined above and any
successor to its business or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to
perform this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise.
6.2 SUCCESSOR TO EXECUTIVE. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and
legatees. If the Executive should die while any amount would still be payable to
the Executive or THE EXECUTIVE'S family hereunder if the Executive had continued
to live, all such amounts, unless
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otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of the
Executive's estate.
7. NOTICE. All notices, instructions and other communications given
hereunder or in connection herewith shall be in writing. Any such notice,
instruction or communication shall be sent either (i) by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (ii) prepaid via a reputable
nationwide overnight courier service, in each case addressed to the Company, at
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx and to the Executive at the Executive's
principal residence as currently reflected on the Company's records (or to such
other address as either the Company or the Executive may have furnished to the
other in writing in accordance herewith). Any such notice, instruction or
communication shall be deemed to have been delivered five business days after it
is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, or one business day after it is sent via a reputable nationwide
overnight courier service. Either party may give any notice, instruction or
other communication hereunder using any other means, but no such notice,
instruction or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly delivered
unless and until it actually is received by the party for whom it is intended.
8. MISCELLANEOUS.
8.1 SEVERABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
8.2 INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The Company and the Executive agree that any
breach of this Agreement by the Company is likely to cause the Executive
substantial and irrevocable damage and therefore, in the event of any such
breach, in addition to such other remedies which may be available, the Executive
shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive relief.
8.3 GOVERNING LAW. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflicts of law principles.
8.4 WAIVERS. No waiver by the Executive at any time of any breach of,
or compliance with, any provision of this Agreement to be performed by the
Company shall be deemed a waiver of that or any other provision at any
subsequent time.
8.5 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original but both of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
8.6 TAX WITHHOLDING. Any payments provided for hereunder shall be
paid net of any applicable tax withholding required under federal, state or
local law.
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8.7 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 in respect of the
subject matter contained herein; and any prior agreement of the parties hereto
in respect of the subject matter contained herein is hereby terminated and
cancelled.
8.8 AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a
written instrument executed by both the Company and the Executive.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first set forth above.
VIASYS HEALTHCARE INC.
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXECUTIVE
-----------------------------------
[NAME OF EXECUTIVE]
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