Contract
EXHIBIT 99.1
This
Agreement is made between Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Employee ("Employee") and
Walgreen Co., on behalf of itself, its affiliates, subsidiaries, and
successors (collectively referred to as "Walgreens" or the “Company”) describing
the application of certain compensation, benefits and other terms and conditions
in connection with Employee's separation from Walgreens. The purpose
of this Agreement is to memorialize the terms of Employee's separation from
Walgreens and to resolve all matters relating to Employee's employment with and
separation from Walgreens without proceedings and litigation of any kind, on the
terms and conditions that follow.
With the
intention of being legally bound, Walgreens and Employee promise and agree
that:
1.
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Salary Continuation and
Vacation Payments. Employee agrees to resign from his
employment with Walgreens, with his last day of work being January 7, 2008
(“Last Day Worked”). Walgreens agrees to pay Employee salary
continuation commencing January 8, 2008 through June 30, 2009, which will
be Employee's “Paid-Through Date”. It is understood and agreed
that the payment provided for in this paragraph includes any and all
accumulated vacation benefits to which Employee may be
entitled. During Employee's paid-through period, he shall be
compensated at his current base salary, less tax withholdings, benefit
deductions, loan repayment deductions, deferred salary, and any other
legal or authorized deductions. No additional vacation benefits
will accrue after the Last Day
Worked.
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2.
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Profit-Sharing and Health and
Welfare Benefits. Walgreens agrees that Employee (and his eligible
dependents, where applicable) may continue to participate in the Walgreens
Medical, Prescription, Dental, Life Insurance, Flex Pay and Personal
Accident Insurance Plans through his Paid-Through Date under the same
terms and conditions available to other Walgreens
executives. Thereafter, Employee will be eligible to continue
medical, prescription and dental coverage under the plans’ COBRA
continuation provisions. Employee may also continue to
participate in the Walgreens Profit-Sharing and Profit-Sharing Restoration
Plans through his Paid-Through Date. Employee’s COBRA
eligibility will not commence until the end of the Paid-Through period and
his COBRA rights will not be negatively impacted by this
Agreement. Employee’s coverage under the Walgreens Income
Protection Plan ends as of his Last Day
Worked.
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3.
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Outplacement. Walgreens
agrees to provide Employee with executive outplacement services provided
by an outplacement firm selected and paid for by Walgreens and consistent
with the level of services provided by Walgreens to other similarly
situated executive employees. The outplacement services will be
provided for up to 12 months.
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4.
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Bonus
Payment. Employee will be eligible to receive a fiscal
year 2008 bonus payable at the time it is paid out to other Walgreens
corporate employees, but no later than December 31, 2008. Employee is not
eligible to receive any bonus for fiscal year
2009.
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5.
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Other Benefits Governed By Plan
Provisions. Employee acknowledges that he is not
eligible for any additional salary continuation under the Company-paid
Salary Continuation Plan. Walgreens and Employee agree that
unless expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, Employee's
eligibility and Walgreens’ obligation for other benefits under all benefit
plans in which he was a participant, including but not limited to, all
stock option plans, the Restricted Performance Share Program, and all
applicable Deferred Compensation/Capital Accumulation Plans, shall be
governed by the provisions of each such plan and any underlying
agreements, based on Employee's position held, age and length of service
as of his Paid-Through Date. For purposes of vesting in
outstanding stock options and awards under the Restricted Performance
Share Program, the period from the Last Day Worked through the
Paid-Through Date shall be treated as continued
employment. Employee shall not be eligible for any additional
stock option or Restricted Performance Share Program awards following his
Last Day Worked. In the event of Employee’s death before the
Paid-Through Date the benefits hereunder, excluding the salary
continuation, shall be paid to his estate or other designated
beneficiary.
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6.
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Unemployment Compensation and
Alternative Employment. The Company agrees not to
contest any application Employee may make for unemployment compensation
benefits on the condition that the claim is for benefits commencing after
December 31, 2008. Employee’s benefits hereunder shall not be subject to
offset or reduction in the event Employee obtains alternate employment or
income (not in violation of his obligation under the Non-Competition
provisions of this Agreement) prior to the Paid-Through Date, nor shall
Employee be under any obligation of mitigation in connection with the
benefits to be paid under this
Agreement.
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7.
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Waiver and
Release. In consideration of the promises set forth
herein, Employee, individually and on behalf of his heirs, executors,
administrators, successors, and assigns, does hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally release, acquit, and forever discharge Walgreens, its
agents, employees, insurers, successors, and assigns of and from any and
all actions, complaints, causes of action, grievances, claims, damages,
obligations, debts, promises, losses, demands, agreements, expenses, fees,
attorneys' fees, interest, costs, wages, bonuses, benefits, pensions, back
pay, short-term or long-term disability, actual damages, compensatory
damages, severance pay, mental anguish, pain, embarrassment, humiliation,
emotional distress, exemplary and/or punitive damages, statutory
penalties, and/or any other liabilities of any nature whatsoever which
have or could have arisen out of Employee's employment with or separation
from Walgreens, up to and including the date of this Agreement, whether
presently asserted or otherwise, known or unknown, anticipated or
unanticipated, including, but not limited
to:
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a.
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claims
of any type which have or could have arisen under the Age Discrimination
in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq., and as amended by
the Civil Rights Act of 1991; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and as amended by
the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C.
§ 1981, et seq., and as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1964, 29 U.S.C.
§ 1001, et seq.; the Americans with Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X.
§ 00000 et seq.; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Family and Medical
Leave Act; and/or any other state, federal, or municipal employment
discrimination statutes (including, but not limited to, claims based on
age, sex, marital status, sexual preference, sexual harassment,
retaliation, disability, handicap, race, religion, national origin, or
attainment of benefits plan
rights);
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b.
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claims
arising under any other federal, state, or local statute, law, or
ordinance, regulation or order;
and/or
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c.
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any
other claims whatsoever, including, but not limited to, claims arising
under common law, contract, implied contract, breach of implied covenant
of good faith and fair dealing, public policy, tort, and/or pursuant to
any other claim whatsoever arising out of Employee's employment with or
separation from Walgreens, up to and including the date of this Agreement,
except as otherwise prohibited by
law.
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8.
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No Detrimental
Action. Employee will not take any action detrimental to
the interests of Walgreens or its affiliates, make derogatory statements,
either written or oral, or otherwise disparage Walgreens, its products,
services, or present or former employees, officers or directors, and will
not permit others to make derogatory or disparaging statements on
Employee’s behalf. Walgreens acknowledges that Employee’s termination was
not “for cause”.
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9.
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Non-Disclosure And
Non-Use. Employee agrees not to disclose any
Confidential Information, as defined below, to any person or entity other
than the Company, either during the Paid-Through Date or after his
employment, without the Company’s prior written
consent. Employee further agrees not to use any Confidential
Information, either during or at any time after his employment, without
the Company’s prior written consent, except as may be necessary to perform
his/her job duties during employment with the
Company.
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Confidential
Information means information not generally known by the public about processes,
systems, products, services, including proposed products and services, business
information, know-how, or trade secrets of the Company. Confidential
Information includes, but is not limited to, the following:
a.
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Customer
records, identity of vendors, suppliers, or landlords, profit and
performance reports, prices, selling and pricing procedures and
techniques, and financing methods of the
Company;
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b.
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Customer
lists and information pertaining to identities of the customers, their
special demands, and their past, current and anticipated requirements for
the products or services of the
Company;
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c.
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Specifications,
procedures, policies, techniques, manuals, databases and all other
information pertaining to products or services of the Company, or of
others for which the Company has assumed an obligation of
confidentiality;
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d.
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Business
or marketing plans, accounting records, financial statements and
information, and projections of the
Company;
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e.
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Software
developed or used by the Company;
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f.
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Information
related to the Company’s retailing, distribution or administrative
facilities; and
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g.
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Any
other information identified or defined as confidential information by
Company policy.
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Notwithstanding
any contrary provision, Employee shall not be deemed in breach of any obligation
under this section for using or disclosing any information that came into his
possession prior to or independent of his employment relationship with the
Company, that consists of general knowledge regarding the industry, or that has
become generally known to the public through no fault of Employee.
10.
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Non-Competition.
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a.
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Employee
agrees that from now until the Paid-Through Date, Employee will not render
services, directly or indirectly:
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(i)
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To
the following organizations: CVS/Caremark Corporation, Rite Aid
Corporation, Longs Drug Stores Corp., WalMart Stores Inc., Target
Corporation, Express Scripts, Inc. and Medco Healthcare Solutions, Inc.;
or any other person, organization or business that engages in the Pharmacy
Benefits Management business (collectively referred to hereinafter as
“Competing Organization(s)”);
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(ii)
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In
the following capacity: Information Technology, Pharmacy Benefits
Management (“PBM”), or any other business currently engaged in by
Walgreens Health Services; and
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(iii)
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In
the following geographic area: All states in the United States where
Walgreens does business.
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b.
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Employee may render services for a Competing
Organization if:
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(i)
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Such
service does not conflict with the restrictions noted in the above
paragraph (a);
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(ii)
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The
Competing Organization’s business is diversified and the Employee becomes
employed in a part of the business that is not in direct or indirect
competition with the Company; or
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(iii)
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Prior
to the Employee beginning employment with the Competing Organization, the
Company receives written assurances satisfactory to the Company, from both
the Competing Organization and the Employee, that the Employee will not
render services directly or indirectly in connection with any product,
system, service, or process of any person or organization which is the
same as, comparable to, or competes directly or indirectly with a product,
system, service, or process of the
Company.
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11.
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Non-Solicitation. Employee
agrees that from now until the Paid-Through Date and for a period of
twelve (12) months thereafter, Employee will not solicit any customer,
client, or patient to buy a product or service of a Competing Organization
or any other business or organization that competes directly or indirectly
with the Company in businesses or trades in which the Company is now
engaged, if either:
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a.
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Employee
called on such customer or otherwise had contact for the purposes of
maintaining or cultivating a business relationship with such customer
within the Employee’s last two years of employment with the Company,
or
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b.
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The
Employee received the customer name from the Company during that same
two-year period, by way of customer lists or other means, but excluding
customers with whom Employee can demonstrate he/she had been doing
business prior to joining the
Company.
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12.
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Non-Inducement and
No-Hire. Employee agrees that from now until the
Paid-Through Date and for the twelve (12) months thereafter, Employee
will not directly or indirectly assist or encourage any person or entity
in carrying out any activity that would be prohibited by the provisions of
this Agreement if such activity were carried out by
Employee. Employee also specifically agrees that he/she will
not directly or indirectly hire or induce any other employees or
consultants to leave the employ of the Company or to carry out, directly
or indirectly, any such activity prohibited by the provisions of this
Agreement.
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13.
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Property. Employee
agrees that upon leaving the employment of the Company, he/she will not
take with him/her any of the Company’s property, including Confidential
Information and trade secrets, regardless of the form in which it was held
or acquired by Employee, and will immediately return to the Company any
and all documents, notes, records, notebooks, mobile telephones, cellular
telephones, computers, PDAs (personal digital assistants), portable
digital storage devices, and similar repositories of or containing or
relating to Confidential Information and Company trade secrets, and
including, but not limited to, all copies, notes or abstracts
thereof.
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14.
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Consideration and
Acknowledgments. Employee acknowledges and agrees that
the covenants described in Sections 9 through 12 of this Agreement are
essential terms and the Agreement would not be entered into by the Company
in the absence of these covenants. Employee further
acknowledges that these covenants are supported by adequate consideration
as set forth in this Agreement, that full compliance with these covenants
will not prevent Employee from earning a livelihood following the
termination of his/her employment, and that these covenants do not place
undue restraint on Employee and are not in conflict with any public
interest. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that
Employee fully understands these covenants, has had full and complete
opportunity to discuss and resolve any ambiguities or uncertainties
regarding these covenants before signing this Agreement, that these
covenants are reasonable and enforceable in every respect, and has
voluntarily agreed to comply with these covenants for their stated
term. Employee agrees that in the event he is offered
employment with a Competing Organization during the time periods listed
above, Employee shall immediately notify the Competing Organization of the
existence of the covenants set forth in Sections 9 through 12
above.
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15.
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Enforcement of This
Agreement. Employee acknowledges that compliance with
the covenants set forth in Sections 9 through 12 of this Agreement
are necessary to enable the Company to maintain its competitive position,
and that any actual or threatened breach of these covenants will result in
irreparable and continuing damage to the Company for which there will be
no adequate remedy at law. In the event of any actual or
threatened breach of these covenants, the Company shall be entitled to
injunctive relief, including the right to a temporary restraining order,
and other relief, including damages, as may be proper. The
foregoing stipulated damages and remedies of the Company are in addition
to, and not to the exclusion of, any other damages the Company may be able
to prove. In addition, if any court shall at any time hold
these covenants to be unenforceable or unreasonable in scope, territory or
period of time, then the scope, territory or period of time of the
covenants shall be that determined by the court to be
reasonable. Employee consents to the jurisdiction of the
Circuit Court of Lake or Xxxx County, Illinois for purposes of the
enforcement of this agreement.
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16.
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Filing of Agreement With SEC.
Employee acknowledges his understanding that the Company is
obligated to file this executed Agreement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and that the Agreement will be a public
document.
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17.
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Litigation
Cooperation. Employee agrees to fully and completely
cooperate with Walgreens in all investigations, potential litigation or
litigation in which Walgreens is involved or may become involved, subject
to reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses if requested by Walgreens
and approved in advance. For litigation assistance needed after the
Paid-Through Period, the Company will provide reasonable compensation to
Employee for time spent providing the litigation
assistance. Employee will also provide necessary assistance in
transitioning work or projects during the Paid-Through
Period.
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18.
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Indemnification. The
Company agrees to indemnify Employee for acts occurring during the course
of his employment, in accordance with the By-Laws of Walgreen
Co.
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19.
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Claims Against
Employee. The Company is currently not aware of any
claims or causes of action it may have against
Employee.
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20.
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Nonadmission of
Liability. Employee and Walgreens agree and acknowledge
that the considerations exchanged in this Agreement do not constitute and
shall not be interpreted as any admission of liability on the part of
Walgreens under common law and/or any legal liability or violation of any
local, state, or federal statute, regulations, law, or
ordinance. Employee and Walgreens acknowledge and agree that
this Agreement results from the desire to expeditiously resolve any
potential disputes that may exist or arise between them in connection with
Employee's employment with or separation from Walgreens, and Walgreens
expressly denies any violation of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation,
common law tort, or contract.
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21.
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Construction of
Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, and
together with the documents and plans referenced herein constitutes the
complete understanding between Employee and Walgreens regarding the
subject matter of this Agreement. No other promises and
agreements shall be binding unless made in writing and signed by Employee
and Walgreens. Employee and Walgreens further agree that this
Agreement supersedes any and all prior proposals, agreements, and
understandings between them. Employee agrees that other than
the payments described in this Agreement, and other than what may be
provided under the express language of any benefit plans in which he was a
participant during his employment at Walgreens, Walgreens has no
obligation of any kind to Employee for any other payment, and Employee
hereby waives any claims he may otherwise have to any other payments from
Walgreens. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of
this Agreement and any Company sponsored benefit plan, the parties agree
that the provisions of this Agreement shall
control.
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22.
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Severability. To
the extent that any portion or covenant of this Agreement may be held to
be invalid or legally unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction,
the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected and shall remain in
full force and effect.
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23.
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Disputes Over
Agreement. In the event that there is any dispute or
litigation concerning this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a
claim for the breach of this Agreement, a default in any party's
obligations under this Agreement, or an action to interpret or declare
rights under the terms of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in
connection with that dispute or litigation shall be entitled to recover
from the nonprevailing party the prevailing party's reasonable attorneys'
fees and costs of litigation.
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24.
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OWBPA
Provisions. In compliance with the Older Workers Benefit
Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 626(f), Employee expressly acknowledges
that:
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·
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This
Agreement is written in a manner calculated to be understood by him, and
he understands all of the terms of this
Agreement;
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·
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In
addition to the waiver and release of all other claims, this Agreement
results in the waiver and release by Employee of all claims arising up to
and including the date of this Agreement under the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act (“ADEA”) of 1967, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 621 et seq.;
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·
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In
exchange for Employee’s release and waiver of all ADEA claims, Employee is
receiving consideration in addition to anything of value to which he is
already entitled;
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·
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Employee
acknowledges that Walgreens has advised him to consult with an attorney
about the terms of this Agreement before signing
it;
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·
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Employee
acknowledges that he has been given a period of 21 days in which to
consider the terms and binding effect of this Agreement, and decide
whether he wishes to sign it;
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·
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Employee
understands that if he signs this Agreement, he will have seven days
thereafter in which he can change his mind and revoke
it. Employee agrees that if he decides to revoke this Agreement
within the seven-day revocation period, he will inform Walgreens of his
decision in writing within the seven-day period, the written decision to
revoke to be addressed to Xxx Xxxxxxx, Senior Vice President, Human
Resources, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000. Employee understands and agrees that this
Agreement is neither effective nor enforceable until the expiration of the
seven-day revocation period.
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25.
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Full Knowledge and Authority to
Sign. Other than as stated herein, Employee and Walgreens attest
that each of them has authority to enter into this Agreement, that no
promise or inducement other than as stated herein has been offered for
this Agreement, that they are each legally competent to execute this
Agreement, and that they accept the full responsibility
therefore. Employee further represents that he is entering into
this Agreement voluntarily, with full knowledge of its rights and
obligations, and after having been advised to review the Agreement with an
attorney.
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Entered and Agreed
to:
/s/ Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx Walgreen Co.
By: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx, SVP
February 27,
2008
March 3, 2008
Date Date