Exhibit 10.163
RAMSAY YOUTH SERVICES, INC.
Columbus Center
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
February 24, 2003
Xx. Xxxxx Xxxx
c/x Xxxxxx Youth Services, Inc.
Columbus Center
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Dear Xxxxx:
In consideration of your past service to Ramsay Youth
Services, Inc. (the "Company"), and in order to induce you to continue to serve
in the employ of the Company as hereinafter provided, the Company has agreed
with you as follows:
1. You and the Company have entered into a letter agreement relating to
your employment with the Company dated February 1, 1997, as amended by letter
dated July 30, 2002 (as so amended, the "Employment Agreement"). The Company
agrees to continue to employ you, and you agree to continue to serve in the
employ of the Company, on the terms set forth in the Employment Agreement and
this letter.
2. The Company agrees to pay to you on the date (the "Retention Date")
of a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) of the Company a bonus (the
"Retention Bonus") in the amount of twelve (12) months' salary (determined using
your monthly rate of salary in effect on the date hereof) if you continue in the
employment of the Company until the Retention Date. The Retention Bonus shall be
paid to you by the Company in a cash lump sum (less applicable withholding
taxes) on the Retention Date. The Retention Bonus shall not be payable unless
and until a Change of Control shall have occurred.
3. The Employment Agreement shall automatically terminate, without
further obligations on the part of you or the Company (except as provided in the
next sentence), upon payment to you of the Retention Bonus. If your employment
with the Company shall terminate within one (1) year following the Retention
Date, the restrictions set forth in the Employment Agreement under the heading
"Competition" shall be effective from the date of
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termination of your employment until the first anniversary of the Retention Date
(and such restrictions shall not apply if your employment with the Company shall
terminate on or after the first anniversary of the Retention Date).
4. For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control of the Company
shall be deemed to have occurred if:
(a) a "person" (meaning an individual, a
partnership, or other group or association as defined in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) (a "Person"), other than
affiliates of Xxxx X. Xxxxxx (the "Affiliates"), acquires more than fifty
percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the
Company having a right to vote in elections of directors; or
(b) Continuing Directors (as hereinafter
defined) shall for any reason cease to constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company; or
(c) all or substantially all of the business of
the Company is disposed of by the Company to a party or parties other than a
subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company, in which the Company owns less
than a majority of the equity, pursuant to a partial or complete liquidation of
the Company, sale of assets (including stock of a subsidiary of the Company) or
otherwise. For purposes hereof, a sale or disposition of fifty percent (50%) or
more of the assets of the Company to a party or parties (other than a subsidiary
or affiliate of the Company as above described) shall be deemed a disposition of
substantially all of the business of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Continuing Director" shall
mean a member of the Board of Directors of the Company who either was a member
of the Board of Directors on the date hereof or who subsequently became a
Director and whose election was voted for by the Affiliates or by a Continuing
Director with the acquiescence of the Affiliates. A Director shall not be
considered a Continuing Director for purposes of this Agreement if his election
was voted for by the Affiliates, or by a Continuing Director with the
acquiescence of the Affiliates, (i) pursuant to an agreement with, or at the
direction, request or suggestion of, any individual, firm or corporation in
connection with the purchase or other acquisition or receipt by such individual,
firm or corporation of all or any shares of capital stock of the Company or (ii)
in anticipation of the sale or other disposition by the Affiliates of all or any
of the shares of capital stock of the Company beneficially owned by the
Affiliates.
5. The obligation of the Company to pay you the Retention Bonus shall
be subject to your execution and delivery of the Release in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A.
6. Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
your employment by the Company may be terminated at any time prior to a Change
in Control by either you or the Company, subject to the terms of the Employment
Agreement; provided, however, that in the event that a person (as hereinabove
defined), other than one or more of the Affiliates:
(a) begins a tender or exchange offer for more
than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding
securities of the Company having a right to vote in elections of directors, or
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(b) circulates a proxy to stockholders of the
Company or takes other steps seeking to effect a Change in Control,
the Company agrees to continue to employ you in your then current position at
your then current salary and otherwise on the then current terms of your
employment until such tender or exchange offer, or attempt to effect a Change in
Control, has been abandoned or terminated or until a Change in Control has
occurred.
7. This agreement shall be deemed a contract made under, and for all
purposes shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Florida
applicable to contracts to be performed entirely within such State.
8. This agreement and the Employment Agreement contain all the
understandings and representations between the parties hereto pertaining to the
subject matter hereof.
9. No provision of this agreement may be amended or modified unless
such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by you and by
a duly authorized representative of the Company.
10. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, all payments required to
be made by the Company hereunder shall be subject to withholding of such amounts
relating to taxes as the Company may reasonably determine it should withhold
pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
11. This agreement shall terminate upon the first to occur of a Change
in Control or December 31, 2004.
* * *
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Please indicate your acceptance of and agreement with the
foregoing by signing and returning this agreement to the Company, whereupon this
shall constitute a binding agreement between you and the Company.
Very truly yours,
RAMSAY YOUTH SERVICES, INC.
By /s/Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
Accepted and Agreed:
/s/Xxxxx Xxxx
------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxx
EXHIBIT A
EMPLOYEE RELEASE
In consideration of the payment to the undersigned by Ramsay Youth
Services, Inc. (the "Company") of the Retention Bonus (as such term is defined
in the letter agreement (the "Agreement") dated February 24, 2003 between the
undersigned and the Company), which payment constitutes consideration being
provided to the undersigned for the execution of this Release and to which the
undersigned is not already entitled, the undersigned hereby releases the Company
and its subsidiary and other affiliated corporations, and its and their
respective officers, directors, employees and stockholders (collectively, the
"Releasees"), from all claims, actions, causes of action, suits, debts, dues,
sums of money, accounts, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements,
promises, damages, judgments, executions and demands whatsoever, in law or
equity, including, without limitation, all claims and rights arising under the
Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. ss.621, ET SEQ., which the
undersigned ever had, now has or hereafter can, shall or may have against the
Releasees or any of them arising out of or relating to the undersigned's
employment with the Company and the termination of such employment, except as
set forth in the Agreement. The undersigned agrees never directly or indirectly
to commence or prosecute, or assist in the filing, commencement or prosecution
of any action, proceeding or charge against the Releasees or any of them arising
out of or relating to the undersigned's employment with the Company and the
termination of such employment.
The undersigned represents that the undersigned has been advised to
consult with an attorney prior to executing this Release. The undersigned
acknowledges that the undersigned has been given a period of at least twenty-one
days to consider this Release. For a period of seven days following the
execution of this Release by the undersigned, the undersigned may revoke this
Release and this Release shall not become effective or enforceable until such
seven-day period has expired.
Date:
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