AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT SEPARATION AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This
Amended and Restated Employment Separation Agreement (the “Agreement”),
effective as of December 31, 2008, is entered into by and between PDI, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), having its principal place of business at
0 Xxxxx 00 Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000, and Xxxxx Xxxxxx, residing
at (the
“Executive”).
WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive previously entered into an Employment Separation
Agreement, effective as of February 1, 2008 (the “Prior Agreement”);
and
WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement to
comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended and the regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”), and to
make certain other clarifying changes, with this Agreement to supersede the
Prior Agreement in its entirety.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements herein
contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1.
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Employment.
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In
connection with the Executive’s continued employment, the Company shall
employ the Executive as President, Marketing Research and Consulting of
the Company, which employment shall terminate upon notice by either party,
for any reason. Executive
understands and agrees that Executive’s employment with the Company is at
will and can be terminated at any time by either party, and for any or no
reason.
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2.
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Compensation
and Benefits Payable Upon Involuntary Termination without Cause or
Resignation for Good Reason.
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a.
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Triggering
Event. In further consideration for Executive’s
continued employment, Executive will receive the compensation and benefits
set forth in this Section 2 if the following requirements are
met:
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i.
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Executive’s
employment is terminated involuntarily by the Company at any time for
reasons other than death, total disability or Cause, or Executive resigns
from employment for Good Reason;
and
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ii.
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As
of the 30th
day following his termination date, Executive has executed the Agreement
and General Release in substantially the form attached to this Agreement,
or in such form as may be provided by the Company (the “Release”), any
applicable revocation period has expired and Executive has not revoked the
Release during such revocation
period.
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b.
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Compensation
and Benefits. The Company will provide the following
compensation and benefits to
Executive:
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i.
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The
Company will pay Executive a lump sum payment equal to the product of
twelve (12) times Executive’s Base Monthly Salary (excluding incentives,
bonuses, and other compensation), plus the average of the cash incentive
compensation paid to Executive during the three (3) years immediately
preceding the termination date (or, if the Executive was not employed by
the Company during the three (3) immediately preceding years, the average
of or actual cash incentive compensation paid to Executive during the two
(2) preceding years or one (1) preceding year,
as
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applicable). Subject
to Section 2(c) below, such payment shall be made within forty-five (45)
days of Executive’s termination
date.
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ii.
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The
Company will reimburse Executive for the cost of the premiums for COBRA
group health continuation coverage under the Company’s group health plan
paid by Executive for coverage during the period beginning following
Executive’s termination date and ending on the earlier of
either: (A) first anniversary of Executive’s termination date;
or (B) the date on which Executive becomes eligible for other group health
coverage, provided that no reimbursement shall be paid unless and until
Executive submits proof of payment acceptable to the Company within 90
days after Executive incurs such expense. Any reimbursements of
the COBRA premium that are taxable to the Executive shall be made on or
before the last day of the year following the year in which the COBRA
premium was incurred, the amount of the COBRA premium eligible for
reimbursement during one year shall not affect the amount of COBRA premium
eligible for reimbursement in any other year, and the right to
reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another
benefit.
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x.
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Xxxxx
of Payment to Comply with Code Section
409A. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
if at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company,
Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section
409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder, then the Company shall
delay the commencement of such payments (without any reduction) by a
period of six (6) months after Executive’s termination of employment and
any payments so deferred shall earn interest calculated at the prime rate
of interest reported by The Wall Street Journal as of the date of
termination. Any payments that would have been paid during such
six (6) month period but for the provisions of the preceding sentence
shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive six (6) months and one (1) day
after Executive’s termination of employment. The 6-month
payment delay requirement of this Section 2(c) shall apply only to the
extent that the payments under this Section 2 are subject to Code Section
409A. With respect to payments or benefits under this Agreement
that are subject to Code Section 409A, whether Executive has had a
termination of employment shall be determined in accordance with Code
Section 409A and applicable guidance issued
thereunder.
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3. Other
Compensation.
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a.
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Except
as may be provided under this Agreement, any benefits to which Executive
may be entitled pursuant to the plans, policies and arrangements of the
Company shall be determined and paid in accordance with the terms of such
plans, policies and arrangements, and Executive shall have no right to
receive any other compensation or benefits, or to participate in any other
plan or arrangement, following the termination of Executive’s employment
by either party for any reason.
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b.
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Notwithstanding
any provision contained herein to the contrary, in the event of any
termination of employment, the Company shall pay Executive his or her
earned, but unpaid, base salary within ten (10) days of Executive’s
termination date and shall reimburse Executive for any accrued, but
unpaid, reasonable business expenses, in each case, earned or accrued as
of the date of termination. Executive shall submit
documentation of any business expenses within ninety (90) days of his or
her termination date and any reimbursements of such expenses that are
taxable to the Executive shall be made on or before the last day of the
year following the year in which the expense was incurred, the amount of
the expense eligible
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for
reimbursement during one year shall not affect the amount of reimbursement
in any other year, and the right to reimbursement shall not be subject to
liquidation or exchange for another
benefit.
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4.
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Withholding. All
amounts otherwise payable under this Agreement shall be subject to
customary withholding and other employment taxes, and shall be subject to
such other withholding as may be required in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement or applicable law.
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5.
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Confidentiality,
Non-Solicitation and Covenant Not to Compete
Agreement. In the event Executive’s employment with the
Company is terminated by either party for any reason, Executive shall
continue to be bound by the Company’s Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation
and Covenant Not to Compete Agreement for the periods set forth therein (a
copy of which is attached to this
Agreement).
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6. Definitions.
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a.
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Cause
shall mean: (i) the failure of Executive to use Executive’s best efforts
in accordance with Executive’s position, skill and abilities to achieve
Executive’s goals as periodically set by the Company that continues
unremedied for a period of ten (10) business days after the Chief
Executive Officer and/or his designee has given written notice to
Executive specifying in reasonable detail Executive’s failure; (ii) the
failure by Executive to comply with the reasonable instructions of the
Chief Executive Officer and/or his designee and which such refusal
continues unremedied for a period of ten (10) business days after the
Chief Executive Officer and/or his designee has given written notice to
Executive specifying in reasonable detail the instructions Executive has
failed to comply with; (iii) the failure by Executive to adhere to the
Company’s documented policies and procedures that continues unremedied for
a period of ten (10) business days after the Chief Executive Officer
and/or his designee has given written notice to Executive specifying in
reasonable detail Executive’s breach of such policies and/or procedures;
(iv) the failure of Executive to adhere to moral and ethical business
principles consistent with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and
Guidelines on Corporate Governance as in effect from time to time that
continues unremedied for a period of ten (10) business days after the
Chief Executive Officer and/or his designee has given written notice to
Executive specifying in reasonable detail Executive’s failure; (v)
Executive's conviction of a criminal offense (including the entry of a
nolo contendere plea); or (vi) any documented act of material dishonesty
or fraud by the Executive in the commission of his or her duties that
continues unremedied for a period of ten (10) business days after the
Chief Executive Officer and/or his designee has given written notice to
Executive specifying in reasonable detail Executive’s conduct; or (vii)
Executive engages in an act or series of acts constituting misconduct
resulting in a misstatement of the Company’s financial statements due to
material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirement within
the meaning of Section 304 of The Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of
2002.
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b.
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Base
Monthly Salary shall mean an amount equal to one-twelfth of
Executive’s then current annual base salary. Base Monthly
Salary shall not include incentives, bonus(es), health and welfare
benefits, car allowances, long term disability insurance or any other
compensation or benefit provided to Executives of the Company at the
executive level.
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c.
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Change
of Control shall mean: (i) any merger by the Company into another
corporation or corporations which results in the stockholders of the
Company immediately prior to such transaction owning less than 51% of the
surviving corporation; (ii) any acquisition (by purchase, lease or
otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company by any
person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly; (iii)
the acquisition of beneficial ownership of voting securities of the
Company (defined as common stock of
the
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Company
or any securities having voting rights that the Company may issue in the
future) or rights to acquire voting securities of the Company (defined as
including, without limitation, securities that are convertible into voting
securities of the Company (as defined above) and rights, options, warrants
and other agreements or arrangements to acquire such voting securities) by
any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly,
in such amount or amounts as would permit such person, corporation or
other entity or group thereof acting jointly to elect a majority of the
members of the Board, as then constituted; or (iv) the acquisition of
beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of voting securities and
rights to acquire voting securities having voting power equal to 51% or
more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting
securities by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof
acting jointly. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any transaction
that involves a mere change in identity form or place of organization
within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, or a transaction of similar effect, shall not constitute
a Change of Control.
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d.
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Good
Reason. Executive’s termination of employment with the
Company shall be for Good Reason if (i) Executive notifies the Company in
writing that one of the Good Reason Events (as defined below) has
occurred, which notice shall be provided within ninety (90) days after he
becomes aware of the occurrence of such Good Reason Event, (ii) the
Company fails to cure such Good Reason Even within thirty (30) days after
receipt of the written notice from Executive (the “Cure Period”) and (iii)
Executive resigns employment within thirty (30) days following expiration
of the Cure Period. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Good
Reason Event” shall mean any of the following which occur without
Executive’s consent:
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i. Prior
to a Change of Control,
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A.
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The
failure by the Company to pay Executive any material amount of his or her
current salary, or any material amount of his or her compensation deferred
under any plan, agreement or arrangement of or with the Company that is
currently due and payable;
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B.
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A
material reduction in Executive’s annual base salary; provided that a
reduction consistent with reductions made to the annual base salaries for
similarly situated senior executives of no more than 15% shall not
constitute Good Reason; or
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C.
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The
relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more
than 50 miles from Executive’s current principal place of
employment.
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ii. During
the two (2) year period following any Change of Control,
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A.
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The
failure by the Company to pay Executive any material amount of his or her
current salary, or any material amount of his or her compensation deferred
under any plan, agreement or arrangement of or with the Company that is
currently due and payable;
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B.
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A
material reduction in Executive’s annual base salary; provided that a
reduction consistent with reductions made to the annual base salaries for
similarly situated senior executives of no more than 15% shall not
constitute Good Reason;
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C. The
relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more than
50 miles from Executive’s current principal place of employment;
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D.
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A
material adverse alteration of Executive’s duties and responsibilities
from those in effect immediately prior to the Change of
Control;
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E.
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An
intentional, material reduction by the Company of Executive’s aggregate
target incentive awards under any short-term and/or long-term incentive
plans; and
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F.
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The
material failure of the Company to maintain Executive’s relative level of
coverage under its material employee benefit, retirement, or fringe
benefit plans, policies, practices, or arrangements in which Executive
participates, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the
relative level of Executive’s participation as in effect immediately
before a Change of Control and with all improvements therein subsequent
thereto (other than those plans or improvements that have expired
thereafter in accordance with their original terms), or the taking of any
action which would materially reduce Executive’s benefits under such plans
or deprive him of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by him immediately
before a Change of Control. For this purpose, the Company may
eliminate and/or modify existing employee benefit plans and coverage
levels on a consistent and non-discriminatory basis applicable to all such
executives; provided, however, that Executive’s level of coverage under
all such programs must be at least as great as is such coverage provided
to employees who have the same or lesser levels of reporting
responsibilities within the
organization.
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e.
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Code
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
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7.
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Integration;
Amendment. This Agreement, the Company’s
Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation and Covenant Not to Compete Agreement,
and the Executive’s Individual Stock Agreement (if any) (a copy of which
are attached to this Agreement) constitute the entire agreement between
the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and
supersede and render of no force and effect all prior understandings and
agreements between the parties with respect to the matters set forth
herein. No amendments or additions to such agreements shall be
binding unless in writing and signed by both parties, provided, however,
that this Agreement may be unilaterally amended by the Company where
necessary to ensure any benefits payable hereunder are either excepted
from Code Section 409A or otherwise comply with Code Section
409A.
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8.
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Governing
Law; Headings. This Agreement and its construction,
performance and enforceability shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to
its conflicts of law provisions. Headings and titles herein are
included solely for convenience and shall not affect, or be used in
connection with, the interpretation of this
Agreement.
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9.
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Jurisdiction. Except
as otherwise provided for herein, each of the parties: (a) irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state court sitting in Bergen
County, New Jersey or federal court sitting in New Jersey in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement; (b) agrees that
all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in any such court; (c) agrees not to bring any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other
court; and (d) waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury
with respect to any
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action
or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement. Each of the parties waives any defense of
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceedings so
brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be
required of any other party with respect thereto. Any party may
make service on another party by sending or delivering a copy of the
process to the party to be served at the address set forth above or such
updated address as may be provided to the other party. Nothing in this
Section 8, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal
process in any other manner permitted by
law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties
have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
EXECUTIVE
By: /s/ Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
PDI, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
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