EMPLOYMENT SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This
Employment Separation Agreement (the “Agreement”) is effective as of September
1, 2007, 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 Xxxxxxxx (the “Executive”), pursuant to which the
aforementioned parties agree:
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, Diversified Marketing Services,
Executive Vice President 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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Executive
executes within the time frame required by the Company an Agreement and
General Release in substantially the form attached to this Agreement, or
in such form as may be provided by the Company, and does not revoke such
Agreement and General Release.
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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, as applicable), subject to withholding for applicable
federal, state, and local income and employment related
taxes. Subject to paragraph (c) below, such payment shall be
made within thirty (30) days after the Agreement and General Release
becomes irrevocable.
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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 paid by Executive for coverage during
the period beginning following Executive’s termination date and ending on
the earlier of either: (A) one (1) year following 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.
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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 Executive” 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.
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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 earned, but
unpaid, base salary and reimburse Executive for any accrued, but unpaid,
reasonable business expenses, in each case, earned or accrued as of the
date of termination.
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4.
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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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5. Definitions.
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a.
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Cause
shall mean: (i) the material 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
material failure by Executive to comply with the reasonable instructions
of the Chief Executive Officer and/or his designee, provided that such
instructions are consistent with Executive’s duties and responsibilities
hereunder, 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 material policies and
material 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 material
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); (vi) any documented act of material dishonesty or
fraud by the Executive in the commission of his 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 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. Termination of employment by Executive for Good
Reason shall be deemed to have occurred, if he provides written notice of
termination to PDI within ninety (90) days after he becomes aware of the
occurrence of any of the following, and the Company has failed to cure
such action or inaction within thirty (30) days of the written notice by
Executive:
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i.
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Prior
to a Change in Control,
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A.
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The
failure by the Company to pay Executive any material amount of his current
salary, or any material amount of his compensation deferred under any
plan, agreement or arrangement of or with the Company that is currently
due and payable, within thirty (30) days after Executive makes written
demand for such amount;
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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.
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During
the two (2) year period following any Change in
Control,
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A.
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The
failure by the Company to pay Executive any material amount of his current
salary, or any material amount of his compensation deferred under any
plan, agreement or arrangement of or with the Company that is currently
due and payable, within thirty (30) days after Executive makes written
demand for such amount;
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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.
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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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D.
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A
material adverse alteration of Executive’s duties and responsibilities
from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in
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
failure of the Company to maintain Executive’s relative level of coverage
under its employee benefit, retirement, or material 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 in
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 any of such plans or deprive
him of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by him immediately before a
Change in 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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6.
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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 (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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7.
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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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8.
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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 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 Employment Separation Agreement as of the date first
above written.
EXECUTIVE
By: /s/ Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
PDI, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Chief Executive Officer