EXHIBIT 10.50
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT by and between Biogen, Inc., a Massachusetts
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the "Executive"), dated and
effective as of March 6, 2003 (the "Effective Date").
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to provide for the employment by
the Company of the Executive, and the Executive wishes to serve the Company, in
the capacities and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
and end on January 1, 2006 unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 4 of
this Agreement. This Agreement shall automatically be extended on each date
(each an "Extension Date") beginning two years prior to the expiration of the
original term for an additional day unless, not later than the day immediately
preceding such Extension Date, the Company or the Executive shall have given
written notice to the other that it does not wish to so extend the term of this
Agreement. The original term ending on January 1, 2006 and additional periods of
renewal are collectively referred to herein as the "Term."
2. POSITION AND DUTIES; STOCK OWNERSHIP.
(a) During the Term, the Executive shall serve as the President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as the Chairman of the Company's
Board of Directors (the "Board"), in each case with such duties and
responsibilities as are customarily assigned to these positions, and such other
duties and responsibilities not inconsistent therewith as may from time to time
be assigned to him by the Board. During the Term, the Executive shall report
solely to the Board, and all Company functions shall report, directly or
indirectly, to the Executive.
(b) During the Term, and excluding any periods of vacation and
sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive shall devote his
full business attention and time to the business and affairs of the Company and
shall use all reasonable efforts to carry out his responsibilities faithfully
and efficiently. However, the Executive may, subject to the prior approval of
the Board, serve on corporate, industry, civic or charitable boards or
committees, so long as these activities do not interfere with the performance of
the Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
(c) During the Term, the Executive shall be based at the Company's
principal executive offices, except for travel reasonably required for the
performance of the Executive's duties hereunder.
(d) The Executive shall continue to be subject to the executive
stock ownership guidelines for Company common stock adopted by the by the
Compensation and Management Resources Committee of the Board (the "Compensation
Committee").
3. COMPENSATION.
(a) BASE SALARY. The Company shall pay the Executive an annual
base salary (the "Annual Base Salary") at the rate of $900,000. The Annual Base
Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company's regular payroll practice
for its senior executives, as in effect from time to time. Annual Base Salary
shall be reviewed at least annually by the Board after consultation with the
Executive and may from time to time be increased (but not decreased) as
determined by the Board. Effective as of the date of any such increase the
Annual Base Salary as so increased shall be considered the new Annual Base
Salary for all purposes of this Agreement and may not thereafter be reduced. Any
increase in Annual Base Salary shall not limit or reduce any other obligation of
the Company to the Executive under this Agreement. No additional remuneration
shall be paid to Executive with respect to his service on the Board during the
Term.
(b) ANNUAL CASH BONUS. For fiscal years during the Term, the
Executive shall participate in annual cash incentive compensation plans, as
adopted and approved by the Board or the Compensation Committee from time to
time, with applicable corporate and individual performance targets and maximum
award amounts determined by the Compensation Committee. The Executive's annual
target bonus opportunity pursuant to such plans shall be 100% of the Annual Base
Salary in effect for the Executive at the beginning of the fiscal year. Any cash
bonuses payable to the Executive will be paid at the time the Company normally
pays such bonuses to its senior executives and will be subject to the terms and
conditions of the applicable annual cash incentive compensation plan.
(c) LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. During the Term, the
Executive shall be eligible to receive long-term incentive compensation awards
(which may consist of stock options, restricted stock, long-term cash awards or
other forms of long-term incentive compensation) pursuant to the Company's
equity and long-term incentive compensation plans and programs in effect from
time to time. These awards shall be granted in the discretion of the Board or
Committee and shall include such terms and conditions (including performance
objectives) as the Board or Committee deems appropriate.
(d) OTHER BENEFITS. During the Term, the Executive shall be
eligible to participate in the retirement, welfare benefit, and fringe benefit
plans, practices, policies and programs of the Company (including any medical,
prescription, dental, disability, life insurance, accidental death and travel
accident insurance plans and programs) to the same extent, and subject to the
same terms and conditions, as these arrangements are made available to the
senior officers of the Company. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Executive shall (i) continue to be entitled to the supplemental
life insurance coverage that the Company is currently providing to him (which
provides him with coverage above the $1 million limit of the Company's group
life insurance plan, up to a maximum of $4 million) and (ii) be provided with
individual long term disability coverage, which will provide him a benefit equal
to 70% of his Annual Base Salary if he is permanently disabled under the terms
of the coverage (which coverage may contain an
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offset for amounts payable to the Executive pursuant to the first sentence of
Section 5(b) hereof). The Company shall also reimburse the Executive an amount
in respect of any taxes imposed on him in connection with income imputed as a
result of the long term disability coverage described in the preceding sentence
such that, after payment of the taxes on such imputed income, there remains a
balance sufficient to pay the taxes on the amount being reimbursed. For purposes
of this payment, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal and state income
tax at the highest marginal rate. The Executive shall also be eligible to
participate in the Company's Voluntary Executive Supplemental Savings Plan and
the Company's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. The Company shall provide
the Executive with an annual stipend of up to $50,000 for purposes of financial
counseling and tax preparation, payable only in connection with the financial
counseling and tax preparation services chosen by the Company.
(e) VACATION; EXPENSES. The Executive shall be entitled to five
weeks paid vacation per calendar year during the Term. The Company shall pay or
reimburse the Executive for ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred by
him in the performance of his duties in accordance with the Company's usual
policies.
4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall
terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Term. The Company
shall be entitled to terminate the Executive's employment because of the
Executive's Disability during the Term. "Disability" means that the Executive is
permanently disabled within the meaning of the long-term disability coverage
described in Section 3(d) or, if there is no such coverage in effect, that (i)
the Executive has been substantially unable, for 120 business days within a
period of 180 consecutive business days, to perform the Executive's duties under
this Agreement, as a result of physical or mental illness or injury and (ii) a
physician mutually selected by the Executive and the Company (with approval of
such physician not unreasonably withheld or delayed), has determined that the
Executive is permanently disabled. A termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company for Disability shall be communicated to the Executive by written
notice, and will be effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by
the Executive (the "Disability Effective Time").
(b) TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY.
(i) The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
during the Term for Cause or without Cause.
(ii) "Cause" means any of the following: (A) the
Executive's conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction for felony
criminal conduct, (B) the Executive's gross negligence or willful
misconduct (unless the Executive believed in good faith that the act or
omission was in or not opposed to the interest of the Company (without
intent of the Executive to gain therefrom, directly or indirectly, a
profit to which he was not legally entitled)), in either case
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in the performance of his duties hereunder that results in a detriment
that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole,
or (C) the Executive's willful or intentional material breach of
Section 6 of this Agreement or of the Employee's Proprietary
Information and Inventions Agreement executed by the Executive on May
5, 1989 that results in detriment that is material to the Company and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Cause
shall not include any act or omission of which the Audit Committee of
the Board (or the full Board) has had actual knowledge for at least six
months without asserting that the act or omission constitutes Cause.
(iii) A termination of the Executive's employment for Cause
shall be not be effective unless it is accomplished in accordance with
the following procedures. The Board shall give the Executive written
notice ("Notice of Termination for Cause") of its intention to
terminate the Executive's employment for Cause, setting forth in
reasonable detail the specific conduct of the Executive that it
considers to constitute Cause and the specific provision(s) of this
Agreement on which it relies, and stating the date, time and place of
the Special Board Meeting for Cause. The "Special Board Meeting for
Cause" means a meeting of the Board called and held specifically and
exclusively for the purpose of considering the Executive's termination
for Cause. The Special Board Meeting for Cause must take place not less
than thirty business days after the Executive receives the Notice of
Termination for Cause. The Executive shall be given an opportunity,
together with counsel, to be heard at the Special Board Meeting for
Cause. The Executive's termination for Cause shall be effective when a
resolution is duly adopted at the Special Board Meeting for Cause
stating that, in the good faith opinion of at least two-thirds of the
members of the Board (other than the Executive), the Executive is
guilty of the conduct described in the Notice of Termination for Cause
and that such conduct constitutes Cause under the applicable provision
of this Agreement. A failure by the Company to follow the provisions of
this Section 4(b)(iii) shall result in the termination of the
Executive's employment being conclusively deemed to be a termination by
the Company without Cause.
(iv) Any termination of the Executive's employment without
Cause by the Company shall be effected by giving the Executive at least
thirty days written notice of the termination.
(c) TERMINATION BY THE EXECUTIVE.
(i) The Executive may terminate employment for Good
Reason or without Good Reason.
(ii) "Good Reason" shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following events, without the Executive's consent, at any time during
the Term: (A) the Executive is not elected to the Board of Directors,
named as Chairman and designated Chief Executive Officer of the
Company; (B) causing or requiring the
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Executive to report to anyone other than the Board; (C) denial of the
Executive of the ability to appoint and remove the executive employees
of the Company (other than executive employees responsible for
compliance or internal or disclosure controls); (D) a relocation of the
Company's principal executive offices outside of the metropolitan
Boston area; or (E) a reduction of the Annual Base Salary under Section
3(a) or material failure to pay benefits provided or referred to under
this Agreement, unless any such action under this subclause (E) is
remedied by the Company within ten days after receipt of notice thereof
given by the Executive.
(iii) "Good Reason" shall also mean the occurrence of any
of the following events, without the Executive's consent, at any time
on or after a Change in Control: (A) the assignment to the Executive of
any duties inconsistent in any material respect with his position,
authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by this
Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a
significant diminution in such position, authority, duties or
responsibilities, unless the action is remedied by the Company within
ten days after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; or (B)
the failure of the Company to assign this Agreement to a successor to
the Company or failure of a successor to the Company to explicitly
assume and agree to be bound by this Agreement.
(iv) A termination of employment by the Executive for Good
Reason shall be effected by giving the Company written notice ("Notice
of Termination for Good Reason") of the termination, setting forth in
reasonable detail the specific conduct of the Company that constitutes
Good Reason and the specific provision(s) of this Agreement on which
the Executive relies. A termination of employment by the Executive for
Good Reason shall be effective ten days following the date when the
Notice of Termination for Good Reason is given, unless the event
constituting Good Reason is remedied by the Company prior to that date.
Actions by the Company which constitute Good Reason shall be
disregarded in the calculation of termination benefits described in
Section 5. An event shall not be deemed to constitute Good Reason if
the Executive fails to deliver Notice of Termination for Good Reason
within six months of his actual knowledge of the event.
(v) A termination of the Executive's employment by the
Executive without Good Reason shall be effected by giving the Company
30 days written notice of the termination.
(d) DATE OF TERMINATION; RESIGNATION. The "Date of Termination"
means the date of the Executive's death, the Disability Effective Time or the
date on which the termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for
Cause or without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason or without Good
Reason is effective. Following termination of the Executive's employment for any
reason, the Executive shall immediately resign from the Board and from all other
offices and positions he holds with the Company and its subsidiaries. For the
avoidance of doubt, a
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delivery of notice of non-renewal of the Term by the Company shall not be deemed
to be a termination with or without Cause by the Company, nor shall it be an
event of Good Reason.
5. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION.
(a) OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE, DEATH OR DISABILITY, OR FOR GOOD REASON.
If, during the Term, the Company terminates the Executive's employment for any
reason other than for Cause or due to his Disability, or the Executive
terminates his employment for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive, not later than thirty days following the Date of Termination, (i) a
cash lump sum equal to two times the sum of the Executive's Annual Base Salary
immediately prior to the Date of Termination and the Executive's annual target
bonus for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs; and (ii) any
unpaid amounts of the Executive's Annual Base Salary and annual bonus for
periods prior to the Date of Termination. The Company shall also provide to the
Executive (and, as applicable, his eligible dependents), in the event of such a
termination continued participation in the Company's medical and dental
insurance plans (or substantially equivalent coverage under an alternative
arrangement) as well as continued supplemental life insurance coverage for the
lesser of twenty-four months following the Date of Termination or until the
Executive is provided by another employer with benefits (determined on a benefit
by benefit basis) substantially comparable (with no applicable preexisting
condition or eligibility limitations) to the benefits provided by the
corresponding Company plan. The statutory health care continuation coverage
period for the Executive under Section 4980B of the Code will commence at the
end of such twenty-four month period. For each year that the Company provides
for benefit continuation coverage under this Section 5(a), the Executive shall
be entitled to receive a supplemental payment in an amount such that after
payment of all employment related taxes on the continued coverage, there remains
a balance sufficient to pay the employment related taxes being reimbursed. For
purposes of this Section 5(a), "employment related taxes" means the incremental
federal and state income and payroll taxes payable by the Executive or the
Executive's spouse with respect to any applicable item of income.
(b) DEATH AND DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of Disability during the Term, the Company shall pay to the
Executive, not later than thirty days following the Date of Termination, a cash
lump sum equal to the sum of the Executive's Annual Base Salary immediately
prior to the Date of Termination and the Executive's annual target bonus for the
fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs. The Company shall also pay
to the Executive, in the event of a termination due to the Executive's death or
Disability, any unpaid amounts of the Executive's Annual Base Salary and annual
bonus for periods prior to the Date of Termination. In addition, if the
Executive's employment is terminated due to death or Disability, all of the
Executive's then outstanding options to purchase shares of Company common stock,
whether or not previously vested and exercisable, shall be immediately vested
and exercisable upon the Date of Termination and shall remain exercisable until
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the earlier of (i) the expiration of the maximum term of the option and (ii) the
one year anniversary of the Date of Termination.
(c) BY THE COMPANY FOR CAUSE; BY THE EXECUTIVE OTHER THAN FOR GOOD
REASON. If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or
the Executive voluntarily terminates employment other than for Good Reason then,
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within thirty
days after the Date of Termination, any portion of the Executive's Annual Base
Salary and bonus earned through the Date of Termination that has not been paid
and (ii) all outstanding equity awards shall be treated according to the
provisions of the plan and agreements under which such awards were granted.
(d) MITIGATION; FULL SETTLEMENT. Following termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall be under no
obligation to seek reemployment and there shall be no offset against amounts due
the Executive under this Agreement on account of any remuneration attributable
to any subsequent employment that he may obtain except as specifically provided
in this Agreement. Any amounts due under this Section 5 are in the nature of
severance payments considered to be reasonable by the Company and are not in the
nature of a penalty. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for
in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not
be affected by any circumstances, including set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against
Executive or others.
(e) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BENEFITS. The Executive's benefits under
this Agreement shall be in addition to any other amount earned, accrued or owing
but not yet paid under any plan, program, arrangement or understanding covering
the Executive.
(f) EXCISE TAX.
(i) If any payments or benefits (whether pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement of
the Executive with the Company or any person affiliated with the
Company) (the "Payments") received or to be received by the Executive
will be subject to the tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by Section 4999
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") (or any
similar tax that may hereafter be imposed), then except as set forth in
Section 5(d)(ii), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional
amount (the "Gross-Up Payment"). The Gross Up Payment shall be an
amount which, when combined with the net amount of the Payments
retained by the Executive (giving effect to the application of the
Excise Tax and all other applicable taxes on the Payments) will result
in the net amount received by the Executive equaling the net amount of
the Payments the Executive would have received absent application of
the Excise Tax.
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(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5(f)(i), if
the Payments that will be subject to the Excise Tax exceed by $100,000
or less the amount of such Payments that the Executive could receive
without having any Payments become subject to the Excise Tax, then the
amount of such Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so
that no portion of the Payments is subject to the Excise Tax.
(iii) The process for calculating the Excise Tax,
determining the amount of any Gross-Up Payment and other procedures
relating to this Section 5(f) are set forth in Appendix A.
6. COMPETITION.
(a) Except as set forth below, during the Executive's employment
with the Company and for a period of one year after the termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company (whether at the end of the Term or
thereafter), the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Board, directly or indirectly engage in the development, production, marketing,
or sale of products that compete (or, upon commercialization, could compete)
with products of the Company being developed, marketed or sold as of the date of
such termination (such business or activity, a "Competing Business") whether
such engagement shall be as an officer, director, owner, employee, partner,
consultant, advisor or any other capacity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with
respect to any termination of the Executive's employment on or following the
occurrence of a Change in Control, the one year period described above shall be
reduced to six months. Nothing herein will prohibit the Executive from acquiring
or holding not more than one percent of any class of publicly traded securities
of any business.
(b) The Executive agrees that the restrictions set forth in
Section 6(a) hereof are reasonable and necessary to protect the legal interests
of the Company. The Executive further agrees that the Company shall be entitled
to injunctive relief in the event of any actual or threatened breach of the
restrictions and shall not be required to post bond or prove actual damages. If
the scope or content of any restriction contained in this Agreement is too broad
to permit enforcement of such restriction to its full extent, then the
restriction shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the
parties hereby consent that the scope or restriction shall be judicially
modified accordingly in any proceeding brought with respect to the enforcement
of the restriction.
7. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees that if the Executive is made a party or is
threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "Proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director
or an officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company
as a director or officer of another corporation, including, without limitation,
any corporation or other entity of which a majority of any class of
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equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any
Affiliate of the Corporation (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended), or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, whether the basis of
such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or
officer, or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, the
Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest
extent authorized by the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law, as the same
exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only
to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader
indemnification rights than such law permitted the Company to provide prior to
such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including, without
limitation, attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties,
costs of investigation and preparation of defense and amounts paid or to be paid
in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by the Executive in connection
therewith; provided, however that, the Company shall indemnify the Executive in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by the Executive only
if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board. The right to
indemnification conferred in this Section 7(a) shall include the right to be
paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in
advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an "advancement of expenses") to
the extent permitted under applicable law; provided, however, that an
advancement of expenses incurred by the Executive in his or her capacity as a
director or officer shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an
undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by or on behalf of the Executive, to
repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final
judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a
"final adjudication") that the Executive is not entitled to be indemnified for
such expenses under this Section 7 or otherwise.
(b) A determination by the Company that the Executive has not met
any applicable standard of conduct to qualify for the indemnification provided
in Section 7(a), shall not be entitled to any presumptive validity in an
arbitration or other proceeding brought by the Executive to enforce his right to
such indemnification.
(c) The Company agrees to continue and maintain a directors' and
officers' liability insurance policy covering the Executive to the extent the
Company provides such coverage for its other executive officers.
8. DISPUTE RESOLUTION; ATTORNEYS' FEES. Other than with respect to the
Company's right to obtain injunctive relief under Section 6 (which shall not be
subject to the provisions of this Section 8), all disputes arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration, to be
held in Boston, Massachusetts in accordance with the rules and procedures of the
American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party
shall bear his or its own costs in connection with any such arbitration,
provided that an arbitrator or arbitrators hearing any such dispute may, in
their good faith judgment, require the Company to pay all reasonable legal fees
and
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expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with any such arbitration or
legal proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall pay all
reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with
any such arbitration or legal proceeding which occurs on or following a Change
in Control.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the
prior written consent of the Company the Executive's rights under the Agreement
shall not be assignable (except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution). This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the Executive's legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company expressly to
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement (but not for purposes of
Exhibit B hereto), the term "Company" shall mean both the Company as defined
above and any such successor.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without
reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are
not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This
Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed
by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party, by
overnight courier or by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Executive:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
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If to the Company:
Biogen, Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
or to such other address as either party furnishes to the other in writing in
accordance with this Section 10(b).
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company may withhold from amounts payable under this Agreement all federal,
state, local and foreign taxes that are required to be withheld by applicable
laws or regulations.
(d) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provisions of, or to assert any right under, this Agreement
shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or of any other
provision of or right under this Agreement.
(e) Except as set forth in this Section 10(e), this Agreement
constitutes the entire understanding of the parties with respect to its subject
matter and supercedes any other agreement or other understanding, whether oral
or written, express or implied, between them concerning, related to or otherwise
in connection with, the subject matter hereof (including without limitation the
letter from the Company to the Executive, dated as of February 15, 2002).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in accordance with the terms of the letter from
the Company to the Executive dated February 15, 2002, the Executive shall
continue to be considered a "Designated Employee" for purposes of the Company's
1985 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan. In addition, the Employee's Proprietary
Information and Inventions Agreement executed by the Executive on May 5, 1989
shall not be superceded by this Agreement.
(f) The rights and benefits of the Executive under this Agreement
may not be anticipated, assigned, alienated or subject to attachment,
garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process except as
required by law. Any attempt by the Executive to anticipate, alienate, assign,
sell, transfer, pledge, encumber or charge the same shall be void. Payments
hereunder shall not be considered assets of the Executive in the event of
insolvency or bankruptcy.
(g) This Agreement shall terminate upon the expiration of the Term
or, if earlier, upon the termination of the Executive's employment under any of
the circumstances described in Section 4, except that terms of this Agreement
which must survive the termination this Agreement in order to be effectuated
(including the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8) shall survive.
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(h) This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original and which together shall constitute but one
and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have
executed this Agreement under seal, as of the day and year first above written.
BIOGEN, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Good
---------------------------------
Xxxx X. Good
Chairman, Compensation and Management
Resources Committee
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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EXHIBIT A - TAX GROSS-UP PAYMENT RULES AND PROCEDURES
1. Subject to Paragraph 3 below, all determinations required to be made
under Section 5(f) of this Agreement, including whether a Gross-Up Payment is
required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, shall be made by the Auditor
selected in accordance with Paragraph 2 below. The Auditor shall provide
detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15
business days of the termination of the Executive's employment or such earlier
time as is requested by the Company. The initial Gross-Up Payment, if any, as
determined pursuant to this Paragraph 1, shall be paid to the Executive within
five (5) days of the receipt of the Auditor's determination. If the Auditor
determines that no Excise Tax is payable to the Executive, it shall furnish the
Executive with a written report indicating that he has substantial authority not
to report any Excise Tax on his federal income tax return. Any determination by
the Auditor shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of
the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of
the initial determination by the Auditor hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up
Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made
("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to
Paragraph 3 below and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment or
additional payment of any Excise Tax, the Auditor shall determine the amount of
the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly
paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. For purposes of
determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to
pay federal income tax at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation
in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and
local income taxes on earned income at the highest marginal rate of taxation in
the state and locality of the Executive's residence on the Date of Termination,
net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained
from deduction of such state and local taxes.
2. The Auditor shall be public accounting firm mutually agreed upon by the
Company and the Executive. If the Executive and the Company cannot agree on the
firm to serve as the Auditor, then the Executive and the Company shall each
select one accounting firm and those two firms shall jointly select the
accounting firm to serve as the Auditor. The Company shall pay the Auditor's
fee.
3. The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the
Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as
practicable but no later than fifteen (15) business days after the Executive
knows of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim
and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall
not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the period ending on the date that
any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due or the thirty day period
following the date on which the Executive gives such notice to the Company,
whichever period is shorter. If the Company notifies the Executive in writing
13
prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim,
the Executive shall (i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by
the Company relating to such claim, (ii) take such action in connection with
contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from
time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with
respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company, (iii)
cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such
claim, and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to
such claim; provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all
costs and expenses (including attorneys fees and any additional interest and
penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold
the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax,
including interest and penalties with respect thereto, imposed as a result of
such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the
foregoing provisions of this Paragraph 3, the Company shall control all
proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may
pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect to such claim and may, at its
sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a
refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees
to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal,
in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the
Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the
Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall advance the
amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall
indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any
Excise Tax and income tax, including interest or penalties with respect thereto,
imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with
respect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of the statute
of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the
Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is
limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of
the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment
would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or
contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue
Service or any other authority.
4. If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the
Company pursuant to Paragraph 3 above, the Executive becomes entitled to receive
any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the
Company's complying with the requirements of Paragraph 3), promptly pay to the
Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited
thereon after taxes applicable thereto).
14
EXHIBIT B
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" shall be deemed to occur
upon the first of the following events:
(i) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities
beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the
Company or its subsidiaries) representing 30% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who
becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction which is not a
Change in Control described in clause (A) of paragraph (iii) below;
(ii) the election to the Board, without the recommendation or approval
of a majority of the incumbent Board (as of the Effective Date), of directors
constituting a majority of the number of directors of the Company then in
office, provided, however, that directors whose election or appointment
following the Effective Date is approved by a majority of the members of the
incumbent Board shall be deemed to be members of the incumbent Board for
purposes hereof, provided further that directors whose initial assumption of
office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating
to the election of directors of the Company will not be considered as members of
the incumbent Board for purposes of this paragraph (ii);
(iii) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or
any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other company, other
than (A) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities
of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of
the surviving or parent entity) at least 50% of the combined voting power of the
voting securities of the Company or such surviving or parent entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation (unless following such merger or
consolidation the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior
thereto represent less than 60% of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the Company or such surviving or parent entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation and the transaction results in
those persons who are members of the incumbent Board immediately prior to such
merger or consolidation constituting less than 50% of the membership of the
Board or the board of such surviving or parent entity immediately after, or
subsequently at any time as contemplated by such merger or consolidation (in
which case the transaction shall be a Change in Control)) or (B) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or
similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the
securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly
from the Company or its subsidiaries) representing 30% or more of the combined
voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or
(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement
for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, at least 50% of the
combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.
For purposes of the Change in Control definition set forth in this Exhibit A,
the following definitions shall apply:
"Affiliate" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under Section 12 of
the Exchange Act; "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall not be deemed to be the
Beneficial Owner of any securities with respect to which such Person has
properly filed an effective Schedule 13G; "Exchange Act" shall mean the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time; and "Person"
shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified
and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not
include (i) the Company or any of its Affiliates, (ii) a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefits plan of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities or (iv) a corporation or other
business entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Company.
