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Exhibit 10.15
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
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This SEVERANCE AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), effective as of August 20, 1999
between HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, an Ohio corporation
(the "Company"), HCR MANORCARE, INC., a Delaware corporation and sole
stockholder of the Company ("HCR") and M. XXXXX XXXXXX ("Employee"), supersedes
and replaces all prior employment agreements between the parties hereto.
RECITALS
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A. The Company has agreed to provide severance benefits to Employee upon a
termination of Employee's employment resulting from certain specified
events.
B. The Company wishes to insure that its senior executives and other key
employees are not practically disabled from discharging their duties in
respect to a proposed or actual Corporate Transaction.
C. The Company desires to assure itself of both present and future continuity
of management and desires to establish certain minimum severance benefits
for certain of its senior executive officers and other key employees,
including Employee, applicable in the event of a Corporate Transaction.
EVENTS
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In consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged,
Employee and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. The following terms have the meanings set forth
below:
(a) "Accounting Firm" is defined in Section 10(b).
(b) "Aggregate Cash Compensation" means at the time of any
determination, the sum of: (A) the Employee's Base Pay, (B) the Employee's
Annual Incentive Plan bonus payable for the year in which the Termination
Date occurs, calculated by multiplying the product of the Employee's Base
Pay and the Employee's bonus percentage by 200%, and (C) the Employee's
Performance Award Plan award payable for the award period ending with the
year in which the Termination Date occurs at maximum performance level.
(c) "Base Pay" means Employee's annual base salary as in effect at any
time of determination
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(d) "Board" means the Board of Directors of HCR.
(e) "Cause" means Employee's financial dishonesty, fraud in the
performance of his duties, willful failure to perform assigned duties
hereunder or the commission of a felony.
(f) "Change in Control" means the occurrence during the Protected Term
of any of the following events, but only to the extent such events do not
constitute a Merger of Equals:
(i) HCR is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with
another corporation or other legal person, and as a result of such
merger, consolidation or reorganization less than sixty-five percent
of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of
such resulting corporation or person immediately after such
transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of Voting Stock
of HCR immediately prior to such transaction;
(ii) HCR sells or otherwise transfers all or substantially all of
its assets to another corporation or other legal person, and as a
result of such sale or transfer less than sixty-five percent of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock of such
corporation or person immediately after such sale or transfer is held
in the aggregate by the holders of Voting Stock of HCR immediately
prior to such sale or transfer;
(iii) There is a report filed on Schedule 13D or Schedule 14D-1
(or any successor schedule, form or report), each as promulgated
pursuant to the Exchange Act, disclosing that any person (as the term
"person" is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the
Exchange Act) has become the beneficial owner (as the term "beneficial
owner" is defined under Rule l3d-3 or any successor rule or regulation
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 15% or more of the then
outstanding Voting Stock of HCR;
(iv) HCR files a report or proxy statement with the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act disclosing in
response to Form 8-K or Schedule 14A (or any successor schedule, form
or report or item therein) that a Change in Control of HCR has
occurred or will occur in the future pursuant to any then existing
contract or transaction; or
(v) If, during any consecutive twelve month period, individuals
who at the beginning of any such period constitute the Directors cease
for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that for purposes of this clause (v) each Director who is
first elected, or first nominated for election by HCR's stockholders,
by a vote of at least one-half of the Directors (or a committee
thereof) then still in office who were Directors at the beginning of
any such period will be deemed to have been a Director at the
beginning of such period.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Sections l(f)(iii)
or 1(f)(iv), unless otherwise determined in a specific case by majority
vote of the Board, a "Change in Control" shall not be deemed to have
occurred for purposes of Sections l(f)(iii) or 1(f)(iv) solely because
(1) HCR, (2) any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, the
Company) or (3) any employee stock ownership plan or any other employee
benefit plan of HCR or any Subsidiary either files or becomes obligated
to file a report or a proxy statement under or in response to Schedule
13D, Schedule 14D-1, Form 8-K or Schedule 14A (or any successor
schedule, form or report or item therein) under the Exchange Act
disclosing beneficial ownership by it of shares of Voting Stock of HCR,
whether in excess of 15% or otherwise, or because HCR reports that a
change in control of HCR has occurred or will occur in the future by
reason of such beneficial ownership.
(g) "Competing Business" shall mean any person, corporation or
other entity engaged in the United States of America in providing
long-term care, skilled nursing or rehabilitative services or selling
or attempting to sell or providing or attempting to provide any other
product or service which is the same as or similar to products or
services sold or provided by the Company within the last 2 years prior
to termination of Employee's employment hereunder.
(h) "Continuation Period" means the thirty-six months immediately
following the Termination Date.
(i) "Corporate Transaction" means either a Change of Control or a
Merger of Equals.
(j) "Director" means a member of the Board.
(k) "Employee Benefits" means the perquisites and benefits as
provided under any and all employee retirement income and welfare
benefit policies, plans, programs or arrangements in which Employee is
entitled to participate at any time of determination, including,
without limitation, any stock option, stock purchase, stock
appreciation, savings, pension, supplemental employee retirement, or
other retirement income or welfare benefit, deferred compensation,
incentive compensation, group or other life, health, medical/hospital
or other insurance (whether funded by actual insurance or self-insured
by the Company), disability, salary continuation, expense
reimbursement and other employee benefit policies.
(l) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(m) "Excise Tax" is defined in Section 10(a).
(n) "Gross-Up Payment" is defined in Section 10(a).
(o) "ISO" is defined in Section 10(a).
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(p) "Merger of Equals" means during the Protected Term the merger
or consolidation of HCR with another corporation or other legal person
and (i) as a result of such merger or consolidation less than
sixty-five percent but more than thirty-five percent of the combined
voting power of the then outstanding securities of the resulting
corporation or person (the "Surviving Entity") immediately after such
transaction are held in the aggregate by holders of Voting Stock of
HCR immediately prior to such transaction and (ii) on the first
anniversary of the transaction either:
(i) (A) a majority of the executive officers of the
Surviving Entity are individuals who were executive officers of
HCR immediately prior to the transaction; or
(ii) (B) a majority of the directors of the Surviving Entity
are individuals who were directors of HCR immediately prior to
the transaction.
(q) "Payment" is defined in Section 10(a).
(r) "Protected Term" means the three year period commencing as of
the date hereof and expiring as of the close of business on the third
anniversary hereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that: (i) the term of this
Agreement will automatically be extended for successive one year
periods unless, not later than 90 days prior to the expiration of the
then applicable term either party shall have given notice that it does
not wish to have the Protected Term extended; and (ii) except as
otherwise provided in the last sentence of Section 12, if, prior to a
Corporate Transaction, Employee ceases for any reason to be an
employee of the Company, thereupon without further action the
Protected Term shall be deemed to have expired and Sections 8, 10, 11
and 14(a) and the last sentence of Section 12 of this Agreement and
the portion of any other provision of this Agreement that incorporates
such provisions will immediately terminate and be of no further
effect. For purposes of this Section l(r), Employee shall not be
deemed to have ceased to be an employee of the Company by reason of
the transfer of Employee's employment between or among HCR and the
Company or any other Subsidiary.
(s) "Severance Period" means the period of time commencing on the
date of the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction and continuing until
the earliest of (i) the third anniversary of the occurrence of the
Corporate Transaction, or (ii) Employee's death.
(t) "Severance Benefits" are defined in Section 8(b).
(u) "Subsidiary" means any entity in which HCR directly or
indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of the then outstanding
Voting Stock.
(v) "Termination Date" means the effective date of Employee's
termination of employment with the Company; provided that for purposes
of this Section 1(v), Employee shall not be deemed to have ceased to
be an employee of the Company by reason of the transfer of Employee's
employment between or among HCR and the Company or any other
Subsidiary.
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(w) "Underpayment" is defined in Section 10(a).
(x) "Voting Stock" means securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors.
2. SALARY AND POSITION. Employee's Base Pay and job title shown on Schedule
I are correct as of the date hereof and in accordance with Employee's
understanding.
3. AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT. Employee's employment with the Company is not for
any specified term and may be terminated by Employee or by the Company at any
time for any reason, with or without Cause.
4. NO OTHER AGREEMENTS. Except as specifically set forth herein and in
Schedule II attached hereto, Employee represents and warrants that there are no
other written or oral agreements, understandings or commitments relating to
Employee's severance entitlements upon termination.
5. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the agreements listed in Schedule
II attached hereto constitute the complete agreement between Employee and the
Company regarding severance upon termination of their employment relationship
and supersede any and all prior written or oral agreements, understandings or
commitments. Employee understands that no representative of the Company has been
authorized to enter into any agreement, understanding or commitment with
Employee which is inconsistent in any way with the terms of this Agreement.
6. PROHIBITION AGAINST AMENDMENT. Employee's Base Pay may be modified by
the Company at any time in its sole discretion. The Employee Benefits in which
Employee is entitled to participate or receive may be improved, reduced or
terminated by the Company at any time in its sole discretion; provided, however,
that no vested or accrued benefit shall be adversely affected. No term set forth
in this Agreement, including without limitation the terms set forth in Section 3
hereof, may be modified in any way except by a written agreement signed by
Employee and by an authorized representative of the Company which expressly
states the intention of the parties to modify the terms of this Agreement.
7. SEVERANCE PAYMENT NOT FOLLOWING A CORPORATE TRANSACTION. Except as
provided in Section 8:
(a) Upon the termination of Employee's employment as a result of
Employee's electing to resign his employment or to retire without the
consent of the Company, no payments shall be required or made pursuant to
this Section 7.
(b) Upon the termination of Employee's employment by the Company for
Cause, no payments shall be required or made pursuant to this Section 7.
(c) Upon the termination of Employee's employment by the Company for
any reason other than for Cause, death or disability, the Company shall
continue payment of Employee's Base Pay, at the rate then in effect on the
Termination Date, for a period of
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three years after such Termination Date. The Company shall give thirty (30)
days written notice of any such termination which notice shall specify the
Termination Date.
(d) Upon the termination of Employee's employment as a result of the
death of Employee, the Company shall continue payment of Employee's Base
Pay, at the rate then in effect on the Termination Date, for a period of
three years after such Termination Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
payments shall be offset by any survivor benefits, excluding life insurance
proceeds, received by Employee's spouse or other designated beneficiary
under the Company's plans, programs and policies.
(e) Upon the termination of Employee's employment as a result of his
becoming unable to perform his duties due to a disability as established by
the award of long-term disability benefits under the Company's long-term
disability plan, the Company may terminate Employee's employment by giving
Employee thirty (30) days written notice of its intention to terminate. In
such event, Company shall continue payment of Employee's Base Pay, at the
rate then in effect on the Termination Date, for a period of three years
after such Termination Date; provided, however, that such payments shall be
offset by any disability benefits received by Employee, or his legal
guardian, under the Company's plans, programs and policies.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
7, upon the termination of Employee's employment for any reason other than
pursuant to Section 8, whether voluntarily or involuntarily and whether
with or without Cause, Employee shall be entitled to the payments provided
for hereunder and such rights as he otherwise has under the Company's
Restricted Stock Plan and the Company's Stock Option Plan in the
circumstances of his particular termination.
8. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CORPORATE TRANSACTION.
(a) ELIGIBILITY FOR SEVERANCE BENEFITS.
(i) If, during the Severance Period, Employee's employment is
terminated by the Company other than for Cause and other than as a
result of his death or disability pursuant to Section 7(d) or (e),
Employee shall be entitled to the Severance Benefits.
(ii) Following the consummation of a Corporate Transaction and
the occurrence of one of the following events, Employee may elect,
within either the 6 month period following the occurrence of one of
the following events, or the 180 day period following the first
anniversary of the Corporate Transaction, to terminate employment with
the Company and receive the Severance Benefits (pursuant to written
notice to the Board specifying the effective date of such termination
which shall not be earlier than the date of the Board's receipt of
such notice and shall not be later than the end of such six month or
180 day period, as applicable):
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(A) Failure to elect or reelect or otherwise to maintain
Employee in the office or position, or a substantially equivalent
office or position, of or with the Company, HCR, or any successor
thereof, as the case may be, which Employee held immediately
prior to the Corporate Transaction , or the removal of Employee
as a Director (or as a member of the board of directors of any
successor thereto) or Chairman of the Board if Employee shall
have been a Director or Chairman of the Board immediately prior
to the Corporate Transaction;
(A) The occurrence of any of the following which is not
remedied within 10 calendar days after written notice to the
Board (or the board of any successor) from Employee:
(I) a significant adverse change, whether such change
involves a reduction or expansion, in the nature or scope of
the authorities, positions, powers, functions,
responsibilities or duties attached to the position with the
Company, HCR, or any successor thereof, as the case may be,
which Employee held immediately prior to the Corporate
Transaction, including but not limited to any change in the
reporting lines, offices and/or positions to which Employee
reported immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction
and/or changes due to HCR or any successor no longer being a
reporting company under the Exchange Act;
(II) a reduction in Employee's Base Pay as in effect
immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction;
(III) a material reduction in the scope or value of
Employee Benefits as in effect immediately prior to the
Corporate Transaction;
(IV) any material breach of this Agreement by the
Company, HCR, or any successor thereof; or
(V) the continuation or repetition of harassing or
denigrating treatment of Employee which is inconsistent with
Employee's position with the Company, HCR, or any successor
thereof.
(B) The liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation or
reorganization of the Company or HCR, or transfer of all or
substantially all of its business and/or assets, unless the
surviving or successor entity, if other than the Company or HCR
(by liquidation, merger, consolidation, reorganization, transfer
or otherwise), to which all or substantially all of such business
and/or assets have been transferred (directly or by operation
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of law) assumes all duties and obligations of the
Company and HCR under this Agreement pursuant to
Section 16(a);
(C) The Company, HCR, or any successor thereof, as the
case may be, by which Employee is employed relocates its
principal executive offices, or requires Employee to have
his principal location of work changed, to any location
which increases by more than 25 miles Employee's commute to
such location immediately prior to the Corporate
Transaction, or requires Employee to travel away from his
office in the course of discharging his responsibilities or
duties hereunder at least 20% more (in terms of aggregate
days in any calendar year or in any calendar quarter when
annualized for purposes of comparison to any prior year)
than the average of such time that was required of Employee
in the three full years immediately prior to the Corporate
Transaction without, in either case, his prior written
consent.
(iii) If Employee elects to terminate employment with
the Company or any successor, as the case may be, for any
reason, or without reason, during such portion of the
180-day period immediately following the first anniversary
of the occurrence of any Change in Control, Employee shall
be entitled to the Severance Benefits.
(b) SEVERANCE BENEFITS. If, Employee's employment with the
Company is terminated pursuant to Section 8(a), the Company will pay
to Employee the following amounts within five business days after the
Termination Date and will provide to Employee the following benefits
(collectively, the "Severance Benefits"):
(i) A lump sum payment equal to three times Employee's
Aggregate Cash Compensation for the year in which the Termination
Date occurs;
(ii) During the Continuation Period:
(A) the Company will arrange to provide Employee with
group medical, dental and vision benefits substantially
similar to those which Employee was receiving or entitled to
receive immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction; and
(B) the Company (or successor) will provide Employee
the use of office space, furnishings and secretarial support
services comparable to those provided to Employee
immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction;
If and to the extent that any benefit described in
Section 8(b)(ii)(A) is not or cannot be paid or provided
under any policy, plan program or arrangement of the
Company, then the Company will pay or provide for the
payment to Employee, his dependents and beneficiaries, of
such
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Employee Benefits in any manner selected by the Company.
Without otherwise limiting the purposes or effect of Section
8, Employee Benefits otherwise receivable by Employee
pursuant to Section 8(b)(ii)(A) will be reduced to the
extent comparable welfare benefits are actually received by
Employee from another employer during the Continuation
Period, and any such benefits received by Employee shall be
reported by Employee to the Company.
(iii) The Company shall take whatever action is necessary to
fund completely any split-dollar life insurance arrangement
maintained by the Company for the benefit of Employee, effective
as of the Termination Date and based on Employee's service
through the end of the Continuation Period;
(iv) Effective as of the Termination Date, Employee will be
credited with service with the Company for an additional 36
months for the purpose of determining service credits and
benefits due and payable to Employee under the Company's
retirement income, supplemental retirement and other benefit
plans of the Company applicable to Employee, his dependents or
his beneficiaries immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction;
(v) If the Termination Date is prior to the Employee's
attainment of age 55 or the fifth anniversary of the date of the
Corporate Transaction, the Employee's qualified and non-qualified
defined benefit plan retirement benefits shall be calculated as
if Employee had attained at least age 55 and had at least five
years of service from and after the date of the Corporate
Transaction. Any additional benefit to which Employee is entitled
pursuant to this Section 8(b)(v) shall be paid either by the
Company directly or pursuant to the terms of the non-qualified
plan.
(vi) Effective as of the Termination Date the option (the
"1998 Option") to purchase Company stock granted to Employee
pursuant to that certain Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement
dated as of September 25, 1998 by and between HCR and Employee
shall be fully vested and exercisable in full as of such date;
and
(vii) Employee shall be permitted to elect to defer receipt
of amounts payable to him, if any, under the Company's Senior
Management Savings Plan and Senior Management Savings Plan for
Corporate Officers until any date not later than the expiration
of the Continuation Period.
(c) Without limiting the rights of Employee at law or in equity,
if the Company fails to make any payment or provide any benefit
required to be made or provided under this Section 8 on a timely
basis, the Company will pay interest on the amount or value thereof at
an annualized rate of interest equal to the so-called composite "prime
rate" as quoted from time to time during the relevant period in the
Midwest
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Edition of The Wall Street Journal. Any change in such prime rate will
be effective on and as of the date such change is so published.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the parties'
respective rights and obligations under this Section 8 and under
Section 11 will survive:
(i) any termination or expiration of this Agreement
following a Corporate Transaction prior to the expiration of the
Protected Term; and
(ii) the termination of Employee's employment for any reason
whatsoever following a Corporate Transaction prior to the
expiration of the Protected Term.
9. NO SET-OFF; NO MITIGATION OBLIGATION. The Company hereby acknowledges
that it will be difficult and may be impossible (a) for Employee to find
reasonably comparable employment following the Termination Date; and (b) to
measure the amount of damages which Employee may suffer as a result of
termination of employment hereunder. In addition, the Company acknowledges that
its severance pay plans applicable to corporate officers do not provide for
mitigation, offset or reduction of any severance payment received thereunder.
Accordingly, the payment of the severance compensation by the Company to
Employee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement is hereby acknowledged
by the Company to be reasonable and will be liquidated damages, and Employee
will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this
Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits,
income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever create any
mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of Employee
hereunder or otherwise, except as expressly provided in Sections 7(d) and (e)
and the last sentence of Section 8 (b)(ii).
10. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event that a Corporate Transaction occurs prior to the expiration of the
Protected Term and it shall be determined (as hereafter provided) that any
payment or distribution by the Company or any of its affiliates to or for
the benefit of Employee, whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise pursuant
to or by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or
arrangement, including without limitation any stock option, stock
appreciation right or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any
restriction on or the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing
(collectively, a "Payment"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision
thereto) by reason of being considered "contingent on a change in ownership
or control" of the Company, within the meaning of Section 280G of the
Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision thereto) or to any
similar tax imposed by state or local law, or any interest or penalties
with respect to such tax (such tax or taxes, together with any such
interest and penalties, being hereafter collectively referred to as the
"Excise Tax"), then Employee shall be entitled to receive an additional
payment or payments
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(collectively, a "Gross-Up Payment"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Gross-Up
Payment shall be made with respect to the Excise Tax, if any, attributable
to: (i) any incentive stock option, as defined by Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code ("ISO"), granted prior to the execution of this
Agreement; or (ii) any stock appreciation or similar right, whether or not
limited, granted in tandem with any ISO described in clause (i). The
Gross-Up Payment shall be in an amount such that, after payment by Employee
of all taxes, including any Excise Tax (and including any interest or
penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), imposed upon the Gross-Up
Payment, Employee retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the
Excise Tax imposed upon the Payment.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 10(f) hereof, all
determinations required to be made under this Section 10, including whether
an Excise Tax is payable by Employee and the amount of such Excise Tax and
whether a Gross-Up Payment is required to be paid by the Company to
Employee and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, if any, shall be made by
a nationally recognized accounting firm (the "Accounting Firm") selected by
the Company. The Company shall direct the Accounting Firm to submit its
determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and
Employee within thirty (30) calendar days after any Termination Date
arising pursuant to Section 8(a). If the Accounting Firm determines that
any Excise Tax is payable by Employee, the Company shall pay the required
Gross-Up Payment to Employee within five (5) business days after receipt of
such determination. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is
payable by Employee, it shall, at the same time as it makes such
determination, furnish the Company and Employee an opinion that Employee
has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his federal,
state or local income or other tax return. As a result of the uncertainty
in the application of Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (or any
successor provision thereto) and the possibility of similar uncertainty
regarding applicable state or local tax law at the time of any
determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that a
Gross-Up Payment which will not have been made by the Company should have
been made (an "Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to
be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts or fails to
pursue its remedies pursuant to Section 10(f) hereof and Employee
thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, Employee shall
direct the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the Underpayment that
has occurred and to submit its determination and detailed supporting
calculations to both the Company and Employee as promptly as possible. Any
such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to, or for the
benefit of, Employee within five business days after receipt of such
determination and calculations.
(c) The Company and Employee shall each provide the Accounting Firm
access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the possession
of the Company or Employee, as the case may be, reasonably requested by the
Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm in
connection with the preparation and issuance of the determination and
calculations contemplated by Section 10(b) hereof. Except as contemplated
by Sections 10(f) or 10(g), any final determination
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by the Accounting Firm as to the amount of the Gross-Up Payment shall be
binding upon the Company and Employee.
(d) The federal, state and local income or other tax returns filed by
Employee shall be prepared and filed on a consistent basis with the
determinations of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Excise Tax
payable by Employee. Employee shall make proper payment of the amount of
any Excise Payment, and at the request of the Company, provide to the
company true and correct copies (with any amendments ) of his federal
income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service and
corresponding state and local tax returns, if relevant, as filed with the
applicable taxing authority, and such other documents reasonably requested
by the Company, evidencing such payment. If prior to the filing of
Employee's federal income tax return, or corresponding state or local tax
return, if relevant, the Accounting Firm determines that the amount of the
Gross-Up Payment should be reduced, Employee shall within five business
days pay to the Company the amount of such reduction.
(e) The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in
connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Section
10(b) hereof shall be borne by the Company.
(f) Employee shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority that, if successful,
would require the payment by the Company of a Gross-Up Payment. Such
notification shall be given as promptly as practicable but no later than 10
business days after Employee actually receives notice of such claim and
Employee shall further apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and
the date on which such claim is requested to be paid (in each case, to the
extent known by Employee). Employee shall not pay such claim prior to the
earlier of: (i) the expiration of the ten (10) calendar day period
following the date on which he gives such notice to the Company; and (ii)
the date that any payment of such amount with respect to such claim is due.
If the Company notifies Employee in writing prior to the expiration of such
period that it desires to contest such claim, Employee shall:
(A) provide the Company with any written records or documents in
his possession relating to such claim reasonably requested by the
Company;
(B) 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 competent in respect of the
subject matter and reasonably selected by the Company;
(C) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively
to contest such claim; and
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(D) 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 interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such
contest and shall indemnify and hold harmless Employee, on an after-tax basis,
for and against 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 limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section
10(f), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with the
contest of any claim contemplated by this Section 10(f) and, at its sole option,
may pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings
and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim (provided,
however, that Employee may participate therein at his own cost and expense) and
may, at its option, either direct Employee to pay the tax claimed and xxx for
refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and Employee 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 Employee
to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a refund, the Company shall advance the
amount of such payment to Employee on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify
and hold Employee harmless, on an after tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income
or other tax, including interest or penalties with respect thereto, imposed with
respect to such advance; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, that any extension of
the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of
Employee with respect to which the contested amount is claimed to be due is
limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of
any such contested claim shall be limited to issues with respect to which a
Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and Employee shall be entitled to
settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal
Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.
(g) If, after the receipt by Employee of any amount advanced by the
Company pursuant to Section 10(f) hereof, Employee receives any refund with
respect to such claim, Employee shall (subject to the Company's complying
with the requirements of Section 10(f) hereof) promptly pay to the Company
the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited
thereon after any taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by
Employee of any amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 10(f)
hereof, a determination is made that Employee shall not be entitled to any
refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify Employee
in writing of its intent to contest such denial or refund prior to the
expiration of 30 calendar days after such determination, then such advance
shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of
any such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of
Gross-Up Payment required to be paid by the Company to Employee pursuant to
this Section 10.
11. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES. It is the intent of the Company that Employee
not be required to incur legal fees and the related expenses associated with the
interpretation, enforcement or defense of Employee's rights under Section 8 of
this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof
would substantially detract from the benefits
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intended to be extended to Employee hereunder. Accordingly, if the Company fails
to comply with any of its obligations under it this Agreement or in the event
that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement
void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or
proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Employee the benefits provided
or intended to be provided to Employee hereunder, the Company irrevocably
authorizes Employee from time to time to retain counsel of Employee's choice, at
the expense of the Company as hereafter provided, to advise and represent
Employee in connection with any such interpretation, enforcement or defense,
including, without limitation, the initiation or defense of any litigation or
other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any Director, officer,
stockholder or other person affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction.
Without respect to whether Employee prevails, in whole or in part, in connection
with any of the foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially
responsible for any and all reasonable attorneys' and related fees and expenses
by Employee in connection with any of the foregoing.
12. EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS; TERMINATION PRIOR TO CORPORATE TRANSACTION. Nothing
expressed or implied in this Agreement will create any right or duty on the part
of the Company or Employee to have Employee remain in the employment of the
Company prior to or following any Corporate Transaction. Any termination of
employment of Employee by the Company other than for Cause or by reason of his
death or disability pursuant to Sections 7(b), (d) or (e) during the period
beginning on the date that is sixty (60) days prior to the date of the first
public announcement by the Company of the potential occurrence of an event that
would constitute a Corporate Transaction and ending on the date of consummation
of such Corporate Transaction shall be deemed to be a termination of Employee
after a Corporate Transaction for purposes of this Agreement.
13. NON-COMPETITION/NON-SOLICITATION.
(a) COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE. Employee covenants and agrees that during
Employee's employment with the Company and for a period of one (1) year
following the termination of Employee's employment, including without
limitation termination by the Company for cause or without cause, Employee
shall not, in the United States of America, engage, directly or indirectly,
whether as principal or as agent, officer, director, employee, consultant,
shareholder or otherwise, alone or in association with any other person,
corporation or other entity, in any Competing Business. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Employee may own, directly or indirectly, up to 1% of the
outstanding equity of any business which may be a Competing Business
without violating the provisions of this Section 13(a).
(b) NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS. Employee agrees that during his
employment with the Company he shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit
the business of, or do business with, any customer or prospective customer
of the Company for any business purpose other than for the benefit of the
Company. Employee further agrees that for one (1) year following
termination of his employment with the Company, including without
limitation termination by the Company for cause or without cause, Employee
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shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit the business of, or do business
with, any customers or prospective customers of the Company.
(c) NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. Employee agrees that, during his
employment with the Company and for one (1) year following termination of
Employee's employment with the Company, including without limitation
termination by the Company for cause or without cause, Employee shall not,
directly or indirectly, solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce,
any employee of the Company to leave the employment of the Company for any
reason whatsoever, or hire any employee of the Company except into the
employment of the Company.
14. VESTING OF OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK; EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
(a) Upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction prior to the
expiration of the Protected Term,
(i) all options to purchase Company stock, other than the 1998
Option, then held by Employee shall be fully vested and exercisable in
full as of such date;
(ii) all shares of restricted Company stock issuable to Employee
under outstanding restricted stock awards made to Employee prior to
the date of such Corporate Transaction shall be issued to Employee as
of such date; and
(iii) the restrictions applicable to all shares of restricted
stock then held by Employee (including shares issued pursuant to
subsection (ii) above) shall lapse as of such date.
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no termination of
Employee's employment with the Company will affect any rights which
Employee may have pursuant to any agreement, policy, plan, program or
arrangement of the Company providing Employee Benefits.
15. WITHHOLDING OF TAXES. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as the Company is
required to withhold pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
16. SUCCESSORS AND BINDING AGREEMENT.
(a) The Company will require all successors (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise)
to any substantial portion of the business or assets of the Company, by
agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Employee, jointly and
severally expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the
same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform
if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement will be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company,
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including without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly
all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company whether
by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such
successor shall thereafter be deemed the "Company" for the purposes of this
Agreement), but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable
by the Company.
(b) This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
Employee's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees and legatees.
(c) This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties
hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or
delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as
expressly provided in Sections 16(a) and 16(b) hereof. Without limiting the
generality or effect of the foregoing, Employee's right to receive payments
hereunder will not be assignable, transferable or delegable, whether by
pledge, creation of a security interest, or otherwise, other than by a
transfer by Employee's will or by the laws of descent and distribution and,
in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this
Section 16(c), the Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so
attempted to be assigned, transferred or delegated.
17. NOTICES. For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications,
including without limitation notices, consents, requests or approvals, required
or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed to have
been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by electronic .facsimile
transmission (with receipt thereof orally confirmed), or five business days
after having been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, or three business days after having been
sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service such as Federal
Express or UPS, addressed to the Company (to the attention of the Secretary of
the Company) at its principal executive office and to Employee at his principal
residence, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other
in writing and in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address
shall be effective only upon receipt.
18. GOVERNING LAW. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
principles of conflict of laws of such State.
19. VALIDITY. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any
provision hereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, unenforceable
or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of
such provision to any other person or circumstances will not be affected, and
the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal will be
reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it
enforceable, valid or legal.
20. MISCELLANEOUS.
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21. NO WAIVER BY EITHER PARTY HERETO AT ANY TIME OF ANY BREACH BY THE OTHER
PARTY HERETO OR COMPLIANCE WITH ANY CONDITION OR PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO
BE PERFORMED BY SUCH OTHER PARTY WILL BE DEEMED A WAIVER OF SIMILAR OR
DISSIMILAR PROVISIONS OR CONDITIONS AT THE SAME OR AT ANY PRIOR OR SUBSEQUENT
TIME. REFERENCES TO SECTIONS ARE TO REFERENCES TO SECTIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.
22. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same agreement.
23. TITLES. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to
serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
THE COMPANY:
HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT
CORPORATION OF AMERICA
By:
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Its:
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HCR MANORCARE, INC.
By:
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Its:
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EMPLOYEE:
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M. XXXXX XXXXXX
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SCHEDULE I
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Employee:
Current Base Rate:
Job Titles:
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SCHEDULE II
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Executive Retention Agreement
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