Exhibit 10.1
CONFORMED COPY
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated as of September 23, 2004
between WEBMD CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx (“Executive”).
WHEREAS, Executive and the Company are party to an Employment Agreement
dated as of April 4, 2000 (the “Original Employment Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to amend and restate in its
entirety the Original Employment Agreement on the terms set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants in this
Agreement, the parties agree as follows:
1. Effectiveness of Agreement and Employment of Executive.
1.1. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as
of the date first written above (the “Effective Date”).
1.2. Employment by the Company; Directorship. (a) The Company hereby
employs Executive as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Executive
hereby accepts such employment with the Company as of October 1, 2004.
Executive shall report to the Board of Directors of the Company (the
“Board”), and perform such duties and services for the Company
and its subsidiaries and affiliates (such subsidiaries and affiliates
collectively, “Affiliates”), commensurate with
Executive’s position as may be
designated from time to time, by the Board. Executive shall use his best and most diligent efforts to promote
the interests of the Company and the Affiliates, and shall devote all of his
business time and attention to his employment under this Agreement; provided,
however, that, subject to Sections 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.7, Executive shall be
permitted to continue to devote an insubstantial portion of his business time
to his family business previously disclosed to the Company in writing and to manage his
personal, financial and legal affairs that may from time to time require
insubstantial portions of his working time, so long as such activities would
not singularly or in the aggregate interfere or be inconsistent with his duties
and obligations under this Agreement.
(b) The Company shall, subject to its fiduciary duties, use its best
efforts to appoint Executive to the Board or to include Executive in
management’s nominees for election, and recommend the election of Executive as
a member of the Board. In the event that the employment of Executive with the
Company is terminated for any reason, Executive agrees that he will promptly
resign from the Board.
1.3. Confidentiality. Executive understands and acknowledges that in the
course of his employment, he will have access to and will learn information
that is proprietary to, or confidential to the Company and its Affiliates that
concerns the operation and methodology of the Company and its Affiliates,
including, without limitation, business strategy and plans, financial
information, protocols, proposals, manuals, clinical procedures and guidelines,
technical data, computer source codes, programs, software, know-how and
specifications,
copyrights, trade secrets, market information, Developments (as
hereinafter defined), and customer information (collectively, “Proprietary
Information”). Executive agrees that, at all times (including following
termination of this Agreement), he will keep confidential and will not disclose
directly or indirectly any such Proprietary Information to any third party,
except as required to fulfill his duties hereunder, and will not misuse,
misappropriate or exploit such Proprietary Information in any way. The
restrictions contained herein shall not apply to any information which
Executive can demonstrate by written record (a) was already available to the
public at the time of disclosure, or subsequently becomes available to the
public, other than by breach of this Agreement, (b) was the subject of a
court order for Executive to disclose, or (c) was information which was in the
possession of the Executive prior to his employment with the Company. Upon any
termination of this Agreement, Executive shall immediately return to the
Company all copies of any Proprietary Information in his possession.
1.4. Restrictions on Solicitation. During the period beginning on the
Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the date of cessation of
the employment of the Executive for any reason whatsoever (the “Restricted
Period”), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior
written approval of the Company, solicit or contact any customer, or any
prospective customer (with whom the Executive has had contact during the last
12 months of the term of this Agreement), of the Company or any of the
Affiliates for any commercial pursuit which Executive knows, or should know, is
in competition with the Company or any of the Affiliates, or that is
contemplated from time to time by the Business Plan (as defined below) or take
away or interfere or attempt to interfere with any custom, trade, business or
patronage of the Company or any of the Affiliates, or induce, or attempt to
induce, any employees, agents or consultants of or to the Company or any of the
Affiliates to do anything from which Executive is restricted by reason of this
Agreement nor shall Executive, directly or indirectly, offer or aid others to
offer employment to or interfere or attempt to interfere with any employees,
agents or consultants of the Company or any of the Affiliates (or any employee,
agents or consultants who were employed or provided services to the Company or
its Affiliates during the one year period prior to the date of termination of
Executive’s employment). For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Plan” shall
mean, at any point in time, the then current business plan of the Company and
the Affiliates and any business plans of the Company and the Affiliates in
effect during the prior 18 months.
1.5. Restrictions on Competitive Employment. (a) During the Restricted
Period, Executive shall not (as principal, agent, employee, consultant or
otherwise), anywhere in the United States, directly or indirectly, without the
prior written approval of the Company, (i) engage in direct or indirect
competition with the Company or any of the Affiliates, (ii) conduct a business
of the type and character engaged in by the Company or any of the Affiliates
(or contemplated by the Business Plan), or (iii) develop products or services
competitive with those of the Company or any of the Affiliates (collectively,
“Competitive Business”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may have an
interest consisting of publicly traded securities constituting less than 5
percent of any class of publicly traded securities in any public company
engaged in a Competitive Business so long as he is not employed by and does not
consult with, or become a director of or otherwise engage in any activities
for, such company.
(b) For purposes of the covenant not to compete set forth in paragraph (a)
above, Executive acknowledges that the Company and its Affiliates presently
conduct their
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businesses throughout the United States. Executive agrees that the
Restricted Period and the geographical areas encompassed by such covenant are
necessary and reasonable in order to protect the Company and its Affiliates in
the conduct of their businesses. The parties intend that the foregoing
covenant of Executive shall be construed as a series of separate covenants, one
for each geographic area specified. Except for geographic coverage, each such
separate covenant shall be deemed identical in terms to the covenant set forth
in paragraph (a) above. To the extent that the foregoing covenant or any
provision of this Section 1.5 shall be deemed illegal or unenforceable by a
court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction with respect to (i) any
geographic area, (ii) any part of the time period covered by such covenant,
(iii) any activity or capacity covered by such covenant or (iv) any other term
or provision of such covenant, such determination shall not affect such
covenant with respect to any other geographic area, time period, activity or
other term or provision covered by or included in such covenant.
1.6. Extension of Restricted Period. The Restricted Period shall be
extended by the length of any period during which Executive is in breach of the
terms of this Section 1.
1.7. Assignment of Developments. All Developments that are at any time
made, conceived or suggested by Executive, whether acting alone or in
conjunction with others, arising out of or as a result of Executive’s
employment with the Company shall be the sole and absolute property of the
Company and the Affiliates, free of any reserved or other rights of any kind on
Executive’s part. During Executive’s employment and, if such Developments were
made, conceived or suggested by Executive during or as a result of Executive’s
employment under this Agreement or any prior employment with the Company or the
Affiliates, thereafter, Executive shall promptly make full disclosure of any
such Developments to the Company and, at the Company’s cost and expense, do all
acts and things (including, among others, the execution and delivery under oath
of patent and copyright applications and instruments of assignment) deemed by
the Company to be necessary or desirable at any time in order to effect the
full assignment to the Company and the Affiliates of Executive’s right and
title, if any, to such Developments. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
“Developments” shall mean all data, discoveries, findings, reports, designs,
inventions, improvements, methods, practices, techniques, developments,
programs, concepts, and ideas, whether or not patentable, relating to the
present or planned activities, or future activities of which Executive is
aware, or the products and services of the Company or any of the Affiliates.
1.8. Remedies. Executive acknowledges and agrees that damages for a
breach or threatened breach of any of the covenants set forth in Sections 1.1
through 1.7 will be difficult to determine and will not afford a full and
adequate remedy, and therefore agrees that the Company, in addition to seeking
actual damages in connection therewith, may seek specific enforcement of any
such covenant in any court of competent jurisdiction, including, without
limitation, by the issuance of a temporary or permanent injunction.
2. Compensation and Benefits.
2.1.
Salary. Commencing on October 1, 2004, the Company shall pay Executive for services during the term
of this Agreement a base salary at the annual rate of $660,000 (as it may be
increased, “Base Salary”). Any and all increases to Executive’s Base Salary
shall be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the
“Compensation Committee”) in its sole discretion.
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Such Base Salary shall be payable in equal installments, no less
frequently than monthly, pursuant to the Company’s customary payroll policies
in force at the time of payment, less any required or authorized payroll
deductions.
(a) Bonus Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus of up
to 100% of his Base Salary. For the fiscal years ending December 31, 2004 and
December 31, 2005, the amount of such bonus shall be determined in the sole
discretion of the Compensation Committee. For future fiscal years during the
Employment Period, Executive’s bonus shall be subject to the attainment of
certain specified performance goals. Payment of the bonus, if any, shall be
made at the same time that other executive officer bonuses are paid generally,
but in no event later than April 30 of the following year, so long as Executive
remains in the employ of the Company on December 31 of the applicable year.
The performance goals shall be established by the Compensation Committee in
consultation with the Executive. The determination as to whether the
performance goals have been attained shall be made by the Compensation
Committee in its sole and absolute discretion to the extent the performance
goals are not quantifiable and on the basis of the Company’s audited financial
statements, to the extent the performance goals are quantifiable. Equitable
adjustments shall be made by the Compensation Committee to the targets to
reflect the effect of acquisitions/divestitures.
2.2. Benefits; Car Allowance. (a) During the Employment Period,
Executive shall be entitled to participate, on the same basis and at the same
level as other similarly situated senior executives of the Company, in any
group insurance, hospitalization, medical, health and accident, disability,
fringe benefit and tax-qualified retirement plans or programs or vacation leave
of the Company now existing or hereafter established to the extent that he is
eligible under the general provisions thereof.
(b) During the Employment Period, the Company shall provide Executive with
a car allowance in accordance with Company policy.
2.3. Expenses. Pursuant to the Company’s customary policies in force at
the time of payment, Executive shall be promptly reimbursed, against
presentation of vouchers or receipts therefore, for all authorized expenses
properly and reasonably incurred by him on behalf of the Company or its
Affiliates in the performance of his duties hereunder. The Company shall pay
the reasonable expenses of Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx incurred in connection with the
negotiation of this Agreement upon presentment of appropriate invoices, not to
exceed $10,000.
3. Employment Period.
Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence as of the
Effective Date, and shall terminate on the fifth anniversary thereof, unless
terminated earlier pursuant to Section 4 (the “Initial Employment Period”).
Unless written notice of either party’s desire to terminate this Agreement has
been given to the other party prior to the expiration of the Initial Employment
Period (or any one-month renewal thereof contemplated by this sentence), the
term of this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for successive one-month
periods.
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4. Termination.
4.1. Termination by the Company for Cause. (a) Executive’s employment
with the Company may be terminated at any time by the Company for Cause. Upon
such a termination, the Company shall have no obligation to Executive other
than the payment of Executive’s earned and unpaid compensation to the effective
date of such termination.
(b) For purposes of this section of the Agreement, the term “Cause” shall
mean any of the following:
(i) Any willful misconduct by Executive relating, directly or
indirectly, to the Company or any of its Affiliates, which breach, if
susceptible to cure, is not cured by Executive within 30 days following
written notice from the Company detailing such breach;
(ii) Any breach by Executive of any material provision contained in
this Agreement or any material policy, which breach, if susceptible to
cure, is not cured by Executive within 30 days following written notice
from the Company detailing such breach; or
(iii) Executive’s conviction of a felony or crime involving moral
turpitude.
4.2. Permanent Disability; Death. If during the term of this Agreement,
Executive shall become ill, mentally or physically disabled, or otherwise
incapacitated so as to be unable regularly to perform the duties of his
position for a period in excess of 90 consecutive days or more than 120 days in
any consecutive 12 month period (“Permanent Disability”), then the Company
shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company upon
written notice to Executive. In the event the Company terminates Executive’s
employment as a result of his Permanent Disability or death, Executive or
Executive’s estate shall be entitled to (i) a continuation of the Base Salary
for a period of three years from the date of termination, (ii) continued
participation in the Welfare Plans (as defined below) (subject to the proviso
in Section 4.4 (ii)) for a period of three years from the date of termination
and (iii) any Existing Equity (as defined in Section 5.2) shall remain
outstanding and continue to vest, and shall otherwise be treated for purposes
of the terms and conditions thereof, as if Executive remained in the employ of
the Company through the third anniversary of the date of termination, in each
case subject to the provisos and conditions following clause (iii) in Section
4.4; provided, however, that the Company shall have no other obligation to
Executive or Executive’s estate pursuant to this Agreement in the event that
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company pursuant
to this Section 4.2.
4.3. Resignation by the Executive. If the Executive terminates his
employment with the Company other than in accordance with Sections 4.5 and 4.6,
the Company shall have no obligation to Executive other than the payment of
Executive’s earned and unpaid compensation to the effective date of such
termination and any options to purchase the Company’s common stock shall remain
outstanding for the post-termination exercise period specified in the
applicable option agreement.
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4.4. Termination by the Company Without Cause. Executive’s employment
with the Company may be terminated at any time by the Company without Cause.
If the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause (including upon
notice of the Company pursuant to Section 3 of its desire not to renew this
Agreement) prior to a Change of Control (as defined in Section 4.5), the
Company shall have the following obligations to Executive (but excluding any
other obligation to Executive pursuant to this Agreement):
(i) The greater of (A) a continuation of his base salary in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Date ($450,000) for a period
commencing on the date of termination and ending two years from the date
of termination and (B) a continuation of the Base Salary for six months
for each six month period from the Effective Date through the date of
termination (the period during which Executive is receiving severance
under this Section is referred to herein as the “Applicable Period”);
provided, however, that in no event shall the Applicable Period exceed
three years for any purpose under this Agreement (payable in accordance
with the third sentence of Section 2.1);
(ii) Executive shall be eligible to continue to participate during
the Applicable Period (but in no event less than two years) on the same
terms and conditions that would have applied had he remained in the
employ of the Company during such period, in all health, medical, dental,
life and disability plans provided to Executive at the time of such
termination and which are provided by the Company to its employees
generally following the date of termination (“Welfare Plans”), provided
that the Company may require the Executive to elect COBRA and, in such
case, the Company shall pay that portion of the COBRA premium that the
Company pays for active employees with the same coverage for the period
that Executive is eligible for COBRA; and
(iii) Any Existing Equity (as defined in Section 5.2) shall remain
outstanding and continue to vest, and shall otherwise be treated for
purposes of the terms and conditions thereof, as if Executive remained in
the employ of the Company through the Applicable Period (but in no event
less than two years);
provided, however, that the continuation of such salary and benefits and the
continued vesting of the Existing Equity and exercisability of the Existing
Stock Options shall cease on the occurrence of any circumstance or event that
would constitute Cause under Section 4.1 of this Agreement (including any
material breach of the covenants contained in Sections 1.3-1.7 above), provided
further, however, that Executive’s eligibility to participate in the Welfare
Plans shall cease at such time as Executive is offered comparable coverage with
a subsequent employer. If Executive is precluded from participating in any
Welfare Plan by its terms or applicable law, the Company shall provide
Executive with benefits that are reasonably equivalent in the aggregate to
those which Executive would have received under such plan had he been eligible
to participate therein, provided that the Company’s liability shall in no event
exceed three times what the Company would have been required to incur if
Executive participated in the Company’s plan. In the event that Executive’s
employment is terminated by the Company without Cause on or after a Change of
Control, Executive shall be entitled to all of the benefits described in
Section 4.5.
4.5. Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control (as defined
below), the Executive may terminate his employment with the Company upon 30
days’ written
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notice to the Company at any time after a 11 month period following the
occurrence of the Change of Control (or such shorter period to the extent the
acquiring company does not request the services of the Executive for such 11
month period). In the event of such a termination by Executive, Executive will
be entitled to the (i) the greater of (such period being the “Change of Control
Payment Period”) (A) the continuation of the Base Salary for a period of three
years from the date of termination or (B) a continuation of the Base Salary
through September 22, 2009, (ii) annual bonus payments (pro rated for partial
years) during the Change in Control Payment Period calculated as follows: (A)
if the date of termination occurs prior to the calculation of the bonus for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2005, such bonus shall be 50% of the Base
Salary or (B) if the termination occurs after such date, the bonus shall be the
amount of the bonus for the prior fiscal year or, if greater, the bonus paid to
Executive for the fiscal year immediately prior to the Change in Control
(payable at such time as bonus payments are made generally to officers in no
event later than April 30 of the following year), (iii) the benefits described
in Section 4.4(ii) for the duration of the Change of Control Payment Period and (iv) all
Existing Equity held by the Executive shall immediately vest and the Existing
Stock Options will remain outstanding as if Executive remained in the employ of
the Company until such Existing Stock Options would have expired under the
terms of the applicable stock option plan and agreement, in each case subject
to the provisos and conditions in Section 4.4. For the purposes of this
Agreement, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:
(a) any person, entity or group shall have acquired at least 50% of
the voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company; or
(b) a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other
disposition, in each case involving all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company shall have occurred; or
(c) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company shall have
occurred.
For the avoidance of doubt, no sale, disposition or other transaction
involving the WebMD Health Division (or the assets thereof), including, without
limitation, a spin-off or split-off, will constitute a Change in Control.
4.6. Termination by the Executive For Good Reason. Executive’s employment
with the Company may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason on 30 days
written notice to the Company, which notice shall detail the specific basis for
such termination. The Company shall be given the opportunity to cure the basis
for such termination within such 30 day period. For the purpose of this
Section of this Agreement, the term “Good Reason” means any of the following:
(1) a material breach by the Company of its obligations to the Executive under
this Employment Agreement, which, if susceptible to cure, remains uncured, (2)
a material demotion of his position with the Company, and (3) if Executive is
required by the Company to relocate from his present residence or is required
to commute, on a regular basis, to the Company’s headquarters and such
headquarters is outside of the New York City metropolitan area. If the
Executive terminates his employment under this Section, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive the same salary and benefit continuation and continued
vesting of the Existing Equity and exercisability of the Existing Stock Options
as if his employment had been terminated by the Company without Cause under
Section 4.4.
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4.7. Liquidated Damages. Executive acknowledges that any payments and
benefits under Section 4 resulting from a termination of Executive’s employment
with the Company are in lieu of any and all claims that the Executive may have
against the Company and the Affiliates (other than benefits under the Company’s
employee benefit plans that by their terms survive termination of employment
and benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985,
as amended and rights to indemnification under certain indemnification
arrangements for officers of the Company), and represent liquidated damages
(and not a penalty). The Company may request that the Executive confirm such
acknowledgment in writing prior to the receipt of such benefits.
5. Equity.
5.1 Option. On October 1, 2004, Executive shall be granted a nonqualified
option to purchase 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the
Company’s 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “New Option”). The per share
exercise price shall be the closing price of the Company’s common stock on
October 1, 2004 and the New Option shall vest subject to Executive’s continued
employment on the applicable vesting dates (except as set forth in Section 4)
in annual installments as follows: 17% of the New Option shall vest on October
1, 2005; an additional 18.5% of the New Option shall vest on October 1, 2006;
an additional 20% on October 1, 2007; an additional 21.5% of the New Option
shall vest on the October 1, 2008; and the remaining 23% of the New Option
shall vest on October 1, 2009 (the “Vesting Schedule”). The New Option will
have a term of ten years, subject to earlier expiration in the event of
termination of employment. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the New
Option shall be evidenced by the Company’s standard form of option agreement.
To the extent permitted by Company policy and applicable law, Executive may
exercise options by means of a cashless exercise through a broker. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Existing Stock Options” shall mean all options
granted to Executive prior to the Effective Date and the New Option.
5.2 Restricted Stock. On October 1, 2004, Executive shall be granted
275,000 shares of Restricted Stock (the “Restricted Shares”) under the terms of
the 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan and a restricted stock agreement to be
entered into between Executive and the Company (which subject to the terms of
this Agreement shall be the standard agreement for executives of the Company).
The Restricted Shares shall vest and the restrictions thereon lapse in the same
manner applicable to the New Option subject to Executive’s continued employment
on the applicable dates, except as set forth in Section 4. For purposes of
this Agreement, “Existing Restricted Stock” shall mean the Restricted Shares
and the restricted stock previously granted to Executive in March 2004 and
“Existing Equity” shall mean, collectively, the Existing Stock Options and
Existing Restricted Stock.
6. Certain Additional Payments By The Company
6.1 Gross-Up Payment. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary or any
termination of this Agreement notwithstanding, in the event it shall be
determined that any payment or distribution or benefit received or to be
received by Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other
payment or distribution or benefit made or provided by the Company or any of
its Affiliates, to or for the benefit of Executive (whether pursuant to this
Agreement or otherwise and determined without regard to any additional payments
required
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under this Section 6) (a “Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), or any interest or penalties are incurred by Executive with respect to
such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and
penalties, is hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then
Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company an additional payment (a “Gross-Up
Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by Executive of all taxes
(including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes),
including, without limitation, any income and employment taxes (and any
interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed
upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment
equal to the sum of (x) the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments and (y) the
product of any deductions actually disallowed under Section 68 of the Code
solely as a direct result of the inclusion of the Gross-Up Payment in the
Executive’s adjusted gross income and the highest applicable marginal rate of
federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is
to be made. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment,
the Executive shall be deemed to (i) pay federal income taxes at the highest
marginal rates of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the
Gross-Up Payment is to be made and (ii) pay applicable state and local income
taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation for the calendar year in which
the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal
income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local
taxes.
6.2 Gross-Up Payment Calculation. Subject to the provision of Sections
6.1 and 6.3, all determinations required to be made under this Section 6,
including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of
such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such
determination, shall be made by the Company’s certified public accounting firm
(the “Accounting Firm”), which shall provide detailed supporting calculations
both to the Company and Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of
notice from Executive or the Company that there has been a Payment, or such
earlier time as is requested by the Company. All fees and expenses of the
Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined pursuant to this Section 6, shall be paid by the Company to
Executive within five days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm’s
determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon
the Company and 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
Accounting Firm 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 Section 6.3 and Executive
thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm
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
Executive.
6.3 Claim by the IRS. Executive shall notify the Company in writing of
any claim by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) 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 ten
business days after Executive is informed in writing 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. Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the
expiration of the 30-day period following the date on which Executive gives
such notice to the Company (or such
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shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect
to such claim is due). If the Company notifies Executive in writing prior to
the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, 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;
and
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively
to contest such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection
with such contest and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income and employment 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 Section 6.3, the Company shall control all
proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may
pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its
sole option, either direct Executive to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a
refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and Executive shall
agree 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 Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall, to
the extent permitted by law, advance the amount of such payment to Executive,
on an interest-free basis and indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income and employment 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
provided further, that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to
payment of taxes for the taxable year of 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
Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other
issue raised by the IRS or any other taxing authority.
6.4 Entitlement to Refund. If, after the receipt by Executive of an
amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 6.3, Executive becomes
entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, Executive shall
(subject to the Company’s complying with the requirements of Section 6.3)
promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any
interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after
the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to
Section 6.3, a determination is made that Executive shall not be entitled to
any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify Executive
in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior
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to the expiration of 30 days after such determination, then such advance
shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such
advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment
required to be paid.
7. Notices. Any notice or communication given by either party hereto to
the other shall be in writing and personally delivered or mailed by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the following
addresses:
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if to the Company: |
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WebMD Corporation
River Drive Center 2
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000-0000 |
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Attention: General Counsel |
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(b) |
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if to the Executive at the address specified in
the personnel files of the Company. |
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With a copy to: |
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
Any notice shall be deemed given when actually delivered to such address, or
two days after such notice has been mailed or sent by Federal Express,
whichever comes earliest. Any person entitled to receive notice may designate
in writing, by notice to the other, such other address to which notices to such
person shall thereafter be sent.
8. Miscellaneous.
8.1. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the agreements relating to the
Existing Equity contain the entire understanding of the parties in respect of
their subject matter and supersede upon their effectiveness all other prior
agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject
matter (including, without limitation, the Original Employment Agreement). To
the extent that there is a conflict between this Agreement and the agreements
relating to the Existing Equity with respect to vesting or exercisability only,
the provisions that are more favorable to the Executive shall prevail.
8.2. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented,
canceled or discharged, except by written instrument executed by the party
against whom enforcement is sought. No failure to exercise, and no delay in
exercising, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof. No waiver of any breach of
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any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any
preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision.
8.3. Binding Effect; Assignment. The rights and obligations of this
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of any successor of the Company
by reorganization, merger or consolidation, or any assignee of all or
substantially all of the Company’s business and properties. The Company may
assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates
without the consent of the Executive. Executive’s rights or obligations under
this Agreement may not be assigned by Executive, except that the rights
specified in Section 4.2 or, in the event of the death of Executive while he is
receiving payments and benefits thereunder, Sections 4.4, 4.5 of 4.6 shall pass
upon the Executive’s death to Executive’s executor or administrator.
8.4. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
8.5. Governing Law; Interpretation. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with and governed for all purposes by the laws and public policy
(other than conflict of laws principles) of the State of New Jersey applicable
to contracts executed and to be wholly performed within such State.
8.6. Further Assurances. Each of the parties agrees to execute,
acknowledge, deliver and perform, and cause to be executed, acknowledged,
delivered and performed, at any time and from time to time, as the case may be,
all such further acts, deeds, assignments, transfers, conveyances, powers of
attorney and assurances as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the
provisions or intent of this Agreement.
8.7. Severability. The parties have carefully reviewed the provisions of
this Agreement and agree that they are fair and equitable. However, in light
of the possibility of differing interpretations of law and changes in
circumstances, the parties agree that if any one or more of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the provisions of this
Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by law, remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. Moreover, if
any of the provisions contained in this Agreement is determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be excessively broad as to duration, activity,
geographic application or subject, it shall be construed, by limiting or
reducing it to the extent legally permitted, so as to be enforceable to the
extent compatible with then applicable law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.
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WEBMD CORPORATION
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By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx |
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx |
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Title: Executive Vice
President - General Counsel |
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EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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