EXHIBIT 10.7
CHANGE-IN-CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS CHANGE-IN-CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as
of February 25, 2003 by and between KINDRED HEALTHCARE OPERATING, INC., a
Delaware corporation, (the "Company") and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, (the
"Employee").
RECITALS:
A. The Employee is employed by the Company, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (the "Parent").
B. The Company recognizes that the Employee's contribution to the
Company's growth and success has been and continues to be significant.
C. The Company wishes to encourage the Employee to remain with and
devote full time and attention to the business affairs of the Company and wishes
to provide income protection to the Employee for a period of time in the event
of a Change in Control.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
AGREEMENT:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. "Base Salary" shall mean the Employee's regular annual
rate of base pay in gross as of the date in question as elected under Paragraph
3(a).
b. "Cause" shall mean the Employee's (i) conviction of or
plea of nolo contendere to a crime involving moral turpitude; or (ii) willful
and material breach by Employee of his duties and responsibilities, which is
committed in bad faith or without reasonable belief that such breaching conduct
is in the best interests of the Company, but with respect to (ii) only if the
Board of Directors of Parent (the "Board") adopts a resolution by a vote of at
least 75% of its members so finding after giving the Employee and his attorney
an opportunity to be heard by the Board.
c. "Change in Control" The term "Change in Control" shall
mean any one of the following events occurring after the date of this Agreement:
(i) An acquisition (other than directly from Parent)
of any voting securities of Parent (the "Voting Securities") by any "Person" (as
defined in Paragraph 1(f) hereof) immediately after which such Person has
"Beneficial Ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the 0000 Xxx) of
20% or more of the combined voting power of Kindred Healthcare, Inc.'s then
outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether a
Change in Control has occurred, Voting Securities which are acquired in an
acquisition by (i) Parent or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) an employee benefit
plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by Parent or any of its
subsidiaries or (iii) any Person in connection with an acquisition referred to
in the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii) shall not constitute an
acquisition which would cause a Change in Control.
(ii) The individuals who, as of February 25, 2003,
constituted the Board of Directors of Parent (the "Incumbent Board") cease for
any reason to constitute over 50% of the Board; provided, however, that if the
election, or nomination for election by Kindred Healthcare, Inc.'s stockholders,
of any new director was approved by a vote of over 50% of the Incumbent Board,
such new director shall, for purposes of this Section 1(c)(ii), be considered as
though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; provided, further,
however, that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board
if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or
threatened "Election Contest" (as described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the
0000 Xxx) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by
or on behalf of a Person other than the Board of Directors of Parent (a "Proxy
Contest"), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any
Election Contest or Proxy Contest.
(iii) Consummation of a merger, consolidation or
reorganization involving Parent, unless each of the following events occurs in
connection with such merger, consolidation or reorganization:
(A) the stockholders of Parent, immediately
before such merger, consolidation or reorganization, own, directly or indirectly
immediately following such merger, consolidation or reorganization, over 50% of
the combined voting power of all voting securities of the corporation resulting
from such merger or consolidation or reorganization (the "Surviving Company")
over which any Person has Beneficial Ownership in substantially the same
proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities immediately before such
merger, consolidation or reorganization;
(B) the individuals who were members of the
Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing
for such merger, consolidation or reorganization constitute over 50% of the
members of the board of directors of the Surviving Company; and
(C) no Person (other than Parent, any of its
subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof)
maintained by Parent, the Surviving Company or any Person who, immediately prior
to such merger, consolidation or reorganization had
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Beneficial Ownership of 20% or more of the then outstanding Voting Securities)
has Beneficial Ownership of 20% or more of the combined voting power of the
Surviving Company's then outstanding voting securities.
(iv) Approval by Parent's stockholders of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of Parent.
(v) Approval by Parent's stockholders of an
agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of Parent to any Person (other than a transfer to a subsidiary of
Parent).
(vi) Any other event that the Board shall determine
constitutes an effective Change in Control of Parent.
(vii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in
Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject
Person") acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the
outstanding Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Voting
Securities by Parent which, by reducing the number of Voting Securities
outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by
the Subject Person; provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for
the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Voting
Securities by Parent, and after such share acquisition by Parent, the Subject
Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Voting Securities which
increases the percentage of the then outstanding Voting Securities Beneficially
Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.
d. "Change-in-Control Date" shall mean the date immediately
prior to the effectiveness of the Change in Control.
e. "Good Reason" The Employee shall have good reason to
terminate employment with the Company if (i) the Employee's title, duties,
responsibilities or authority is reduced or diminished from those in effect on
the Change-in-Control Date without the Employee's written consent; (ii) the
Employee's compensation is reduced; (iii) the Employee's benefits are reduced,
other than pursuant to a uniform reduction applicable to all managers of the
Company; or (iv) the Employee is asked to relocate his office to a place more
than 30 miles from his business office on the Change-in-Control Date.
f. "Person" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and used in Sections
13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d).
g. "Target Bonus" shall mean the full amount of target
annual incentive bonus that would be payable to the Employee, assuming the
target performance criteria on which such annual incentive bonus were deemed to
be satisfied, in respect of services for the calendar year in which the date in
question occurs.
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h. "Termination of Employment" shall mean (i) the
termination of the Employee's employment by the Company other than such a
termination in connection with an offer of immediate reemployment by a successor
or assign of the Company or a purchaser of the Company or its assets under terms
and conditions which would not permit the Employee to terminate his employment
for Good Reason or otherwise during any Window Period; or (ii) the Employee's
termination of employment with the Company for Good Reason or during any Window
Period.
i. "Window Period" shall mean either of two 30-day periods
of time commencing 30 days after (i) a Change in Control and (ii) one year after
a Change in Control.
2. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall be for a
three-year period commencing on February 25, 2003 (the "Effective Date") (the
"Term"). The Term shall be automatically extended by one additional day for each
day beyond the Effective Date that the Employee remains employed by the Company
until such time as the Company elects to cease such extension by giving written
notice of such election to the Employee. In such event, the Agreement shall
terminate on the third anniversary of the effective date of such election
notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall automatically
terminate if and when the Employee terminates his employment with the Company or
two years after the Change-in-Control Date, whichever first occurs.
3. Severance Benefits. If at any time following a Change in Control
and continuing for two years thereafter, the Company terminates the Employee
without Cause, or the Employee terminates employment with the Company either for
Good Reason or during any Window Period, then as compensation for services
previously rendered the Employee shall be entitled to the following benefits:
a. Cash Payment. The Employee shall be paid cash equal to
three times the greater of:
(i) the sum of the Employee's Base Salary and Target
Bonus as of the Termination of Employment, or
(ii) the sum of the Employee's Base Salary and Target
Bonus as of the Change-in-Control Date.
Payment shall be made in a single lump sum upon the Employee's effective date of
termination.
b. Continuation of Benefits.
(i) For a period of three years following the
Termination of Employment, the Employee shall be treated as if he had continued
to be an employee for all purposes under Parent's Health Insurance Plan and
Dental Insurance Plan; or if the Employee is prohibited from participating in
such plan, the Company or Parent shall otherwise provide such benefits.
Following this continuation period, the Employee shall be entitled to receive
continuation
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coverage under Part 6 of Title I or ERISA ("COBRA Benefits") treating the end of
this period as a termination of the Employee's employment if allowed by law.
(ii) For a period of three years following the
Termination of Employment, Parent shall maintain in force, at its expense, the
Employee's life insurance in effect under Parent's Voluntary Life Insurance
Benefit Plan as of the Change-in-Control Date or as of the date of Termination
of Employment, whichever coverage limits are greater.
(iii) For a period of three years following the
Employee's Termination of Employment, the Company or Parent shall provide
short-term and long-term disability insurance benefits to Employee equivalent to
the coverage that the Employee would have had had he remained employed under the
disability insurance plans applicable to Employee on the date of Termination of
Employment, or, at the Employee's election, the plans applicable to Employee as
of the Change-in-Control Date. Should Employee become disabled during such
period, Employee shall be entitled to receive such benefits, and for such
duration, as the applicable plan provides.
c. Retirement Savings Plan. To the extent not already
vested pursuant to the terms of such plan, the Employee's interests under the
Parent's Retirement Savings Plan shall be automatically fully (i.e., 100%)
vested, without regard to otherwise applicable percentages for the vesting of
employer-matching contributions based upon the Employee's years of service with
the Company.
d. Plan Amendments. Parent shall adopt such amendments to
its employee benefit plans, if any, as are necessary to effectuate the
provisions of this Agreement.
e. Fringe Benefits. Following the Employee's Termination of
Employment, the Employee shall receive the computer that Employee is utilizing
as of the date of such Termination of Employment. In addition, for a period of
one year following Employee's Termination of Employment, Employee shall be
entitled to be reimbursed for any legal or accounting services utilized by
Employee to minimize any personal income tax obligations arising from the Change
in Control, in an amount not to exceed $5,000.
4. Golden Parachute Tax Reimbursement. Whether or not any payments
are made pursuant to Section 3 above, if a Change in Control occurs at any time
and the Employee reasonably determines that any payment or distribution by the
Company or any of its affiliates to or for the benefit of the 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 restricted stock,
stock option, stock appreciation right or similar right, or the lapse or
termination of any restriction on or the vesting or exercisablility of any of
the foregoing (individually and collectively, the "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 successor provision thereto) by reason of being
considered "contingent on a change in ownership or control," within the meaning
of Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision thereto), or any
interest or penalties
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with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such
interest and penalties, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Excise Tax"), then the Company or Parent shall pay to the Employee an
additional payment or payments (individually and collectively, the "Gross-Up
Payment"). The Gross-Up Payment shall be in an amount such that, after payment
by the Employee of all taxes required to be paid by the Employee with respect to
the receipt thereof under the terms of any federal, state or local government or
taxing authority (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to
such taxes), including any Excise Tax imposed with respect to the Gross-Up
Payment, the Employee retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the
Excise Tax imposed upon the Payment. The Gross-Up Payment shall be paid to the
Employee within 30 days of the Company's receipt of written notice from the
Employee that such Excise Tax has been paid or will be payable at any time in
the future.
5. No Mitigation Required or Setoff Permitted. In no event shall
Employee be obligated to seek other employment or take other action by way of
mitigation of the amounts payable to Employee under the terms of this Agreement,
and all such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not Employee obtains other
employment. Further, the Company's and Parent's obligations to make any payments
hereunder shall not be subject to or affected by any setoff, counterclaims or
defenses which the Company or Parent may have against Employee or others.
6. Waiver of Other Severance Benefits. The benefits payable
pursuant to this Agreement are in lieu of any other severance benefits which may
otherwise be payable by the Company or its affiliates to the Employee upon
termination of employment pursuant to a severance program of the Company or its
affiliates (including, without limitation, any benefits to which Employee might
otherwise be entitled under any other severance or change in control or similar
agreement previously entered into between Employee and the Company or any of its
affiliates).
7. Employment at Will. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Employee's employment with the Company is not for any
specified term and may be terminated by the Employee or by the Company at any
time, for any reason, with or without cause, without any liability, except with
respect to the payments provided hereunder or as required by law or any other
contract or employee benefit plan.
8. Disputes. Any dispute or controversy arising under, out of, or
in connection with this Agreement shall, at the election and upon written demand
of either party, be finally determined and settled by binding arbitration in the
City of Louisville, Kentucky, in accordance with the Labor Arbitration rules and
procedures of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award
may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Company shall pay
all costs of the arbitration and all attorneys' and accountants' fees of the
Employee in connection therewith, including any litigation to enforce any
arbitration award.
9. Non-solicitation. During the Term and for a period of one year
thereafter (collectively, the "Non-solicitation Period"), Employee shall not
directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any person other than the
Company, aid or endeavor to solicit or induce any of the
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Company's or its affiliates' employees to leave their employment with the
Company or such affiliates in order to accept employment with Employee or any
other person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole
proprietorship or other entity. If the restrictions set forth in this section
would otherwise be determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the parties intend and agree that such court shall
exercise its discretion in reforming the provisions of this Agreement to the end
that the Employee will be subject to a non-solicitation covenant which is
reasonable under the circumstances and enforceable by the Company. It is agreed
that no adequate remedy at law exists for the parties for violation of this
section and that this section may be enforced by any equitable remedy, including
specific performance and injunction, without limiting the right of the Company
to proceed at law to obtain such relief as may be available to it. The running
of the Non-solicitation Period shall be tolled for any period of time during
which Employee is in violation of any covenant contained herein, for any reason
whatsoever.
10. Successors; Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall not be
terminated by the voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Company or by any
merger or consolidation where the Company is not the surviving corporation, or
upon any transfer of all or substantially all of the Company's stock or assets.
In the event of such merger, consolidation or transfer, the provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the surviving
corporation or corporation to which such stock or assets of the Company shall be
transferred.
11. Notices. Any notice or other communication hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) if delivered
personally, or sent by overnight courier if signature for the receiving party is
obtained, or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other
party at the address set forth below:
If to the Company: Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to Employee: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Either party may change its specified address by giving notice
in writing to the other.
12. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold
the Employee harmless from and against any liability, damages, costs and
expenses (including attorneys' fees) in connection with any claim, cause of
action, investigation, litigation or proceeding involving him by reason of his
having been an officer, director, employee or agent of the Company, except to
the extent it is judicially determined that the Employee was guilty of gross
negligence or
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willful misconduct in connection with the matter giving rise to the claim for
indemnification. This indemnification shall be in addition to and shall not be
substituted for any other indemnification or similar agreement or arrangement
which may be in effect between the Employee and the Company or may otherwise
exist. The Company also agrees to maintain adequate directors and officers
liability insurance, if applicable, for the benefit of Employee for the term of
this Agreement and for five years thereafter.
13. ERISA. Many or all of the employee benefits addressed in
Paragraph 3(b) and (c) exist under plans which constitute employee welfare
benefit plans ("Welfare Plans") within the meaning of Section 3(1) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"). Any
payments pursuant to this Agreement which could cause any of such Plans not to
constitute a Welfare Plan shall be deemed instead to be made pursuant to a
separate "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of
ERISA or a "top hat" plan under Section 201(2) of ERISA as to which the
applicable portions of the document constituting the Welfare Plan shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference. None of the benefits hereunder may be
assigned in any way.
14. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision, which other provision shall remain in full force and
effect.
15. Interpretation. The headings used herein are for convenience
only and do not limit or expand the contents of this Agreement. Use of any male
gender pronoun shall be deemed to include the female gender also.
16. No Waiver. No waiver of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement shall be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of this
Agreement. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be enforceable
unless it is in writing and signed by the party against whom it is sought to be
enforced.
17. Survival. Any provisions of this Agreement creating obligations
extending beyond the term of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or
termination of this Agreement, regardless of the reason for such termination.
18. Amendments. Any amendments to this Agreement shall be effective
only if in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
20. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance
with and governed by the law of the State of Delaware.
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21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
22. Cancellation of Prior Agreement. The Employee hereby
acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement is intended to and does hereby
replace that certain change-in-control severance agreement, between the Company
(or its predecessor) and the Employee, and that such agreement is cancelled,
terminated and of no further force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first above written.
KINDRED HEALTHCARE OPERATING, INC.
By:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Solely for the
purposes of Sections
3, 4, 5 and 12:
KINDRED HEALTHCARE, INC.
By:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
--------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXX
