EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.29
EXECUTION COPY
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), dated as of February 1 , 2008 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between Biomet, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxx X. Xxx Xxxxxx (the “Executive”).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage the Executive, and the Executive desires to be engaged by the Company as Vice President, Biomet, Inc.; President, Biomet Europe; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Biomet Luxembourg Holding sarl and Director of Biomet Hong Kong Limited; and
WHEREAS, Biomet Europe B,V, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 000, 0000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx will be the principal employer of the Executive
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into this Agreement to set out the terms and conditions for the employment relationship of the Executive with the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Employment Agreement. On the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company agrees to employ the Executive and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company for the Employment Period set forth in Section 2 and in the positions and with the duties set forth in Section 3. Terms used herein with initial capitalization not otherwise defined are defined in Section 23.
2. Term. The initial term of employment under this Agreement shall be for a three-year period commencing on the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”). The term of employment shall be automatically extended for an additional consecutive 12-month period (the “Extended Term”) on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and each subsequent anniversary of the Effective Date, unless and until the Company or Executive provides written notice to the other party in accordance with Section 11 hereof not less than 90 days before such anniversary date that such party is electing not to extend the term of employment under this Agreement (“Non- Renewal”), in which case the term of this Agreement shall end as of the end of such Initial Term or Extended Term, as the case may be, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter set forth. Such Initial Term and all such Extended Terms are collectively referred to herein as the “Employment Period.”
3. Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Vice President, Biomet, Inc. and President, Biomet Europe; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Biomet Luxembourg Holding sarl and Director of Biomet Hong Kong Limited. In such capacities, the Executive shall report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall have the powers and authority customarily exercised by individuals serving as Vice President, and President of Biomet Europe, Chairman of the
Supervisory Board of Biomet Luxembourg Holding sarl, and Director of Biomet Hong Kong Limited of a company of the size and nature of the Company. The Executive shall devote the Executive’s reasonable best efforts and full business time to the performance of the Executive’s duties hereunder and the advancement of the business and affairs of the Company; provided that the Executive shall be entitled to serve as a member of the board of directors of another company approved by the Board, to serve on civic, charitable, educational, religious, public interest or public service boards approved by the Board, and to manage the Executive’s personal and family investments, in each case, to the extent such activities do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially interfere with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.
4. Place of Performance. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be based primarily at the principal executive offices of the Company in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, except for reasonable travel on the Company’s business consistent with the Executive’s position.
5. Compensation and Benefits
(a) Base Compensation. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a base salary (the “Base Salary”) at the rate of no less than $410,251 per year. The Base Salary shall be reviewed for increase by the Company no less frequently than annually and shall be increased in the discretion of the Company and any such adjusted Base Salary shall constitute “Base Salary” for purposes of this Agreement. The Base Salary shall be paid in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll procedures.
(b) Annual Bonus. The Executive shall be given the opportunity to earn an annual incentive bonus for each fiscal year that ends during the Employment Period in accordance with the annual bonus plan generally applicable to the Company’s executive officers, as the same may be in effect from time to time (the “Annual Plan”). The Executive’s target annual incentive bonus opportunity under the Annual Plan shall be no less than 80 % of the Executive’s Base Salary for on-target performance with the possibility of exceeding 80% for high achievement. The actual amount payable to the Executive as an annual bonus under the Annual Plan shall be dependent upon the achievement of performance objectives established in accordance with the Annual Plan by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board (or its successor committee) (the “Compensation Committee”). Any bonus payable pursuant to this Section 5(b) shall be paid at the same time annual bonuses are payable to other officers of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Annual Plan.
(c) Vacation; Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Company shall provide to the Executive employee benefits and perquisites on a basis that is no less favorable than that provided to other senior officers of the Company, including participation in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (if any), as in effect from time to time. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all benefits are provided at the Company’s sole discretion. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall have the right to change insurance carriers and to adopt, amend, terminate or modify employee benefit plans and arrangements at any time and without the consent of the Executive.
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6. Expenses. The Executive is expected and is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in the performance of his duties hereunder. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all such expenses reasonably and actually incurred in accordance with policies which may be adopted from time to time by the Company promptly upon periodic presentation by the Executive of an itemized account, including reasonable substantiation, of such expenses.
7. Confidentiality, Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement. The Company and the Executive acknowledge and agree that during the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive will have access to and may assist in developing Company Confidential Information and will occupy a position of trust and confidence with respect to the Company’s affairs and business and the affairs and business of the Company’s Affiliates. The Executive agrees that the following obligations are necessary to preserve the confidential and proprietary nature of Company Confidential Information and to protect the Company and its Affiliates against harmful solicitation of employees and customers, harmful competition and other actions by the Executive that would result in serious adverse consequences for the Company and its Affiliates:
(a) Non-Disclosure. During the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive will not knowingly use, disclose or transfer any Company Confidential Information other than as authorized in writing by the Company or within Executive’s good faith interpretation of the scope of the Executive’s duties. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the provisions of this Section 7(a) shall not apply (i) when disclosure is required by law or by any court, arbitrator, mediator or administrative or legislative body (including any committee thereof) with actual or apparent jurisdiction to order the Executive to disclose or make accessible any information; or (ii) to information that becomes generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 7(a).
(b) Materials. The Executive will not remove any Company Confidential Information or any other property of the Company or any of its Affiliates from the Company’s premises or make copies of such materials except for normal and customary use in the Company’s business. The Company acknowledges that the Executive, in the ordinary course of his duties, routinely uses and stores Company Confidential Information at home and other locations. The Executive will return to the Company all Company Confidential Information and copies thereof and all other property of the Company or any of its Affiliates at any time upon the request of the Company and in any event promptly after termination of Executive’s employment. The Executive agrees to attempt in good faith to identify and return to the Company any copies of any Company Confidential Information after the Executive ceases to be employed by the Company. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, nothing in this Section 7 shall prevent the Executive from retaining a home computer, papers and other materials of a personal nature (including diaries and calendars), information relating to his compensation or relating to reimbursement of expenses, information that he reasonably believes may be needed for tax purposes, and copies of plans, programs and agreements relating to his employment.
(c) No Solicitation or Hiring of Employees. During the Non-Compete Period, the Executive shall not solicit, entice, persuade or induce any individual who is employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates (or who was so employed within 180 days prior to the
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Executive’s action) to terminate or refrain from continuing such employment or to become employed by or enter into contractual relations with any other individual or entity other than the Company or any of its Affiliates, and the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, hire, or participate in the hiring, as an employee, consultant or otherwise, any such Person.
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(d) Non-Competition.
(i) During the Non-Compete Period, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit or encourage any client or customer of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or any Person who was a client or customer within 180 days prior to Executive’s action to terminate, reduce or alter in a manner adverse to the Company, any existing business arrangements with the Company or any of its Affiliates or to transfer existing business from the Company or any of its Affiliates to any other Person, (B) provide services to any entity that competes with the Company or its Affiliate in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the Executive has any responsibility during his employment hereunder or that provides a product or service competitive with any product or service provided by the Company or its Affiliate or (C) own an interest in any entity described in subsection (B) immediately above; provided, however, that Executive may own, as a passive investor, securities of any such entity that has outstanding publicly traded securities so long as his direct holdings in any such entity shall not in the aggregate constitute more than 2% of the voting power of such entity. The Executive agrees that, before providing services, whether as an employee or consultant, to any entity during the Non Compete Period, he will provide a copy of this Agreement to such entity and acknowledge, to the Company in writing, that he has done so. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall prevent the Executive from providing services to a division or a subsidiary of an entity that does not compete with the Company or any of its Affiliates and that does not provide products or services competitive with products or services provided by the Company or any of its Affiliates even if other divisions or subsidiaries of that entity compete with the Company so long as the Executive does not have any managerial or supervisory authority with respect to such competitive division or subsidiary. The Executive acknowledges that this covenant has a unique, very substantial and immeasurable value to the Company, that the Executive has sufficient assets and skills to provide a livelihood for the Executive while such covenant remains in force and that, as a result of the foregoing, in the event that the Executive breaches such covenant, monetary damages would be an insufficient remedy for the Company and equitable enforcement of the covenant would be proper. The Executive further covenants that he shall not challenge the reasonableness of any of the covenants set forth in this Section 7, but reserves the right to challenge the Company’s interpretation of such covenants.
(ii) If the restrictions contained in Section 7(d)(i) shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of their extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of their being too extensive in any other respect, Section 7(d)(i) shall be modified to be effective for the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable and over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable and to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable.
(e) Publicity. During the Employment Period, the Executive hereby grants to the Company the right to use, in a reasonable and appropriate manner, the Executive’s name and likeness, without additional consideration, on, in and in connection with technical, marketing or disclosure materials, or any combination thereof, published by or for the Company or any of its Affiliates.
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(f) Conflicting Obligations and Rights. The Executive represents and warrants that he is not subject to agreement or contractual commitment that prevents or in any way limits his ability to fully discharge his duties and responsibilities hereunder and that he is not in possession of any confidential or proprietary information of another Person that will be used in connection with the discharge of his duties hereunder. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the accuracy of the foregoing representation and warranty is a condition precedent to the enforceability of the Company’s obligations hereunder.
(g) Enforcement. The Executive acknowledges that in the event of any breach of this Section 7, the business interests of the Company and its Affiliates will be irreparably injured, the full extent of the damages to the Company and its Affiliates will be impossible to ascertain, monetary damages will not be an adequate remedy for the Company and its Affiliates, and the Company will be entitled to enforce this Agreement by a temporary, preliminary and/or permanent injunction or other equitable relief, without the necessity of posting bond or security, which the Executive expressly waives. The Executive understands that the Company may waive some of the requirements expressed in this Agreement, but that such a waiver to be effective must be made in writing and should not in any way be deemed a waiver of the Company’s right to enforce any other requirements or provisions of this Agreement. The Executive agrees that each of the Executive’s obligations specified in this Agreement is a separate and independent covenant and that the unenforceability of any of them shall not preclude the enforcement of any other covenants in this Agreement.
8. Termination of Employment. The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated during the Employment Period under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon the Executive’s death;
(b) By the Company. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for:
(i) Disability. If the Executive shall have been substantially unable to perform the Executive’s material duties hereunder by reason of illness, physical or mental disability or other similar incapacity, which inability will be longer than the one foreseen by Dutch Labor laws.
(ii) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause as defined herein; or
(iii) Without Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment without Cause at any time upon not less than 90 days notice to the Executive. The Company’s Non-Renewal of the Initial Term or the Extended Term shall constitute a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause, and the Company’s notice of Non-Renewal pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall constitute notice of termination without Cause for purposes of this Section 8(b)(iii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s Non-Renewal of the Initial Term or the Extended Term shall constitute a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause only if the Company determines that a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-l(h) has occurred.
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(c) By the Executive. The Executive may terminate his employment with or without Good Reason upon not less than 90 days notice to the Company. The Executive’s Non-Renewal of the Initial Term or the Extended Term shall constitute a termination of employment by the Executive without Good Reason, and the Executive’s notice of Non-Renewal pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall constitute notice of the Executive’s termination of his employment for purposes of this Section 8(c). During this 90-day notice period, the Company may, without breaching this Agreement or constituting Good Reason or a Termination without Cause, relieve the Executive of his positions, titles, duties and responsibilities and direct the Executive to cease appearing on Company property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive’s Non-Renewal of the Initial Term or the Extended Term shall constitute a termination of employment by the Executive without Good Reason only if the Company determines that a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-l(h) has occurred.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Employment Period, other than pursuant to the Executive’s death, shall be effected by delivery to the other party of a notice of termination (a “Notice of Termination”) from the party terminating the Employment Period.
(e) Other Resignations. Upon any termination of the Executive’s employment, he shall automatically resign, and shall automatically be deemed to have resigned, from all positions with the Company and its Affiliates.
9. Compensation Upon Termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive’s Employment is terminated prior to July 11, 2009, then the Executive’s severance benefits (if any) shall be governed by the Change in Control Agreement entered into between the Executive and the Company and dated as of September 20, 2006 (the “Change in Control Agreement”), as modified by Sections 9(f), 9(g), 9(h), 9(i) and 10 hereof and by any applicable stock option grant agreement, and the Executive shall have no right to any severance benefit under this Agreement. In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if it is determined that any payment or distribution made by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive in connection with the tender offer which closed on or about July 11, 2007 pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 18, 2006 (amended and restated as of June 7, 2007), by and among Biomet, Inc., LVB Acquisition LLC and LVB Acquisition Merger Sub, Inc. (the “Merger Agreement”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax, as determined pursuant to Section 280G of the Code, then the Executive’s rights (if any) to receive a gross-up payment and have the Company bear accounting fees and expenses in connection with such gross-up payment shall be governed by the Change in Control Agreement, as modified by Sections 9(f), 9(g), 9(h), 9(i) and 10 hereof and by any applicable stock option grant agreement. If the Executive’s Employment is terminated on or after July 11, 2009, the Executive’s severance benefits (if any) shall be governed by the following provisions of this Section 9.
(a) Death. If the Executive’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period as a result of the Executive’s death, this Agreement and the Employment Period shall
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terminate without further notice or any action required by the Company or the Executive’s legal representatives. Upon the Executive’s death, the Company shall pay or provide the following: (i) the Company shall pay to the Executive’s legal representative or estate, as applicable, the Executive’s Base Salary due through the Executive’s Date of Termination; (ii) the Company shall pay to the Executive’s legal representative or estate, as applicable, a pro rated portion (based on the percentage of the Company’s fiscal year preceding the Executive’s Date of Termination) of the amount equal to the average of (x) the annual incentive bonus earned by the Executive for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination and (y) the annual incentive bonus the Executive would have received for the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination if his employment had not been terminated, as determined by the Board based on the Company’s performance to the Date of Termination extrapolated through the end of such fiscal year; and (iii) the Company shall pay, at the time when such payments are due, to the Executive’s legal representative or estate, as applicable, the Accrued Benefits and the rights of the Executive’s legal representative or estate with respect to any equity or equity-related awards shall be governed by the applicable terms of the related plan or award agreement. The total amount of the pro rated bonus described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence will be paid in a lump sum at the time the Company pays annual incentive bonuses under the Annual Plan to its similarly situated active employees for the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination. Except as set forth herein, the Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive under this Agreement.
(b) Disability. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period because of the Executive’s Disability pursuant to Section 8(b)(i), (i) the Company shall pay to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative, as applicable, the Executive’s Base Salary due through the Executive’s Date of Termination, (ii) the Company shall pay to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative, as applicable, a pro rated portion (based on the percentage of the Company’s fiscal year preceding the Executive’s Date of Termination) of the amount equal to the average of (x) the annual incentive bonus earned by the Executive for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination and (y) the annual incentive bonus the Executive would have received for the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination if his employment had not been terminated, as determined by the Board based on the Company’s performance to the Date of Termination extrapolated through the end of such fiscal year; and (iii) the Company shall pay to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative, as applicable, at the time when such payments are due, the Accrued Benefits and the rights of the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative, as applicable, with respect to any equity or equity-related awards shall be governed by the applicable terms of the related plan or award agreement. The total amount of the pro rated bonus described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence will be paid in a lump sum at the time the Company pays annual incentive bonuses under the Annual Plan to its similarly situated active employees for the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination. Except as set forth herein, the Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive under this Agreement.
(c) Certain Terminations by the Company or Voluntarily by the Executive. If, during the Employment Period, the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause or the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment other than for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Executive’s Base Salary due through the Date of Termination and all Accrued Benefits, if any, to which the Executive is entitled as of the Date of
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Termination, at the time such payments are due, and the Executive’s rights with respect to any equity or equity-related awards shall be governed by the applicable terms of the related plan or award agreement.
(d) Termination by the Company Other Than For Cause, Death or Disability, or by the Executive for Good Reason, Prior to a Change of Control. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period other than for Cause and other than due to the Executive’s death or Disability, or if Executive terminates the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, in either case at any time other than during the two-year period following a Change of Control, then:
(i) Executive shall be entitled to an amount equal to 1.5 times the Executive’s Base Salary in effect at the Date of Termination (the “Severance Benefit”). The total amount of the Severance Benefit will be paid in equal, ratable installments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll policies over the course of the Non-Compete Period;
(ii) Executive shall be entitled to a pro rated portion (based on the percentage of the Company’s fiscal year preceding the Executive’s Date of Termination) of the annual incentive bonus the Executive would have received for the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination if his employment had not been terminated, as determined by the Board based on the Company’s performance to the Date of Termination extrapolated through the end of such fiscal year. The total amount of the pro rated bonus described in the preceding sentence will be paid in a lump sum at the time the Company pays annual incentive bonuses under the Annual Plan for such fiscal year to its similarly situated active employees;
(iii) If the Executive is eligible for and elects continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA (with respect to the Executive and/or the Executive’s dependents who are eligible to elect COBRA under the Company’s group health plan(s) as a direct result of the Executive’s termination of employment), the Company shall pay (as of the first of each applicable month) the premiums for such coverage (or reimburse the Executive for such premiums) until the earlier to occur of (x) the end of the Non-Compete Period or (y) the date the Executive becomes eligible for coverage under another group health plan;
(iv) The Company shall pay to the Executive, at the time when such payments are due, the Accrued Benefits; and
(v) The rights of the Executive with respect to any equity or equity-related awards shall be governed by the applicable terms of the related plan or award agreement.
(e) Termination by the Company Other Than For Cause, Death or Disability, or by the Executive for Good Reason, Following a Change of Control. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period other than for Cause and other than due to the Executive’s death or Disability, or if Executive terminates the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, in either case within the two-year period following a Change of Control, then:
(i) Executive shall be entitled to an amount equal to (A) 2 times the Executive’s Base Salary in effect at the Date of Termination plus (B) 2 times the amount equal to the average of (x) the annual incentive bonus earned by the Executive for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination and (y) the annual incentive bonus the Executive would have received for the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination if his employment had not been terminated, as determined by the Board based on the Company’s performance to the Date of Termination extrapolated through the end of such fiscal year (the “Change of Control Severance Benefit”). The total amount of the Change of Control Severance Benefit will be paid in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following the Date of Termination;
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(ii) Executive shall be entitled to a pro rated portion (based on the percentage of the Company’s fiscal year preceding the Executive’s Date of Termination) of the Executive’s target annual incentive bonus under the Annual Plan for the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination. The total amount of the pro rated bonus described in the preceding sentence will be paid in a lump sum at the time the Company pays annual incentive bonuses under the Annual Plan for such fiscal year to its similarly situated active employees;
(ii) If the Executive is eligible for and elects continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA (with respect to the Executive and/or the Executive’s dependents who are eligible to elect COBRA under the Company’s group health plan(s) as a direct result of the Executive’s termination of employment), the Company shall pay (as of the first of each applicable month) the premiums for such coverage (or reimburse the Executive for such premiums) until the earlier to occur of (x) the end of the Non-Compete Period or (y) the date the Executive becomes eligible for coverage under another group health plan;
(iv) The Company shall pay to the Executive, at the time when such payments are due, the Accrued Benefits; and
(v) The rights of the Executive with respect to any equity or equity-related awards shall be governed by the applicable terms of the related plan or award agreement.
(f) Delay in Payments. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions or any provision in this Agreement or the Change in Control Agreement to the contrary, all payments pursuant hereto and pursuant to the Change in Control Agreement (if any) are intended to comply with Code Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the guidance thereunder, and this Agreement and the Change in Control Agreement shall be construed accordingly. To the extent that compliance with Section 409A(a)(2)(B) would require any payment otherwise provided for by this Agreement or the Change in Control Agreement to be delayed for six months, such payment shall be made as soon as administratively practicable after the end of such six-month period.
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(g) Liquidated Damages. The parties acknowledge and agree that damages which will result to the Executive for termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment shall be extremely difficult or impossible to establish or prove, and agree that the amounts payable to the Executive (if any) under Section 9(d) or 9(e), as applicable (the “Severance Payments”), or under the Change in Control Agreement, as applicable, shall constitute liquidated damages for any such termination.
(h) Full Discharge of Company Obligations. In the event of any breach of this Agreement by the Company, the Executive shall be entitled to the lesser of (i) the amount of damages incurred by the Executive as a direct result of each breach and (ii) the Severance Payments the Executive would be entitled to under Section 9(d) if his employment were terminated thereunder. The amounts payable to Executive following termination of the Employment Period or upon any actual or constructive termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Section 9, or pursuant to the Change in Control Agreement (as applicable), shall be in full and complete satisfaction of Executive’s rights under this Agreement or the Change in Control Agreement (as applicable) and any other claims he or she may have in respect of his employment by the Company or any of its Affiliates, and Executive acknowledges that such amounts are fair and reasonable, and his sole and exclusive remedy, in lieu of all other remedies at law or in equity, with respect to the termination of his employment hereunder. Payment of any Severance Payment pursuant to Section 9(d) or 9(e), as applicable, shall be conditioned upon (x) Executive’s execution and non-revocation of a release in a form substantively identical in terms to the form attached as Exhibit A and (y) Executive’s compliance with the provisions set forth in Section 7 hereof.
(i) Section 409A. To the extent the Executive would be subject to the additional 20% tax imposed on certain deferred compensation arrangements pursuant to Section 409A of the Code as a result of any provision of this Agreement or the Change in Control Agreement, such provision shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to avoid application of such tax and the parties shall promptly execute any amendment reasonably necessary to implement this Section 9(i).
10. Change in, Control Agreement. The Executive hereby agrees that the Term (as that term is defined in the Change in Control Agreement) of the Change in Control Agreement shall terminate on July 11, 2009, that the Change in Control Agreement shall cease to have any force and effect with respect to any termination of Employment that occurs on or after July 11, 2009, and that such Term shall not be affected by any change in control that may occur after the date hereof and prior to July 11, 2009, The Executive further agrees that the provisions of the Change in Control Agreement which may entitle the Executive to receive a gross-up payment and to have the Company bear accounting fees and expenses in connection with any such gross-up payment shall apply, effective as of the date hereof, only with respect to any payment or distribution made by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive in connection with the tender offer which closed on or about July 11, 2007 pursuant to the Merger Agreement. In addition, the Executive agrees that, effective as of the date hereof, the Change in Control Agreement shall be amended as follows: (a) the definition of “Post-CIC Good Reason” therein
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shall be stricken therefrom and shall be replaced with the definition of “Good Reason” set forth in this Agreement and (b) all references therein to the term “Post-CIC Good Reason” shall be stricken therefrom and shall be replaced with the term “Good Reason,” provided that, solely for purposes for the Change in Control Agreement, a termination of Executive’s Employment by reason of the Executive’s death shall constitute Good Reason. For the avoidance of doubt, except as modified by Sections 9(f), 9(g), 9(h), 9(i) and 10 hereof and by any applicable stock option grant agreement, the Change in Control Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.
11. Notices. All notices, demands, requests, or other communications which may be or are required to be given or made by any party to any other party pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be hand delivered, mailed by first-class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, delivered by overnight air courier, or transmitted by facsimile transmission addressed as follows:
(i) If to the Company, to:
Biomet, Inc.
00 X. Xxxx Xxxxx
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Chief Legal Officer
Facsimile Number: (000)000-0000
(ii) If to the Executive, to the address last shown on the Company’s Records.
Each party may designate by notice in writing a new address to which any notice, demand, request or communication may thereafter be so given, served or sent. Each notice, demand, request, or communication that shall be given or made in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given or made for all purposes at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the return receipt, the delivery receipt, confirmation of facsimile transmission or the affidavit of messenger being deemed conclusive but not exclusive evidence of such delivery) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation.
12. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
13. Effect on Other Agreements. Except as expressly provided herein with respect to the Change in Control Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall supersede the terms of any plan, policy, agreement, award or other arrangement of the Company (whether entered into before or after the Effective Date) to the extent application of the terms of this Agreement is more favorable to the Executive.
14. Survival. It is the express intention and agreement of the parties hereto that the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22 and 23 hereof shall survive the termination of employment of the Executive.
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15. Assignment. The rights and obligations of the parties to this Agreement shall not be assignable or delegable, except that (i) in the event of the Executive’s death, the personal representative or legatees or distributees of the Executive’s estate, as the case may be, shall have the right to receive any amount owing and unpaid to the Executive hereunder and (ii) the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder shall be assignable and delegable in connection with any subsequent merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets or equity interests of the Company or similar transaction involving the Company or a successor corporation. The Company shall require any successor to the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
16. Binding Effect. Subject to any provisions hereof restricting assignment, this Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, devisees, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
17. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement shall not be amended, altered or modified except by an instrument in writing duly executed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. Neither the waiver by either of the parties hereto of a breach of or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure of either of the parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder, shall thereafter be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.
18. Headings. Section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.
19. Governing Law. This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana (but not including any choice of law rule thereof that would cause the laws of another jurisdiction to apply). Except as otherwise provided in Section 7(g), each of the parties agrees that any dispute between the parties shall be resolved only in the courts of the State of Indiana or the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana and the appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts. In that context, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing (but subject to Section 7(g)), each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally (a) submits for himself or itself in any proceeding relating to this Agreement or Executive’s employment by the Company or any of its Affiliates, or for the recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof (a “Proceeding”), to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Indiana, the court of the United States of America for the Northern District of Indiana, and appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals from any of the foregoing, and agrees that all claims in respect of any such Proceeding shall be heard and determined in such Indiana State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court; (b) consents that any such Proceeding may and shall be brought in such courts and waives any objection that he or it may now or thereafter have to the venue or jurisdiction of any such Proceeding in any such court or that such Proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court
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and agrees not to plead or claim the same; (c) waives all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Executive’s employment by the Company or any of its Affiliates, or his, or its, performance under or the enforcement of this Agreement; (d) agrees that service of process in any such Proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy of such process by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party at his, or its, address as provided in Section 11; and (e) agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by the laws of the State of Indiana.
20. Entire Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein with respect to the Change in Control Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties respecting the employment of the Executive and supersedes all other agreements and understandings.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
22. Withholding. The Company may withhold from any benefit payment under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
23. Definitions.
“Accrued Benefits” means (i)(A) any vested compensation deferred by the Executive prior to the Date of Termination and not paid by the Company; (B) any amounts or benefits owing to the Executive or to the Executive’s beneficiaries under the then applicable benefit plans of the Company; and (C) any amounts owing to the Executive for reimbursement of expenses properly incurred by the Executive prior to the Date of Termination and which are reimbursable in accordance with Section 6; and (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period (A) other than by the Company for Cause and other than by the Executive without Good Reason and (B) prior to the Company’s payment to him of his an annual incentive bonus, if any, under the Annual Plan for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year that contains the Date of Termination, the amount of such annual incentive bonus.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any entity, any other corporation, organization, association, partnership, sole proprietorship or other type of entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such entity, provided that none of the Majority Stockholders shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company for purposes of this Agreement solely by reason of its ownership interest in the Company, and provided further that no company that is wholly or partially owned by any Majority Stockholder shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company solely by reason of such Majority Stockholder’s ownership interest therein.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
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“Cause,” when used in connection with a termination of the Executive’s employment, shall mean, unless otherwise provided in any applicable equity award grant agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive with respect to any equity awards that may be granted to the Executive, the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company and all of its Affiliates on account of (i) a failure of the Executive to substantially perform his duties (other than as a result of physical or mental illness or injury) that has continued after the Company has provided written notice of such failure and the Executive has not cured such failure within 30 days of the date of such written notice, provided that a failure to meet financial performance expectations shall not, by itself, constitute a failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties; (ii) the Executive’s willful misconduct or gross negligence; (iii) a willful or grossly negligent breach by a Executive of the Executive’s fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty to the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iv) the commission by the Executive of any felony or other serious crime involving moral turpitude; (v) a material breach of the Executive’s obligations under any agreement entered into between the Executive and the Company or any of its Affiliates, which, if such breach is reasonably susceptible to cure, has continued after the Company has provided written notice of such breach and the Executive has not cured such failure within 30 days of the date of such written notice; or (vii) a material breach of the Company’s written policies or procedures that have been communicated to the Executive and that causes material harm to the Company or its business reputation.
“Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events after the Effective Date: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the LVB Acquisition, Inc. on a consolidated basis to any Person or group of related persons for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (a “Group”), together with any Affiliates thereof other than to a Majority Stockholder; (ii) the approval by the holders of the outstanding voting power of LVB Acquisition, Inc. of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of LVB Acquisition, Inc.; (iii) (A) any Person or Group (other than the Majority Stockholder) shall become the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of common stock of either the Company or LVB Acquisition, Inc. (or any intermediary entity between the Company and LVB Acquisition, Inc.) representing more than 40% of the aggregate outstanding voting power of the Company, LVB Acquisition, Inc. or such intermediary entity, as applicable, and such Person or Group actually has the power to vote such common stock in any such election and (B) the Majority Stockholder beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the voting power of the Company or LVB Acquisition, Inc. (or any intermediary entity between the Company and LVB Acquisition, Inc.), as applicable, than such other Person or Group; (iv) the replacement of a majority of the Board over a two-year period from the directors who constituted the Board at the beginning of such period, and such replacement shall not have been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Board then still in office who either were members of such Board at the beginning of such period or whose election as a member of such Board was previously so approved or who were nominated by, or designees of, a Majority Stockholder; (v) consummation of a merger or consolidation of the LVB Acquisition, Inc. with another entity in which holders of the common stock of LVB Acquisition, Inc. immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction hold, directly or indirectly, immediately following the
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consummation of the transaction, less than 50% of the common equity interest in the surviving corporation in such transaction and the Majority Stockholder does not hold a sufficient amount of voting power (or similar securities) to elect a majority of the surviving entity’s board of directors or (vi) a merger, recapitalization or other direct or indirect sale by the Majority Stockholder (including through a public offering) of common stock of LVB Acquisition, Inc. that results in more than 80% of the common stock of LVB Acquisition, Inc. (or any resulting company after a merger) owned, directly or indirectly, by the Majority Stockholder immediately following the Closing, no longer being so owned by the Majority Stockholder. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “Closing” shall mean the closing of the merger of the Company with LVB Acquisition Merger Sub, Inc. pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
“Company Confidential Information” means information known to the Executive to constitute trade secrets or proprietary information belonging to the Company or other Company confidential financial information, operating budgets, strategic plans or research methods, personnel data, projects or plans, or non-public information regarding the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, in each case, received by the Executive in the course of his employment by the Company or in connection with his duties with the Company.
“Date of Termination” means (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive’s death, the date of the Executive’s death; (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated because of the Executive’s Disability pursuant to Section 8(b)(i), 30 days after Notice of Termination, provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of the Executive’s duties on a full-time basis during such 30-day period; or (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason other than the Executive’s death or Disability, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, which in the case of a termination of employment by the Executive may not be less than 90 days following the date the notice is provided.
“Extended Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.
“Good Reason” shall mean, unless otherwise provided in any applicable equity award grant agreement entered between the Company or LVB Acquisition, Inc. and the Executive with respect to any equity awards that may be granted to the Executive, (a) the occurrence of the following without the Executive’s consent: (i) a material diminution in the Executive’s duties and responsibilities as of the Effective Date, other than a change in such Executive’s duties and responsibilities that results from becoming part of a larger organization following a Change in Control; (ii) a decrease in a Executive’s base salary or bonus opportunity as of the Effective Date, other than a decrease in base salary or bonus opportunity that applies to a similarly situated class of employees of the Company or its Affiliates; or (iii) a relocation of a Executive’s primary work location more than 50 miles from the Executive’s work location on the Effective Date, without the Executive’s prior written consent; provided that, within thirty days following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in this subsection (a), the Executive shall have delivered written notice to the Company of his intention to terminate his employment for Good Reason, which notice specifies in reasonable detail the circumstances claimed to give rise to the Executive’s right to terminate employment for Good Reason, and neither the Company nor LVB Acquisition, Inc. shall not have cured such circumstances within thirty days following the Company’s receipt of such notice and (b) solely for purposes of (i) the LVB Acquisition, Inc. Management Stockholders’ Agreement for Senior Executives entered into between the Executive
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and the Company, dated as of September 13, 2007 and (ii) the LVB Acquisition, Inc. Management Equity Incentive Plan, adopted on November 16, 2007, the Executive’s retirement from employment with the Company and its Affiliates at any time following the Executive’s sixty-second (62nd) birthday.
“Majority Stockholder,” for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean, collectively or individually as the context requires, Blackstone Group, L.P., The Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Group, Inc., Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co., TPG Capital, L.P. and their respective Affiliates.
“Non-Compete Period” means the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending eighteen (18) months after the earlier of the expiration of the Employment Period or the Executive’s Date of Termination.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed and delivered this Agreement, or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered on their behalf.
| BIOMET, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | President and CEO | |
| EXECUTIVE | ||
| /s/ XXXXX X XXX XXXXXX | ||
| Name: | XXXXX X XXX XXXXXX | |
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