CHANGE IN CONTROLAGREEMENT

 

                      THIS AGREEMENT, dated January 1, 2010 is made by and between AngioDynamics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and [       ] (the "Executive").

                      WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential to the best interests of its shareholders to foster the continued employment of key management personnel; and

                      WHEREAS, the Board recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a Change in Control exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders; and

                      WHEREAS, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a Change in Control;

                      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

                      1.           Defined Terms. The definitions of capitalized terms used in this Agreement are provided in the last Section hereof.

                      2.           Term of Agreement. The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and shall continue in effect through December 31, 2010; provided, however, that effective January 1, 2011 and each January 1 thereafter, the Term that is then in effect shall automatically be extended for one additional year unless the Company has given notice before the January 1 in question that the Term that is in effect at the time such notice is given will not be extended; and further provided, however, that if a Change in Control occurs during the Term, the Term shall expire no earlier than twelve (12) calendar months after the calendar month in which such Change in Control occurs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall terminate if the Executive ceases to be an employee of the Company and its subsidiaries for any reason prior to a Change in Control. However, anything in this Agreement (including the preceding sentence) to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change in Control occurs and if, within three months prior to the date on which such Change in Control occurs, the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause or an event occurs that would, if it took place after the Change in Control, constitute Good Reason for termination of employment by the Executive, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of employment by the Company or event constituting Good Reason for termination of employment by the Executive (a) was undertaken at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change in Control, or (b) otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of the Change in Control, then for purposes of this Agreement such termination of employment by the Company without Cause or event constituting Good Reason shall be deemed to occur during the 12 month period following the Change in Control and, if the Executive terminates his employment for such Good Reason before the Change in Control, such termination of employment by the Executive shall likewise be deemed to occur during the 12 month period following the Change in Control.

 

                      3.           Company's Covenants Summarized. In order to induce the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company and in consideration of the Executive's covenants set forth in Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees, under the conditions described herein, to pay the Executive the Severance Payments and the other payments and benefits described herein. Except as provided in Section 2, Section 6.3, Section 9.1 or Section 14.2 hereof, no amounts shall be payable under this Agreement unless the Executive's employment with the Company terminates following a Change in Control and during the Term. This Agreement shall not be construed as creating an express or implied contract of employment enforceable against the Company nor, except as provided in Section 4 below, enforceable against the Executive, and, except as otherwise agreed in writing between the Executive and the Company, the Executive shall not have any right to be retained in the employ of the Company.

                      4.           The Executive's Covenants. The Executive agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, if a Potential Change in Control occurs during the Term and the Executive is then in the employ of the Company, until the earliest of (a) the date which is six (6) months from the date of such Potential Change in Control, (b) the date of a Change in Control, (c) the date of termination by the Executive of the Executive's employment for Good Reason or by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, or (d) the termination by the Company of the Executive's employment for any reason; provided that Executive’s agreement to remain in the employ of the Company shall be subject to the condition that no adverse change occurs after the Potential Change in Control in his title, duties, responsibilities, authority, reporting relationships, compensation, benefits or indemnification rights.

                      5.           Certain Compensation Other Than Severance Payments.

                      5.1           If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for any reason following a Change in Control and during the Term, the Company shall pay the Executive his full salary through the date of termination at the rate in effect immediately prior to the date of termination or, if higher, the rate in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, together with all compensation and benefits payable to the Executive through the date of termination under the terms of the Company's compensation and benefit plans, programs and arrangements as in effect immediately prior to the date of termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason.

                      5.2           Subject to Section 6.1 hereof, if the Executive's employment shall be terminated for any reason following a Change in Control and during the Term, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Executive's normal post-termination compensation and benefits as such payments become due. Any such post-termination compensation and benefits shall be determined under, and paid in accordance with, the Company's retirement, insurance and other compensation and benefit plans, programs and arrangements as in effect immediately prior to the date of termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the first event or circumstance constituting Good Reason.

                      6.           Severance Payments.

 

                      6.1           Subject to Section 6.2 and Section 6.3 hereof, if the Executive's employment is terminated following a Change in Control and during the Term either by the Company or by the Executive, other than (a) by the Company for Cause, (b) by reason of death or Disability, or (c) by the  Executive without Good Reason, (any such employment termination being hereafter sometimes referred to as a "Compensable Termination"), then the Company shall pay the Executive the amounts, and provide the Executive the benefits, described in this Section 6.1 ("Severance Payments"), in addition to any payments and benefits to which the Executive is entitled under Sections 5 and 6.3 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be eligible to receive any payment or benefit provided for in this Section 6.1 unless the Executive shall have executed a release substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto effective as of the date of the Compensable Termination or a date subsequent thereto and shall not have revoked said release.  The Severance Payments are in lieu of any severance benefits that would otherwise be payable or provided pursuant to any severance plan or practice of the Company.

 

(i)           The Company shall pay the Executive, at the time provided in Section 6.2 below, his annual bonus for the fiscal year of the Company preceding the fiscal year of the Company in which the Compensable Termination occurs, if unpaid at the time of the Compensable Termination, the amount of such bonus to be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board on a basis no less favorable to the Executive than its bonus determinations with respect to the Executive prior to the Change in Control, unless the Committee made no bonus determinations with respect to the Executive before the Change in Control, in which case on a basis no less favorable to the Executive than its bonus determinations with respect to other executives of comparable rank before the Change in Control.

 

(ii)           The Company shall pay the Executive, at the time provided in Section 6.2 below, a prorated annual bonus for the fiscal year of the Company in which the Compensable Termination occurs, such prorated bonus to be determined by multiplying the “Applicable Average Bonus” as defined below in this subsection (ii) by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of days elapsed in such fiscal year through (and including) the date on which the Compensable Termination occurs and the denominator of which shall be the number 365.  For purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Average Bonus” means the higher of (A) the average of all annual bonuses (including any deferred bonuses) awarded to the Executive during the 36 months immediately preceding the Compensable Termination or, if the Executive was employed by the Company for less than 36 months before the Compensable Termination, during the period of his employment by the Company prior to the Compensable Termination (annualizing any bonus awarded for less than a full year of employment), or (B) the average of all annual bonuses (including any deferred bonuses) awarded to the Executive during the three fiscal years of the Company that precede the fiscal year in which the Compensable Termination occurs or during the portion of such three fiscal years in which he was employed by the Company (annualizing any bonus awarded for less than a full year of employment), or (C) the average of all annual bonuses (including any deferred bonuses) awarded to the Executive during the 36 months preceding the date on which the Change in Control occurred or during the portion of such 36 month period in which he was employed by the Company (annualizing any bonus awarded for less than a full year of employment).

(iii)           The Company shall pay the Executive, at the time provided in Section 6.2 below, a lump sum cash payment equal to two (2) times the Executive's annual base salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Compensable Termination or, if higher, in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason (“Base Salary”).

 

(iv)           The Company will pay the Executive for all earned but unused vacation leave at the time of the Compensable Termination.

 

(v)           At the time provided in Section 6.2 below, the Company shall, in accordance with the Company’s automobile policy for officers as in effect on the date of this Agreement (the “Auto Policy”), (A) transfer title to the Executive's Company-provided automobile to the Executive at the Company’s expense, or (B) if the Company leases rather than owns such automobile, purchase such automobile and transfer title to such automobile to the Executive at the Company's expense, or (C) if the Executive is receiving a car allowance in lieu of being provided with a Company-owned or Company-leased automobile, pay the Executive the book value of the automobile for which the allowance is paid, up to the amount provided in the Auto Policy.

 

 

                      8.           No Mitigation. The Company agrees that, if the Executive's employment with the Company terminates during the Term, the Executive is not required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section 6 hereof or any other provision of this Agreement. Further, the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement shall not be reduced (a) by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer, (b) by retirement benefits, (c) by offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the Company, or (d) otherwise.

                      9.           Successors; Binding Agreement.

                      9.1           In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform the Company’s obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession during the Term shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive would be entitled to hereunder if the Executive were to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason after a Change in Control and during the Term, except that, for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates (for any reason other than Cause) within 30 days before, or at any time during the Term and on or after, the date on which any such succession becomes effective during the Term shall be deemed the date of the Compensable Termination.

                      9.2           This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive shall die while any amount would still be payable to the Executive hereunder (other than amounts which, by their terms, terminate upon the death of the Executive) if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of the Executive's estate.

                      10.           Notices. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the Executive, to his most recent address shown on the books and records of the Company at the time notice is given and, if to the Company, to the address set forth below, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon actual receipt:

                                To the Company:

                                AngioDynamics, Inc.

                                603 Queensbury Avenue

                                Attention: Chief Executive Officer

                      11.           Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or of any lack of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties concerning the specific subject matter addressed by this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements addressing the terms and conditions contained herein.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended to amend or otherwise alter the change in control provisions or any other provisions of any (a) stock option or other compensation or incentive award that may heretofore have been or may hereafter be granted to the Executive, or (b) employee benefit or fringe benefit plan in which the Executive may heretofore have been or may hereafter be a participant. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. All references to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to such sections and to IRS or SEC regulations and official guidance published thereunder. Any payments provided for hereunder shall be subject to any applicable withholding required under federal, state or local law and any additional withholding to which the Executive has agreed. The obligations of the Company and the Executive under this Agreement which by their nature may require either partial or total performance after the expiration of the Term (including, without limitation, those under Sections 6 and 7 hereof) shall survive such expiration.

                      12.           Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

                      13.           Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several

counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

                      14.1           All claims by the Executive for benefits under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined by the Board and shall be in writing. Any denial by the Board of a claim for benefits under this Agreement shall be delivered to the Executive in writing and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the specific provisions of this  Agreement relied upon. The Board shall afford a reasonable opportunity to the Executive for a review of the decision denying a claim and shall further allow the Executive to appeal to the Board a decision of the Board within sixty (60) days after notification by the Board that the Executive's claim has been denied.

                      14.2           Any further dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in the Albany, New York metropolitan area in accordance with the employment dispute resolution rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. The arbitrator shall have the authority to require that the Company reimburse the Executive for the payment of all or any portion of the legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with such dispute or controversy. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction.

                      15.           Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

                      (A)           "Affiliate" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

                       (C)           “Base Salary” shall have the meaning set forth in subsection (iii) of Section 6.1.

                      (D)           "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

                      (E)           "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

                      (F)           "Cause" for termination by the Company of the Executive's employment shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform the Executive's duties with the Company as such duties were in effect prior to any change therein constituting Good Reason (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure after the occurrence of an event constituting Good Reason for resignation by the Executive) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive's duties, provided that such failure will constitute Cause only if it remains uncured for more than thirty (30) days following receipt by the Executive of such written demand from the Board; (ii) the engaging by the Executive in willful conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise, provided that such conduct will constitute Cause only if it remains uncured for more than thirty (30) days following receipt by the Executive of a written demand from the Board to cease such conduct; (iii) the Executive’s insubordination, as defined from time to time by the Board, provided that insubordination will constitute Cause only if it remains uncured for more than thirty (30) days following receipt by the Executive of a written demand from the Board to cease such insubordination; or (iv) the Executive's conviction of (a) a felony or (b) a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude. For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition, no act, or failure to act, on the Executive's part shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive's act, or failure to act, was in the best interest of the Company.  The Company shall notify the Executive in writing of any employment termination purporting to be for Cause on or before the date of such termination, which writing shall describe with specificity the conduct alleged to constitute Cause for such termination.  Any purported termination of employment by the Company for Cause which does not satisfy the applicable requirements of this Section 15(F) shall be conclusively deemed to be a termination of employment by the Company without Cause for purposes of this Agreement.

                      (G)           A "Change in Control" shall mean that any of the following events has occurred:

(i)           any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or  indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities     beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing more than 40% of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (A) of paragraph (iii) below; or

(ii)           the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a  majority of the number of directors serving on the Board: individuals who, at the beginning of any period of two consecutive years or less (not including any period prior to the date of this Agreement), constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; or

(iii)           there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any Subsidiary with any other corporation, other than (A) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, at least 60% of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the  securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing more than 40% of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or

(iv)           the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an  agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, at least 60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.

                      (H)           "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

                      (I)             "Company" shall mean AngioDynamics, Inc. and, except in determining under Section 15(G) hereof whether or not any Change in Control of the Company has occurred, shall include any successor to its business and/or assets which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

                      (K)           "Disability" shall be deemed the reason for the termination by the Company of the Executive's employment, if, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent from the full-time performance of the Executive's duties with the Company for a period of six consecutive months or for six non-consecutive months within any period of 12 consecutive months.

 

                      (L)           "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

                      (M)           "Executive" shall mean the individual named in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

                      (N)           "Good Reason" for termination by the Executive of the Executive's employment shall mean the occurrence (without the Executive's express written consent) after any Change in Control, of any one of the following acts by the Company, or failures by the Company to act, unless, in the case of any act or failure to act described in paragraph (i), (iii), (iv) or (vii) below, such act or failure to act is corrected within thirty (30) calendar days after the Company’s receipt of written notice thereof given by the Executive within thirty (30) calendar days of such act or failure to act:

(i)           the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent with the Executive's status or position in the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control, or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature, status or scope of the Executive's responsibilities or authority from his responsibilities or authority immediately prior to the Change in Control, or a reduction in his title;

(ii)          a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual base salary as in effect on the date of this Agreement or as the same may be increased from time to time;

 

(iii)         a significant reduction in compensation, benefits or reimbursements provided under any employment, compensation, employee benefit or reimbursement plan or program in which the Executive is a participant which is not replaced with substantially equivalent compensation, benefits or reimbursements under another plan, program or arrangement at substantially the same cost (if any) to the Executive;

 

(iv)         the Company fails to pay or provide any amount or benefit that the Company is obligated to pay or provide under this Agreement or any other employment, compensation, benefit or reimbursement plan, agreement or arrangement of the Company to which the Executive is a party or in which the Executive participates;

 

(v)          the Company fails to pay the Executive a bonus, for each fiscal year of Employer that terminates following a Change in Control and during the Term, at least equal to 80% of the Applicable Average Bonus;

 

(vi)         the relocation of the Executive's principal place of employment to a location which increases the Executive's one-way commuting distance by more than 40 miles, or the Company's requiring the Executive to travel on business other than to an extent substantially consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations prior to the Change in Control;

 

(vii)        a significant adverse change occurs, whether of a quantitative or qualitative nature, in the indemnification protection provided to the Executive for acts and omissions arising out of his service on behalf of the Company or any other entity at the request of the Company; or

 

(viii)       The Company fails to obtain the assumption of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1.

 

The Executive's right to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason shall not be affected by the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The Executive's continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder.

                      (O)           "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

                      (P)           "Potential Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

(i)           the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;

(ii)           the Company or any Person publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control;

(iii)           any Person becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates); or

(iv)           the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.

                      (Q)           "Retirement" shall be deemed the reason for the termination by the Executive of the Executive's employment if such employment is terminated in accordance with the Company's retirement policy, including early retirement, generally applicable to its salaried employees.

                      (T)           "Severance Payments" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 hereof.

                      (V)           "Term" shall mean the period of time described in Section 2 hereof (including any extension or continuation described therein).

                      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

                                                      ANGIODYNAMICS, INC.

                                                      By: _____________________

                                                       Name:

                                                       Title:

                                                      ________________________

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