BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING INC. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

1.            SERVICES AND DUTIES. Subject to Section 2 hereof, from and after the Effective Date through (but not including) the first business day following the filing date of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the "CEO Start Date"), Executive shall, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, continue his current employment by the Company as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary, subject to Executive's current reporting relationships. Subject to Section 2 hereof, from and after the CEO Start Date, Executive shall, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, be employed by the Company as the Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO"), and shall report directly to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"). In addition, the Company shall nominate Executive for election to the Board upon the first vacancy on or after the CEO Start Date, but in any event no later than the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders. The principal location of Executive's employment with the Company shall be the same as Executive's principal location of employment as of the Effective Date, although Executive understands and agrees that Executive may be required to travel from time to time for business reasons. During the Term (as defined in Section 2(a) hereof), Executive shall be a full-time employee of the Company and shall dedicate all of Executive's working time to the Company and shall have no other employment and no other business ventures which are undisclosed to the Company or which conflict with Executive's duties under this Agreement. Executive shall perform such duties as are normally associated with Executive's position, together with such additional duties, commensurate with Executive's position, as may be assigned to Executive from time to time by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from (i) participating in trade associations or industry organizations which are related to the business of the Company or engaging in activities for charitable, civic or political organizations (including serving as a member of the board of such organization) , (ii) engaging in personal investment activities for Executive and Executive's family that do not give rise to any conflicts of interest with the

---

 

2.            TERM. Executive's employment under the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall expire on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Initial Term"). The term of Executive's employment under this Agreement shall be automatically extended on each anniversary of the Effective Date commencing with the date of the scheduled expiration of the Initial Term for an additional one-year term (each, a "Renewal Term"). The Initial Term and any Renewal Term are collectively referred to herein as the "Term," and the Term shall continue as described in the preceding sentence unless either Executive or the Company has given written notice (a "Notice of Non-Renewal") to the other no less than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Term that the Term shall not be so extended. Notwithstanding the above, the Term shall earlier expire immediately upon the termination of Executive's employment pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

 

3.            COMPENSATION.

 

(a)            Base Salary. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Company agrees to pay Executive a base salary in the amount of four-hundred eighty-thousand dollars ($480,000) per annum, which shall be increased, effective as of the CEO Start Date, to the amount of eight-hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($825,000) per annum (the "Base Salary"), payable in such installments as the Company pays its similarly placed employees (but not less frequently than each calendar month), subject to  employee contributions to any health, welfare and/or retirement programs in which Executive is enrolled. Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed annually and may be increased from time to time at the Board's sole discretion, but in no event shall the Base Salary be reduced without Executive's approval.

 

(b)            Annual Bonus. In addition to the Base Salary, for each calendar year ending during the Term, Executive shall be eligible to receive a bonus ("Annual Bonus"), subject to the terms of the Company's incentive compensation plan for senior executive officers as in effect from time to time (the "Bonus Plan"), with a target Annual Bonus of one-hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the cumulative Base Salary paid to Executive during such calendar year (including base salary paid prior to the Effective Date).

(c)            2013 Restricted Stock Grant. Effective upon the Effective Date, Executive shall receive a one-time grant under the Brookdale Senior Living Inc. Omnibus Stock Incentive

---

 

 

Plan, as amended and/or restated from time to time (the "Plan"), of Company restricted stock (the "2013 Restricted Stock Grant") as follows:

 

(i)          Time-Based Restricted Stock. Company restricted stock with a grant date value of one-million five-hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) based on the closing stock price of the Company's common stock on February 11, 2013, vesting ratably in four installments on February 27 of each year, beginning February 27, 2014, provided Executive is employed at such date by the Company. Such restricted stock award shall be subject to, and governed by, the Plan and the applicable restricted stock award agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

(ii)          Performance-Based Restricted Stock. Company restricted stock with a grant date value of one-million seven-hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($1,750,000) based on the closing stock price of the Company's common stock on February 11, 2013, up to seventy-five percent (75%) of such restricted stock vesting on February 27, 2016, and up to twenty-five percent (25%) of such restricted stock vesting on February 27, 2017, with the actual percentage vesting in each case being determined based on achievement of certain performance-based targets. Such restricted stock award shall be subject to, and governed by, the Plan and the applicable restricted stock award agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

(d)            Annual Long Term Equity Incentive Compensation. At least annually during the Term beginning, in 2014 and beyond, the Compensation Committee of the Board shall consider Executive for a grant of an equity-based award at a level commensurate with Executive's position, and in a form and on terms no less favorable than as provided to other senior executive officers of the Company (the "Annual Long Term Equity Incentives Awards").

 

(e)            Existing Restricted Stock Grants. All grants of restricted stock made to Executive prior to the Effective Date shall continue to be governed by the applicable terms of such grants (such grants, together with the 2013 Restricted Stock Grant and any Annual Long Term Equity Incentive Awards, the "Equity Awards"), subject to Sections 5(e) and 7 hereof.

 

(f)            Withholding. All taxable compensation payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to any applicable withholding taxes and such other taxes as are required under Federal law or the law of any state or governmental body to be collected with respect to compensation paid by the Company to Executive.

 

4.            BENEFITS AND PERQUISITES.

 

(a)            Retirement and Welfare Benefits. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to participate in all benefit plans made available to the Company's senior executive officers (other than the Company's Severance Pay Policy, Tier I). Such benefits shall be subject to the applicable limitations and requirements imposed by the terms of such benefit plans and shall be governed in all respects in accordance with the terms of such plans as from time to time in effect. Nothing in this Section 4, however, shall require the Company to maintain any benefit plan or provide any type or level of benefits to its current or former employees, including Executive.

---

 

(b)            Life Insurance. During the Term, the Company shall provide Executive with basic term life insurance benefits of at least one-hundred percent (100%) of Executive's Base Salary, at no cost to Executive, to the extent such coverage is available at commercially reasonable terms.

 

(c)            Paid Time Off. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to participate in the paid time off policy generally applicable to the Company's senior executive officers, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(d)            Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for any expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by Executive during the Term in furtherance of Executive's duties hereunder, including travel, meals and accommodations, upon submission by Executive of vouchers or receipts and in compliance with such rules and policies relating thereto as the Company may from time to time adopt.

 

(e)            Attorney's Fees. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable legal fees and related expenses, up to a maximum amount of thirty-thousand dollars ($30,000), incurred by Executive in connection with his promotion to CEO.

 

5.            TERMINATION. Executive's employment shall be terminated at the earliest to occur of the following: (i) the end of the Term, unless Executive agrees to continue employment with the Company on an at-will basis; (ii) the date on which the Board delivers written notice that Executive is being terminated for "Disability" (as defined below); or (iii) the date of Executive's death. In addition, Executive's employment with the Company may be earlier terminated (1) by the Company for "Cause" (as defined below), effective on the date on which a written notice to such effect is delivered to Executive; (2) by the Company at any time without Cause, effective on the date on which a written notice to such effect is delivered to Executive or such other date as is reasonably designated by the Company; (3) by Executive for "Good Reason" (as defined below), effective on the date on which a written notice to such effect is delivered to the Company, but in no event prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) day period that the Company has to fully correct the circumstances giving rise to such Good Reason pursuant to this Agreement; or (4) by Executive at any time, effective thirty (30) days following the date on which a written notice to such effect is delivered to the Company.

 

(a)            For Cause Termination or Voluntary Resignation by Executive Without Good Reason. If Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause, or if Executive voluntarily resigns his employment without Good Reason, Executive shall not be entitled to any further compensation or benefits other than, in each case if applicable as of the date of termination: (i) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary (payable as provided in Section 3(a) hereof); (ii) any Annual Bonus earned but unpaid as of the date of termination for any previously completed year, payable as set forth in Section 3(b) hereof; (iii) reimbursement for any business expenses properly incurred by Executive prior to the date of termination in accordance with Section 4(d) hereof, payable on the Company's first regularly scheduled payroll date which occurs at least ten (10) days after the date of termination; and (iv) vested benefits, if any, to which Executive may be entitled under the Company's employee benefit plans as of the date of termination (collectively, the "Accrued Benefits"). For the avoidance of doubt, the Equity

---

 

(b)            Termination by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason (Other than Within Twelve (12) Months Following a Change in Control). In the event that Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason prior to the end of the Term, in each case other than within twelve (12) months following a "Change in Control" (as defined below), and, with respect to clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) below, Executive timely provides the Company with an enforceable "Release" (as defined below) in accordance with Sections 5(f) and 5(g) hereof, then Executive shall be entitled to, in each case if applicable as of the date of termination:

 

(i)          the Accrued Benefits;

 

(ii)          two-hundred and fifty percent (250%) of Executive's Base Salary at the current rate of Base Salary in effect at the date of termination or, if greater, before the occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to Good Reason;

 

(iii)          an Annual Bonus (to the extent earned under the terms of the Bonus Plan, without regard to any requirement of continued employment) for the year of termination, pro-rated based on the number of days Executive was employed by the Company during such year and payable as set forth in Section 3(b) hereof (the "Pro-Rated Annual Bonus");

 

(iv)          to the extent Executive is then eligible for, and elects COBRA continuation benefits pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code and Section 601, et. seq. of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("COBRA"), under the Company's medical plan (including dependent coverage where applicable) in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan, as such plan may be amended from time to time, the Company will continue to provide current coverage (minus the amount of the then-applicable employee contribution portion) during the "Severance Pay Period" (as defined below) (exclusive of any tax consequences to the recipient(s) on resulting coverage or benefits) as if Executive were still an active employee of the Company (subject to the following provisions hereunder, the "Severance Benefits"). The costs of the Company's portion of any premiums due under this clause (iv) shall be included in Executive's gross income to the extent the provision of such benefits would be deemed to be discriminatory under Section 105(h) of the Code, and any successor provision. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties mutually agree any Severance Benefits paid during the Severance Pay Period shall run concurrently with the applicable COBRA continuation period and Executive shall be solely responsible for the full cost of any health premiums for the continuation of COBRA coverage which may extend past the Severance Pay Period, if any. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive's Severance Benefits coverage shall end on the earliest of (A) the last day of the Severance Pay Period, (B) the date of any material breach of the provisions of this Agreement by Executive, or (C) the date Executive first becomes eligible for medical coverage under another employer's plan, program or other arrangement of any type or description, without regard to whether Executive neglects, refuses or otherwise fails to take any action required for enrollment in such other plan, program or other arrangement. Executive shall provide notice to the Company in writing within seven (7) days of becoming eligible for any such alternate coverage;

---

 

(v)          the treatment of the Equity Awards as provided in the applicable equity incentive plan and award agreement governing such awards.

 

(c)            Death or Disability. If Executive's employment is terminated by reason of Executive's death or Disability prior to the end of the Term, in lieu of any other payments or benefits, Executive (or Executive's beneficiary or estate, as applicable) shall be entitled to (i) the Accrued Benefits, and (ii) the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus, subject, in the event Executive's employment is terminated by reason of Disability, to Executive's timely provision to the Company of the Release in accordance with Sections 5(f) and 5(g) hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Equity Awards shall be treated as provided in the applicable equity incentive plan and award agreement governing such awards.

 

(d)            Termination by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason Within Twelve (12) Months Following a Change in Control. If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or by Executive for Good Reason prior to the end of the Term, in each case within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, and, with respect to clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) below, Executive timely provides the Company with the Release in accordance with Sections 5(f) and 5(g) hereof, then Executive shall be entitled to, in each case if applicable as of the date of termination:

 

(i)          the Accrued Benefits;

 

(ii)          three-hundred percent (300%) of Executive's Base Salary at the current rate of Base Salary in effect at the date of termination or, if greater, before the occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to Good Reason (payments provided for in this Section 5(d)(ii) and those provided for in Section 5(b)(ii) hereof, are collectively referred to herein as the "Severance Pay");

 

(iii)          the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus;

 

(iv)          the Severance Benefits;

 

(v)          the treatment of the Equity Awards as provided in the applicable equity incentive plan and award agreement governing such awards.

 

(e)            Non-Renewal.  Termination of Executive's employment within thirty (30) days of the end of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term following the provision of a Notice of Non-Renewal by the Company shall be treated as a termination of Executive's employment without Cause, including for purposes of Section 5(b) and 5(d) (and shall be treated as having occurred prior to the end of the Term for purposes thereof), and for purposes of any Equity Award.

 

(f)            Payment of Severance Pay, the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus and Severance Benefits. Severance Pay will be paid to Executive in periodic installments over the Severance Pay Period on the Company's regular payroll dates, with such payments commencing as of the "Severance Commencement Date" (as defined below), so long as all requirements of this Section 5 and all other provisions of this Agreement regarding the payment of Severance Pay are met. The "Severance Pay Period" shall mean a period of eighteen (18) months. Notwithstanding any

---

 

 

other provision of this Agreement, any Severance Pay provided for in this Section 5 shall be paid or commence on the sixtieth (60th) day (the "Severance Commencement Date") following the date of Executive's termination of employment, so long as Executive has signed and returned a Release and the seven (7) day revocation period (as described in Section 5(g) hereof) for the signed Release has expired. If a signed Release is not returned, Executive revokes the Release or the seven (7) day revocation period has not expired by the sixtieth (60th) day following Executive's termination of employment, Executive shall forfeit all Severance Pay, the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus and the right to any continued Severance Benefits (as of the date of revocation or the Severance Commencement Date, whichever is earlier). All taxes and other deductions required by law, and any additional undisputed sums owing the Company shall be deducted from any Severance Pay, the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus and/or Severance Benefits. Any benefits that accrue under this Section 5, if any, are net of any such amount other than taxes and other deductions required by law.

 

(g)            Waiver and Release.

 

(i)          In order to receive the Severance Pay, the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus, or to continue to receive the Severance Benefits provided for under this Section 5, Executive must execute and submit to the Company a signed, enforceable release (the "Release") reasonably satisfactory to the Company pursuant to the time periods of the applicable Release and within forty-five (45) days of receiving the Release. In the Release, Executive will waive all claims or causes of action arising out of or related to his employment and the termination of his employment, other than claims or causes of action for his entitlements under Sections 5(b), 5(c), or 5(d) as applicable, related to his status as a stockholder of the Company, or for indemnification or liability insurance coverage.  Such Release shall be provided to Executive within three (3) business days of the date of Executive's termination of employment. Executive may revoke his signed Release within seven (7) days of signing such Release, provided such revocation is made in accordance with the provisions for revocation set forth below. Any such revocation must be made in writing and must be received by the Company within such seven (7) day period. If Executive timely revokes his Release he shall not be eligible to receive any Severance Pay or the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus or continue to receive Severance Benefits under this Section 5 effective on the date of such revocation. If Executive timely submits a signed Release and does not exercise his right of revocation and/or the revocation period expires prior to the Severance Commencement Date he shall be eligible to receive Severance Pay and the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus and continue to receive Severance Benefits under this Section 5. Executive's acceptance and right to retention of Severance Pay, the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus and/or Severance Benefits are contingent upon the terms of this Agreement and full compliance with the terms of the Release.

 

(ii)          Executive must acknowledge in the Release that the restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement or in any equity awards issued pursuant to the Plan or any predecessor or successor plan and any and all other agreements between Executive and the Company or to which Executive is a party, relating to non-competition, non-solicitation of employees, clients and others, non-disparagement and confidentiality will remain in force for the period specified therein and the Severance Pay that Executive may be entitled to pursuant to this Agreement is additional consideration for such restrictive covenants.  The Release will not contain any further restrictions or other covenants to which Executive must agree.

---

(iii)          Not by way of limitation, a breach of such restrictive covenants by Executive shall result in (A) the immediate and permanent cessation of payment of Severance Pay and the provision of Severance Benefits to Executive, (B) the obligation of Executive to repay to the Company upon written demand ninety percent (90%) of the amount, cost or value of the Severance Pay, the Pro-Rated Annual Bonus and/or Severance Benefits previously paid or provided to Executive, and (C) the obligation of Executive to pay to the Company its costs and expenses in enforcing this clause (iii) (including court costs, expenses and reasonable legal fees).

 

(h)            Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

---

 

---

(i)            Resignation as Officer or Director. Upon a termination of employment for any reason, unless requested otherwise by the Company, Executive shall resign each position (if any) that Executive then holds as an officer or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Executive's execution of this Agreement shall be deemed the grant by Executive to the officers of the Company of a limited power of attorney to sign in Executive's name and on Executive's behalf any such documentation as may be required to be executed solely for the limited purposes of effectuating such resignations.

 

(j)            Section 409A. It is intended that (i) each installment of the payments provided under this Agreement is a separate "payment" for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and (ii) the payments satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A of the Code provided under Treasury Regulations 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v). Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, Executive shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of this Agreement and no payments shall be due to Executive under Section 5 hereof until Executive would be considered to have incurred a "separation from service" (as such term is defined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Company determines (1) that on the date Executive's employment with the Company terminates or at such other time that the Company determines to be relevant, Executive is a "specified employee" (as such term is defined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(i)(1)) of the Company and (2) that any payments to be provided to Executive pursuant to this Agreement are or may become subject to the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code or any other taxes or penalties imposed under Section 409A of the Code, if provided at the time otherwise required under this Agreement, then such payments shall be delayed until the date that is six (6) months after the date of Executive's "separation from service" (as such term is defined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)) with the Company, or, if earlier, the date of Executive's death. Any payments delayed pursuant to this Section 5(j) shall be made in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh (7th) month following Executive's "separation from service" (as such term is defined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)), or, if earlier, the date of Executive's death. In addition, to the extent that any reimbursement, fringe benefit or other, similar plan or arrangement in which Executive participates provides for a "deferral of compensation" within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, (x) the amount eligible for reimbursement or payment under such plan or arrangement in one (1) calendar year may not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement or payment in any other calendar year (except that a plan providing medical or health benefits may impose a generally applicable limit on the amount that may be reimbursed or paid), and (y) subject to any shorter time periods provided herein or the applicable plans or arrangements, any reimbursement or payment of an expense under such plan or arrangement must be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred.

 

6.            COVENANTS. Executive acknowledges that during the period of his employment with the Company or any subsidiary, he shall have access to the Company's

---

(a)            Noncompetition. Executive agrees that during the period of his employment with the Company and for the one (1) year period immediately following the date of termination of Executive's employment with the Company or any subsidiary for any reason or for no reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, either as a principal, agent, employee, employer, consultant, partner, shareholder of a closely held corporation or shareholder in excess of five percent (5%) of a publicly traded corporation, corporate officer or director, or in any other individual or representative capacity, engage or otherwise participate in any manner or fashion in any business that is a "Competing Business" in the "Area" (each as defined below). Executive further covenants and agrees that this restrictive covenant is reasonable as to duration, terms and geographical area and that the same protects the legitimate interests of the Company and its Affiliates, imposes no undue hardship on Executive, is not injurious to the public, and that any violation of this restrictive covenant shall be specifically enforceable in any court with jurisdiction upon short notice. Solely for purposes of this paragraph (a): "Area" means a fifteen (15) mile radius of any senior living facility owned, managed or operated by the Company (or its successor) at the time Executive's employment is terminated; and "Competing Business" means the business of owning, operating or managing senior living facilities having gross annualized revenues of at least thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) or owning, operating or managing, in the aggregate, at least one-thousand (1,000) units/beds provided that at least seven-hundred and fifty (750) units/beds owned, operated or managed by such business are located within the Area.

 

(b)            Solicitation of Employees, Etc. Executive agrees that during the period of his employment with the Company and for the two (2) year period immediately following the date of termination of Executive's employment with the Company or any subsidiary for any reason or for no reason, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit or induce any officer, director, employee, agent or consultant of the Company or any of its successors, assigns, subsidiaries or Affiliates to terminate his, her or its employment or other relationship with the Company or its successors, assigns, subsidiaries or Affiliates, or otherwise encourage any such person or entity to leave or sever his, her or its employment or other relationship with the Company or its successors, assigns, subsidiaries or Affiliates, for any other reason or (ii) hire any individual who left the employ of the Company or any of its Affiliates during the immediately preceding one (1) year period.

 

(c)            Solicitation of Clients, Etc. Executive agrees that during the period of his employment with the Company and for the two (2) year period immediately following the date of termination of Executive's employment with the Company or any subsidiary for any reason or for no reason, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or induce (i) any customers or clients of the Company or its successors, assigns, subsidiaries or Affiliates or (ii) any vendors, suppliers or consultants then under contract to the Company or its successors, assigns, subsidiaries or Affiliates, to terminate his, her or its relationship with the Company or its successors, assigns, subsidiaries or Affiliates, or otherwise encourage such customers or clients, or vendors, suppliers or consultants then under contract, to terminate his, her or its relationship with the Company or its successors, assigns, subsidiaries or Affiliates, for any other reason. Nothing in this paragraph applies to those customers, clients, vendors, suppliers, or consultants

---

 

(d)            Disparaging Comments. The Company and Executive agree that during the period of Executive's employment with the Company and at all times thereafter, (i) Executive shall not make any disparaging or defamatory comments regarding the Company or its Affiliates, and the Company and its Affiliates shall not make or issue any public statements which are disparaging or defamatory regarding Executive, and (ii) after termination of Executive's employment relationship with the Company, neither party shall make any comments concerning any aspect of the termination of their relationship. The obligations of the Company or Executive under this paragraph shall not apply to disclosures required by applicable law, regulation or order of any court or governmental agency.

(e)            Confidentiality. All books of account, records, systems, correspondence, documents, and any and all other data, in whatever form, concerning or containing any reference to the works and business of the Company or its Affiliates shall belong to the Company and shall be given up to the Company whenever the Company requires Executive to do so. Executive agrees that Executive shall not at any time during the term of Executive's employment or thereafter, without the Company's prior written consent, disclose to any person (individual or entity) any information or any trade secrets, plans or other information or data, in whatever form, (including, without limitation, (i) any financing strategies and practices, pricing information and methods, training and operational procedures, advertising, marketing, and sales information or methodologies or financial information and (ii) any "Proprietary Information" (as defined below)), concerning the Company's or any of its affiliated companies' or customers' practices, businesses, procedures, systems, plans or policies (collectively, "Confidential Information"), nor shall Executive utilize any such Confidential Information in any way or communicate with or contact any such customer other than in connection with Executive's employment by the Company. Executive hereby confirms that all Confidential Information constitutes the Company's exclusive property, and that all of the restrictions on Executive's activities contained in this Agreement and such other nondisclosure policies of the Company are required for the Company's reasonable protection. Confidential Information shall not include any information that has otherwise been disclosed to the public not in violation of this Agreement. This confidentiality provision shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall not be limited by any other confidentiality agreements entered into with the Company or any of its Affiliates.

---

 

(f)            Acknowledgement. Executive agrees and acknowledges that each restrictive covenant in this Section 6 is reasonable as to duration, terms and geographical area and that the same protects the legitimate interests of the Company and its Affiliates, imposes no undue hardship on Executive, is not injurious to the public, and that, notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, any violation of this restrictive covenant shall be specifically enforceable in any court with jurisdiction upon short notice. Executive agrees and acknowledges that a portion of the compensation paid to Executive under this Agreement will be paid in consideration of the covenants contained in this Section 6, the sufficiency of which consideration is hereby acknowledged. If any provision of this Section 6 as applied to Executive or to any circumstance is adjudged by a court with jurisdiction upon short notice to be invalid or unenforceable, the same shall in no way affect any other circumstance or the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of this Section 6. If the scope of any such provision, or any part thereof, is too broad to permit enforcement of such provision to its full extent, Executive agrees that the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce the duration and/or area of such provision, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced. Executive agrees and acknowledges that the breach of this Section 6 will cause irreparable injury to the Company and upon breach of any provision of this Section 6, the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief, specific performance or other equitable relief by any court with jurisdiction upon short notice; provided, however, that this shall in no way limit any other remedies which the Company may have (including, without limitation, the right to seek monetary damages). Each of the covenants in this Section 6 shall be construed as an agreement independent of any other provisions in this Agreement.

 

7.            SECTION 280G.

 

(a)            Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement to the contrary, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits, the "Total Payments") would not be deductible (in whole or in part) by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates making such payment or providing such benefits as a result of Section 280G of the Code, then, to the extent necessary to make such portion of the Total Payments deductible, the portion of the Total Payments that do not constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A shall first be reduced (if necessary, to zero), and all other Total Payments shall thereafter be reduced (if necessary, to zero) with cash payments being reduced before non-cash payments, and payments to be paid last being reduced first, but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than

---

 

(b)            For purposes of this limitation, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a "payment" within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account; (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of tax counsel ("Tax Counsel") reasonably acceptable to Executive and selected by the accounting firm which was, immediately prior to the Change in Control, the Company's independent auditor (the "Auditor"), does not constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code; (iii) the severance payments payable to Executive pursuant to Section 5 hereof shall be reduced only to the extent necessary so that the Total Payments (other than those referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) of this paragraph) in their entirety constitute reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code or are otherwise not subject to disallowance as deductions by reason of Section 280G of the Code, in the opinion of Tax Counsel; and (iv) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

8.            ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement, and all of the terms and conditions hereof, shall bind the Company and its successors and assigns and shall bind Executive and Executive's heirs, executors and administrators. No transfer or assignment of this Agreement shall release the Company from any obligation to Executive hereunder. Neither this Agreement, nor any of the Company's rights or obligations hereunder, may be assigned or otherwise subject to hypothecation by Executive, and any such attempted assignment or hypothecation shall be null and void. The Company may assign the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder, in whole or in part, to any of the Company's subsidiaries, Affiliates or parent corporations, provided that such subsidiary, Affiliate or parent corporation directly or indirectly owns all or substantially all of the Company's consolidated assets, or to any other successor or assign in connection with the sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or stock or in connection with any merger, acquisition and/or reorganization, provided the assignee assumes the obligations of the Company hereunder.

 

9.            GENERAL.

 

(a)            Notices. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of one (1) business day following personal delivery (including personal delivery by telecopy or telex), or the third (3^rd) business day after mailing by first class mail to the recipient at the address indicated below:

---

(b)            Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction and subject to this paragraph be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, without affecting in any way the remaining provisions hereof in such jurisdiction or rendering that or any other provisions of this Agreement invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction. If any covenant should be deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction because its scope is considered excessive, such covenant shall be modified so that the scope of the covenant is reduced only to the minimum extent necessary to render the modified covenant valid, legal and enforceable.

---

 

(c)            Entire Agreement. This document, together with all restrictive covenants in any and all agreements between Executive and the Company or to which Executive is a party, and that certain Indemnification Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2011, between the Company and Executive, constitute the final, complete, and exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement and understanding between the parties related to the subject matter hereof and except as otherwise explicitly set forth in this Agreement, supersedes and preempts any prior or contemporaneous understandings, agreements, or representations by or between the parties, written or oral, including but limited to (i) that certain term sheet entered into by and between the Company and Executive setting forth the terms and conditions of an employment agreement to be entered into by and between the Company and Executive, subject to the execution of definitive documentation memorializing such employment agreement, (ii) the Brookdale Senior Living Inc. Severance Pay Policy, Tier I, and (iii) the Severance Pay Policy Letter Agreement, which are hereby terminated and superseded in their entirety as they relate to Executive.

 

(d)            Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed on separate counterparts, any one (1) of which need not contain signatures of more than one (1) party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(e)            Amendments. No amendments or other modifications to this Agreement may be made except by a writing signed by all parties. No amendment or waiver of this Agreement requires the consent of any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity not a party to this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any third person any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(f)            Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law of such state.

 

(g)            Survivorship. The provisions of this Agreement necessary to carry out the intention of the parties as expressed herein shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

(h)            Waiver. The waiver by either party of the other party's prompt and complete performance, or breach or violation, of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate nor be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or violation, and the failure by any party hereto to exercise any right or remedy which it may possess hereunder shall not operate nor be construed as a bar to the exercise of such right or remedy by such party upon the occurrence of any subsequent breach or violation. No waiver shall be deemed to have occurred unless set forth in a writing executed by or on behalf of the waiving party. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

 

(i)            Captions. The captions of this Agreement are for convenience and reference only and in no way define, describe, extend or limit the scope or intent of this Agreement or the intent of any provision hereof.

---

(j)            Construction. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement is the result of arm's-length negotiations between sophisticated parties, each afforded representation by legal counsel. Each and every provision of this Agreement shall be construed as though both parties participated equally in the drafting of the same, and any rule of construction that a document shall be construed against the drafting party shall not be applicable to this Agreement.

 

(k)            Arbitration. Except as necessary for the Company and its subsidiaries, Affiliates, successors or assigns or Executive to specifically enforce or enjoin a breach of this Agreement, the parties agree that any and all disputes that may arise in connection with, arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or any dispute that relates in any way, in whole or in part, to Executive's services on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary, the termination of such services or any other dispute by and between the parties or their subsidiaries, Affiliates, successors or assigns, shall be submitted to binding arbitration in Nashville, Tennessee according to the National Employment Dispute Resolution Rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. The parties agree that each party shall bear its or his own expenses incurred in connection with any such dispute. This arbitration obligation extends to any and all claims that may arise by and between the parties or their subsidiaries, Affiliates, successors or assigns, and expressly extends to, without limitation, claims or causes of action for wrongful termination, impairment of ability to compete in the open labor market, breach of an express or implied contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, misrepresentation, defamation, slander, infliction of emotional distress, disability, loss of future earnings, and claims under the United States Constitution, and applicable state and federal fair employment laws, federal and state equal employment opportunity laws, and federal and state labor statutes and regulations, including, but not limited to, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, and any other state or federal law.

 

10.            EXECUTIVE REPRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE. By signing this Agreement, Executive hereby represents that Executive is not currently under any contractual obligation to work for another employer and that Executive is not restricted by any agreement or arrangement from entering into this Agreement and performing Executive's duties hereunder.

---