CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT by and between HOLOGIC, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and Stephen P. MacMillan (the Executive), dated as of December 6, 2013.
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board), has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat, or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and to encourage the Executives full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and to provide the Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change of Control which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations of the Executive will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other corporations; and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive have entered into a separate employment agreement dated as of the date hereof (the Employment Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive now desire to enter into this Change of Control Agreement (the Change of Control Agreement).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, each intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. (a) The Effective Date shall be the first date during the Change of Control Period (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Change of Control Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executives employment with the Company is terminated or the Executive ceases to be an officer of the Company prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination of employment (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Change of Control Agreement the Effective Date shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. If prior to the Effective Date, the Executives employment with the Company terminates, then the Executive shall have no further rights under this Change of Control Agreement, unless such termination of Employment was in anticipation of the Change of Control in which case the termination shall be deemed to have occurred after the consummation of the Change of Control.
(b) The Change of Control Period is the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on December 31, 2016; provided, that commencing on December 31, 2014 and each December 31 thereafter (each such date to be referred to as the Renewal Date), the term of this
Change of Control Agreement shall automatically be extended, without any further action by the Company or the Executive, so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date; provided, however that if the Company shall give notice in writing to the Executive at least thirty (30) days prior to a Renewal Date (the Pending Renewal Date), stating that the Change of Control Period shall not be extended, then the Change of Control Period shall expire two years from the Pending Renewal Date.
2. Change of Control. For the purpose of this Change of Control Agreement, a Change of Control shall mean:
(a) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of the Voting Stock of the Company; provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries of 30% or more of Voting Stock shall not constitute a Change in Control; and provided, further, that any acquisition by a corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such corporation, is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change in Control; or
(b) Any transaction which results in the Continuing Directors (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company) constituting less than a majority of the Board of Director of the Company (the Board); or
(c) The consummation of (i) a Merger with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such Merger do not, following such Merger, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the corporation resulting from the Merger (the Resulting Corporation) as a result of the individuals and entities shareholdings in the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, or (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all (as defined under Delaware General Corporation Law) of the assets of the Company excluding a sale or other disposition of assets to a subsidiary of the Company. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement Merger means a reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the Company, including without limitation as a parent of a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company effecting such transaction.
3. Employment Period. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the last day of the thirty-sixth (36) month following the month in which the Effective Date occurs (the Employment Period).
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4. Terms of Employment.
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executives position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the ninety (90) day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executives services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than thirty-five (35) miles from such location.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote his full business time to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executives reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Change of Control Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executives responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Change of Control Agreement or otherwise violate any other agreement with the Company. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date is permitted.
(b) Compensation.
(i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary (Annual Base Salary), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve (12) times the highest monthly base salary paid or that has been earned and accrued, but unpaid to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be substantially consistent with increases in base salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Change of Control Agreement. Annual
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Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Change of Control Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Change of Control Agreement, the term affiliated companies includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.
(ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year during the Employment Period, an annual cash bonus (the Annual Bonus; which shall include, without limitation, any other annual cash bonus plan or program provided to Executive such as Short Term Incentive Plan or other similar plan) in cash at least equal to the greater of (a) the average (annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) bonus (the Average Annual Bonus) paid or that has been earned and accrued, but unpaid to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three (3) fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs, (b) the Annual Bonus paid for the fiscal year immediately preceding the Effective Date, or (c) the maximum target bonus determined in accordance with the terms of the Companys bonus plans for senior executives for the fiscal year immediately preceding the Effective Date (the Target Bonus; the greater of clauses (a), (b) or (c) to be referred to as the Highest Annual Bonus). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus pursuant to any nonqualified plan of the Company. In no event shall the calculation of the Annual Bonus, include any severance benefits pursuant to the Employment Agreement or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any portion of Annual Base Salary or Annual Bonus electively deferred by the Executive pursuant to a qualified or a non-qualified plan including, but not limited to, the Hologic, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan or successor thereto (DCP) shall be included in determining the Annual Base Salary, Annual Bonus and the Average Annual Bonus. If the fiscal year of any successor to this Change of Control Agreement, as described by Section 11(c) herein, is different than the Companys fiscal year at the time of the Change of Control, then the Executive shall be paid (i) the Annual Bonus that would have been paid upon the end of Companys fiscal year ending after the Change of Control, and (ii) a pro-rata Annual Bonus for any months of service performed following the end of the Companys fiscal year, but prior to the first day of the successors fiscal year immediately following the Change of Control. The Annual Bonuses thereafter shall be based on the successors first full fiscal year beginning after the Change of Control and successive fiscal years thereafter.
(iii) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. In addition to Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as hereinabove provided, the Executive
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shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive, savings and retirement benefits opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the one-year immediately preceding the Effective Date, or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executives family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) and applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect at any time during the one-year period immediately preceding the Effective Date, or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(v) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive upon submission of appropriate accountings in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect at any time during the one-year period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vi) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect at any time during the one-year period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vii) Office and Support Staff. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings
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and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the one-year period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(viii) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect at any time during the one-year period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect at any time thereafter with respect to other peer incentives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
5. Termination of Employment.
(a) Death or Disability. The Executives employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executives death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 13(b) of this Change of Control Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executives employment. In such event, the Executives employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the thirtieth (30th) day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the Disability Effective Date), provided that, within the thirty (30) days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executives duties. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, Disability means Executives inability to satisfactorily perform the essential functions and duties of Executives position with the Company, with or without reasonable accommodation, for either sixty (60) consecutive days or ninety (90) days in any six (6) month period, as a result of any physical or mental impairment, as determined by the Board upon certification thereof by a qualified physician selected by the Board after such physician examines Executive. Executive agrees, upon request by the Board, to submit to such examination and to provide the Board such medical evidence, records and examination data as is reasonably necessary for the Board to evaluate any potential Disability. The Board agrees to treat such medical information confidentially as required by law.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executives employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, a termination for Cause shall mean termination by the Company of the Executives employment by reason of the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
(i) An act or acts of personal dishonesty taken by the Executive and intended to result in substantial personal enrichment of the Executive at the expense of the Company;
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(ii) Repeated violations by the Executive of the Executives obligations under the Employment Agreement (other than as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which are demonstrably willful and deliberate on the Executives part, which are committed in bad faith or without reasonable belief that such violations are in the best interests of the Company and which are not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written notice from the Company;
(iii) Indictment or plea of nolo contendere of Executive of a felony involving moral turpitude; or;
(iv) The material breach of the Executives Non-Competition and Proprietary Information Agreement.
The Company shall provide the Executive with thirty (30) days written notice of any determination of Cause and provide the Executive, for a period of thirty (30) days following such notice, with the opportunity to appear before the Board, with or without legal representation, to present arguments and evidence on his behalf and following such presentation to the Board, the Executive may only be terminated for Cause if the Board (excluding the Executive if he is a member of the Board), by a unanimous vote reasonably determines in good faith that his actions did, in fact, constitute Cause. Nothing herein shall preclude the Board from deliberating without Executive or his counsel being present. This definition of Cause shall govern all equity award agreements by and between Company and Executive, unless otherwise expressly provided in such equity award agreement.
(c) Good Reason. The Executives employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, Good Reason means:
(i) A material diminution in the Executives base compensation;
(ii) A material diminution in the Executives authority, duties and responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control;
(iii) A material diminution in the authority, duties and responsibilities of the supervisor to whom the Executive is required to report as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control, including a requirement that the Executive report to a corporate officer or employee instead of reporting directly to the Companys Board;
(iv) A material change in the geographic location in which Executives principal office was located immediately prior to the Change of Control;
(v) A material diminution in the budget over which the Executive had authority immediately prior to the date of the Change of Control;
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(vi) Any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of this Change of Control Agreement or any other agreement under which the Executive provides services;
provided, however, that Good Reason shall not exist unless the Executive has given written notice to the Company within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the Good Reason event or condition(s) giving specific details regarding the event or condition; and unless the Company has had at least thirty (30) days to cure such Good Reason event or condition after the delivery of such written notice and has failed to cure such event or condition within such thirty (30) day cure period.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 13(b) of this Change of Control Agreement. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, a Notice of Termination means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Change of Control Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executives employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen (15) days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executives or the Companys rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. Date of Termination means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date (taking into account any applicable notice and cure period) specified therein, as the case may be; provided however, that (i) if the Executives employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination, and (ii) if the Executives employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.
6. Obligations of the Company upon Termination.
(a) Death. If the Executives employment is terminated by reason of the Executives death during the Employment Period, this Change of Control Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executives legal representatives under this Change of Control Agreement, other than for (i) payment of the sum of the following amounts: (A) the Executives Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (B) the product of (I) the Highest Annual Bonus and (II) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the
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denominator of which is 365, and (C) any accrued and unpaid Annual Bonus amounts, compensation or vacation pay, in each case, to the extent not yet paid by the Company (the amounts described in subparagraphs (A), (B) and (C) are hereafter referred to as Accrued Obligations and shall be paid to the Executives estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination), (ii) any other benefits or compensation payable under any employee benefit plan in accordance with the applicable plans terms, including, without limitation, any non-qualified plan or the DCP; (iii) for the remainder of the Employment Period, or such longer period as any plan, program, practice or policy may provide, the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executives family at least equal to those which would have been provided in accordance with the applicable plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(vi) of this Change of Control Agreement as if the Executives employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect and applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the one year period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families (such continuation of such benefits for the applicable period herein set forth shall be hereinafter referred to as Welfare Benefit Continuation) (for purposes of determining eligibility of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period), and (iv) payment to the Executives estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination of an amount equal to the sum of the Executives Annual Base Salary and the Highest Annual Bonus. Subject to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, but, otherwise, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executives family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided by the Company and any of its affiliated companies to surviving families of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to family death benefits, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the one year period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executives family, as in effect on the date of the Executives death with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families.
(b) Disability. If the Executives employment is terminated by reason of the Executives Disability during the Employment Period, this Change of Control Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for (i) payment of the Accrued Obligations (which shall be paid in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination), (ii) the timely payment and provision of the Welfare Benefit Continuation, and (iii) payment to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination of an amount equal to the sum of the Executives Annual Base Salary and the Highest Annual Bonus. Subject to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, but, otherwise, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their
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families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the one year period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executives family, as in effect at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families.
(c) Cause, Other than for Good Reason. If the Executives employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Executive other than for Good Reason (and other than by reason of his death or disability) during the Employment Period, this Change of Control Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination. In such case, such amounts shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination. The Executive shall, in such event, also be entitled to any benefits required by law that are not otherwise provided by this Change of Control Agreement.
(d) Termination Following a Change of Control by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason. Following a Change of Control if the Executive is terminated by the Company without Cause or he resigns for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay the Executive the following:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination all Accrued Obligations; and
(ii) the Company shall timely pay and provide the Welfare Benefit Continuation; provided, however, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided plan, the medical or other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable period of eligibility; and
(iii) the Company shall pay to the Executive a lump sum amount in cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination equal to the (such amount shall be hereinafter referred to as the Change of Control Payment) to the product of (X) two point ninety-nine (2.99) multiplied by the sum of (i) (Y) the Annual Base Salary for the fiscal year immediately preceding the Date of Termination and (ii) Highest Annual Bonus; and
(iv) notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary contained herein or in any option agreement, restricted stock agreement or other equity compensation agreement, between the Company and the Executive, or any stock option, restricted stock, restricted stock unit, performance stock unit, Matching RSUs as provided for in the Employment Agreement or other equity compensation plans sponsored by the Company, unless such agreement or plan expressly references and supercedes this Change of Control Agreement, then all unvested options, restricted stock or stock appreciation rights which Executive then holds to acquire securities from the Company shall be immediately and
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automatically vested and exercisable, and the Executive shall have the right to exercise any such options or stock appreciation rights for the shorter of one year after the Date of Termination or the remaining term of the applicable equity award; provided, however, unless otherwise specified in the applicable award agreement any equity award agreement subject to a performance target shall only be vested in accordance with the achievement of the applicable performance target as of the Effective Date.
7. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Except as provided in Section 6, nothing in this Change of Control Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executives continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices, provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as explicitly modified by this Change of Control Agreement; provided, however, that in the event that the Executive is entitled to benefits under Section 6(d) above, then he will not be entitled to severance benefits on a termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason as provided for in Section 4 of his Employment Agreement.
8. Full Settlement.
(a) The Companys obligation to make the payments provided for in this Change of Control Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Change of Control Agreement and, except as provided in Section 6(d)(ii), such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment.
(b) Prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Change of Control Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof, if the Executive prevails in such contest. Following a Change of Control, the Company agrees to pay promptly as incurred, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Change of Control Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof.
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(c) If there shall be any dispute between the Company and the Executive (i) in the event of any termination of the Executives employment by the Company, whether such termination was for Cause, or (ii) in the event of any termination of employment by the Executive, whether Good Reason existed, then, unless and until there is a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction declaring that such termination was for Cause or that the determination by the Executive of the existence of Good Reason was not made in good faith, the Company shall pay all amounts, and provide all benefits, to the Executive and/or the Executives family or other beneficiaries, as the case may be, that the Company would be required to pay or provide pursuant to Section 6(d) as though such termination were by the Company without Cause, or by the Executive with Good Reason; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any disputed amount pursuant to this paragraph except upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay all such amounts to which the Executive is ultimately adjudged by such court not to be entitled.
9. 280G Protection.
(a) In the event that the Executive shall become entitled to payment and/or benefits provided by this Change of Control Agreement or any other amounts in the nature of compensation (whether pursuant to the terms of this Change of Control Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions result in a change of ownership or effective control covered by Section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) or any person affiliated with the Company or such person) as a result of such change in ownership or effective control (collectively the Company Payments), and such Company Payments will be subject to the tax (the Excise Tax) imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (and any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed by any taxing authority) the Company shall pay to the Executive the greater of the following, whichever gives the Executive the highest net after-tax amount (after taking into account federal, state, local and social security taxes at the maximum marginal rates) (x) the Company Payments or (y) one dollar less than the amount of the Company Payments that would subject the Executive to the Excise Tax. In the event that the Company Payments are required to be reduced pursuant to the foregoing sentence, then the Company Payments shall be reduced as mutually agreed between the Company and the Executive or, in the event the parties cannot agree, in the following order (1) any lump sum severance based on Base Salary or Annual Bonus, (2) any other cash amounts payable to the Executive, (3) any benefits valued as parachute payments; and (4) acceleration of vesting of any equity.
(b) For purposes of determining whether any of the Company Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (x) the Company Payments shall be treated as parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all parachute payments in excess of the base amount (as defined under Code Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless and except to the extent that, in the opinion of the Companys independent certified public accountants appointed prior to any change in ownership (as defined under Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) or tax counsel selected by such accountants or the Company (the Accountants) such Company Payments (in whole or in part) either expressly do not constitute parachute payments, represent
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reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code in excess of the base amount or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, and (y) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Accountants. All determinations hereunder shall be made by the Accountants which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive at such time as it is requested by the Company or the Executive. If the Accountants determine that payments under this Change of Control Agreement must be reduced pursuant to this paragraph, they shall furnish the Executive with a written opinion to such effect. The determination of the Accountants shall be final and binding upon the Company and the Executive.
(c) In the event of any controversy with the Internal Revenue Service (or other taxing authority) with regard to the Excise Tax, the Executive shall permit the Company to control issues related to the Excise Tax (at its expense), provided that such issues do not potentially materially adversely affect the Executive, but the Executive shall control any other issues. In the event the issues are interrelated, the Executive and the Company shall in good faith cooperate so as not to jeopardize resolution of either issue, but if the parties cannot agree the Executive shall make the final determination with regard to the issues. In the event of any conference with any taxing authority regarding the Excise Tax or associated income taxes, the Executive shall permit the representative of the Company to accompany the Executive, and the Executive and the Executives representative shall cooperate with the Company and its representative.
10. Confidential Information. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executives employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Change of Control Agreement). After termination of the Executives employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 10 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Change of Control Agreement.
11. Successors.
(a) This Change of Control Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Change of Control Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executives legal representatives.
(b) This Change of Control Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
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(c) 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 assume expressly and agree to perform this Change of Control 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. The Company shall provide written evidence to the Executive to document compliance with the foregoing sentence within ten (10) business days of the Effective Date. As used in this Change of Control Agreement, Company shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Change of Control Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled, upon exercise of any outstanding stock options or stock appreciation rights of the Company, to receive in lieu of shares of the Companys stock, shares of such stock or other securities of such successor as the holders of shares of the Companys stock received pursuant to the terms of the merger, consolidation or sale.
12. Compliance With Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Change of Control Agreement comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code (hereinafter referred to as Section 409A). This Change of Control Agreement shall be administered in a manner consistent with its intent, and any provision that would cause the Change of Control Agreement to fail to satisfy Section 409A shall have no force and effect until amended to comply with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of this Change of Control Agreement to the contrary, in the event any payment or benefit hereunder is determined to constitute non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, then to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A, such payment or benefits shall not be made, provided or commenced until six (6) months after the Executives separation from service as such phrase is defined for the purposes of Section 409A.
13. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Change of Control Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Change of Control Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Change of Control Agreement may not be amended or modified other than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices, requests, consents and other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally, one (1) day after having been sent by overnight courier or three (3) days after having been mailed first class, e-mail, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail, as follows (or to such other address as either party shall designate by notice in writing to the other in accordance herewith):
If to the Company, to:
Attention: General Counsel
Hologic, Inc.
250 Campus Drive
Marlborough, MA 01752
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If to the Executive, to the Executives principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Change of Control Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Change of Control Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Change of Control Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executives or the Companys failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or any other provision thereof.
(f) This Change of Control Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with respect to the rights and other benefits that the Executive shall be entitled during the Employment Period, and in connection therewith shall supersede all prior oral and written communications with the Executive with respect thereto, including without limitation any and all rights and benefits the Executive may have under the Employment Agreement with respect to the subject matter herein and it being understood that the Executive shall not be entitled to both payment or benefits under Section 6(d) and severance benefits under the Employment Agreement or the Companys separation policy (as it may be amended from time to time), previously executed by and between the Company and the Executive; provided, however, that the Employee Intellectual Property Rights and Non-Competition Agreement, option agreement, restricted stock unit or other equity award agreements by and between the Company and Executive shall remain in full force and effect.
(g) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Executive and the Company, prior to the Effective Date, the employment of the Executive by the Company is at will and may be terminated by either the Executive or the Company at any time. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, if during the Employment Period, the Executive shall terminate employment with the Company other than for Good Reason, then the Executive shall have no liability to the Company.
[Signature Page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set his hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.
HOLOGIC, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ David LaVance | |
Name: | David LaVance | |
Title: | Chairman of its Board of Directors | |
EXECUTIVE | ||
/s/ Stephen P. MacMillan |
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