Severance Agreement - Perkin-Elmer Corp. and Riccardo Pigliucci
AGREEMENT This Agreement is entered as of May 5, 1995, between The Perkin-Elmer Corporation (herein referred to as the "Company") and Riccardo Pigliucci (herein referred to as "Employee"). WHEREAS, Employee has rendered valuable services to the Company during the past 29 years, and during that time has been uniquely disadvantaged due to his work location being in various countries where his pension benefits have not consistently accrued as they otherwise would have; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company regards the services of Employee, who currently holds the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, as having been uniquely important to the Company's operations; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company and Employee wish to terminate the Employee's employment with the Company on the terms hereinafter set forth; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Employee's past service to the Company and the other mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows: 1. The Company shall obtain, within ten days following execution of this Agreement, an irrevocable annuity payable to the Employee consistent with the terms set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement. 2. A. Immediately upon execution of this Agreement by both the Company and Employee, Employee shall tender to the Board of Directors of the Company his resignation as an employee, officer, and director of the Company and its subsidiaries, such resignation to be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. Such resignation, when effective, is hereinafter referred to as the "Termination." Employee also agrees to cooperate with the Company's reasonable requests in -1- <PAGE> connection with effectuating such resignation, such as, for example, executing resignation letters for subsidiaries of the Company. B. Commencing with the Termination, the Company agrees to: i) Pay to Employee seventy-eight (78) equal biweekly installments of $17,308 each, commencing with the payroll period immediately following the Termination and ending at a date three years thereafter. Employee understands that the Company will deduct from these payments withholding taxes and other deductions in accordance with normal Company practices. ii) Consider Employee on a personal leave of absence from the Company for a period of 24 months following the Termination solely in order to be eligible for the following benefits and any other similar benefits in effect at the time of Termination: a) Coverage under the applicable provisions of the Company's CHOICE Program for medical, dental, and basic life insurance; and b) Participation in the Retirement Plan, Supplemental Retirement Plan, and Profit Sharing and Savings Plan. iii) Provide medical insurance benefits to Employee and Employee's eligible family comparable to (including cost sharing) those provided under the Company's CHOICE Program, during the period of time between the end of the leave of absence period referenced in Section 2.B(ii) and Employee's sixty- fifth birthday and following Employee's sixty-fifth birthday provide medical insurance benefits to Employee and Employee's eligible family comparable to (including cost sharing) those provided under the Company's medical insurance plans (including any -2- <PAGE> plans supplemental to Medicare or any program that is a successor to Medicare) to the Company's retirees as if Employee had continued in employment with the Company until his sixty-fifth birthday and retired on that date. Medical insurance benefits prior to age 65 shall terminate if and when Employee commences work for another employer with similar coverage, and the obligation to provide medical insurance benefits subsequent to age 65 will terminate when Employee commences work for another employer that provides any post-65 retiree medical benefits for which Employee is eligible. iv) All benefits under Sections 2.B(ii) and (iii) will be provided in accordance with the benefit plan provisions in effect at the time such benefits are provided to Employee and/or Employee's eligible family. Employee acknowledges that the Company has reserved the right to alter, amend or terminate such plans, but for purposes of any such alteration, amendment or termination, Employee should be treated comparably to other senior officers of the Company and as if he had continued in employment with the Company until his 65th birthday and retired on that date. C. Immediately following the Termination, the stock options previously granted to Employee pursuant to the Company's stock option plans shall become fully vested. The last day of the above-described leave of absence (the "Leave Termination Date") will be treated as Employee's termination date for purposes of rights associated with any options held by the Employee under the Company's Stock Option Plans and Stock Purchase Plan. D. Employee's Deferred Compensation Contract with the Company shall be fully vested and non-forfeitable upon Employee's attainment of age sixty (or upon his earlier death) -3- <PAGE> and shall be paid over a period of ten years commencing on Employee's sixtieth birthday (or on the date of his earlier death). E. For a period of 36 months following the Termination, the Company shall provide Employee with use of a company car and reimbursement of operating expenses as provided under current Company policy and consistent with Employee's prior position as President and Chief Operating Officer. During the 37th month following the Termination, the Company shall permit Employee to purchase said car at its then market value, such value to be determined in good faith by the Company. In the event Employee commences work for another Employer which provides Employee with use of a comparable car, the above stated 36 month period will be deemed to have elapsed. F. Immediately following Termination, the Company shall make available to Employee the services of an outplacement consultant in accordance with the Company's standard arrangements with Drake Beam Morin Inc. or with whatever substantially similar firm with whom the Company is doing business at the time of Termination and will provide financial planning and tax preparation services consistent with the Company's practice for senior management personnel for a period of 36 months following the Termination. -4- <PAGE> G. The Company shall pay to Employee a share of the Contingent Compensation award for fiscal year 1995 that would otherwise be made to Employee on a prorata basis for that portion of the fiscal year prior to Employee's Termination. Such payment shall be made on or about the time Contingent Compensation awards for that fiscal year are made to other eligible employees. Employee shall not be eligible for any Contingent Compensation award associated with fiscal years following the Termination. 3. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the benefits provided under Section 2 are in lieu of and in excess of the Company's standard severance benefits. Employee understands and agrees that, except for pension or other retirement benefits to which the Employee may be entitled under the Company's standard retirement programs, Employee shall receive no further wage, vacation, severance or other benefits from the Company beyond those described in Section 2. Furthermore, upon Employee's commencing receipt of benefits pursuant to Section 2, Employee's Employment Agreement dated November 21, 1991 with the Company shall immediately terminate. 4. A. Employee agrees not to: i) for a period of 36 months following the Termination, solicit for employment, either directly or through any corporation or other business entity of which Employee may become an officer, director, employee, or agent, any then current employee(s) of the Company, who were employed by the Company prior to the Termination, for any business activities, whether competitive or not; ii) make any derogatory statement, public or otherwise, concerning the Company, its officers, or its directors; iii) criticize, denigrate, or disparage the Company, its officers, or its directors; iv) assist or participate in any activities that would trigger a "Change in Control" as such term is defined in Employee's former Employment Agreement dated November 21, 1991 with the Company; v) initiate, participate, or assist in any activity specifically directed toward, and not solicited by, the Company, its officers, or its directors other than good faith, commercially acceptable activities between business competitors; and -5- <PAGE> vi) engage in any other activities, directly or indirectly, which may be deemed contrary to the best interests of the Company, its officers, or its directors. Notwithstanding Section 4.A(vi) but subject to the other restrictions in this Section 4, the parties acknowledge and agree that Employee shall not be prevented from entering into employment with, and carrying out his legitimate obligations to, business associations which may be competitive with the Company's businesses. B. The Company, its officers, and its directors agree not to make any derogatory statement, public or otherwise, concerning Employee. The Company and Employee also agree to the Company making a press release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C. The Company shall not make any other press releases regarding the Employee without Employee's prior consent, such consent not to be withheld unreasonably. C. Employee is reminded of the terms of Employee's confidentiality agreement with the Company, which, among other things, prohibits Employee from using, or disclosing to others, any confidential business or technical information belonging to the Company, and Employee expressly acknowledges his understanding and agreement that such confidentiality agreement remains in full force and effect. Employee also acknowledges that, in his capacity as an officer of the Company, he has regularly been privy to confidential or proprietary information that he will not disclose or misuse following the Termination. Employee also agrees to return promptly to the Company all files, documents, records, credit cards, keys, and any other Company property in his possession, custody or control. This paragraph shall be deemed a material term of this Agreement. D. In consideration of the benefits under this Agreement, Employee releases, waives, and forever discharges the Company, any related companies, any Company insurer or benefit plan, -6- <PAGE> and the past or present employees, officers, representatives, agents and directors of any of them from all claims, demands, actions, suits, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises and liabilities of any kind whatsoever, known or unknown which Employee, Employee's heirs, executors or assigns may have had, now have or could in the future have including, without limitation, those based on Employee's employment with the Company, or the termination of that employment. This includes, for example, but is not limited to a release of any rights or claims Employee may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which prohibits age discrimination in employment; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, national origin, religion or sex, the Equal Pay Act, which prohibits paying men and women unequal pay for equal work, or any other federal, state or local laws or regulations prohibiting employment discrimination. This also includes, but is not limited to, a release by Employee of any tort or contract claims, and any claims for wrongful discharge. The foregoing release ("Release") covers both claims that Employee knows about and those he may not know about. This Release does not include, however, a release of Employee's right, if any, to benefits under the Company's pension and profit sharing plans, whether qualified or non- qualified for federal income tax purposes, a release of any claim made by Employee under any welfare benefit plan prior to the signing of this Agreement, or a release of any rights or claims that Employee may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act which arise after the date the Employee signs this Release. Furthermore, this Release does not include a release of any rights of Employee or Employee's heirs, executors, or assigns relating to enforcement of obligations of the Company: (i) under this Agreement; or (ii) pertaining to indemnification of Employee as an officer, director, or employee of the Company. -7- <PAGE> Employee further promises never to file or join in a lawsuit or other proceeding asserting any claims that are released hereby. Nothing in this Agreement shall be inferred to be an admission of any fault by the Company. E. Employee understands that Employee has been given a period of 21 days to review and consider this Agreement before signing it. Employee further understands that Employee may use as much of this 21 day period as Employee wishes prior to signing. EMPLOYEE IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT. EMPLOYEE REPRESENTS THAT HE HAS DONE SO AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS BEEN REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. F. Employee may revoke this Agreement within seven (7) days of signing it by hand delivering a written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company. If Employee revokes this Agreement, it will not become effective, the letter of resignation will be considered rescinded, and Employee will not receive the benefits specified in this Agreement. 5. All of the Company's obligations hereunder beyond those otherwise required by law are specifically subject to Employee fulfilling completely each of the promises and requirements set forth in this Agreement. Employee's failure to comply with each promise and requirement herein shall be cause for the immediate termination of any remaining payments or benefits accorded Employee by the terms of this Agreement. In addition, the Company expressly reserves the right to exercise any other legal remedies to which it may be entitled. 6. The Employee shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by -8- <PAGE> any compensation earned by the Employee as the result of employment by another employer after the Termination, or otherwise. 7. This Agreement is governed by, and is to be construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Connecticut. If under such law any portion of this Agreement is at any time deemed to be in conflict with any applicable statute, rule, regulation or ordinance, such portion shall be deemed to be modified or altered to conform thereto or, if that is not possible, to be omitted from this Agreement; and the invalidity of any such portion shall not affect the force, effect and validity of the remaining portion hereof. However, in connection with the enforceability of the Release, should the Employee attempt to challenge the enforceability of the Release, the Employee shall initially tender to the payor, by certified checks delivered to the Company, all cash amounts received pursuant to this Agreement, plus interest, and invite the Company to cancel this Agreement. In the event the Company accepts this offer, this Agreement shall be canceled. In the event the Company does not accept this offer, the Company shall so notify the Employee and the amount tendered by the Employee shall be placed in an interest-bearing account pending a determination of the enforceability of the Release. If the Release is determined to be enforceable, the amount in the account shall be repaid to the Employee, minus the attorneys fees and court costs incurred by the Company in responding to the challenge, which the Company shall retain. If the Release is determined not to be enforceable, the amount in the account shall be retained by the Company or its designee. 8. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective when delivered in person (in the Company's case, to its Secretary) or seventy-two (72) hours after deposit thereof in the U.S. mails, postage prepaid, for delivery as registered or certified mail -- addressed, in the case of the Employee, to him at the last address recorded in -9- <PAGE> Employee's personnel file, and in the case of the Company, to its corporate headquarters, attention of the Secretary, or to such other address as Employee or the Company may designate in writing at any time or from time to time to the other party. In lieu of personal notice or notice by deposit in the U.S. mail, a party may give notice by telegram, confirmed facsimile or telex. 9. The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Employee, expressly, absolutely and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Employee to the immediate receipt of all amounts not yet paid pursuant to Section 2.B(i) and the net present value of the fully vested Deferred Compensation Contract in lieu of the benefit specified in Section 2.D. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law. 10. This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Employee's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Employee should die while any amounts are still payable to him under Section 2.B(i) and 2.G, all such amounts, unless otherwise -10- <PAGE> provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Employee's devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Employee's estate. 11. This Agreement may be amended only by a subsequent written agreement of Employee and the Company. 12. To the extent Employee has been successful on the merits in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by the Agreement following Termination, the Company shall reimburse Employee for all actual and reasonable legal fees and related expenses incurred by Employee in connection therewith. Additionally, in the event of a "Change in Control" as such term is defined within Employee's former Employment Agreement dated November 21, 1991, the Company and/or its successor or assignee shall thereafter reimburse Employee for all actual and reasonable legal fees and related expenses incurred by Employee in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by the Agreement following Termination unless Employee's action has been determined by arbitration, as hereinafter provided, to have been frivolous. Any dispute or controversy arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by binding arbitration as provided in the Arbitration Agreement attached as Exhibit D. -11- <PAGE> IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the year and day first above written. THE PERKIN-ELMER CORPORATION By: /s/ Richard H. Ayers Richard H. Ayers ATTEST: By: /s/ W. B. Sawch ACCEPTED AND AGREED: /s/ Riccardo Pigliucci Riccardo Pigliucci -12-