AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND
RESTATED AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and
entered into as of this 31st day of December, 2008,
by and between Allion Healthcare,
Inc., a corporation with its headquarters located at 1660 Walt
Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747 (the
“Employer”), and Russell J. Fichera (the
“Executive”). This Agreement amends and restates the
Employment Agreement between the parties dated as of June 1,
2008 (the “Original Employment Agreement”).
WHEREAS, the
Employer and the Executive entered into the Original Employment
Agreement to reflect the Executive’s duties and
responsibilities and to provide for the Executive’s
employment by the Employer upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein; and
WHEREAS, the
Executive agreed to certain confidentiality, non-competition and
non-solicitation covenants contained herein, in consideration of
the additional benefits provided to the Executive under the
Original Employment Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the
Original Employment Agreement became effective as of June 1,
2008 (the “Effective Date”) and for all purposes of
this Agreement, the Effective Date shall remain June 1, 2008;
and
WHEREAS, the
Employer employs Executive as its Chief Financial Officer under
terms and conditions as set forth in the Original Employment
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the
Employer and the Executive desire to amend and restate the Original
Employment Agreement for the purpose of complying with
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”) and the Treasury Regulations and Internal
Revenue Service guidance thereunder;
NOW THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement,
and intending to be legally bound, the Employer and the Executive
agree as follows:
1.
Employment . The Employer agrees to employ the Executive and
the Executive agrees to be employed by the Employer on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2.
Capacity . The Executive shall serve the Employer as its
Chief Financial Officer. The Executive shall also serve the
Employer in such other or additional offices as the Executive may
reasonably be requested to serve by the Board of Directors of the
Employer (the “Board of Directors”). In such capacity
or capacities, the Executive shall perform such services and duties
in connection with the business, affairs and operations of the
Employer, consistent with such positions, as may be assigned or
delegated to the Executive from time to time by or under the
authority of the Board of Directors.
3.
Term . Subject to the provisions of Section 6, the term
of employment pursuant to this Agreement (the “Term”)
shall commence on the Effective Date and terminate on the first
anniversary of the Effective Date; provided that the Term shall
automatically be renewed for successive periods of one
(1) year unless either party gives written notice to the other
party, at least ninety (90) days prior to the end date of the
then-current Term, of that party’s intent not to renew this
Agreement.
4.
Compensation and Benefits . The compensation and benefits
payable to the Executive during the Term shall be as
follows:
(a)
Salary . For all services rendered by the Executive under
this Agreement, the Employer shall pay the Executive a salary
(“Salary”) at the annual rate of three hundred thousand
dollars ($300,000.00), subject to increases from time to time in the sole discretion of the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
“Compensation Committee”). Salary shall be payable in
periodic installments in accordance with the Employer’s usual
practice for its senior executives.
(b)
Performance Bonus . The Executive may be awarded performance
bonuses on an annual basis, commencing with a bonus that may be
awarded for the 2008 calendar year, as determined by the Board of
Directors or the Compensation Committee in the sole discretion of
the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee, respectively;
provided, however, that the bonus for any such year shall not
exceed forty percent (40%) of Salary for such year. The performance
bonus, if any, shall be paid to the Executive within thirty
(30) days after the Board of Directors or the Compensation
Committee determines whether and to what extent performance goals
were achieved, but no later than March 15 next following the
end of the calendar year for which the performance bonus, if any,
was earned.
(c)
Employment Bonus . The Employer shall pay the Executive a
one-time employment bonus equal to one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000.00), payable on the Effective Date.
(d)
Stock Options. All options to purchase shares of common
stock of the Employer issued to the Executive in accordance with
the Employer’s stock option plan and the Executive’s
stock option agreement thereunder which have not vested as of the
time any Change in Control (as defined in Section 7(c))
occurs, shall automatically vest upon such occurrence.
(e)
Regular Benefits . The Executive shall also be eligible to
participate in any employee benefit plans, medical insurance plans,
life insurance plans, disability income plans, retirement plans,
vacation plans, expense reimbursement plans and other benefit plans
which the Employer may from time to time have in effect for all or
most of its senior executives. Such participation shall be subject
to the terms of the applicable plan documents, generally applicable
policies of the Employer, applicable law and the discretion of the
Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee or any
administrative or other committee provided for in or contemplated
by any such plan. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
construed to create any obligation on the part of the Employer to
establish any such plan or to maintain the effectiveness of any
such plan which may be in effect from time to time.
(f)
Automobile . During the Term, the Employer shall provide the
Executive with an automobile allowance of $995 per month to
compensate the Executive for expenses related to the use of an
automobile and reasonable business-related expenses associated with
such automobile and its maintenance and operation.
(g)
Taxation of Payment and Benefits . The Employer shall
undertake to make deductions, withholdings and tax reports with
respect to payments and benefits under this Agreement to the extent
that it reasonably and in good faith believes that it is required
to make such deductions, withholdings and tax reports. Payments
under this Agreement shall be in amounts net of any such deductions
or withholdings. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
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construed to
require the Employer to make any payments to compensate the
Executive for any adverse tax effect associated with any payments
or benefits or for any deduction or withholding from any payment or
benefit.
(h)
Place of Performance and Relocation Expenses. The
Executive’s main office will be located at the
Employer’s main office in Melville, New York or at any other
location where such offices are moved. The Employer will reimburse
the Executive for travel and living expenses incurred by the
Executive in traveling from his residence in Massachusetts to
Melville, New York or any other location where such offices are
moved, and while temporarily residing at or near such location in
connection with his employment with the Employer, during the period
that the Executive maintains a residence in Massachusetts and for
two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. If at any time
reimbursement for such expenses (whether paid before this Agreement
was entered into, or after) is characterized by the Internal
Revenue Service as compensation to the Executive, the Employer
shall pay to the Executive an additional amount equal to the tax
paid by the Executive on such compensation fully grossed up so that
the amount retained by the Executive after payment of taxes on such
amount equals the tax imposed on the reimbursement payments. Such
tax gross-up payment shall be made by December 31 of the year
following the year in which the Executive remits the related
taxes.
If,
during the Term, the Executive determines to relocate his residence
at any time while this Agreement is in effect, the Executive will
be reimbursed for his relocation expenses, including but not
limited to expenses incurred to find a house near the
Employer’s main office, sales commissions payable to a real
estate agent in connection with the sale of the Massachusetts
residence, moving expenses and other expenses incurred incidental
to the process of relocation.
(i)
Exclusivity of Salary and Benefits . The Executive shall not
be entitled to any payments or benefits other than those provided
under this Agreement, unless otherwise approved by the Board of
Directors.
5. Extent
of Service . During the Term, the Executive shall, subject to
the direction and supervision of the Board of Directors, devote the
Executive’s full business time, best efforts and business
judgment, skill and knowledge to the advancement of the
Employer’s interests and to the discharge of the
Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.
The Executive shall not engage in any other business activity,
except as may be required by the Transition Agreement, effective as
of June 1, 2008, by and between the Executive and EnduraCare
Therapy Management, Inc. (a copy of which has been provided to the
Employer) or except as may be approved by the Board of Directors;
provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as
preventing the Executive from (a) investing the
Executive’s assets in any company or other entity in a manner
not prohibited by Section 8(d), or (b) engaging in
religious, charitable or other community or non-profit activities
that, in the case of (a) or (b) above, do not in any way
impair the Executive’s ability to fulfill the
Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this
Agreement.
6.
Termination and Termination Benefits . Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, (i) the Employer may
terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time
with or without Cause (as defined in Section 7(a)) at its
election; (ii) the Executive may terminate the
Executive’s employment hereunder at any time with or without
Good Reason (as defined in Section 7(b)) at the Executive’s
election; (iii) Executive’s employment hereunder shall
automatically terminate upon the Executive’s death;
(iv) the Executive’s employment shall terminate upon the
Executive’s disability as provided in Section 6(c); and
(v) the Executive’s employment shall terminate at the
end of the then-current Term upon the Executive’s delivery
of
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notice of
nonrenewal as provided in Section 3. The date of termination
of the Executive’s employment hereunder, whether upon
termination by either the Employer or the Executive as provided in
this Agreement or by reason of the Executive’s death or
disability, is the “Termination Date.” Any termination
of employment hereunder shall be effective upon, (i) in the
case of nonrenewal by the Executive, the date of scheduled
termination of the then-current Term, (ii) the date of receipt
by the non-terminating party of a notice of termination from the
terminating party with or without Cause (in the case of a
termination by the Employer) or with or without Good Reason (in the
case of a termination by the Executive), (iii) the date of
death, or (iv) after the onset of disability as provided in
Section 6(c), as the case may be; provided that, in the case
of a termination by the Employer, the Employer may specify in the
notice of termination a later termination date (which date shall be
no later than thirty (30) days after the date of such notice
of termination). The amounts payable to the Executive and other
benefits provided to the Executive under this Section 6 shall
be referred to as “Termination Benefits.” Payment of
the Termination Benefits under this Section 6 shall be subject
to Section 22 of this Agreement.
(a)
Termination by the Employer for Cause, by the Executive without
Good Reason or notice of nonrenewal by the Executive . If,
during the Term, (i) the Employer terminates the
Executive’s employment for Cause, (ii) the Executive
terminates his employment with the Employer without Good Reason, or
(iii) the Executive provides the Employer with notice of
non-renewal, the Executive shall be entitled to:
(i) accrued but
unpaid Salary through the Termination Date;
(ii) cash in lieu
of any accrued but unused vacation through the Termination Date
(the payments provided in (i) and (ii) above collectively
referred to as the “Accrued Obligations”);
and
(iii) any benefits
accrued or payable to the Executive under the Employer’s
benefit plans (in accordance with the terms of such benefit plans
and subject to Section 22 of this Agreement) (the “Other
Benefits”).
The Accrued
Obligations shall be paid in a lump sum in cash within five
(5) days after the Termination Date. Upon payment or provision
of the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits, if any, the
Employer shall have no further obligations to the Executive under
this Agreement.
(b)
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, by the Employer
Without Cause, or following notice of nonrenewal by the
Employer. If, during the Term, (i) the Executive
terminates his employment with the Employer for Good Reason within
a period of 90 days after the occurrence of an uncured event
of Good Reason, (ii) the Employer terminates the
Executive’s employment with the Employer without Cause, or
(iii) the Employer terminates the Executive’s employment
within 90 days following Employer’s termination of this
Agreement by reason of having delivered a notice of nonrenewal, the
Executive shall be entitled to:
(i) the Accrued
Obligations, payable in a lump sum in cash, within five
(5) days after the Termination Date;
(ii) an amount
equal to the Salary, at the rate in effect on the Termination Date,
that would have been paid to the Executive as if there had been no
termination described in this Section 6(b) through the expiration
of the then-current Term, payable in a lump sum in cash within five
(5) days following the Termination Date;
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(iii) an amount
equal to one hundred and forty percent (140%) of Salary in effect
on the Termination Date, payable in a lump sum in cash within five
(5) business days after the Termination Date;
(iv) continuation
of group health plan benefits to the extent authorized by and
consistent with 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et seq. (commonly known as
“COBRA”), with the cost of the regular premium for such
benefits shared in the same relative proportion by the Employer and
the Executive as in effect on the Termination Date, provided that
the Executive’s entitlements under this clause
(iv) shall terminate as of the earlier of (x) one
(1) year from the Termination Date or (y) the date of
commencement of eligibility for health insurance pursuant to other
employment or self-employment (such period of continuation, the
“Termination Benefits Period”);
(v) accelerated
vesting of all options to purchase shares of common stock of the
Employer issued to the Executive in accordance with the
Employer’s stock option plan and the Executive’s stock
option agreement thereunder; and
(vi) the timely
payment or provision of Other Benefits, if any.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6(b) shall be construed to
affect the Executive’s right to receive COBRA continuation
entirely at the Executive’s own cost to the extent that the
Executive may continue to be entitled to COBRA continuation after
the Executive’s right to cost sharing under
Section 6(b)(iii) ceases. The Executive shall be obligated to
give prompt notice of the date of commencement of any employment or
self-employment and shall respond promptly to any reasonable
inquiries concerning any employment or self-employment in which the
Executive engages during the Termination Benefits
Period.
(c)
Death . If, during the Term, the Executive’s
employment with the Employer is terminated by reason of the
Executive’s death, the Executive’s estate shall be
entitled to:
(i) the Accrued
Obligations, payable in a lump sum in cash, within five
(5) days after the Termination Date;
(ii) a pro-rata
performance bonus for the year of termination, calculated by
multiplying (A) the Executive’s performance bonus, as
awarded by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee
after determining whether and to what extent performance goals were
achieved for the Pro-rata Period (as defined below), by (B) a
fraction (the “Pro-rata Period”), the numerator of
which shall be the number of days the Executive was employed in the
applicable performance period and the denominator of which shall be
the number of days in the applicable performance period. The
pro-rata performance bonus shall be paid to the Executive’s
estate within thirty (30) days after the Board of Directors or
the Compensation Committee determines whether and to what extent
performance goals were achieved for the Pro-rata Period, but no
later than March 15 next following the end of the calendar
year for which the pro-rata performance bonus, if any, was earned;
and
(iii) the timely
payment or provision of Other Benefits, if any.
(d)
Disability . If the Executive shall be physically or
mentally disabled so as to be unable to perform substantially all
of the essential functions of the Executive’s then
existing
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position or
positions under this Agreement with or without reasonable
accommodation, the Board of Directors may remove the Executive from
any responsibilities and/or reassign the Executive to another
position with the Employer for the remainder of the Term or during
the period of such disability. Notwithstanding any such removal or
reassignment, the Executive shall continue to be employed by the
Employer and shall receive a payment equal to the lesser of
(i) the Salary that he would have received through the date
that is six (6) months after the onset of the disability, or
(ii) the Salary that he would have received through the
termination of the then Term (less any disability pay or sick pay
benefits to which the Executive may be entitled under the
Employer’s plans and policies), payable in a lump sum in cash
within five (5) days following the date on which the Executive
is determined to be disabled. In addition, Executive shall be
entitled to any annual bonus that is earned within the period
described in the foregoing sentence, which bonus shall be payable
at the normal time for payment of bonuses, as prescribed in
Section 4(b). Executive also shall continue to receive other
benefits under Section 4 of this Agreement (except to the
extent that the Executive may be ineligible for one or more such
benefits under applicable plan terms) until the earlier of
(i) the date that is six (6) months after the onset of
the disability and (ii) the termination of the Term, at which time
this Agreement shall terminate and the Executive shall be entitled
only to the Accrued Obligations, and the Employer shall have no
further obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. If any
question shall arise as to whether the Executive is disabled so as
to be unable to perform substantially all of the essential
functions of the Executive’s then existing position or
positions with or without reasonable accommo
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