Exhibit 10.9
AMENDED AND
RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered
into effective as of the 17th day of December, 2008, by and between
Michael Newman (“Executive”) and Sun
Healthcare Group, Inc ., a Delaware corporation
(“Sun” or “Company”).
WHEREAS, Executive serves as the Executive Vice
President and General Counsel of Sun;
WHEREAS, Sun and Executive are parties to that
certain Employment Agreement dated as of March 22, 2005, as amended
on October 12, 2006, October 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008 (the
“Existing Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, Sun and Executive wish to amend and
restate the Existing Agreement upon the terms set forth in this
Agreement to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), effective as of the
date hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above
recitals and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein,
Executive and Sun agree as follows:
Section
1:
Employment; Term of
Employment .
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Employment . Sun agrees to employ Executive and
Executive agrees to accept employment with Sun, subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
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Term of
Employment . The period of Executive’s
employment under this Agreement commenced as of March 22, 2005 (the
effective date of the Existing Agreement, referred to herein as the
“Effective Date”) and shall continue until terminated
in accordance with Section 5 below. As used in this
Agreement, the phrase “Employment Term” refers to
Executive's period of employment from the Effective Date until the
date his employment is terminated.
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Section
2:
Duties and
Responsibilities . Executive shall devote his full
employment time, efforts, skills and attention exclusively to his
duties as Executive Vice Executive and General Counsel; provided,
however, that to the extent the following activities do not
materially interfere or conflict with his duties and
responsibilities hereunder, Executive may (i) serve as a member of
the boards of directors of other corporations with the prior
written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of Sun; and (ii)
engage in charitable, civic and religious affairs.
Section
3:
Compensation, Benefits and
Related Matters .
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Annual
Base Salary . During the Employment Term, Sun
shall pay to Executive a base salary at an annual rate of $280,000
("Base Salary"), such salary to be payable in accordance with Sun's
customary payroll practices as in effect from
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time to time
(but not less frequently than monthly). The annual Base
Salary will be reviewed at least annually for possible merit
increases and any increase in Executive's annual base salary rate
shall thereafter constitute "Base Salary" for purposes of this
Agreement.
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Cash
Bonus/Incentive Compensation . In addition to the Base Salary
provided for in Section 3(a) above, Executive shall be entitled to
receive an annual bonus (“Bonus”) in accordance with
the Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. Executive Bonus Plan, as
it may be amended from time to time by the Compensation Committee
of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that no amendment
shall be effective if it reduces the percentage of Base Salary that
would constitute the minimum or maximum potential amount of the
Bonus as compared to the prior year, unless such amendment has been
agreed to in writing by Executive. The Bonus shall be
payable at the same time as other annual bonuses are paid to senior
management personnel with respect to that fiscal
year. Subject to the provisions of Section 6, in order
to have earned and to be paid any such Bonus, Executive must be
employed by Sun on the date of such payment. It is
intended that the Bonus described in this Section 3(b) qualify as
"performance based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code
to the extent necessary to preserve Sun’s ability to deduct
such Bonus.
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Equity
Incentive . During the Employment Term,
Executive shall be eligible to be granted equity incentive awards
during his employment on the same basis as other senior executive
officers of Sun. Such equity incentive awards may
include stock options and restricted units. Executive's
eligibility, rights and entitlement to such equity incentive awards
shall be governed by the applicable equity incentive plan, award
agreement, award and/or grant.
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Retirement and Benefit Plans
. During the Employment
Term, Executive shall be eligible to participate in or receive
benefits under any pension plan, 401(k) savings plan, nonqualified
deferred compensation plan, supplemental executive retirement plan,
medical and dental benefits plan, life insurance plan, short-term
and long-term disability plans, or any other employee benefit or
fringe benefit plan, generally made available by Sun to senior
executives in accordance with the eligibility requirements of such
plans and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement. Such plans, programs and arrangements are
subject to change during employment at the sole discretion of the
Company.
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Sick,
Holiday and Vacation Pay . Executive is entitled to holiday
and sick pay consistent with Sun's Employee Handbook or other
policy applicable to senior executives. Sick and Holiday
Pay is subject to change during employment at the sole discretion
of the Company. Executive shall be entitled to up to 160
hours of vacation per year, which shall accrue at the rate of 6.152
hours per pay period (26 pay periods). However, in
accordance with Sun's Employee Handbook or other policy applicable
to senior executives, vacation hours shall be subject to an accrual
cap of two times Executive's annual allotment of vacation hours and
shall be subject to change during employment at the sole discretion
of the Company.
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Indemnification,
Liability/Insurance . Executive shall be entitled to
indemnification by Sun to the extent required by applicable law and
the charter and bylaws of Sun. In addition, Sun shall
maintain during Executive's employment customary directors and
officers' liability insurance and Executive shall be covered by
such insurance.
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Taxes . All compensation payable to
Executive shall be subject to withholding for all applicable
federal, state and local income taxes, occupational taxes, Social
Security and similar mandatory withholdings.
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Section
4:
Medical
Reimbursement . Upon proof of payment, Sun agrees
to reimburse Executive out of pocket costs for maintaining his
current medical insurance. Said costs are estimated to
be $990 per month. During this time Executive will not
participate in Sun's health plan. Executive agrees that
he will provide such proof of payment to Sun promptly after
Executive incurs each such cost.
Section
5:
Termination of
Employment . Sun, at any time in its sole
discretion, may terminate Executive as Executive Vice President and
General Counsel and from all other positions with Sun and its
direct and indirect subsidiaries. Upon termination,
Executive (or his beneficiary or estate as the case may be) shall
be entitled to receive the compensation and benefits described in
Section 6 below.
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Termination by Sun for “Good
Cause.” Sun may, at any time, by written
notice to Executive at least five (5) business days prior to the
date of termination specified in such notice and specifying the
acts or omissions believed to constitute Good Cause (as defined
below), terminate Executive as an officer and employee and from all
other positions with Sun for Good Cause. Sun may relieve
Executive of his duties and responsibilities pending a final
determination of whether Good Cause exists, and such action shall
not constitute Good Reason (as defined in Section 5(c) below) for
purposes of this Agreement. Payment to Executive upon a
termination for Good Cause is set forth in Section
6(a). "Good Cause" for termination shall mean any one of
the following:
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Any criminal
conviction (including conviction on a nolo contendere
plea) under the laws of the United States or any state or other
political subdivision thereof which, in the sole discretion of the
Chief Executive Officer of Sun, renders Executive unsuitable as an
officer or employee of Sun.
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Executive's
continued failure to substantially perform the duties reasonably
requested by the Chief Executive Officer of Sun and commensurate
with his position as Executive Vice President and General Counsel
of Sun (other than any such failure resulting from his incapacity
due to his physical or mental condition) after a written demand for
substantial performance is delivered to him by the Chief Executive
Officer of Sun, which demand specifically identifies the manner in
which the Chief Executive Officer of Sun believes that Executive
has not
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substantially
performed his duties, and which performance, in the sole discretion
of the Chief Executive Officer is determined to not be
substantially corrected by Executive within ten (10)
calendar days of receipt of such demand;
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Any material
workplace misconduct or willful failure to comply with Sun's
general policies and procedures as they may exist from time to time
by Executive which, in the sole discretion of the Chief Executive
Officer of Sun, renders Executive unsuitable as an officer or
employee; and
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Breach of any
of the covenants set forth in Section 8 of this
Agreement.
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Regardless of
whether Executive's employment initially was considered to be
terminated for any reason other than Good Cause, Executive's
employment will be considered to have been terminated for Good
Cause for purposes of this Agreement if the Chief Executive Officer
of Sun subsequently determines that Executive engaged in an act
constituting Good Cause.
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Termination by Sun without Good
Cause . Sun may at any time in its sole
discretion, by written notice to Executive at least five (5)
business days prior to date of termination specified in such
notice, terminate Executive as an officer and employee and from all
other positions with Sun. If such termination is made by
Sun other than by reason of Executive's death or Disability (as
defined in Section 5(e)) and Good Cause does not exist, such
termination shall be treated as a termination without Good Cause
and Executive shall be entitled to payment in accordance with
Section 6(b).
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Termination by Executive for Good
Reason . Executive may, at any time at his
option within sixty (60) calendar days following an event or
condition that constitutes Good Reason (as defined below), resign
for Good Reason, as an officer and employee and from all
other positions with Sun by written notice to Sun at least thirty
(30) calendar days prior to the date of termination specified in
such notice; provided, however, that Sun has not substantially
corrected the event or condition that would constitute Good Reason
prior to the date of termination. Payment to Executive
upon a termination for Good Reason is set forth in Section
6(b).
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“Good
Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following
events or conditions without Executive's written
consent:
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A meaningful
and detrimental reduction in Executive’s authority, duties or
responsibilities or a meaningful and detrimental change in his
reporting responsibilities;
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A material
failure of Sun to comply with the compensation provisions as set
forth in Sections 3(a) - 3(c) (other than a reduction of
compensation uniformly applicable to other members of Senior
Management or as a result of disciplinary action against Executive)
or a material failure of Sun
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to comply with
the benefits provisions as set forth in Sections 3(d) - 3(g)
(collectively, the “Benefits”) (other than a reduction
of Benefits uniformly applicable to other members of senior
management); or
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A material
relocation of Executive's principal work location to a place other
than Orange County or Los Angeles County, California;
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provided that Sun is provided with notice and opportunity
to cure such breach and Executive terminates his employment with
Sun, in each case within the time periods prescribed under this
Section 5(c).
Notwithstanding
any provision of this Paragraph 5(c) to the contrary, the
occurrence of a “Change in Control” (as defined in
Section 6 below) shall not, by itself, constitute Good Reason
hereunder.
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Voluntary
Resignation Without Good Reason . Executive may, at any time at his
option with thirty (30) calendar days written notice to Sun,
voluntarily resign without Good Reason as an officer and employee
and from all positions with Sun. Payment to Executive
upon his voluntary resignation without Good Reason is set forth in
Section 6(a). Resignation from employment shall
automatically constitute resignation from all positions of any
subsidiary or affiliated corporation.
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Death or
Disability . Executive's employment under this
Agreement shall terminate automatically as of the date of
Executive's death. Sun, at any time by written notice to
Executive at least five (5) business days prior to the date of
termination specified in such notice, terminate Executive as an
officer and employee and from all other positions with Sun by
reason of his Disability. "Disability" shall mean any
physical or mental condition or illness that prevents Executive
from performing the essential duties of his position (where such
failure cannot be remedied with reasonable accommodation) for a
period of 120 substantially consecutive calendar days, as
determined by a physician selected by Sun and reasonably acceptable
to Executive or, if Executive is incapacitated, reasonably
acceptable to the Director of Medicine or equivalent senior
physician at a hospital of Executive's choice. In
addition, Executive's receipt of disability benefits under Sun's
long-term disability benefits plan or receipt of Social Security
disability benefits shall be deemed conclusive evidence of
Disability for purpose of this Agreement. Payment to
Executive upon his termination by reason of his death or Disability
is set forth in Section 6(d).
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Section
6:
Payments Upon
Termination .
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Payment
Upon Termination for Good Cause, or Resignation without Good
Reason . In the event of termination of his
employment pursuant to Sections 5(a) or 5(d), Executive, or his
estate where applicable, shall be paid any earned but unpaid Base
Salary through the date of termination and any accrued but unused
vacation through the date of termination in accordance with Company
policy,
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which shall be
paid to Executive in a lump sum in cash upon or promptly following
(and in all events within 30 days after) the date of termination of
employment (collectively, the “Accrued
Obligations”).
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Executive also
shall receive his vested benefits in accordance with the terms of
Sun's compensation and benefit plans, and his participation in such
plans and all other perquisites shall cease as of the date of
termination, except to the extent Executive may elect to continue
coverage as under any welfare benefit plans as required by Part 6,
Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended. Upon a termination under Section 5(a) or 5(d),
Executive shall not be entitled to any compensation or benefits
under this Agreement except as set forth in this Section
6(a).
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Payment
Upon Termination by Sun without Good Cause or by Executive for Good
Reason . In the event of termination of
employment pursuant to Sections 5(b) or 5(c), Executive shall be
entitled to a lump sum severance payment in an amount equal to one
(1) year Base Salary or, in the event such termination occurs on or
within two (2) years following the change of a “Change in
Control,” two (2) years Base Salary, with such amount to be
paid to Executive in the month immediately following the month in
which Executive’s termination of employment
occurs. Executive also shall be entitled to (i) any
earned Bonus pursuant to Section 3(b) for the fiscal year prior to
the fiscal year of termination in the event Executive was employed
the entire prior fiscal year but is not employed by Sun on the date
said Bonus is paid, payable to Executive in a lump sum in cash at
the time that annual bonuses are paid to senior management
personnel with respect to that fiscal year, but in any event within
seventy-five (75) days after the conclusion of the fiscal year to
which such Bonus relates; (ii) a pro rata portion of the Bonus for
the fiscal year of termination (determined by multiplying the
amount Executive would have received based upon actual performance
had his employment continued through the end of the fiscal year by
a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during the
year of termination that Executive is employed by the Company and
the denominator of which is 365 or 366, as applicable), payable to
Executive at the time th
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