Exhibit 10.2
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(this “ Agreement
”), effective as of the 26 th day of October, 2006, is by and
between Amedisys, Inc. (“ Amedisys ” or
the “ Company ”), a Delaware corporation having
its principal place of business at 11100 Mead Road, Suite 300,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70816, and Jeffrey Jeter (“
Executive ”), an individual of the full age of
majority and capacity.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Amedisys owns, manages,
and/or operates agencies and facilities for the provision of home
health nursing services, in-home hospice care services, therapy
staffing services and nurse practitioner medical services to
patients and customers (collectively, the “ Business
”); and
WHEREAS, Executive currently holds
the position of Chief Compliance Officer of the Company.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises, as well as other mutual promises and covenants
contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
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1.
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Incorporation of Recitals; Prior
Agreements .
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1.1
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Recitals . The above recitations are incorporated herein
by this reference.
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1.2
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Prior
Agreements . This
Agreement supercedes any prior employment agreement entered into
between the Company and Executive in its entirety.
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2.
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Performance of Duties
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2.1
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Duties . Executive shall perform such duties as are
usually performed by the chief compliance officer of a
publicly-traded company similar in size and scope to the Company.
Executive shall also perform such other reasonable additional
duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the
Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board
”), the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and President
or the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, consistent with the
expectation of the Company and the Company’s operations and
taking into account Executive’s expertise and job
responsibilities, including but not limited to adherence to
internal compliance policies, regulatory agency rules and
regulations and applicable Federal and State laws. Executive shall
have the title of Chief Compliance Officer and shall report
directly to the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and
President (or his designee) and indirectly to the Company’s
Chief Executive Officer. Nothing herein shall prohibit or restrict
the Company’s Board, Chief Operating Officer and President or
Chief Executive Officer from changing the title and job
responsibilities of Executive, in its or his discretion, as may
be
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necessitated by
the ongoing conduct of the Company’s Business. Executive
shall carefully avoid all personal acts that might in any way,
directly or indirectly, harm the reputation of the
Company.
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2.2
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Devotion of
Time . Executive agrees
to actively and industriously devote his time and attention to the
business affairs of the Company to the extent necessary to
discharge the responsibilities assigned to him and to use his
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the term of this Agreement, Employee shall
not render services to or be employed by a party other than the
Company unless authorized to do so by the Company.
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3.
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Term of
Employment . This
Agreement shall be effective as of the execution hereof and shall
continue for an indefinite period of time, subject to the
provisions of Section 5 hereto, it being expressly understood
and agreed to by the parties that the employment relationship
between the Company and Executive shall be “at
will.”
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4.1
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Base
Salary . In consideration
of Executive’s employment, Company shall pay Executive an
annual salary in the amount of One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars
($140,000), which amount shall be payable in twenty-six
(26) biweekly payments according to the Company’s
regular payroll distribution schedule, subject to applicable
withholding and other taxes. Executive is eligible to receive
annual salary adjustments in conformity with the Company’s
policies. Should Executive receive payments from an insurer while
employed by the Company under the provisions of any short term or
long term disability plan provided by the Company for its
employees, the Company’s obligation to pay the salary of
Executive will be reduced by the amount of such
payments.
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4.2
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Bonus . Executive shall be eligible for a bonus in
accordance with the terms of the Company’s Corporate
Incentive Plan (as such plan may be amended, modified or terminated
by the Board from time to time) in an amount up to 50% of his base
salary (the “ Eligible Bonus Percentage ”).
Bonuses are not guaranteed.
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4.3
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Long-Term
Equity-Based Incentive Compensation . Executive shall be eligible to receive
long-term equity-based incentive compensation in accordance with
the terms of the Company’s Corporate Incentive Plan (as such
plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board from time
to time). All long-term equity-based incentive compensation awarded
pursuant to this Section 4.3, to the extent they constitute
securities, shall be “restricted securities” as that
term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“ Act ”) and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder. Executive hereby represents that all
long-term equity incentive awards pursuant to this Section 4.3
will be acquired for investment purposes and not with a view to any
resale, redistributions except in accordance with the
Act.
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4.4
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Professional
Organization Membership Fees; Professional
Certifications . The
Company will reimburse Executive for all out-of-pocket membership
fees/dues for professional organizations and annual maintenance
fees for professional certifications.
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5.
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Termination of Employment
. Executive’s employment may
be terminated at any time in accordance with, and subject to, the
following terms and conditions:
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5.1
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Termination
by Company . The Company
shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment,
with or without cause, upon notice to Executive, at any time and
subject to the sole discretion of the Company.
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5.1.1
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Termination
of Employment for Cause .
The Company may terminate Executive’s employment if such
termination is for “cause,” which shall specifically
include, but shall not be limited to the following
occurrences:
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a.
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A material
default or breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this
Agreement which breach is detrimental to the Company or the
Business;
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b.
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Actions by
Executive constituting fraud, abuse, criminal activity (other than
motor vehicle infractions) or embezzlement;
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c.
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Intentionally
furnishing materially false, misleading, or ommissive information
to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating
Officer and President, or Chief Financial Officer, or to the Board
or any committee thereof (specifically including the
Company’s Audit Committee and/or Compliance
Committee);
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d.
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Actions
constituting a breach of the confidentiality of the Business and/or
trade secrets of the Company;
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e.
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Violation of
the restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement;
and
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f.
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Willful failure
to follow reasonable and lawful directives of the Company’s
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and President or
the Board, which are consistent with Executive’s job
responsibilities and performance as defined by the Board or Chief
Executive Officer in its or his discretion.
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g.
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Death of
executive, in which case employment shall automatically terminate
as of date of death.
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h.
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Disability of
Executive; Executive shall be considered “disabled” if
(i) due to physical or mental illness or injury, Executive
shall
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have been
absent from his duties hereunder on a full-time basis for at least
twelve (12) consecutive weeks or absent from his duties
hereunder on a part-time basis for periods aggregating twelve
(12) weeks in any twelve (12) month period and
(ii) Executive is determined by a physician designated by the
Company to be incapacitated or disabled and a physician designated
by Executive concurs in such determination. In the event the two
physicians are in disagreement regarding Executive’s
condition, they shall seek a third physician designated by both
physicians whose determination shall be binding for the purposes of
this Agreement. Executive hereby agrees to submit to medical
examinations as necessary to make such determinations.
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5.1.2
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Effect of
Termination of Employment for Cause . In the event that the Company terminates the
employment of Executive for cause, Executive shall cease to be an
employee of Company and shall cease to have any power or authority
of his position as of the effective date of the termination. In
such event, Executive shall forfeit any unearned salary or other
compensation, and the Company shall be relieved of any further
obligation under this Agreement. Further, Executive shall forfeit
and shall not be entitled to any bonus compensation, the payment
date of which would occur after the date of termination for cause.
In such event, Executive shall also not be entitled to receive
Severance Compensation (as defined in Section 5.3, below).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Executive is
terminated for cause, Executive shall nonetheless remain bound by
the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof and shall continue to
abide by its restrictions for the duration provided
therein.
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5.1.3
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Effect of
Termination of Employment Without Cause or upon a Change In
Control .
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a.
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In the event
that the Company terminates the employment of Executive without
cause or if Executive’s employment is terminated by the
Company or by the acquiring surviving entity upon a Change of
Control (as defined below), Executive shall cease to be an employee
of Company and shall cease to have any power or authority of his
position as of the effective date of the termination. In such
event, the Company will discontinue compensation payments (as
provided in Section 4 herein) to Executive and shall be
relieved of further obligation to Executive under this Agreement,
except for the obligation to provide Severance Compensation to
Executive pursuant to Section 5.3 below. Executive shall at
all times remain bound by the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof
and shall continue to abide by its restrictions for the duration
provided therein.
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b.
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For purposes of
this Agreement, a “Change in Control” is the
acquisition by any person, entity or “group” within the
meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of more than fifty percent (50%) of either the
then outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock or the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding
voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors; provided however, purchase by underwriters in a firm
commitment public offering of the Company’s securities or any
securities purchased for investment only by professional investors
shall not constitute a Change of Control.
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c.
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In the event
that Executive’s employment is terminated by the acquiring
surviving entity upon a Change of Control, all unvested
equity-based compensation (for example, stock options, restricted
stock, stock appreciation rights, etc.) previously awarded to
Executive under the terms of any employee stock incentive plan
adopted by the Company shall immediately vest and shall
automatically become exercisable or transferable, as the case may
be.
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5.2.
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Termination
of Employment by Executive . Executive may terminate his employment with
the Company upon ninety (90) days written notice to the
Company. Such notice shall set forth in sufficient detail the
reasons underlying said termination. In such event, Executive shall
cease to be an employee of Company and shall cease to have any
power or authority of his position as of the effective date of
termination ( i.e. , ninety (90) days following
submission of notice) or such earlier time as the Company may elect
in its sole discretion; at which time the Company shall be relieved
of further obligation to Executive, including the payment of
further compensation as outlined in Section 4 herein. In the
event that Executive terminates his employment with the Company,
the Company may but shall have no obligation to issue Severance
Compensation to Executive pursuant to Section 5.3 below.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive agrees to remain bound by
the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof upon voluntary
termination of his employment, and shall continue to abide by its
restrictions for the duration provided therein.
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5.3
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Severance
Compensation . In the
event that the Company is obligated to (pursuant to
Section 5.1 above) or agrees to (pursuant to Section 5.2
above) provide Executive Severance Compensation, Executive hereby
agrees that any such agreement or obligation on the part of Company
shall be conditioned upon and subject to Executive’s
execution of a Severance Agreement addendum to this Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as “ Severance Agreement
”), which shall contain all terms and conditions governing
Executive’s ongoing entitlement to
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receipt
thereof, specifically including but not limited to any restrictive
covenants contained therein. In such circumstances, Executive shall
be entitled to Severance Compensation in an amount equal to
(i) Executive’s current monthly salary times
(ii) the number of full months that Executive has been
employed by the Company, up to a maximum of twelve
(12) months, (hereinafter referred to as “ Severance
Compensation ”), payable in one lump sum no later than 10
business days after the execution date of the Severance Agreement.
Should, for any reason, Executive refuse or fail to timely execute
the Severance Agreement as presented by the Company, Executive
shall be deemed to have foregone the entirety of Severance
Compensation otherwise due or offered to him, and Executive shall
not be entitled to any further compensation from
Company.
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6.
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Representations by Executive
. Executive hereby represents to the
Company that he is physically and mentally capable of performing
his duties hereunder and he has no knowledge of present or past
physical or mental conditions that would cause him not to be able
to perform his duties hereunder. Executive further represents to
the Company that he has never been convicted of any criminal
offense (other than minor vehicle infractions) or found (either
through adjudication or settlement) civilly liable for any
violation of any federal or state health care fraud or abuse law.
Executive further represents to the Company that he has not been
sanctioned, excluded, debarred, suspended, or otherwise prohibited
from participation in a federal health care program pursuant to the
provisions of 42 U.S.C. Section 1320a et seq .
Executive further represents that he is not bound by any agreement
that prevents his entering into this Agreement or restricts or
limits his abilities to perform his duties hereunder.
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7.
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Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure of
Information .
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7.1
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Confidentiality . Executive shall not, during his employment
with the Company or at any time thereafter, divulge, disclose,
communicate, furnish, distribute, or make available or accessible
to anyone, without the Company’s prior written consent, any
knowledge or information with respect to any confidential or secret
aspect or trade secret of the Company or its Business which, if
disclosed, may reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect on the Company or its Business (the “ Confidential
Information ”).
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7.2
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Ownership of
Information . Executive
recognizes that any and all Confidential Information and copies or
reproductions or portions thereof relating to the Company’s
operations and activities made or received by Executive in the
course of his employment are and shall be the exclusive property of
the Company, and Executive holds and uses same as trustee and a
fiduciary for the Company and, at all times, subject to the
Company’s sole control; and Executive will deliver same to
the Company at the termination of his employment, or earlier if so
requested by the Company in writing, without retaining copies
thereof in any form. All patient and client files and records are
the property of the Company, and Executive, upon the termination of
his employment, shall not remove from the offices of the Company
any patient or client files or records for any reason. All of
such
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Confidential
Information, and/or any portion(s) thereof, which if lost or used
by Executive outside the scope of his employment, could cause
irreparable and continuing injury to the Company and its Business
for which there may not be an adequate remedy at law, and for which
the Company is entitled to secure the relief afforded in
Section 9, in addition to any other right or remedy available
under law, equity, or this Agreement. Accordingly, Executive
acknowledges that compliance with the provisions of this
Section 7 is necessary to protect the goodwill and other
proprietary interests of the Company and is a material condition of
employment.
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8.
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Restrictive Covenants
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8.1
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Non-Solicitation/Non-Tamper Covenants
. As an inducement to cause the
Company to enter into this Agreement, and for all consideration
contained herein and afforded hereby, Executive covenants and
agrees that during his employment and for a period of twenty-four
(24) months after he ceases to be employed by the Company,
regardless of the manner or cause of termination:
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8.1.1
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Solicitation
of Business . He will not
initiate any contact with, call upon, solicit business from, sell
or render services to any Client (as defined below), referral
source, or patient of the Company or any affiliate of the Company
within the area in which such entities conduct or actively solicit
business, a descriptive list of which is included in Schedule
A , which is attached hereto and expressly incorporated herein
(hereinafter referred to as “ Restricted Areas
”), for or on behalf of himself or any business, firm,
proprietorship, corporation, partnership, company, association,
entity, or venture engaged in the Business (hereinafter referred to
as a “ Competing Business ”), and Executive
shall not directly or indirectly aid, assist, or consult with any
other person, firm, or organization to do any of the aforesaid
acts. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Client(s)
” is any individual or entity with which the Company has
engaged in business or proposed business dealings.
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8.1.2
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Solicitation
of Employees . He will
not directly or indirectly, as principal, agent, owner, partner,
stockholder, member, officer, director, employee, independent
contractor, representative, or consultant of any Competing
Business, or in any individual or representative capacity hire or
solicit, directly or indirectly, or cause (an)other(s) to hire or
solicit, directly or indirectly, the employment of any officer,
agent, employee (inclusive of nurses, sales persons, office staff,
or corporate personnel) of th
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