Exhibit 10.12
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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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AGREEMENT by and
between FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. Company, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") and Herschel Weinstein (the "Executive"), dated as
of the 22nd day of the twelfth month of 2005.
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 Executive's 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. Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives,
the Board has caused the Company to enter into this
Agreement.
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NOW,
THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
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1.
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Certain
Definitions:
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(a)
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The "Effective
Date" shall mean the first date during the Change of Control Period
(as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control (as
defined in Section 2) occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, if a Change of Control occurs and if the
Executive's employment with the Company is terminated prior to the
date on which the Change of Control occurs, and if it is reasonably
demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of employment
(i) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps
reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or (ii)
otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change of
Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective
Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such
termination of employment.
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(b)
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The "Change of
Control Period" shall mean the period commencing on the date hereof
and ending on the third anniversary of the date hereof; provided,
however, that commencing on the date one year after the date
hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and
each annual anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as
the "Renewal Date"), unless previously terminated, the Change of
Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate
three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior
to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive
that the Change of Control Period shall not be so
extended.
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2.
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Change of
Control. For the purpose of
this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean:
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(a)
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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")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act) of 20% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common
Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting
Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes of this
subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a
Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company,
(ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by
the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which
complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this
Section 2; or
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(b)
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Individuals who,
as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board")
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent
Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member
of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose, any such
individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of
an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the
election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person
other than the Board; or
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(c)
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Consummation of a
reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company (a "Business Consolidation"), in each case, unless,
following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all
of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners,
respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business
Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50%
of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and
the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the
case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as
a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or
substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business
Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person
(excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination
or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or
such corporation resulting from such Business Combination)
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed
prior to the Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of
the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board
at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the
action of the Board, providing such Business Combination;
or
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(d)
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Approval by the
shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
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3.
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Employment
Period. The Company hereby
agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive
hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing
on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such
date (the "Employment Period").
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4.
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Terms of
Employment.
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(a)
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Position and
Duties.
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(i)
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During the Active
Employment Period, (A) the Executive's 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 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall
be performed at the location where the Executive was employed
immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location
less than 35 miles from such location.
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(ii)
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During the Active
Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick
leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to
devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours
to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent
necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the
Executive thereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best
efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a
violation of this 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 Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in
accordance with this Agreement. 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 shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the
performance of the Executives responsibilities to the
Company.
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(iii)
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This
Agreement shall be canceled and will not be effective in any manner
in the event that the employee enters into a Termination Agreement
between the employee and the Company. This Agreement shall be
deemed to be null and void as of the first day of any Termination
Agreement and may not be reinstated except by the signature of the
President.
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(b)
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Compensation.
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(i)
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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 times the highest monthly base
salary paid or payable, including any base salary which has been
earned but deferred, 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 no more than 12 months after the last salary increase
awarded to the Executive prior to the Effective Date and thereafter
at least annually. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not
serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive
under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after
any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in
this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased.
As used in this Agreement, the term, "affiliated companies" shall
include any company controlled by, controlling or under common
control with the Company.
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(ii)
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Annual
Bonus. In addition to
Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal
year ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the
"Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the highest aggregate
amount awarded to the Executive under all annual bonus, incentive
and other similar plans of the Company with respect to any of the
last three full fiscal years prior to the Effective Date
(annualized in the event that the Executive was not employed by the
Company for the whole of such fiscal year) (the "Recent Annual
Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end
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.
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(iii)
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Incentive, Savings
and Retirement Plans. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate
in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies
and programs applicable generally 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 opportunities (measured with respect to both regular and
special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any, that such
distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement
benefit 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 and policies and programs as in effect at any time during
the 120-day 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.
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(iv)
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Welfare Benefit
Plans. During the
Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's 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, employee life, group life, accidental death and
travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent
applicable generally 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
benefits which are less favorable in the aggregate, than the most
favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect
for the Executive at any time during the 120-day 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.
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(v)
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Expenses.
During
the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive
prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the
Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices
and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in
effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to
the Executive, as is effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
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(vi)
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Fringe
Benefits. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe
benefits, including, without limitation, tax and financial planning
services, payment of club dues, and, if applicable, use of an
automobile and payment of related expenses, in accordance with the
most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the
Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at
any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect
generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
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(vii)
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Office and Support
Staff. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or
offices of a size and with furnishings 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 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date
or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at
any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies.
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(viii)
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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 for the Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time
thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated companies.
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5.
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Termination of
Employment.
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(a)
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Death or
Disability. The Executive's
employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's 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 12(b) of this Agreement of its intention to
terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the
Executive's employment with the Comp
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