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EXECUTION COPY
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is made and entered into
as of the 1st day of June, 1997, by and between Physician Partners, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxx Xxxxx, M.D. (the "Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company deem it to be in their respective
best interests to enter into an agreement providing for the Company's employment
of Executive pursuant to the terms herein stated.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises
and agreements contained herein, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1. Duties. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive as its
Senior Vice President for the "Term of Employment" (as herein defined).
Executive in this capacity agrees to use his best efforts during the Term of
Employment to protect, encourage, and promote the interests of the Company.
During the Term of Employment, Executive shall also perform such other duties
consistent with the office held by Executive as may be reasonably assigned to
him from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and will
devote substantial time and attention to such duties, except while on sick
leave, reasonable vacations, and excused leaves of absence. During such period,
Executive may also be required to perform services for one or more affiliates of
the Company.
2. Compensation.
(a) Base Salary. Effective on the date (the "Employment Date")
of employment as Senior Vice President and PPI-Corvallis Clinic Chief Executive,
the Company agrees to pay to Executive a base salary during the Term of
Employment equal to one hundred seventeen percent (117%) of Average Shareholder
Income (ASI) for the Corvallis Clinic PC Shareholders, per year ("Base Salary"),
payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company's normal payroll
procedures. As of the Employment date Executive's Base Salary (annual) will be
$162,650. If Any increase or decrease in ASI will cause a quarterly adjustment
to Executive's Base Pay. Executive's Base Salary shall be increased at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Committee") in consultation with the Corvallis Clinic Joint
Management Board and Chief Operating Officer of PPI.
(b) Annual Incentive. Executive will be eligible to
participate in the Company's annual management incentive plan (or such other
incentive plan established in place of the Company's annual management incentive
plan) at a target bonus equal to such percentage of Base Salary as determined
each year by the Committee in its discretion. The actual amount of the annual
bonus award, if any, for a fiscal year shall be dependent upon the achievement
of certain financial standards of performance for the operations of the Company,
the achievement of certain non-financial objectives mutually agreed upon by
Executive and the Company at the beginning of
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the fiscal year and a discretionary component for performance above targets. For
the 1997 fiscal year, the incentive standards and target goals for Executive
shall be mutually agreed upon by Executive and the Company and Executive shall
be entitled to receive a bonus award assuming achievement of the financial
standards of performance and 100% of the agreed upon non-financial objectives.
No bonus award for the 1997 fiscal year shall be awarded if Executive fails to
achieve at least 85% of the agreed upon non-financial objectives. The Committee
will review Executive's performance from time to time and assuming satisfactory
performance, additional bonus awards as the Committee may determine in its sole
discretion shall be made sufficient to maintain Executive's short-term
compensation package
(c) Long-Term Incentives. Effective on the Employment Date,
Executive shall be granted an option to purchase 35,000 shares of Class A Common
Stock of the Company at the fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock
of the Company the fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock of the
Company as of the date such option is granted. The option shall vest and become
exercisable with respect to twenty percent (20%) of the shares subject to the
option on each anniversary of the date the option is granted. The option grant
specified above shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as may be
specified in a separate agreement providing for the award or grant, as the case
may be, and the terms and conditions relating to such award or grant, including,
without limitation, restriction on transfer of shares, vesting requirements and
forfeiture, and redemption of shares. The Committee will review Executive's
performance from time to time and assuming satisfactory performance, additional
awards of long term incentives in such form and in such amounts as the Committee
may determine in its sole discretion.
3. Benefits. During the Term of Employment:
(a) The Company shall furnish Executive with, and Executive
shall be allowed full use of, office facilities, automobiles, secretarial and
clerical assistance, and other Company property and services of a quality,
nature and to the extent made available to senior executive employees of the
Company from time to time;
(b) Executive shall be eligible to participate in life,
health, long-term disability insurance and severance programs, stock purchase
programs, stock option plans, qualified an non-qualified pension and retirement
plans, incentive compensation programs and other fringe benefit programs, if
any, available to other senior executive employees of the Company and physicians
employed by medical clinics that are party to a practice management agreement
with the Company or any Subsidiaries thereof;
(c) Executive shall be allowed 4 weeks of vacation and paid
leaves of absence on the same basis as other senior executive employees of the
Company. In addition, Executive shall receive two additional paid weeks for
Continuing Medical Education and a sum not to exceed $3,600 per year for CME
related expenses. All requests for CME leave must however be approved in advance
by the Company and the President of the Corvallis Clinic, P.C; and
(d) Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable business
expenses in performing Executive's duties and promoting the business of the
Company, including, without limitation, reasonable business expenses in
performing Executive's duties and promoting the business of the Company,
including, without limitation, reasonable entertaining expenses, automobile
expenses, and travel and lodging, when incurred. The cost of these items shall
be borne by the Company upon presentation of an itemized expense voucher.
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4. Term of Employment. As used herein, the phrase "Term of
Employment" shall mean the period commencing on the Merger Date and ending three
(3) years from the Merger Date. The Company shall provide Executive with at
least ninety (90) days notice of its intent not to renew this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Term of Employment shall expire on the first
to occur of the following:
(a) Termination Without Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, whether express or implied, the Company may at any
time terminate Executive's employment with the Company by giving Executive at
least sixty (60) days prior written notice of the effective date of termination.
In the event of such termination, Executive shall be entitled to receive his
Base Salary (at the rate in effect immediately prior to such notice) during the
period commencing on the effective date of such termination and ending on the
first anniversary of such date (the "Severance Period") as though Executive's
employment had continued. Executive shall also be entitled to continue to be
covered by all medical, health and accident and disability insurance, at the
same coverage level maintained for Executive's benefit immediately prior to the
date of Executive's termination, until the end of the Severance Period. In the
event Executive is ineligible under the terms of such insurance to continue to
be so covered, the Company shall provide Executive with substantially equivalent
coverage through other sources or will provide the Executive with a lump sum
payment equal to the agreed upon present value of the continuation of such
insurance coverages to which Executive is entitled under this section 4(a).
(b) Termination for Cause. The Company shall have the right to
terminate Executive's employment at any time for Cause by giving Executive
written notice of the effective date of termination (which effective date may,
except as otherwise provided below, be the date of such notice). For purposes of
this Agreement, Cause shall mean:
(i) fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement or other act
of material misconduct against the Company or any of its affiliates thereof or
an act contrary to their best interests;
(ii) substantial and willful failure to render services
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, provided that (A) a demand for
performance of services had been delivered to the Executive by the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company at least thirty (30) days prior to termination
identifying the manner in which such Chief Executive Officer believes that the
Executive has failed to perform and (B) the Executive has thereafter failed to
remedy such failure to perform;
(iii) willful and knowing violation of any rules or
regulations of any governmental or regulatory body material to the business of
the Company; or
(iv) conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere
to a felony.
If Company terminates Executive's employment for any of the reasons set forth in
this section 4(b), Company shall have no further obligations hereunder from and
after the effective date of termination and shall have all other rights and
remedies available under this or any other agreement and at law or in equity. If
Executive's employment is terminated for Cause (as defined above) and Executive
does not consent to such termination, such termination shall not be considered
effective and Executive's rights under this Agreement during the Term of
Employment shall continue (including, without limitation, the provisions of
Sections 2 and 3 hereof) until the existence of such Cause has been determined
by an independent arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration
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Association and either party's rights to petition a court of law for a decision
in the matter have been exhausted. In connection with the appointment of an
arbitrator, both parties agree to submit the question to final and binding
arbitration by an appointee of the American Arbitration Association and to
cooperate with the arbitrator, with all costs of arbitration paid by the
Company. If the arbitrator determines that the Executive's termination was for
Cause, then the Executive shall repay to the Company all compensation received
pursuant to Section 2 during the period commencing upon the Executive's
termination and ending upon the arbitrator's final determination. The Executive
shall also repay to the Company all amounts that it paid or reimbursed the
Exeuctive pursuant to Section
(c) Termination on Account of Death. In the event of
Executive's death while in the employ of the Company, the Company shall pay to
the Executive's Designated Beneficiaries (as defined below) one hundred percent
(100%) of Executive's Base Salary as in effect immediately prior to Executive's
death, payable to Executive's Designated Beneficiary at the beginning of each
month for a period of twelve (12) months following Executive's death or until
the end of the Term of Employment, whichever is sooner. In addition, Executive's
surviving spouse, if any, shall continue to be covered by all medical, health
and accident insurance, and for the same coverage, maintained for Executive's
benefit immediately prior to the date of Executive's death, for a period of
twelve (12) months thereafter. In the event Executive's surviving spouse is
ineligible under the terms of such insurance to continue to be so covered, the
Company shall provide substantially equivalent coverage through other sources or
will provide the Executive's surviving spouse with a lump sum payment equal to
the agreed upon present value of the continuation of such insurance coverages
under this Section 4(c).
(d) Voluntary Termination by Executive. In the event that
Executive's employment with the Company is voluntarily terminated by Executive,
the Company shall have no further obligations hereunder from and after the
effective date of such termination and shall have all other rights and remedies
available under this or any other agreement and at law or in equity.
5. Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control of the
Company, Executive shall be entitled to benefits provided under the Company's
Change in Control Plan and the agreement Employee has executed pursuant to that
plan.
6. Expenses. The Company will pay or reimburse the Executive for all
costs and expenses (including court costs and reasonable attorney's fees)
incurred by the Executive as a result of any claim, action or proceeding arising
out of, or challenging the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement or any
provision hereof.
7. Mitigation. In the event of a termination of Executive's
employment for any reason, Executive shall not be required to seek other
employment; in addition, no amount payable under Section 4 of this Agreement
shall be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of
employment by another employer after such termination of employment with the
Company.
8. Designated Beneficiary. In the event of the death of Executive
while in the employ of the company, or at any time thereafter during which
amounts remain payable to the Executive under Section 4(a) or (c) hereof, such
payments shall thereafter be made to such person or persons as the Executive may
specifically designate (successively or contingently) to receive payments under
this Agreement following the Executive's death by filing a written beneficiary
designation with the Company during the Executive's lifetime. Such beneficiary
designation shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the Company and may be
amended from time to time or may be revoked by the Executive pursuant to written
instruments filed with the Company during his lifetime. Beneficiaries designated
by Executive may be any natural or legal person or persons, including a
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fiduciary, such as a trustee or a trust or the legal representative of an
estate. Unless otherwise provided by the beneficiary designation filed by
Executive, if all of the persons so designated die before Executive on the
occurrence of a contingency not contemplated in such beneficiary designation,
then the amount payable under this Agreement shall be paid to the Executive's
estate.
9. Miscellaneous. This Agreement shall also be subject to the
following miscellaneous considerations:
(a) The Company represents and warrants to Executive that it
has the authorization, power and right to deliver, execute and fully perform its
obligations under this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
(b) Except as provided in Section 5, this Agreement contains a
complete statement of all the arrangements between the parties with respect to
Executive's employment by the Company, this Agreement supersedes all prior and
existing negotiations and agreements between them concerning the Executive"
employment, and this Agreement can only be changed or modified pursuant to a
written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
(c) If any provisions of this Agreement or any portion hereof
is declared invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any court of
competent jurisdiction, the remainder of such provisions and all of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
(d) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Oregon, except to the extent governed
by federal law.
(e) All compensation payable hereunder shall be subject to
such withholding taxes as may be required by law.
(f) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Successors and assigns of the Company. The Company will require
any successor, whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise, to expressly 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 had taken place. Except as expressly provided herein,
Executive may not sell, transfer, assign, or pledge any of his rights or
interests pursuant to this Agreement.
(g) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4(b) hereof, in
the event of any dispute between the Company and the Executive with respect to
any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Company and the Executive agree
that either party may request that the dispute be resolved by submitting the
issue to arbitration or such other form of alternative dispute resolution as the
parties may agree upon (collectively, "Alternative Dispute Resolution"). The
parties expressly agree and acknowledge, however that, except as otherwise
provided in Section 4(b) hereof, nothing in this Agreement (whether express or
implied) shall under any circumstances require either party to consent to
Alternative Dispute Resolution.
(h) Any rights of Executive hereunder shall be in addition to
any rights Executive may otherwise have under benefit plans or agreements of the
Company to which he is a party or in which he is a participant, including,
without limitation, any Company sponsored employee benefit plans. Provisions of
this Agreement shall not in any way abrogate Executive's rights under such other
plans and agreements.
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(i) The Company shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law,
indemnify Executive against expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees), judgements, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with any proceedings arising by reason of the
fact that Executive is or was an employee, officer, or agent of the Company. The
Company shall advance to Executive expenses incurred in defending any such
proceedings to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Company's obligations
under this provision shall not cease upon termination of this Agreement.
(j) Either party's failure to enforce any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be construed as a waiver of
any such provision or provisions, or prevent that party thereafter from
enforcing each and every other provision of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have read, understood, and
voluntarily executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
EXECUTIVE: PHYSICIAN PARTNERS, INC.
______________________________ By:__________________________
XXXXX XXXXX, M.D.
AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED:
THE CORVALLIS CLINIC, P.C.
By: ________________________
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