MARCH 31, 2003
SEROLOGICALS LIMITED
and
XXXXX XXXXXXXX
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SEPARATION AGREEMENT
------------------------------
THIS AGREEMENT is made the 31st day of March 2003
BETWEEN:
(1) SEROLOGICALS LIMITED registered in Scotland with registered number 12833
is at Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX00 0XX (the
"COMPANY"); and
(2) XXXXX XXXXXXXX of 115 Caiyside, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh EH10 7HR (the
"EXECUTIVE").
RECITALS:
(A) The Company has employed the Executive since 1 May 1985 most recently
under the terms of a contract of employment dated the 2 January 1998 as
subsequently amended.
(B) The Executive's employment will terminate on 31 March 2003.
THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES:
1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 In this Agreement and the Schedule the following expressions, unless
otherwise expressly stated, have the following respective meanings:
1.1.1 "BOARD" means the directors for the time being of the Company present at
a duly convened quorate meeting of the directors or a committee of the
directors duly appointed for the purpose in question;
1.1.2 "EUROPEAN UNION RIGHT" means any right which the may have under any
treaty to which the United Kingdom is a party in connection with or
arising out of its membership of the European Union or under any
Directive, Regulation, Recommendation or Decision of any body directly
or indirectly made pursuant to any such treaty;
1.1.3 "GROUP" means the Company, any holding company or companies for the time
being of the Company and any subsidiary or subsidiaries for the time
being of the Company or of any such holding company; "HOLDING COMPANY"
and "SUBSIDIARY" have the meanings assigned to them respectively by
section 736 of the Companies Xxx 0000, as amended by the Companies Xxx
0000. For the avoidance of doubt "Group" includes Serologicals
Corporation and any of its subsidiaries. The expressions "GROUP COMPANY"
and "GROUP COMPANIES" shall be construed accordingly;
1.1.4 "PENSION SCHEME" means the pension scheme to which the Company has made
contributions on the Executive's behalf in the month prior to the
Termination Date;
1.1.5 "RELEVANT INDEPENDENT ADVISER" has the meaning contained in Section 9 of
the Employment Rights (Dispute Resolution) Xxx 0000;
1.1.6 "RELEVANT STATUTES" means the Equal Pay Xxx 0000, Sex Discrimination Xxx
0000, Race Relations Xxx 0000, Trade Union and Labour Relations
(Consolidation) Xxx 0000,
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Employment Rights Xxx 0000, Disability Discrimination Xxx 0000 and
Working Time Regulations 1998;
1.1.7 "SERVICE AGREEMENT" means the contract of employment between the
Executive and the Company dated 2 January 1998 as amended;
1.1.8 "STATUTORY CLAIMS" means without limitation, all and any claims under
the Relevant Statutes or any delegated legislation made under the
authority of the Relevant Statutes or the Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxx 0000;
and
1.1.9 "TERMINATION DATE" means 31 March 2003.
1.2 The Schedules form part of and are incorporated in this Agreement.
2. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
2.1 The Executive's employment will terminate on the Termination Date.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF EXECUTIVE
3.1 The Executive agrees that he will:
3.1.1 co-operate fully with the Company and continue to perform his duties to
the best of his ability up to and including the Termination Date. In
particular the Executive agrees to undertake an orderly transition of
any projects or work with which he has been involved to those employees
identified by the Company.
3.1.2 on or before the Termination Date resign from office as a director of
the Company and from all other offices and positions which he holds by
virtue of his employment pursuant to the Service agreement (including
any position in any Group Company); and
3.1.3 no later than 5pm on 31 March 2003 return all property of the Company
including, without limitation, correspondence, documents, papers,
magnetic discs or tapes or other software storage media or any other
property as is described in a schedule to be provided to the Executive
on or about the Termination Date belonging to the Company which may be
in the Executive's possession or under his control (with the exception
of the property identified in clause 4.2.5 below).
4. OBLIGATIONS OF COMPANY
4.1 The Company will pay to the Executive his basic salary and the Executive
will continue to receive his other contractual benefits up to and
including the Termination Date. For the avoidance of doubt the Company
has paid to the Executive the sum of L19,579.00 in relation to his
entitlement to a bonus award in respect of 2002. The Executive will
receive a payment in lieu of any outstanding accrued but untaken holiday
for the current year. All of these payments will be subject to tax,
national insurance and pension contributions. The Executive's P45 will
be issued to him.
4.2 The Company will (without any admission of liability), subject to this
Agreement (including the Certificate attached as Schedule Two) being
executed and returned to the Company by 4 April 2003:
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4.2.1 pay to the Executive an ex gratia payment of L30,000 as compensation for
loss of employment (which includes his entitlement to a statutory
redundancy payment of L4,940) within 14 days of the date on which this
Agreement (including the Certificate attached as Schedule Two) is
executed and returned to the Company or within 14 days of the
Termination Date (whichever is the later); and
4.2.2 pay to the Executive the sum of L105,000.00 as damages in respect of the
Executive's entitlement to receive 9 months notice to be paid in two
equal instalments as follows:
(a) L52,500.00 within 14 days of the date on which this Agreement
(including the Certificate attached as Schedule Two) is executed
and returned to the Company or within 14 days of the Termination
Date (whichever is the later); and
(b) L52,500.00 on or before 4 months after the Termination Date.
4.2.3 pay the sum of L6,200.00 to the Pension Scheme on the Executive's
behalf; within 14 days of the date on which this Agreement (including
the Certificate attached as Schedule Two) is executed and returned to
the Company or within 14 days of the Termination Date (whichever is the
later); and
4.2.4 pay the Executive's outplacement costs incurred for 3 months up to a
maximum of L3,000 plus VAT on production of an appropriate invoice
addressed to the Executive and expressed to be payable by the Company.
The Company will bear the cost of any tax relating to the provision of
the outplacement services in accordance with this clause 4.2.4; and
4.2.5 permit the Executive to retain in perpetuity the fax machine which is in
his possession but is the property of the Company.
4.3 The Company undertakes and agrees that it will not commence any action
or proceedings against the Executive in respect of his employment with
the Company and the holding of any office by him to the extent permitted
by S310 Companies Xxx 0000.
5. TAX
5.1 The sum in Clause 4.2.1 is paid in connection with the termination of
employment. The parties acknowledge that the sum in clause 4.2.1 should
be capable of being paid without deductions for income tax and national
insurance contributions pursuant to the exemptions contained in section
148 and schedule 11 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 and no
such deductions will be made before payment.
5.2 The sum in Clause 4.2.2 will be subject to deductions of tax.
6. INDEMNITY
6.1 The Executive will promptly and effectively indemnify the Company in
respect of any income or other tax and employee national insurance
contributions (except in respect of any tax or employee national
insurance deductions made by the Company in accordance with this
Agreement) for which the Company is obliged to account to the Inland
Revenue or any other agency, and any interest, penalties, or tax which
may be levied thereon pursuant to Clause 4 and or the provision of any
of the other benefits to the
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Executive under this Agreement with the exception of any interest
penalties imposed as a result of fault or delay on the part of the
Company.
7. SHARE OPTIONS
7.1 The Executive has been issued with stock options under the Stock Options
Agreements between the Executive and Serologicals Corporation dated 9
December 1997, 31 December 1998, 14 September 1999, 31 December 1999, 12
November 2001 and 15 May 2002. The Executive may exercise the options
which have vested on or prior to the Termination Date in accordance with
the rules of the various schemes within the time limits as set out
below.
Options Vested but still to
Grant Date Option Price (US $) Exercise Time limit for exercising
---------- --------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------
09.12.1997 As adjusted for a 2:1 21,750 Due to expire 9.12.2003
stock split $15.42
(Original Issue 14,500
(Original Price options)
$23.125)
31.12.1998 $30.00 50,000 1 year from the Termination
Date
14.09.1999 $5.00 175,000 1 year from the Termination
Date
31.12.1999 $6.00 15,000 1 year from the Termination
Date
12.11.2001 $16.71 4,375 3 months from the Termination
Date
15.05.2002 $21.10 0 3 months from the Termination
Date
8. CONFIDENTIALITY AND POST EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS
8.1 For the purposes of this Clause 8 the following words have the following
meanings:
8.1.1 "Confidential Information" means all and any information (in whatever
form and whether recorded or not) which amounts to a trade secret or any
other confidential or secret information which is not known or
accessible by the public relating to the business, finances, dealings,
affairs, technical processes or operations of the Company (or any Group
Company) or of any of its or their donors, customers, clients,
suppliers, agents or distributors and includes but is not limited to the
following:
(a) information relating to the Company's or any Group Company's
donors, customers, clients, suppliers, agents and distributors
(including, but not limited to, donor, customer or supplier
lists, individual contacts and contact details);
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(b) information relating to the terms of business agreed or the
subject of negotiation between the Company or any Group Company
and its or their actual or prospective customers, clients,
suppliers, agents and distributors, including, but not limited
to, trading terms, pricing structures and customer requirements;
(c) information relating to the development, manufacture and
marketing of the Company's services and products (and planned
services and products) including, but not limited to, business
plans, technical information, formulae, specifications,
applications, component lists, know-how, research and
development, marketing plans, marketing surveys and research
reports, market share, mailing lists, price lists and discount
arrangements;
(d) information relating to the Company's sales and projects,
including but not limited to sales and project figures, fee
levels, pricing policies, commissions, financial projections,
sales targets, budgets, accounts and forecasts;
(e) any information relating to the property of the Company
including any idea, invention, modification, improvement,
process, formula, material, knowhow, design, model, prototype,
xxxx, sketch, drawing, plan, computer program, computer scripts,
software, computer systems or other matter; and
8.1.2 "Prior Period" means the period of 12 months prior to the Termination
Date.
8.2 In consideration for the acknowledgement and agreement by the Executive
contained in this Clause 8 the Company will pay to the Executive L5,000
(less appropriate deductions of tax and national insurance) to be paid
in four equal instalments as follows:
8.2.1 L1,250 within 14 days of the date on which this Agreement (including the
Certificate attached as Schedule Two) is executed and returned to the
Company or within 14 days of the Termination Date (whichever if the
later); and
8.2.2 L1,250 on or before 3 months after the Termination Date;
8.2.3 L1,250 on or before 6 months after the Termination Date;
8.2.4 L1,250 on or before 9 months after the Termination Date.
8.3 The Executive understands and acknowledges that his senior position with
the Company and the Group has given him:
8.3.1 access to and the benefit of the Confidential Information which is vital
to the continued success of the Company and the Group;
8.3.2 influence over and connection with the Company's customers, clients,
suppliers, distributors, agents, employees and directors and those of
the Group with whom the Executive has had dealings or contact.
8.4 The Executive acknowledges and confirms that he agrees that the
provisions appearing in Clauses 8.6 and 8.7 below are reasonable in
their application to him and necessary but no more than sufficient to
protect the interests of the Company and the Group.
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8.5 In the event that any restriction contained in Clauses 8.6 or 8.7 below
shall be found to be void, but would be valid if some part of the
relevant restriction were deleted, the relevant restriction shall apply
with such modifications as may be necessary to make it valid and
effective.
8.6 The Executive shall not at any time after the Termination Date, for any
reason use, disclose to any person or cause or permit (whether
deliberately or recklessly) another to disclose:
8.6.1 any Confidential Information which the Executive has obtained by virtue
of his employment with the Company; and / or
8.6.2 the details of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the sums
paid by the Company pursuant to Clause 4 hereof.
8.6.3 Clause 8.6 shall not apply to Confidential Information disclosed
pursuant to an order of any Court of competent jurisdiction or which is
required to be disclosed by statute or any confidential information
which, except through any breach of this or any other agreement by the
Executive, is in the public domain. In addition the Executive shall be
permitted to disclose the matters in Clause 8.6.2 for the purpose of
taking professional advice or to the members of his immediate family.
Nothing in this Agreement will prevent the Executive divulging to any
prospective employer that his employment ended due to the fact that his
role was relocated to the US.
8.7 The Executive shall not without the prior written consent of the Company
(such consent to be withheld only so far as may reasonably be necessary
to protect the legitimate interests of the Company or any Group Company)
during the period of 9 months from the Termination Date, whether alone
or jointly with or as principal, partner, agent, director, employee or
consultant of any other person, firm or corporation, and whether
directly or indirectly, in competition with any of the businesses of the
Company or any Group Company carried on at the Termination Date in which
the Executive was engaged or involved as at the Termination Date or in
the Prior Period:
8.7.1 solicit the services or custom of or otherwise deal with any person,
firm or corporation who or which at the Termination Date or at any time
during the Prior Period was a customer, client, supplier, agent or
distributor or prospective customer or client of the Company or any
Group Company in which the Executive was materially involved or was in
the habit of dealing under contract with the Company or any Group
Company and with whom or which the Executive was either personally
concerned, involved or in contact during the Prior Period as identified
in the attached list in Schedule One.
8.7.2 entice or endeavour to entice away from the Company or any Group Company
or employ any person whose name is supplied to the Executive on or about
the Termination Date being persons employed by the Company or any Group
Company at the Termination Date who:
(a) was an employee or director of the Company or any Group Company
holding the position of supervisor or above; and
(b) with whom the Executive was in direct regular contact during the
Prior Period.
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9. ANNOUNCEMENTS
9.1 Subject to Clause 9.2, the Executive confirms that he will not without
the prior written consent of the Company make any statements, oral or
written, touching upon or concerning his relationship with the Company
or any Group Company, his appointment as a director of the Company or
any Group Company or his resignation from office which would or might
involve the disclosure of secret or confidential information about the
Company or any Group Company as further defined in Clause 8 of this
Agreement, or which might be detrimental to the interests of the Company
or any Group Company. Consent for the purposes of this Clause shall be
effective only if given by the Chief Executive of the Company.
9.2 If the Executive is required to make any such statement to comply with
his legal and/or regulatory obligations he may do so without the
Company's written consent and will not be deemed thereby to be in breach
of this Clause.
9.3 Neither the Executive nor the Company will whether directly or
indirectly make, publish or otherwise communicate any disparaging or
derogatory statements, whether in writing or otherwise, concerning the
other party to this Agreement. In the case of the Company this
Sub-Clause shall include the Company and any Group Company or any of its
or their officers, agents or employees.
10. REFERENCES
10.1 The Company will, on request supply a reference on Company headed
notepaper in the form attached as Schedule Two to any prospective
employer of the Executive and deal with all enquiries whether oral or in
writing in a manner consistent with that reference.
11. LEGAL ADVICE
11.1 The Executive confirms that he has received advice from J Xxxxx Xxxxx of
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx solicitors (the "Independent Adviser") as to the nature
and effect of this Agreement and, in particular, its effect on his
ability to pursue his rights before an Employment Tribunal.
11.2 The Company agrees that subject to this Agreement (including the
Certificate attached as Schedule Three) being executed and returned to
the Company that it will pay direct to the Independent Adviser the
Executive's legal costs incurred in obtaining advice as to the terms of
this Agreement up to a maximum of L1,750.00 plus VAT on production of an
appropriate invoice addressed to the Executive and expressed to be
payable by the Company.
12. AGREEMENT AND WARRANTY
12.1 The parties confirm and agree that this Agreement satisfies the
conditions regulating compromise agreements under the Relevant Statutes.
12.2 The Executive having received legal advice from the Independent Adviser
warrants:
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12.2.1 that he has or may have claims against the Company and any Group Company
and any of its or their officers, agents, or employees of breach of
contract and or unfair dismissal (the "Identified Claims");
12.2.2 that with the exception of the Identified Claims he has no Statutory
Claims or other claims whatsoever against the Company and any Group
Company and any of its or their officers, agents, or employees arising
under the Service Agreement or in connection with his holding of office
as a director of the Company and any Group Company or his resignation
from office as director, or termination of his employment under the
Service Agreement or otherwise in connection with his employment or its
termination;
12.2.3 that he accepts the payment to be made in accordance with Clause 4 in
full and final settlement of:
(a) the Identified Claims; and
(b) all other claims and rights of action howsoever arising against
the Company and any Group Company and any of its or their
officers, agents, or employees which he has, or may have, under
the Service Agreement or in connection with his holding of
office as a director of the Company and any Group Company or his
resignation from office as director, or termination of his
employment under the Service Agreement or otherwise in
connection with his employment or its termination including any
claim in respect of his entitlement to bonus or share options
but with the exception of any claim in respect of personal
injury (other than a claim which may be pursued before the
Employment Tribunal) and or accrued pension rights and or any
claim in relation to any breach by the Company of cause 7 of
this Agreement in relation to vested share options as set out in
that clause and provided that this clause shall not affect the
Employee's rights to enforce the terms of this Agreement.
12.2.4 that he has been fully compensated in respect of his entitlement to
receive 9 months notice under the Service Agreement and that the Company
has no further obligations to him under the Service Agreement;
12.2.5 that he is not aware of any claim for personal injury and or accrued
pension rights subsisting at the date of this Agreement;
12.2.6 that there are no matters of which he is aware relating to any acts or
omissions of the Executive or any other director, employee or agent of
the Company or any Group Company which if disclosed to the Company would
or might affect the decision of the Company to make payment in
accordance with Clause 4 or provide any other benefits under this
Agreement;
12.2.7 that there are no circumstances or matters of which he is aware which
would entitle the Company to bring any action or proceedings against him
in relation to his employment with the Company and or the holding of any
office by him;
12.2.8 that he has not at the date on which he signs this Agreement either
started other paid work (whether as an employee, independent contractor
or in any other capacity) or been
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offered such work to start at any time after that date or been given any
indication that an offer of such work will be forthcoming;
12.2.9 that he has not presented an originating application to an office of the
Employment Tribunals or issued civil proceedings in the High Court or
County Court in respect of any claim in connection with his employment
or its termination or otherwise, and will refrain from doing so;
12.2.10 that he undertakes to repay to the Company the payment in Clause 4.2.1
immediately upon demand in the event that he commences any action, claim
or proceedings (with the exception of any claim to enforce his rights
under this Agreement) in the Employment Tribunal, County Court or High
Court or any other court against the Company and or any Group Company
and or any of its or their officers, agents or employees in respect of
any of the matters which are settled under the terms of Clause 12.2.3.
The Executive agrees that in such circumstances the payment in Clauses
4.2.1 will be recoverable as a debt.
13. NOTICES
Any notice will be duly served under this Agreement if in the case of
the Company it is handed to a director of the Company or sent by
recorded or first class post to the Company at its registered office for
the time being and if, in the case of the Executive, it is handed to the
Executive or sent by recorded or first class post to the Executive at
his address specified in this Agreement or such other address as he may
notify to the Company. A notice sent by recorded or first class post
will be deemed served on the second working day after posting.
14. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
This Agreement shall be governed by Scots law and the parties hereby
submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish Courts. The
Executive hereby agrees that service upon him at his address specified
in this Agreement of any proceedings relating to this Agreement or to
any document entered into pursuant hereto shall constitute good service
upon the Executive.
15. BINDING AGREEMENT
Upon execution of this Agreement by both parties, the Agreement will,
notwithstanding that it is marked without prejudice and subject to
contract, be on the open record and shall be binding on both parties.
AS WITNESS the hands of the parties hereto the day and year first before
written.
SIGNED by Xxxx Xxxxx ) /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
for and on behalf of )
SEROLOGICALS LIMITED )
in the presence of: ) /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx.............................
SIGNED by XXXXX XXXXXXXX) /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx.........................
in the presence of: Xxxxx Xxxxx ) /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx ...........................
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SCHEDULE ONE
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
Immucor
Centocor
Proliant
Sigma
Xxxxxx
Diamed
Xxx Lilly
Imclone Systems
Bio-Rad Laboratories
JRH Biosciences
Boehringer Ingelheim
Genentech
Xxxxxx Healthcare
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Dade Behring
Roche
GlaxoSmithKline
Invitrogen
Institute Jacques Boy
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
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SCHEDULE TWO
REFERENCE
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx was employed by Serologicals Limited from 1 May 1985 until 8
March 2003 as Vice President Global Manufacturing Operations for Serologicals
Corporation, the parent company of Serologicals Limited.
His employment ended due to the fact that his role was relocated to the US.
It is our policy is to provide only the following information regarding former
employees. This does not imply any comment negative or positive about the
employee or the course of his employment with the company. In accordance with
this policy this information is given in the strictest of confidence and without
liability on behalf of the Serologicals Corporation, Serologicals Limited or any
of its officers, agents or employees.
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SCHEDULE THREE
CERTIFICATE
I, J Xxxxx Xxxxx, confirm the following:
I am a Relevant Independent Adviser.
I have advised Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx as to the terms and effect of this Agreement and,
in particular, its effect on his ability to pursue his rights before an
Employment Tribunal.
When I gave the advice there was a contract of insurance, or an indemnity
provided for members of a profession or professional body in force covering the
risk of a claim by Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx in respect of any loss arising in consequence
of the advice I have given.
This Agreement satisfies the conditions regulating compromise agreements under
the Relevant Statutes.
Signed: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
J Xxxxx Xxxxx
Firm: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Solicitors
00-00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
XX0 0XX
Date: 4/4/03
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