ASPECT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
KEY EMPLOYEE CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE BENEFITS PLAN
SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION
     This Key Employee Change in Control Severance Benefits Plan (the “Severance
Benefits Plan”) sets forth the terms and conditions for the provision of
severance pay and certain other benefits to Eligible Employees (as defined
below) of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. or any successor entity or assignee (“the
“Company”) whose employment is involuntarily terminated without cause or
voluntarily terminated for good reason following a change in control of the
Company as set forth in this Severance Benefits Plan.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
     For purposes of this Severance Benefits Plan, the following terms shall
have the meanings set forth below:
     (a) “BASE SALARY” means the annual base salary for an Eligible Employee (as
defined in this Section 2(f)) as in effect on the Change in Control Date.
     (b) “BOARD” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
     (c) “CAUSE” shall have such meaning provided for in the Company’s 2001
Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and as may be further amended from time to
time (the “Plan”).
     (d) “CHANGE IN CONTROL EVENT” shall have such meaning provided for in the
Plan.
     (e) “CHANGE IN CONTROL DATE” means the first date on which a Change of
Control Event occurs.
     (f) “ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE” shall mean those employees of the Company holding
any of the positions listed in Exhibit A to this Severance Benefits Plan as of
the Change of Control Event.
     (g) “GOOD REASON” shall mean the occurrence, without the Eligible
Employee’s written consent, of either (i) a reduction in the Eligible Employee’s
annual base salary as in effect on the Change in Control Date or as the same was
or may be increased thereafter from time to time or (ii) a change by the Company
in the location at which the Eligible Employee performs his or her principal
duties for the Company to a new location that is both (i) outside a radius of 50
miles from the Eligible Employee’s principal residence immediately prior to the
Change in Control Date and (ii) more than 20 miles from the location at which
the Eligible Employee performed his or her principal duties for the Company
immediately prior to the Change in Control Date; or a requirement by the Company
that the Eligible Employee travel on Company business to a substantially greater
extent than required immediately prior to the Change in Control Date.
     (h) “INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE” means an Eligible Employee’s
dismissal from or discharge by the Company for a reason other than Cause. The
termination of an Eligible Employee’s employment will not be deemed to be an
“Involuntary Termination Without Cause” if such termination occurs as a result
of the Eligible Employee’s voluntary resignation without Good Reason or by
reason of the Eligible Employee’s death or disability.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

     (i) “QUALIFYING TERMINATION” means that an Eligible Employee’s employment
with the Company is terminated by the Eligible Employee for Good Reason or is
terminated by the Company without Cause, as applicable, within twelve
(12) months following a Change in Control Event.
SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
     Individuals shall be deemed “Eligible Employees” to participate in the
Severance Benefits Plan if they have previously been duly appointed to at least
one of the offices of the Company listed in the attached Exhibit A and have held
such office(s) for a period of at least one (1) month prior to the Change in
Control Date. For the avoidance of any doubt, should any Eligible Employee hold
more than one office with the Company that would entitle the Eligible Employee
to benefits pursuant to this Severance Benefits Plan, such Eligible Employee
shall not be entitled to multiple severance benefits pursuant to Section 4 below
but shall only receive benefits in accordance with such of the Eligible
Employee’s office as would entitle the employee to the greatest benefits
hereunder.
SECTION 4. SEVERANCE BENEFITS AND OTHER PAYMENTS
     Eligible Employees are eligible to receive the following benefits on the
following conditions:
     (a) SEVERANCE PAYMENTS. If an Eligible Employee is subject to a Qualifying
Termination, the Eligible Employee will be entitled to a lump sum payment from
the Company in an amount equal to the product of (i) the “Severance Multiple”
(as defined below), multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the Eligible Employee’s
Base Salary at the time of the termination of the Eligible Employee’s
employment, plus (B) the average of the Eligible Employee’s last three annual
bonuses paid (annualized for partial years) by the Company. Such lump sum
payment will be payable in accordance with the terms set forth in the Eligible
Employee’s severance agreement to be executed in connection with the employee’s
termination, but in no event later than two and one-half months following the
end of the fiscal year in which the Eligible Employee’s Qualifying Termination
occurs (the “Short-Term Deferral Period”).
     For purposes of this Section 4(a), “Severance Multiple” shall mean the
following:

                 
Chief Executive Officer
    —       2.00  
Chairman
    —       2.00  
All Other Eligible Employees
    —       1.25  

     In addition, the Eligible Employee will be paid a one lump sum cash payment
representing the Eligible Employee’s target bonus for the year in which the
Qualifying Termination occurs on the date of termination, multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall equal the number of days the Eligible
Employee was employed by the Company during the fiscal year in which the
Qualifying Termination occurs and the denominator of which shall be 365. Such
cash payment shall be made to the Eligible Employee no later than by the
expiration of the Short-Term Deferral Period. Notwithstanding anything in this
Severance Benefits Plan to the contrary, in no event will any payments be made
pursuant to this Section 4(a) or any other provision of this Severance Benefits
Plan unless and until a release of claims is executed in accordance with Section
4(f) below and such release becomes enforceable.
     (b) HEALTH BENEFITS. If the Eligible Employee timely elects continued
health insurance coverage under the federal “COBRA” law, 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et
seq., following a Qualifying Termination, the Company shall continue to pay that
portion of the premium costs for the type of group health insurance coverage,
including coverage for his or her eligible dependents, that the Company paid on
behalf of the Eligible Employee immediately prior to the Eligible Employee’s
termination of

2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

employment, for a period starting on the Qualifying Termination date and
continuing for the following applicable periods:

         
Chief Executive Officer
  —   As long as the Chief Executive Officer remains eligible for continuation
coverage pursuant to COBRA, but for no more than 24 Months following the
Qualifying Termination date  
Chairman
  —   As long as the Chairman remains eligible for continuation coverage
pursuant to COBRA, but for no more than 24 Months following the Qualifying
Termination date  
All other Eligible Employees
  —   As long as these other Eligible Employees remain eligible for continuation
coverage pursuant to COBRA, but for no more than 15 Months following the
Qualifying Termination date

provided, however, that the Company will pay such premiums for the Eligible
Employee and his/her eligible dependents (if applicable) only for coverage for
which such individual and dependents (if applicable) were enrolled as of the
date of the Qualifying Termination. The Eligible Employee shall continue to pay
any remaining premium costs for such continuation coverage (including coverage
for his/her eligible dependents) that he/she had been required to pay as an
active employee immediately prior to the Qualifying Termination during the
period set forth above, and shall pay all premium costs thereafter for as long
as, and to the extent that, the Eligible Employee remains eligible for COBRA
continuation.
     (c) EQUITY ACCELERATION. Nothing in this Severance Benefits Plan shall be
deemed to modify or alter, in any manner, any outstanding equity awards issued
to an Eligible Employee pursuant to any stock-based plan operated by the
Company.
     (d) PARACHUTE PAYMENTS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Severance Benefits Plan, in the event that an Eligible Employee becomes entitled
to payments and/or benefits or any other amounts in the “nature of compensation”
as a result of a Change in Control Event or Qualifying Termination, (all such
payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits provided under this
Severance Benefits Plan, being hereinafter called “Total Payments”) that would
be subject (in whole or part) to the excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed under
section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”), the Total Award shall be
reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is
subject to the Excise Tax. In the event that the Total Award is reduced in
accordance with the preceding sentence, such reduction shall first be applied to
cash payments to which the Eligible Employee is entitled to receive under this
Severance Benefits Plan and, to the extent such cash payments are not sufficient
to satisfy the Excise Tax, then such reduction shall apply to Company equity
awards then held by the Eligible Employee. This reduction shall only occur if
(i) the net present value of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after
subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such
reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net present value
of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net
amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the
amount of Excise Tax to which an Eligible Employee would be subject in respect
of such unreduced Total Payments). All determinations required to be made under
this section shall be made by the Compensation Committee of the Board after
consultation with any advisors it shall deem appropriate. All fees and expenses
of such calculations shall be borne solely by the Company. If any portion of the
Total

3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Payments becomes subject to the Excise Tax, the Eligible Employee acknowledges
and agrees that the payment of such tax, together with any interest and
penalties, shall be the Eligible Employee’s sole responsibility.
     (e) EARNED BUT UNPAID BENEFITS. An Eligible Employee will also be entitled
to receive any earned but unpaid benefits as of the Qualifying Termination date,
including salary earned but unpaid, the Eligible Employee’s annual bonus for the
most recently completed financial year, if any, and any unused accrued vacation
time.
     (f) RELEASE. The receipt of any severance benefits under this Severance
Benefits Plan is expressly conditioned upon any Eligible Employee executing a
release of claims in favor of the Company, substantially in the form attached to
this Severance Benefits Plan as Exhibit B, and such release of claims must
become effective in accordance with its terms and within the applicable time
period provided therein (the “Applicable Release Period”); provided, however,
that in any case where the first and last days of the Applicable Release Period
are in two separate taxable years, any payments required to be made to Eligible
Employee that are treated as deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A
of the Code shall be made in the later taxable year, promptly following the
conclusion of the Applicable Release Period.
     (g) TERMINATION OF BENEFITS. Benefits under this Severance Benefits Plan
shall terminate immediately if an Eligible Employee, at any time, violates any
proprietary information, confidentiality, non-competition or non-solicitation
obligation to the Company, or any other continuing obligation to the Company as
may be set forth in any agreement between the Company and the Eligible Employee.
     (h) NON-DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS. Eligible Employees are not eligible to
receive benefits under this Severance Benefits Plan more than one time and are
not eligible to receive benefits under any other Company change-of-control
severance plan, arrangement or agreement, provided that, for the purpose of
clarification, the foregoing shall not apply to any outstanding equity awards
issued to an Eligible Employee pursuant to any stock-based plan operated by the
Company or any successor entity plan or pursuant to any stock-based plan
operated by the Company or any successor entity plan.
     (i) TAX WITHHOLDING. Any payments that an Eligible Employee receives under
this Severance Benefits Plan shall be subject to all required tax withholding.
SECTION 5. CODE SECTION 409A.
     (a) This Severance Benefits Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of
the Code (to the extent applicable) and, to the extent it would not adversely
impact the Company, the Company agrees to interpret, apply and administer this
Severance Benefits Plan in the least restrictive manner necessary to comply with
such requirements and without resulting in any diminution in the value of
payments or benefits to the Eligible Employee. Payments to be made under this
Severance Benefits Plan are intended to be “Short-Term Deferrals” as that term
is defined in Section 409A, or otherwise qualify for exemptions from
Section 409A. If, however, any payments are deemed to be deferrals not subject
to an exemption under Section 409A, such payments shall not commence until one
day after the day which is six (6) months from the date of Qualifying
Termination.
     (b) Subject to this Section 5, payments or benefits under this Severance
Benefits Plan shall begin only upon the date of a “separation from service” of
the Eligible Employee (determined as set forth below) which occurs on or after
the termination of the Eligible Employee’s employment. The following rules shall
apply with respect to distribution of the payments and benefits, if any, to be
provided to the Eligible Employee under This Severance Benefits Plan, as
applicable:

4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

(i) It is intended that each of the payments and benefits provided under this
Severance Benefits Plan shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of
Section 409A of the Code and the guidance issued thereunder. Neither the Company
nor the Eligible Employee shall have the right to accelerate or defer the
delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically
permitted or required by Section 409A.
(ii) If, as of the date of the “separation from service” of the Eligible
Employee from the Company, the Eligible Employee is not a “specified employee”
(within the meaning of Section 409A), then each of the payments and benefits
shall be made on the dates and terms set forth in Section 4.
(iii) If, as of the date of the “separation from service” of the Eligible
Employee from the Company, the Eligible Employee is a “specified employee”
(within the meaning of Section 409A), then:
     (A) Each installment of the payments and benefits due under this Severance
Benefits Plan that, in accordance with the dates and terms set forth herein,
will in all circumstances, regardless of when the separation from service
occurs, be paid within the Short-Term Deferral Period shall be treated as a
short-term deferral within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-1(b)(4) to the maximum extent permissible under Section 409A; and
     (B) Each of the payments and benefits due under Severance Benefits Plan
that is not described in Section 5(b)(iii)(A) and that would, absent this
subsection, be paid within the six-month period following the “separation from
service” of the Eligible Employee from the Company shall not be paid until the
date that is six months and one day after such separation from service (or, if
earlier, the Eligible Employee’s death), with any such installments that are
required to be delayed being accumulated during the six-month period and paid in
a lump sum on the date that is six months and one day following the Eligible
Employee’s separation from service and any subsequent installments, if any,
being paid in accordance with the dates and terms set forth herein; provided,
however, that the preceding provisions of this sentence shall not apply to any
installment of payments and benefits if and to the maximum extent that that such
installment is deemed to be paid under a separation pay plan that does not
provide for a deferral of compensation by reason of the application of Treasury
Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) (relating to separation pay upon an involuntary
separation from service). Any installments that qualify for the exception under
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) must be paid no later than the
last day of the Eligible Employee’s second taxable year following his taxable
year in which the separation from service occurs.
     (c) The determination of whether and when a separation from service of the
Eligible Employee from the Company has occurred shall be made and in a manner
consistent with, and based on the presumptions set forth in, Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). Solely for purposes of this Section 5(c),
“Company” shall include all persons with whom the Company would be considered a
single employer under Section 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code.
     (d) All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Severance
Benefits Plan shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of
Section 409A to the extent that such reimbursements or in-kind benefits are
subject to Section 409A.

5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

SECTION 6. OTHER TERMINATIONS
     An otherwise Eligible Employee shall NOT be eligible to receive benefits
under this Severance Benefits Plan if (i) the Eligible Employee’s employment
terminates due to death, disability or any other reason other than a Qualifying
Termination; or (ii) an Eligible Employee’s employment is terminated within
thirty (30) days of his or her refusal to accept an offer of comparable
employment by any successor to the Company, as determined in the successor
entity’s discretion; provided, however, that “comparable employment” shall not
include situations which would constitute “Good Reason” as defined in Section
2(g) above.
SECTION 7. CLAIMS PROCEDURE
     If an Eligible Employee believes that he or she is entitled to severance
benefits under the Severance Benefits Plan that are not being paid, the Eligible
Employee may submit a written claim for payment to the Chief Financial Officer
of the Company. Any claim for benefits shall be in writing, addressed to the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company and must be sufficient to notify the
Company of the benefit claimed. If such claim is denied, the Company shall,
within a reasonable period of time, provide a written notice of denial. The
notice will include the specific reasons for denial, the provisions of the
Severance Benefits Plan on which the denial is based, and the procedure for a
review of the denied claim. Where appropriate, it will also include a
description of any additional material or information necessary to complete or
perfect the claim to any benefits under the Severance Benefits Plan. Any
Eligible Employee may request, in writing, a review of a claim denied by the
Company and may review pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in
writing to Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The Company shall provide a
written decision upon such request for review of a denied claim. The decision of
the Chief Financial Officer upon such review shall be final.
SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS
     No amounts under this Severance Benefits Plan shall be funded, set aside or
otherwise segregated prior to payment. The Company’s obligation to pay the
amounts contemplated hereunder shall at all times be an unfunded and unsecured
obligation.
     The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate this Severance
Benefits Plan and Exhibits thereto at any time; provided, however, that this
Severance Benefits Plan may not be amended or terminated following the Change in
Control Date without the prior written consent of each Eligible Employee then
subject to this Severance Benefits Plan. This Severance Benefits Plan shall
continue in full force and effect notwithstanding a Change in Control Event, and
in the event that the Change of Control Event is the result of a sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, this
Severance Benefits Plan shall be assumed by the entity acquiring such assets.
This Severance Benefits Plan shall be binding upon any surviving entity
resulting from a Change in Control Event and upon any other person who is a
successor by merger, acquisition, consolidation or otherwise to the business
formerly carried on by the Company without regard to whether or not such person
actively adopts or formally continues the Severance Benefits Plan. The Severance
Benefits Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

EXHIBIT A
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES
President and CEO
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Vice President of Human Resources
Vice President of Manufacturing Operations
Vice President of Engineering
Vice President of Emerging Technologies & General Manager of Neuroscience
Chief Financial Officer
Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing
Vice President of Medical Affairs
Vice President of Clinical, Regulatory and Quality Assurance
Employee Member of the Board of Directors

7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RELEASE OF CLAIMS
     Certain capitalized terms used in this Release are defined in the Key
Employee Change in Control Severance Benefits Plan (the “Severance Benefits
Plan”) which I have reviewed.
     In order to receive the benefits as set forth in the Severance Benefits
Plan, I acknowledge that I must enter into this Release and have it become
binding upon me.
     Except as otherwise set forth in this Release, I hereby release, acquit and
forever discharge the Company, its parents and subsidiaries, and their officers,
directors, agents, servants, employees, shareholders, predecessor, successors,
assigns and affiliates as well as its and their representatives, agents,
insurers and reinsurers, and employee benefit programs (and the trustees,
administrators, fiduciaries and insurers of such programs), past, present and
future (hereafter, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, charges,
complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of
money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises,
doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities, and expenses
(including attorneys’ fees and costs), of every kind and nature which I ever had
or now have against the Released Parties, including, but not limited to, those
claims arising out of my employment with and/or separation from the Company,
including, but not limited to, all claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq. (the “ADEA”), the Americans With Disabilities Act
of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., the Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C.
§ 2601 et seq., the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”),
29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., Section 806 of the Corporate and Criminal Fraud
Accountability Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. § 1514(A), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., Executive Order 11246, Executive Order 11141, the Fair
Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., the Massachusetts Fair
Employment Practices Act., M.G.L. c. 151B, § 1 et seq., the Massachusetts Civil
Rights Act, M.G.L. c. 12, §§ 11H and 11I, the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act,
M.G.L. c. 93, § 102 and M.G.L. c. 214, § 1C, the Massachusetts Labor and
Industries Act, M.G.L. c. 149, § 1 et seq., the Massachusetts Privacy Act,
M.G.L. c. 214, § 1B, and the Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act, M.G.L. c. 149, §
105D, all as amended; all common law claims including, but not limited to,
actions in tort, defamation and breach of contract; all claims to any non-vested
ownership interest in the Company, contractual or otherwise, including, but not
limited to, claims to stock or stock options; and any claim or damage arising
out of my employment with or separation from the Company (including a claim for
retaliation) under any common law theory or any federal, state or local statute
or ordinance not expressly referenced above; provided, however, that nothing in
this Agreement prevents me from filing, cooperating with, or participating in
any proceeding before the EEOC or a state Fair Employment Practices Agency
(except that I acknowledge that I may not be able to recover any monetary
benefits in connection with any such claim, charge or proceeding); and provided,
further, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed in any way to release
the Company from its obligation to indemnify me from any third party action
brought against me based on my employment with the Company, pursuant to any
applicable agreement or applicable law or to reduce or eliminate any coverage I
may have under the Company’s director and officer liability policy, if any, in
effect as of the date of the termination of my employment with the Company.
     I understand and agree that, as a condition for payment to me of the
Severance Benefits Plan benefits, I shall not make any false, disparaging or
derogatory statements to any media outlet, industry group, financial institution
or current or former employee, consultant, client or customer of the Company
regarding the Company or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or
representatives or about the Company’s business affairs and financial condition;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent me from making truthful
disclosures to any governmental entity or in any litigation or arbitration.

8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

     I acknowledge that I have returned to the Company all keys, files, records
(and copies thereof), equipment (including, but not limited to, computer
hardware, software and printers, wireless handheld devices, cellular phones,
pagers, etc.), Company identification, Company vehicles and any other
Company-owned property in my possession or control and have left intact all
electronic Company documents, including but not limited to those which I
developed or help develop during my employment. I further confirm that I have
cancelled all accounts for my benefit, if any, in the Company’s name, including
but not limited to, credit cards, telephone charge cards, cellular phone and/or
pager accounts and computer accounts.
     I further acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and
releasing any rights I may have under the ADEA. I also acknowledge that the
consideration given under the Severance Benefits Plan for the waiver and release
in the preceding paragraph hereof is in addition to anything of value to which I
was already entitled. I further acknowledge that I have been advised by this
writing, as required by the ADEA, that:

  (A)   My waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may
arise after the date I execute this Release;     (B)   I should consult with an
attorney prior to executing this Release;     (C)   I have been given more than
twenty-one (21) days advance written notice to consider this Release (although I
may voluntarily choose to execute this Release earlier);     (D)   I have seven
(7) days following the execution of this Release by the parties to revoke my
acceptance by notifying the Company in writing (the “Applicable Release
Period”); and     (E)   This Release shall not be effective until the date upon
which the Applicable Release Period has expired, which shall be the eighth day
after this Release is executed by me provided I have not timely revoked.

          [NAME OF EMPLOYEE]
      Signature:             Date:        

9