exv10w93



 







EXHIBIT 10.93




AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




Originally Effective March 12, 2003

First Amendment Effective January 1, 2004

Amendment and Restatement Effective May 17, 2006




     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made by and between Gen-Probe
Incorporated, a Delaware corporation with offices at 10210 Genetic Center Drive, San Diego,
California 92121 (“Gen-Probe”), and Henry L. Nordhoff (the “Executive”).



     The parties hereto agree as follows:




	1.	 	Amendment and Restatement of Employment Agreement. The Employment Agreement between
Gen-Probe and Executive dated March 12, 2003, as previously amended by an amendment dated
January 1, 2004, is hereby amended and restated as set forth herein as of May 17, 2006 (the
“Amendment Effective Date”).
	 
	2.	 	Term of Employment. This Agreement shall be immediately effective. This Agreement,
and Executive’s employment hereunder, shall be for a term of three years from the Amendment
Effective Date, provided, however, that Gen-Probe’s obligations pursuant to Sections 8(c) and
9 of this Agreement shall be for an indefinite term. At any time during the term of this
Agreement, either party may terminate this Agreement, and Executive’s employment, in
accordance with the provision of Sections 7 and 8 of this Agreement.
	 
	3.	 	Position and Duties. The Executive shall serve as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Gen-Probe, and shall have commensurate responsibilities and authority. The Board
of Directors may from time to time particularly specify the Executive’s duties and authority.
The Executive shall not engage in or perform duties for any other persons or entities that
interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder, provided that the Executive may
continue to serve on the boards of directors and boards of trustees on which he served on
March 12, 2003. Any outside board of director positions accepted by the Executive after March
12, 2003 will be subject to approval by the Board of Directors of Gen-Probe.
	 
	4.	 	Salary, Bonus and Benefits.






	 	(a)	 	Salary. During the period of Executive’s employment, Gen-Probe shall
pay Executive an annual base salary of $645,000.00. This base salary may be increased
by the Compensation Committee of the Board, subject to the terms of this Agreement and
consistent with the Executive’s performance and Gen-Probe’s policy regarding
adjustments in officer compensation established from time to time by the Compensation
Committee. The base salary shall not be decreased during the term of this Agreement.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Bonus. In addition, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee,
the Executive will be awarded incentive compensation, in the form of a cash bonus




 









 






	 	 	 	for each fiscal year during his employment, based upon performance. Executive’s
target bonus shall be seventy-five percent (75%) of his base salary; however, the
actual bonus shall be set at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Stock Options/Restricted Stock. In addition, Executive may be awarded
stock options, restricted stock awards and other equity compensation awards by
Gen-Probe’s Compensation Committee, with such terms and conditions as the Compensation
Committee may determine in its sole discretion.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Life Insurance. Gen-Probe will obtain and pay for a term life
insurance policy providing for payment of $1,000,000 in benefits to the Executive’s
designated beneficiaries should the Executive die during the term of this Agreement.
(This policy shall be in addition to any coverage provide by Gen-Probe’s group life
insurance plan pursuant to subsection (g), below.)
	 
	 	(e)	 	Disability Insurance. Gen-Probe will obtain and pay for a long-term
disability insurance policy providing for payment at a rate of no less than $200,000
per annum to Executive should Executive suffer a long-term disability during the term
of this Agreement. (This policy shall be in addition to any coverage provide by
Gen-Probe’s group disability insurance plan pursuant to subsection (g), below.)
	 
	 	(f)	 	AD& D Insurance. Gen-Probe will obtain and pay for an AD&D insurance
policy providing for a benefit to Executive (or his beneficiaries) of $400,000
(airplane) or $200,000 (automobile or walking) should Executive suffer accidental death
or accidental disability during the term of this Agreement.
	 
	 	(g)	 	Other Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in the
employee benefit programs (including but not limited to medical, dental, life and
disability insurance, 401K retirement plan, and vacation program), as adopted and
maintained by Gen-Probe. The Executive may receive such other and additional benefits
as the Compensation Committee or Board may determine from time to time in its sole
discretion.






	5.	 	Expense Reimbursement. The Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable and customary expenses incurred by him in performing services
hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while away from home on
business or at the request of, and in the service of Gen-Probe; provided, that such expenses
are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by
Gen-Probe.
	 
	6.	 	Indemnification. Gen-Probe shall indemnify the Executive to the maximum extent
permitted by law, by the by-laws of Gen-Probe and by the Indemnification Agreement dated
August 19, 2002, between the Executive and Gen-Probe, as it may be amended (the
“Indemnification Agreement”), if the Executive is made a party, or threatened to be made a
party, to any threatened or pending legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was an
officer, director or employee of Gen-Probe or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, in which
capacity the Executive is or was serving at Gen-Probe’s request, against




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	 	 	reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement
payments incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding.
	 
	7.	 	Termination. The Executive may terminate his employment hereunder at any time, with
or without Good Reason (as defined below) upon written notice to Gen-Probe. If Executive
contends that Good Reason exists for his termination, such notice shall specifically and
expressly state the grounds which he contends constitute Good Reason. Gen-Probe may terminate
the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, subject to the terms of this Agreement, with
or without Cause (as defined below) upon written notice to the Executive. If this Agreement
is terminated, all compensation and benefits other than severance benefits described in
Section 8 below, to the extent applicable, shall immediately cease, except that the Executive
will be entitled, through the date of termination, to payment of his salary and benefits under
Gen-Probe benefit programs and plans in accordance with their terms.
	 
	 	 	As used in this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following events that are not
consented to by the Executive: (i) the removal of the Executive from his position as the
Chief Executive Officer of Gen-Probe; (ii) a substantial and material diminution in the
Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder; (iii) a reduction of the Executive’s base
salary or target bonus percentage; (iv) the location of the Executive’s assignment on behalf
of Gen-Probe is moved to a location more than 30 miles from its present location; (v) the
failure of Gen-Probe to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to Gen-Probe to
assume and agree to perform this Agreement; or (vi) a material breach by Gen-Probe of its
obligations under this Agreement after notice in writing from the Executive and a reasonable
opportunity for Gen-Probe to cure or substantially mitigate any material adverse effect of
such breach. The Executive’s consent to any event which would otherwise constitute Good
Reason shall be conclusively presumed if the Executive does not exercise his rights to
terminate this Agreement for Good Reason under this section within six (6) months of notice
of the event.
	 
	 	 	As used in this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean any of the following events: (i) any act of
gross or willful misconduct, fraud, misappropriation, dishonesty, embezzlement or similar
conduct on the part of Executive; (ii) the Executive’s conviction of a felony or any crime
involving moral turpitude (which conviction, due to the passage of time or otherwise, is not
subject to further appeal); (iii) the Executive’s misuse or abuse of alcohol, drugs or
controlled substances and failure to seek and comply with appropriate treatment; (iv)
willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties under
this Agreement (other than any failure resulting from disability or from termination by the
Executive for Good Reason) as determined by a majority of the Board after written demand
from the Board of Directors for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive, and
the Executive fails to resume substantial performance of his duties on a continuous basis
within 30 days of such notice; (v) the death of the Executive; or (vi) the Executive
becoming disabled such that he is not able to perform his usual duties for Gen-Probe for a
period in excess of six (6) consecutive calendar months.
	 
	8.	 	Severance Benefits in Certain Events. If Gen-Probe terminates the Executive’s
employment for reasons other than Cause, or if the Executive terminates his employment for
Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the following severance benefits:




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	 	(a)	 	Salary. The Executive shall continue to receive his base salary, at
the rate in effect at the time of his termination of employment, in monthly
installments commencing the first day of the first month following termination and
continuing for an aggregate period of twenty-four (24) months (the “Salary Continuation
Period”); provided, however, that if termination under this Section 8 occurs in
connection with a Change in Control, then the Executive shall receive a single lump sum
payment, payable within 10 days of termination, equal to thirty-six (36) months’ base
salary. For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall have the meaning set
forth on Attachment “1” to this Agreement (hereby incorporated by reference). For
purposes of this Agreement, a termination shall be “in connection with” a Change in
Control if termination occurs within the period six (6) months prior to or eighteen
(18) months after a Change in Control.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Bonus. The Executive shall be entitled to receive a pro rata portion
of the target bonus provided in Section 4(b) for the year in which his employment
terminates. The Executive shall also be entitled to receive, in addition to the salary
payment described in Section 8(a), above, an amount equal to two times the Executive’s
targeted level bonus in the year of the termination; provided, however, that if
termination under this Section 8 occurs in connection with a Change in Control, then
the Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to three times the
Executive’s targeted level bonus in the year of the termination. The amount payable
hereunder shall be paid in the same manner as and on the same schedule as the salary
compensation paid under subsection (a) above.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Health Care Insurance. Continued health care coverage under
Gen-Probe’s medical plan will be provided, without charge, to the Executive and his
eligible dependents until the earlier of (i) Executive’s sixty-fifth (65th)
birthday or (ii) the first date that the Executive is covered under another employer’s
health benefit program providing substantially the same or better benefit options to
the Executive without exclusion for any pre-existing medical condition. The period of
time medical coverage continues under this Agreement will be counted as coverage time
under COBRA. Such coverage may be provided at Gen-Probe’s option either by payment
directly to Gen-Probe’s health insurance carrier, through Gen-Probe’s own employee
medical expense plan if Gen-Probe is self-insured, or through reimbursement of
Executive’s COBRA premiums upon submission of reasonable substantiation. After
Executive reaches age 65, Gen-Probe will provide up to $10,000.00 per year in medical
reimbursement to cover medical expenses incurred but not covered by either Medicare
Part A and B or Medicare Supplemental Insurance. The Executive is expected to carry
Supplemental Medicare Insurance and to comply with the Insurance Plan restrictions to
maximize coverage.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Life Insurance. During the Salary Continuation Period, Gen-Probe will
pay the premium for continued life insurance coverage, if any, that the Executive may
have elected under Gen-Probe’s Life Insurance and Supplemental Life Insurance plan,
subject to payment by the Executive of the portion of such premium not contributed by
Gen-Probe under such plan.




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	 	(e)	 	401(k) Plan. The Executive’s interest in any unvested contributions
made by Gen-Probe to the Executive’s 401(k) account shall vest as of the date of
termination.
	 
	 	(f)	 	Outplacement Services. Gen-Probe agrees to provide Executive with
outplacement services during the first six months of the Salary Continuation Period at
a level not lower than the services provided to senior officers of Gen-Probe prior to
the March 12, 2003.
	 
	 	(g)	 	Tax Matters. All compensation described in this Agreement will be
subject to Gen-Probe’s collection of all applicable federal, state and local income and
employment withholding taxes.
	 
	 	(h)	 	Release of Claims. Gen-Probe’s obligation to make the payments and
provide the benefits hereunder shall be conditioned upon Executive’s execution of a
release of all claims that he then may have other than claims under Section 6 or the
Indemnification Agreement, in standard form and content. The release shall be mutual
and shall also be signed on behalf of Gen-Probe.
	 
	 	(i)	 	Delayed Payments To Key Employee. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth herein, if at the time any payments would otherwise be made to the
Executive pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7, the Executive is subject to the
distribution limitations contained in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”) applicable to “key employees” as defined in Code Section
416(i), such payments shall not be made to the Executive before the date which is six
(6) months following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, or, if
earlier, the date of the Executive’s death that occurs within such six (6) month
period, to the extent necessary to comply with the distribution requirements of Section
409A of the Code and its regulations and other guidance thereunder. Any amounts
otherwise payable during the six (6) month period following the Executive’s termination
of employment will accrue and be paid out as soon as administratively practicable
following the six (6) month delay period. Any installment payments otherwise payable
after the six (6) month delay period following the Executive’s termination of
employment will continue to be paid out in accordance with the original payment
schedule.






	9.	 	Health Care Cost Reimbursement After Retirement. After Executive (i) ceases full
time employment with Gen-Probe and (ii) reaches age 65, Gen-Probe will provide up to
$10,000.00 per year in medical reimbursement to cover medical expenses incurred but not
covered by either Medicare Part A and B or Medicare Supplemental Insurance. The Executive is
expected to carry Supplemental Medicare Insurance and to comply with the Insurance Plan
restrictions to maximize coverage.
	10.	 	Excise Tax on Parachute Payments.







	 	(a)	 	Gross-Up Payment. If it is determined that any payment or distribution
of any type to the Executive or for his benefit by Gen-Probe, any of its affiliates,
any person who acquires ownership or effective control of Gen-Probe or ownership of a
substantial portion of Gen-Probe’s assets (within the meaning of section 280G




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	 	 	 	of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations
thereunder) or any affiliate of such person, whether paid or payable or distributed
or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (the “Total
Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the Code
or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax and
any such interest or penalties are collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”),
then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up
Payment”) in an amount calculated to ensure that after the Executive pays all taxes
(and any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any
Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of
the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Total Payments.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Determination by Accountant. All determinations and calculations
required to be made under this Section 10 shall be made by an independent accounting
firm selected by the Executive from among the largest four (4) accounting firms in the
United States (the “Accounting Firm”). The Accounting Firm shall provide its
determination (the “Determination”), together with detailed supporting calculations
regarding the amount of any Gross-Up Payment and any other relevant matter, to the
Executive and Gen-Probe within five (5) days after the Executive or Gen-Probe made a
request (if the Executive reasonably believes that any of the Total Payments may be
subject to the Excise Tax). If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is
payable by the Executive, it shall furnish the Executive with a written statement that
it has concluded that no Excise Tax is payable (including the reasons therefor) and
that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his
federal income tax return. If a Gross-Up Payment is determined to be payable, it shall
be paid to the Executive within five (5) days after the Determination has been
delivered to him or Gen-Probe. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be
binding upon Gen-Probe and the Executive, absent manifest error.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Over- and Underpayments. As a result of uncertainty in the application
of section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting
Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments not made by Gen-Probe should have
been made (“Underpayment”) or that Gross-Up Payments will have been made by Gen-Probe
that should not have been made (“Overpayment”). In either event, the Accounting Firm
shall determine the amount of the Underpayment or Overpayment that has occurred. In
the case of an Underpayment, Gen-Probe shall promptly pay the amount of such
Underpayment to the Executive or for his benefit. In the case of an Overpayment, the
Executive shall, at the direction and expense of Gen-Probe, take such steps as are
reasonably necessary (including the filing of returns and claims for refund), follow
reasonable instructions from, and procedures established by, Gen-Probe, and otherwise
reasonably cooperate with Gen-Probe to correct such Overpayment, provided, however,
that (i) the Executive shall in no event be obligated to return to Gen-Probe an amount
greater than the net after-tax portion of the Overpayment that the Executive has
retained or has recovered as a refund from the applicable taxing authorities and (ii)
this provision shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the intent of
Subsection (a) above, which is to make the Executive whole, on




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	 	 	 	an after-tax basis, from the application of the Excise Tax, it being understood that
the correction of an Overpayment may result in the Executive’s repaying to Gen-Probe
an amount that is less than the Overpayment.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Limitation on Parachute Payments. Any other provision of this Section
10 notwithstanding, if the Excise Tax could be avoided by reducing the Total Payments
by $10,000 or less, then the Total Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary to
avoid the Excise Tax and no Gross-Up Payment shall be made. If the Accounting Firm
determines that the Total Payments are to be reduced under the preceding sentence, then
Gen-Probe shall promptly give the Executive notice to that effect and a copy of the
detailed calculation thereof. The Executive may then elect, in his sole discretion,
which and how much of the Total Payments are to be eliminated or reduced (as long as
after such election no Excise Tax shall be payable), and the Executive shall advise
Gen-Probe in writing of his election within ten (10) days of receipt of notice. If the
Executive make no such election within such ten (10)-day period, then Gen-Probe may
elect which and how much of the Total Payments are to be eliminated or reduced (as long
as after such election no Excise Tax shall be payable), and it shall notify the
Executive promptly of such election.






	11.	 	Miscellaneous.






	 	(a)	 	Arbitration. Executive and Gen-Probe agree that any and all claims or
disputes that in any way relate to or arise out of Executive’s employment with
Gen-Probe or the termination of such employment (including but not limited to claims
under this Agreement or any other contract, tort claims, and statutory claims of
employment discrimination, retaliation or harassment) shall be resolved exclusively
through final and binding arbitration in San Diego, California. Executive and
Gen-Probe waive any rights to a jury trial in connection with such claims or disputes.
The costs of the arbitration, including the fees of the arbitrator, shall be borne
exclusively by Gen-Probe. Any such arbitration shall take place in San Diego,
California and shall be conducted by a single neutral arbitrator who shall be a retired
federal or state judge, to be appointed by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”)
in accordance with AAA rules. The applicable procedural rules of AAA shall govern the
arbitration. The arbitrator’s decision shall be delivered in writing and shall
disclose the essential findings and conclusion on which the arbitrator’s decision is
based. The parties shall be permitted to conduct adequate discovery to allow for a
full and fair exploration of the issues in dispute in the arbitration proceeding. The
arbitrator may grant any relief which otherwise would have been available to the
parties in a court proceeding. The decision and award of the arbitrator shall be final
and binding, and judgment upon the arbitrator’s award may be entered by any court of
competent jurisdiction.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with and be governed by the laws of the State of California.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Indemnification Agreement set
forth the entire agreement and understanding between the Executive and Gen-Probe on




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	 	 	 	the subject matter hereof, and supersede any other negotiations, agreements,
understandings, oral agreements, representations and past or future practices,
whether written or oral, on the subject matter hereof. No provision of this
Agreement may be amended, supplemented, modified, cancelled, or discharged unless
such amendment, supplement, modification, cancellation or discharge is agreed to, in
writing, signed by the Executive and a duly authorized officer of Gen-Probe (other
than the Executive); and no provisions hereof may be waived, except in writing, so
signed by or on behalf of the party granting such waiver.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Notices. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all
other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have duly given when personally delivered or mailed by United States
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:




If to the Executive:



Henry L. Nordhoff

[Intentionally Omitted]



If to Gen-Probe:



Vice President, Human Resources

Gen-Probe Incorporated

10210 Genetic Center Drive

San Diego, California 92121



With a copy to:



General Counsel

Gen-Probe Incorporated

10210 Genetic Center Drive

San Diego, California 92121





	 	(f)	 	Successors. Gen-Probe will require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all
the business and/or assets of Gen-Probe, by agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to the Executive, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement
in the same manner and to the same extent that Gen-Probe would be required to perform
it if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement and all rights under the
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the party’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, and
successors.




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	 	(g)	 	No Right to Continued Employment. Nothing herein shall be construed as
giving the Executive any rights to continued employment with Gen-Probe, and Gen-Probe
shall continue to have the right to terminate the Executive’s employment at any time,
with or without cause, subject to the provisions of this Agreement.





     In witness whereof, the parties have executed this Agreement.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Executive:	 	 	 	Gen-Probe Incorporated:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/ Henry L. Nordhoff

	 	 
	 	By
	 	/s/ Diana De Walt
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Henry L. Nordhoff

	 	 	 	 	 	Diana De Walt

Vice President, Human Resources	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	By
	 	/s/ R. William Bowen	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	R. William Bowen	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Vice President and General Counsel	 	 






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ATTACHMENT “1”




DEFINITION OF “CHANGE IN CONTROL”




     Change in Control.


“Change in Control” shall mean a change in ownership or control of Gen-Probe effected through any
of the following transactions:




     (a) any person or related group of persons (other than Gen-Probe or a person that, prior to
such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, Gen-Probe) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total
combined voting power of Gen-Probe’s outstanding securities by means of any transaction or series
of transactions; or



     (b) there is a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36)
consecutive months (or less) such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the nearest
whole number) ceases, by reason of one or more proxy contests for the election of Board members, to
be comprised of individuals who either (i) have been Board members continuously since the beginning
of such period or (ii) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such
period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (i) who were still in office
at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board; or



     (c) the stockholders of Gen-Probe approve a merger or consolidation of Gen-Probe with any
other corporation (or other entity), other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
voting securities of Gen-Probe outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
entity or another entity) more than 66-2/3% of the combined voting power of the voting securities
of Gen-Probe or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation;
provided, however, that a merger or consolidation effected to implement a
recapitalization of Gen-Probe (or similar transaction) in which no person acquires more than 25% of
the combined voting power of Gen-Probe’s then outstanding voting securities shall not constitute a
Change in Control; or



     (d) the
stockholders of Gen-Probe approve a plan of complete liquidation of Gen-Probe or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by Gen-Probe of all or substantially all of Gen-Probe’s
assets.