exv10w4






EXHIBIT 10.4




McKESSON CORPORATION

SEVERANCE POLICY FOR EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES




Effective January 1, 2009



(Amended and Restated October 24, 2008)




 









 





McKESSON CORPORATION

SEVERANCE POLICY FOR EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES




Effective January 1, 2009




(Amended and Restated October 24, 2008)





	1.	 	ADOPTION AND PURPOSE OF POLICY.




The McKesson Corporation Severance Policy for Executive Employees (the “Policy”) was adopted
effective September 29, 1993 by McKesson to provide a program of severance payments to certain
employees of McKesson and its designated subsidiaries. The Policy is an employee welfare benefit
plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended (“ERISA”) and Section 2510.3-1 of the regulations issued thereunder. This document
constitutes both the plan document and the summary plan description of the Policy. The plan
administrator of the Policy for purposes of ERISA is McKesson. The Policy was amended and restated
effective as of January 1, 2005 and last amended and restated to read as set forth herein effective
as of January 1, 2009.





	2.	 	SEVERANCE BENEFITS.






	 	(a)	 	Basic Severance Benefits. In the event that the Company terminates the
employment of a Participant under circumstances that (i) constitute a Separation from
Service for any reason other than Cause and (ii) do not make the Participant eligible
for benefits under the McKesson’s Change in Control Policy for Selected Executive
Employees, that Participant shall be entitled to a severance payment equal to the
lesser of (A) 12 months’ Earnings plus one additional month for each Year of Service or
(B) 24 months’ Earnings. In no event shall the number of months’ Earnings a Participant
is entitled to receive hereunder exceed the number of months remaining between the date
of Participant’s Separation from Service and the date he or she will attain age 62
(rounded to the next higher whole month).
	 
	 	(b)	 	Mitigation of Benefits. The amount of a Participant’s benefits calculated under
(a) above shall be reduced by the amount of compensation, if any, the Participant
receives from any subsequent employer(s) for work performed during a period of time
following his or her Separation from Service equal to the number of months of Earnings
the Participant is entitled to receive.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Effect on Other Plans. Except as provided in Section 3 below, nothing in this
Policy shall alter or impair any rights a Participant may have upon Separation from
Service under any other plan or program of the Company.
	 
	 	(d)	 	No Duplication of Benefits. In no event shall a Participant be entitled to any
benefits under this Policy if his or her employment with the Company terminates under
circumstances that entitle the Participant to receive severance benefits following a
change of control of the Company pursuant to the McKesson’s Change in Control Policy
for Executive Employees or the terms of any individual




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	 	 	 	written employment or severance agreement; provided, however, to the extent that the
benefits provided in this Policy are greater than the benefits provided in such
written employment agreement, the benefits shall be paid under this Policy in lieu
of the benefits provided in the individual written employment agreement.






	3.	 	FORM OF BENEFIT.




The benefit described in Section 2(a) shall be paid in biweekly installments over a period
commencing on the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service not to exceed the number of
months determined under Section 2(a)(ii); provided, however, that if the Participant is a Specified
Employee on the date of his or her Separation from Service, any payment that is scheduled to be
made in the six-month period following the Participant’s Separation from Service shall be made in
the seventh month following the month in which the Participant’s Separation from Service occurs.
Any payment that is subject to the delay shall include an additional amount representing interest
credited at the rate being credited to accounts under the McKesson’s Deferred Compensation
Administration Plan III during the relevant period of delay and such interest shall be paid in a
lump sum at the same time that the delayed payments are made. All subsequent payment or benefits
will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each such payment or
benefits. Each installment payment provided for in this Policy is a separate “payment” within the
meaning of Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i).




Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payment under this Policy shall be made later than the last day
of the second calendar year following the year in which the Separation from Service occurs.




	4.	 	EFFECT OF DEATH OF EMPLOYEE.





Should a Participant die after Separation from Service and becoming eligible to receive the
benefits provided in Section 2(a), but prior to the payment of the entire benefit due hereunder,
the balance of the benefit payable under the Policy shall be paid in a lump sum to the
Participant’s surviving spouse, or, if none, to his or her surviving children or, if none, to his
or her estate, as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than 90 days, after the date of
Participant’s death. If a Participant dies prior to Separation from Service, no benefits will be
paid under this Policy.




	5.	 	STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.





McKesson shall seek approval or ratification of its stockholders at McKesson’s next annual or
special meeting of stockholders for any arrangement whereby the present value of any Severance
Payments for any Participant exceeds 2.99 times such Participant’s Base Salary and Bonus. This
provision will apply to any arrangement or agreement with a Participant entered into after July 30,
2003, including extensions, renewals or modifications (other than modifications based upon
subsequent changes in tax law or other legal requirements) after such date of arrangements or
agreements entered into prior to such date that increase the Severance Payments (other than
increases due to an increase in Base Salary and Bonus) payable to a Participant under such
arrangement or agreement.



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	6.	 	AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.





McKesson reserves the right to amend the Policy by action of the Compensation Committee of the
Board; provided, however, that no such action shall have the effect of decreasing the benefit of a
Participant whose Separation from Service occurred prior to the date of the Board’s or Compensation
Committee’s action.



The Board in its discretion may at any time terminate the Policy in accordance with Treasury
Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix).




	7.	 	ADMINISTRATION AND FIDUCIARIES.






	 	(a)	 	Plan Sponsor and Administrator. McKesson is the “plan sponsor” and the
“Administrator” of the Policy, within the meaning of ERISA.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Administrative Responsibilities. McKesson shall be the named fiduciary within
the meaning of ERISA, with the power and sole discretion to determine who is eligible
for benefits under the Policy, to determine the value of benefits paid in any form
other than cash or the present value of any cash or other benefits paid over time, to
interpret the Policy and to prescribe such forms, make such rules, regulations and
computations and prescribe such guidelines as it may determine are necessary or
appropriate for the operation and administration of the Policy and to change the terms
of or rescind such rules, regulations or guidelines. Such determinations of
eligibility, rules, regulations, interpretations, computations and guidelines shall be
conclusive and binding upon all persons. In administering the Policy, McKesson shall at
all times discharge its duties with respect to the Policy in accordance with the
standards set forth in section 404(a)(1) of ERISA.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Allocation and Delegation of Responsibilities. The Compensation Committee may
allocate any of McKesson’s responsibilities for the operation and administration of the
Policy among McKesson’s officers, employees and agents. It may also delegate any of
McKesson’s responsibilities under the Policy by designating, in writing, another person
to carry out such responsibilities.
	 
	 	(d)	 	No Individual Liability. It is declared to be the express purpose and intent of
McKesson that no individual liability shall attach to or be incurred by any member of
the Board of McKesson, or by any officer, employee representative or agent of the
Company, under, or by reason of the operation of, the Policy.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Employer Identification Number and Policy Number. The employer identification
number (EIN) assigned to McKesson by the Internal Revenue Service is 94-3207296. The
plan number (PIN) assigned to the Policy by McKesson is ___.
	 
	 	(f)	 	Policy Year. All records with respect to the Policy are kept on a calendar
year basis.
	 
	 	(g)	 	Legal Actions. No lawsuit can be brought to recover a benefit under the Policy




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	 	 	 	until an individual or his or her representative has done all of the following: (i)
filed a written claim as required by the Policy, (ii) received a written denial of
the claim (or the claim is deemed denied as described below), (iii) filed a written
request for a review of the denied claim with the Administrator, and (iv) received
written notification that the denial of the claim has been affirmed (or the denial
is deemed to be affirmed as described below).






	 	(h)	 	Agent for Service of Legal Process. If an individual wish to take legal action
after exhausting the Policy’s claims and appeal procedures, legal process should be
served on: Senior Vice President, Human Resources, McKesson Corporation, One Post
Street, San Francisco, California 94104. The individual may also serve process on the
Policy by serving the Administrator at the address shown above.
	 
	 	(i)	 	ERISA Rights.






	 	(i)	 	Participant’s are entitled to certain rights and protections
under Title I of ERISA.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Participant’s may examine without charge all official Policy
documents during business hours in the McKesson Benefits Department. These
documents include the legal texts of the plans, Policy descriptions and annual
reports that McKesson files with the U.S. Department of Labor.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Participant’s may also obtain a copy of any of these documents
by writing to the Administrator, and may be charged a reasonable fee for
copies.
	 
	 	(iv)	 	Participant’s have the right to receive a summary of the
Policy’s annual financial report. The Administrator is required by law to
furnish each Participant with a copy of this summary annual report.
	 
	 	(v)	 	Questions about this Policy should be directed to the
Administrator. Participant’s that have any questions about this statement or
about his or her rights under ERISA, or if he or she needs assistance in
obtaining documents from the Administrator, the Participant should contact the
nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor, listed in the telephone directory, or the Division of
Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Employee Benefits Security Administration,
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.
Participants may also obtain certain publications about their rights and
responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the
Employee Benefits Security Administration.
	 
	 	(vi)	 	No right to a benefit under the Policy shall depend (or shall
be deemed to depend) upon whether a Participant retires or elects to receive
retirement benefits under the terms of any employee pension benefit plan.
	 
	 	(vii)	 	The Policy shall contain no terms or provisions except those
set forth herein, or as hereafter amended in accordance with the provisions of




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	 	 	 	Section 6. If any description made in any other document is deemed to be in
conflict with any provision of the Policy, the provisions of the Policy
shall control.






	8.	 	CLAIMS AND APPEAL PROCEDURES






	 	(a)	 	Informal Resolution of Questions. Any Participant who has questions or concerns
about his or her benefits under the Policy is encouraged to communicate with the Human
Resources Department of McKesson. If this discussion does not give the Participant
satisfactory results, a formal claim for benefits may be made in accordance with the
procedures of this Section 8.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Formal Benefits Claim—Review by Executive Vice President, Human Resources. A
Participant may make a written request for review of any matter concerning his or her
benefits under this Policy. The claim must be addressed to the Executive Vice
President, Human Resources, McKesson Corporation, One Post Street, San Francisco,
California 94104. The Executive Vice President, Human Resources or his or her delegate
(“Executive Vice President”) shall decide the action to be taken with respect to any
such request and may require additional information if necessary to process the
request. The Executive Vice President shall review the request and shall issue his or
her decision, in writing, no later than 90 days after the date the request is received,
unless the circumstances require an extension of time. If such an extension is
required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the person making the
request within the initial 90-day period, and the notice shall state the circumstances
requiring the extension and the date by which the Executive Vice President expects to
reach a decision on the request. In no event shall the extension exceed a period of 90
days from the end of the initial period. Any claim under this Policy must be brought
within two years of the date the events giving rise to the claim first occurred.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Notice of Denied Request. If the Executive Vice President denies a request in
whole or in part, he or she shall provide the person making the request with written
notice of the denial within the period specified in Section 8(b). The notice shall set
forth the specific reason for the denial, reference to the specific Policy provisions
upon which the denial is based, a description of any additional material or information
necessary to perfect the request, an explanation of why such information is required,
and an explanation of the Policy’s appeal procedures and the time limits applicable to
such procedures, including a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action
under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Appeal to Executive Vice President.
	 
	 	 	 	A person whose request has been denied in whole or in part (or such person’s
authorized representative) may file an appeal of the decision in writing with the
Executive Vice President within 60 days of receipt of the notification of denial.
The appeal must be addressed to: Executive Vice President, Human Resources,




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	 	 	 	McKesson Corporation, One Post Street, San Francisco, California 94104. The
Executive Vice President, for good cause shown, may extend the period during which
the appeal may be filed for another 60 days. The appellant and/or his or her
authorized representative shall be permitted to submit written comments, documents,
records and other information relating to the claim for benefits. Upon request and
free of charge, the applicant should be provided reasonable access to and copies of,
all documents, records or other information relevant to the appellant’s claim.






	 	 	 	The Executive Vice President’s review shall take into account all comments,
documents, records and other information submitted by the appellant relating to the
claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the
initial benefit determination. The Executive Vice President shall not be restricted
in his or her review to those provisions of the Policy cited in the original denial
of the claim.
	 
	 	 	 	The Executive Vice President shall issue a written decision within a reasonable
period of time but not later than 60 days after receipt of the appeal, unless
special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case the
written decision shall be issued as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days
after receipt of an appeal. If such an extension is required, written notice shall
be furnished to the appellant within the initial 60-day period. This notice shall
state the circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which the Executive
Vice President expects to reach a decision on the appeal.
	 
	 	 	 	If the decision on the appeal denies the claim in whole or in part written notice
shall be furnished to the appellant. Such notice shall state the reason(s) for the
denial, including references to specific Policy provisions upon which the denial was
based. The notice shall state that the appellant is entitled to receive, upon
request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents,
records, and other information relevant to the claim for benefits. The notice shall
describe any voluntary appeal procedures offered by the Policy and the appellant’s
right to obtain the information about such procedures. The notice shall also include
a statement of the appellant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of
ERISA.
	 
	 	 	 	The decision of the Executive Vice President on the appeal shall be final,
conclusive and binding upon all persons and shall be given the maximum possible
deference allowed by law.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Exhaustion of Remedies. No legal or equitable action for benefits under the
Policy shall be brought unless and until the claimant has submitted a written claim for
benefits in accordance with Section 8(b), has been notified that the claim is denied in
accordance with Section 8(c), has filed a written request for a review of the claim in
accordance with Section 8(d), and has been notified in writing that the Executive Vice
President has affirmed the denial of the claim in accordance with Section 8(d).




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	9.	 	GENERAL PROVISIONS.






	 	(a)	 	Basis of Payments to and from Policy. All benefits under the Policy shall be
paid by McKesson. The Policy shall be unfunded and benefits hereunder shall be paid
only from the general assets of McKesson. Nothing contained in the Policy shall be
deemed to create a trust of any kind for the benefit of any employee, or create any
fiduciary relationship between the Company and any employee with respect to any assets
of the Company. McKesson is under no obligation to fund the benefits provided herein
prior to payment, although it may do so if it chooses. Any assets which McKesson
chooses to use for advance funding shall not cause the Policy to be a funded plan
within the meaning of ERISA.
	 
	 	(b)	 	No Employment Rights. Nothing in the Policy shall be deemed to give any
individual the right to remain in the employ of the Company or a subsidiary or to limit
in any way the right of the Company or a subsidiary to discharge, demote, reclassify,
transfer, relocate an individual or terminate an individual’s employment at any time
and for any reason, which right is hereby reserved.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Non-alienation of Benefits. No benefit payable under the Policy shall be
subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or
charge, and any attempt to do shall be void.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Legal Construction. The Policy shall be governed and interpreted in accordance
with ERISA.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Policy, McKesson
shall administer and construe this Policy in accordance with Section 409A of the Code,
the regulations promulgated thereunder, and any other published interpretive authority,
as issued or amended from time to time. McKesson shall have the authority to delay the
payment of any amounts under this Policy to the extent it deems necessary or
appropriate to comply with Section 409A of the Code.






	10.	 	DEFINITIONS.




Whenever used and capitalized in the text of the Policy, the following terms shall have the meaning
set forth below:





	 	(a)	 	“Administrator” shall mean the person specified in Section 7.
	 
	 	(b)	 	“Base Salary and Bonus” means the Participant’s annual base salary as in effect
immediately prior to the date of such Participant’s termination and the target bonus
for such Participant for the fiscal year in which such Participant’s Separation from
Service occurs, in each case inclusive of any amounts deferred by the intended
recipient.
	 
	 	(c)	 	“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of McKesson.




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	 	(d)	 	“Cause” means negligent or willful engagement in misconduct which, in the sole
determination of the Chief Executive Officer, is injurious to the Employer, its
employees or its customers. No act, or failure to act, on the part of the Participant
shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant
not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or
omission was in the best interest of the Employer.
	 
	 	(e)	 	“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
	 
	 	(f)	 	“Company” means McKesson and any affiliate that would be considered a service
recipient for purposes of Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-1(g).
	 
	 	(g)	 	“Earnings” means a Participant’s monthly base salary.
	 
	 	(h)	 	“Employer” means McKesson and any other affiliate that would be considered a
service recipient or employer for purposes of Treasury Regulation section
1.409A-1(h)(3).
	 
	 	(i)	 	“Identification Date” means each December 31.
	 
	 	(j)	 	“McKesson” means McKesson Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
	 
	 	(k)	 	“Participant” means (i) an individual who is designated to be eligible to
participate in the Policy by the Compensation Committee of the Board of McKesson and
(ii) whose employment is terminated under circumstances that render him or her eligible
for the benefits described in Section 2 of the Policy.
	 
	 	(l)	 	“Severance Payments” means (i) lump-sum cash payments (including payments in
lieu of medical and other benefits), (ii) the estimated present value of periodic cash
payments under previously established bonus, retirement, deferred compensation, or
other Company benefit plans, (iii) fringe benefits other than those provided under
Company programs or arrangements applicable to one or more groups of employees in
addition to Participants, and (iv) consulting fees (including reimbursable expenses)
other than reasonable fees and expenses for bona fide services provided to the Company
after termination, paid or payable by the Company to a Participant pursuant to this
Policy or otherwise upon a termination by the Company of employment of such Participant
at any time other than within two years following a Change in Control, excluding
Vested, Accrued or Appropriate Benefits.
	 
	 	(m)	 	“Separate from Service” or “Separation from Service” means termination of
employment with the Employer, except in the event of death. A Participant shall be
deemed to have had a Separation from Service if the Participant’s service with the
Employer is reduced to an annual rate that is equal to or less than twenty percent of
the services rendered, on average, during the immediately preceding three years of
service with the Employer (or if providing service to the Employer less than three
years, such lesser period).




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	 	(n)	 	“Specified Employee” means a Participant who, on an Identification Date, is:






	 	(i)	 	An officer of the Company having annual compensation greater
than the compensation limit in Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i) of the Code, provided
that no more than fifty officers of the Company shall be determined to be
Specified Employees as of any Identification Date;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	A five percent owner of the Company; or
	 
	 	(iii)	 	A one percent owner of the Company having annual compensation
from the Company of more than $150,000.






	 	 	 	For purposes of determining whether a Participant is a Specified Employee, Treasury
Regulation section 1.415(c)-2(d)(11)(ii) shall be used to calculate compensation.
If a Participant is identified as a Specified Employee on an Identification Date,
then such Participant shall be considered a Specified Employee for purposes of the
Policy during the period beginning on the first April 1 following the Identification
Date and ending on the next March 31.
	 
	 	(o)	 	“Vested, Accrued or Appropriate Benefits” means any benefits paid or payable by
the Company to a Participant upon a termination by the Company of employment of such
Participant at any time other than within two years following a Change in Control that
are (i) earned, accrued, deferred or otherwise received for employment services
rendered through the date of Separation from Service pursuant to bonus, retirement,
deferred compensation, or other Company benefit plans, (ii) approved under the terms of
bonus, retirement, deferred compensation, or other Company benefit plans existing at
the time of such termination at the reasonable discretion of the Compensation Committee
taking into consideration the age, length of service and other circumstances of such
termination, (iii) payments or benefits required to be provided by law, and (iv)
benefits and perquisites provided by the Company under plans, programs or arrangements
of the Company applicable to one or more groups of employees in addition to
Participants. For the avoidance of doubt, Vested, Accrued or Appropriate Benefits shall
not include benefits payable pursuant to this Policy.
	 
	 	(p)	 	“Year of Service” means a period of 365 aggregate days of employment (including
holidays, weekends and other non-working days), computed beginning on the Participant’s
employment commencement date. However, if the Participant has not completed a Year of
Service on the first anniversary of his employment commencement date, he or she shall
complete a Year of Service on the date of completion of 365 aggregate days of Service.
If a Participant has at any time completed at least one Year of Service, he or she
shall always be given credit for completed Years of Service. However, a Participant who
has five or more consecutive Breaks in Service, as defined in the McKesson
Profit-Sharing Investment Plan, as amended from time to time, shall be given such
credit only upon providing reasonable evidence to the Company of his or her previous
completion of such service.




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	11.	 	EXECUTION





This Amended and Restated Severance Policy for Executive Employees was adopted on October 24, 2008,
effective as of January 1, 2009.



McKESSON CORPORATION




	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Jorge L. Figueredo
 

Jorge L. Figueredo
	 	 
	 

	 	Executive Vice President, Human Resources	 	 







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