exv10w18






Exhibit 10.18




Execution Copy




SECOND AMENDMENT TO

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




     This Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (this “Amendment”) is
entered into effective as of January 1, 2009, by VCA Antech, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and Robert L. Antin, an individual (“Officer”).



RECITALS




     A. Officer is currently employed as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and
President of the Company pursuant to an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the
Company and Officer dated as of November 27, 2001 and amended as of March 9, 2004 (the “Employment
Agreement”).



     B. The Company and Officer desire to amend the Employment Agreement to conform the terms and
conditions of Officer’s employment by the Company to changes in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and certain other applicable laws.



AGREEMENT




     In consideration of the foregoing recitals and the terms, covenants and conditions contained
herein, the Company and Officer agree as follows:


1. Section 8.1.2 of the Employment Agreement is amended by replacing clause (y) of the final
sentence thereof with the following:





“(y) the Company shall continue to provide medical benefits coverage for
Officer’s family pursuant to the Post-Retirement Medical Benefits Coverage
Agreement between the Company and Officer effective as of December 27, 2007
(the “Medical Benefits Coverage Agreement”).”


2. Section 8.2.1 of the Employment Agreement is amended as follows:




     (a) By adding the phrase “, unless Officer resumes the performance of his duties hereunder,”
to the second sentence thereof immediately following the phrase “following the date of such
physician’s written opinion, then” as it appears therein; and



     (b) By adding to the end thereof the following sentence:




“Notwithstanding the foregoing, Officer will retain the right, without
obligation, to resume the performance of his duties hereunder at any time
before such termination, in which case his employment hereunder will
continue.”



 









 




3. Section 8.2.2 of the Employment Agreement is amended by adding to the end thereof the following
proviso:





“, provided that the Automobile Cost under Section 4.4.2 and maximum
aggregate dues under Section 4.4.3 will automatically increase 5% per annum
and medical benefits coverage shall continue pursuant to the Medical
Benefits Coverage Agreement”.


4. Section 8.3.1 of the Employment Agreement is amended as follows:




     (a) By adding the term “of termination” to the first sentence thereof immediately following
the term “written notice” as it appears therein, and deleting the phrase “upon the occurrence of
any of the following events” as it appears in the first sentence thereof and replacing it with the
phrase “within two years following the initial existence of one or more of the following conditions
without Officer’s consent”;



     (b) By deleting the phrase “following written notice delivered to the Company and a reasonable
cure period not to exceed 30 days” from the end of subsection 8.3.1.1 and adding the term “or”
after the semicolon in subsection 8.3.1.1;



     (c) By deleting subsection 8.3.1.2 in its entirety and replacing it with the following:




“8.3.1.2 The relocation of the office where Officer is required to perform
his duties to the Company to a location outside of Los Angeles County,
California;”



     (d) By deleting subsection 8.3.1.3 in its entirety; and



     (e) By adding to the end thereof the following proviso:




“Provided, however, that Officer must deliver written notice to the Company
of the existence of the condition within 90 days of the condition’s initial
existence, upon receipt of which notice the Company shall have at least 30
days to remedy such condition, and if the Company does so remedy the
condition then Officer will not be entitled to terminate employment under
this Section 8.3.”


5. Section 8.3.2 of the Employment Agreement is amended as follows:




     (a) By adding the following proviso to the end of clause (y) of the final sentence thereof:




“, provided that the Automobile Cost under Section 4.4.2 and maximum
aggregate dues under Section 4.4.3 will automatically increase 5% per annum
and medical benefits coverage shall continue pursuant to the Medical
Benefits Coverage Agreement”;



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     (b) By deleting the term “such termination by Officer for cause” as it appears in clause (z)
of the final sentence thereof and replacing it with the term “the Termination Date”; and



     (c) By adding the proviso “, provided that the maximum aggregate of such annual expenses will
automatically increase 5% per annum” to the end thereof.


6. Section 8.5.2 of the Employment Agreement is amended as follows:




     (a) By adding the following proviso to the end of clause (y) of the final sentence thereof:




“, provided that the Automobile Cost under Section 4.4.2 and maximum
aggregate dues under Section 4.4.3 will automatically increase 5% per annum
and medical benefits coverage shall continue pursuant to the Medical
Benefits Coverage Agreement”;



     (b) By deleting the term “such termination by Officer for cause” as it appears in clause (z)
of the final sentence thereof and replacing it with the term “the Termination Date”; and



     (c) By adding the phrase “, provided that the maximum aggregate of such annual expenses will
automatically increase 5% per annum” to the end thereof.


7. Section 9.2 of the Employment Agreement is amended by adding the following proviso to the end
thereof:





“, provided that the Automobile Cost under Section 4.4.2 and maximum
aggregate dues under Section 4.4.3 will automatically increase 5% per annum
and medical benefits coverage shall continue pursuant to the Medical
Benefits Coverage Agreement”.


8. Section 9.4 of the Employment Agreement is amended by deleting the term “remains employed by” as
it appears in the second sentence thereof and replacing it with the term “provides services to”.



9. Section 9.4 of the Employment Agreement is further amended by adding the phrase “at his then
current Base Salary” to the second sentence thereof immediately following the term “shall be
compensated” and deleting such phrase as it appears at the end of that sentence.



10. A new Section 12.11 is added to the Employment Agreement to read as follows:





“12.11 Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.




12.11.1 This Agreement will be administered and interpreted to maximize the
involuntary separation pay and short-term deferral exemptions from Section
409A of the Code, and Officer is not permitted, directly or indirectly, to
designate the taxable year of any payment. Any right to a series of
installment payments under this Agreement will be treated as a right to a
series of separate payments. Any installment payment under this



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Agreement that is payable during the short-term deferral period (as defined
in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4)) will be treated as a short-term deferral
and not aggregated with other awards, plans, or payments. Any other payment
that does not meet the short-term deferral requirement will, to the maximum
extent possible be deemed to satisfy the exception from Internal Revenue
Code section 409A and Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A) for involuntary
separation pay and shall not be aggregated with any other payment.
Designated payment dates provided for in this Agreement are deemed to
incorporate the grace periods provided by Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(d).




12.11.2 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the
Board of Directors (or its delegate) determines in its discretion that any
payment or benefit due under this Agreement constitutes “nonqualified
deferred compensation” subject to Internal Revenue Code section 409A, and
that as of the date of Officer’s separation from service” (as defined in
Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)) Officer is a “specified employee” (as defined in
Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(i)), then no such payment will be made or benefit
provided before the date that is six months after the date of separation
from service. Any payment or benefit that is delayed pursuant to the
foregoing sentence will be accumulated and paid or otherwise provided,
without interest, on the first business day of the seventh month following
Officer’s separation from service. For purposes of this Agreement, whether
Officer is a “specified employee” will be determined in accordance with the
written procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, which procedures are
incorporated by reference herein.”


11. Except as amended by this Amendment, the Employment Agreement shall continue unmodified and in
full force and effect.



12. This Amendment is effective as of the date hereof. This Amendment contains the entire
understanding of the parties to it relating to the subject matter hereof and cannot be changed or
terminated except in writing signed by both the Company and Officer. This Amendment has been made
and entered into in the State of California and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of California without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. This Amendment
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but
all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Amendment and all
obligations and benefits hereunder shall bind and inure to the benefit of Officer, the Company and
its respective affiliates, and their respective successors and assigns. No amendment or waiver of
any term of this Amendment shall be effective unless made in writing.




Signature page follows






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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has signed this Amendment on the date opposite their
signature below.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	VCA ANTECH, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Date:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	By: Tomas W. Fuller	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Its: Chief Financial Officer	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	OFFICER	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Date:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Robert L. Antin	 	 







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