Ex-10.23



 



EXHIBIT 10.23


TRANSITION AND SUCCESSION AGREEMENT



     AGREEMENT, dated as of the 15th day of December, 2003 (this “Agreement”),
by and between Mylan Laboratories Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the
“Company”), and Stuart A. Williams (the “Executive”).


     WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties
hereto was contemplated by, and is in furtherance of, the terms and conditions
of the Employment Agreement (as defined below); and


     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has
determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders
to assure the Executive’s full attention and dedication to the Company in the
event of any threatened Change of Control (as defined herein), and to provide
the Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change of
Control.


NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:


     Section 1. Definitions. (a) “Affiliated Company” means any company
controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.


     (b)  “Change of Control” means:


          (1) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (A) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
“Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”);
provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 1(b), the following
acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition
directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any Affiliated Company or (iv) any acquisition by
any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections
1(b)(3)(A), 1(b)(3)(B) and 1(b)(3)(C);



          (2) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the
“Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of
the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the
Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though
such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
result of an actual or threatened
election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board;




 






 





          (3) Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or
consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another
entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business
Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (A)
all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the
beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 65% of the then-outstanding
shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as
the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination
(including, without limitation, a corporation that, as a result of such
transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially
the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business
Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company
Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting
from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the
corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting
power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation, except to
the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and
(C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the
Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the
action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or



          (4) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation
or dissolution of the Company.



     (c)  “Employment Agreement” means the Executive Employment Agreement dated
as of March 1, 2002, by and between the Company and the Executive, and any
extension or modification thereof or any successor agreement thereto.


     Section 2. Term of Agreement; Renewal. This Agreement shall commence and
be effective as of the date hereof and shall end on the third anniversary of
the date hereof; provided, however, that, commencing on the date one year after
the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and
each annual anniversary thereof, the “Renewal Date”), this Agreement shall be
automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date,
unless, at least 60 days prior to a Renewal Date no less than three years from
the date hereof, the Company shall give notice to the Executive that this
Agreement shall not be so extended.


     Section 3. Obligations of the Company upon Change of Control. (a) In the
event of a Change of Control, the Executive’s employment shall terminate
automatically, and the Executive shall be paid an amount equal to three (3)
times the sum of: (i) the Executive’s
then-current Minimum Base Salary (as defined in the Employment Agreement),
plus (ii) an amount equal to the highest bonus determined to date under Section
3(b) of the Employment Agreement. Such amount shall be paid in a lump sum, in
cash, within twenty-four (24) hours of


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the first date on which a Change of
Control occurs (such date, the “Payment Date”). In addition, the Executive’s
health insurance benefits shall be continued for thirty-six (36) months from
the first date on which a Change of Control occurs at the Company’s cost;
provided, however, that in the case of health insurance continuation, the
Company’s obligation to provide health insurance benefits shall end at such
time as the Executive, at his option, voluntarily obtains health insurance
benefits through another employer or otherwise in connection with rendering
services for a third party.


     (b)  The Executive and Company intend that no part of these payments under
Section 3(a) be deemed to be a “parachute payment” as defined under Section
280G of the Code (as defined below), and instead such payments are meant to
compensate the Executive for services rendered. However, should any portion of
these payments give rise to excise taxes imposed under Section 4999 of the
Code, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment
(the “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that, after payment by the Executive
of the excise and all other taxes (and any interest or penalties imposed with
respect to such taxes) and excise tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the
Executive retains an amount equal to the attorneys’ and accountants’ fees
incurred with respect to or in connection with the payment of such excise tax.
Any amounts payable under this subsection not paid within 30 days of the
Executive’s reasonably detailed invoice thereof shall subject to liquidated
damages at a rate of 5% of the delayed payment; any amounts remaining unpaid
thereafter shall be assessed liquidated damages at a rate of 5% of the delayed
payment (including liquidated damages then payable) for each additional 30-day
period following the initial 30 days.


     (c)  Upon a Change of Control, the Employment Agreement, with the exception
of Section 9 thereof, which shall survive in all respects, shall be null and
void and of no further force or effect, provided the Executive shall be paid
all amounts earned and due to the Executive thereunder no later than the
Payment Date, subject in all respects to Section 4 below.


     Section 4. Employment Agreement; Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The Executive
shall be entitled to the higher of the benefits and compensation payable under
this Agreement or those payable under the Employment Agreement as if the Change
of Control were deemed a termination without Cause (as defined therein). It is
the intent of the parties that nothing in this Agreement or in the Employment
Agreement shall affect any right the Executive may have with respect to: (i)
any vested or other benefits that the Executive is entitled to receive under
any plan, policy, practice or program of or any other contract or agreement
with the Company or the Affiliated Companies at or subsequent to a Change of
Control; and (ii) continuing or future participation in any plan, program,
policy or practice provided by the Company or the Affiliated Companies and for
which the Executive may qualify.


     Section 5. Non-Competition. In consideration for the protections provided
to the Executive under this Agreement, the Executive agrees that from the date
on which a Change of Control first occurs until the first anniversary thereof,
the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, control
or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be
connected as an officer, employee, partner, director or otherwise
with, or (other than through the ownership of not more than five percent
(5%) of the voting stock of any publicly held corporation) have any financial
interest in, or aid or assist anyone else in the conduct of, a business which
at the time of such termination competes in the United States with a


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business
conducted by the Company or any group, division or subsidiary of the Company
(“Company Group”) as of the date on which a Change of Control first occurs.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive’s employment by a business that
competes with the business of the Company, or the retention of the Executive as
a consultant by any such business shall not violate this Section 5 if the
Executive’s duties and actions for the business are solely for groups,
divisions or subsidiaries that are not engaged in a business that competes with
a business conducted by the Company. No business shall be deemed to be a
business conducted by the Company unless the Company was engaged in the
business as of the date on which a Change of Control first occurs and continues
to be engaged in the business and at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the
Company’s consolidated gross sales and operating revenues, or net income, is
derived from, or at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Company’s
consolidated assets are devoted to, such business and no business shall be
deemed to compete with a business conducted by the Company unless at least
twenty-five percent (25%) of the consolidated gross sales and operating
revenues, or net income, of any consolidated group that includes the business,
is derived from, or at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the consolidated
assets of any such consolidated group are devoted to, such business


     Section 6. No Set-Off; Company’s Obligations; Mitigation. The Company’s
obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to
perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim, right or action that the
Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the
Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way
of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the
provisions of this Agreement, and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or
not the Executive obtains other employment (except as explicitly set forth in
Section 3 with regard to health insurance benefits). The Company agrees to pay
as incurred (within 10 days following the Company’s receipt of an invoice from
the Executive), to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and
expenses that the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest or
disagreement (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive
or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any
provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including
as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any payment
pursuant to this Agreement), plus, in each case, interest on any delayed
payment at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). No obligation of
the Company under this Agreement to pay the Executive’s fees or expenses shall
in any manner confer upon the Company any right to select or approve any of the
attorneys or accountants engaged by the Executive.


     Section 7. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in
effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having
jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Executive shall be entitled to seek
specific performance of the Executive’s right to be paid any amounts or
provided with any benefits due to the Executive hereunder during the pendency
of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement.


     Section 8. Successors. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive,
and, without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable
by the Executive;


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provided, however, the Executive may designate one or more
beneficiaries to receive amounts payable hereunder after his death. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s
legal representatives.


     (b)  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns. Except as provided in Section 8(c),
without the prior written consent of the Executive this Agreement shall not be
assignable by the Company.


     (c)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
“Company” means the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its
business and/or assets as aforesaid that assumes and agrees to perform this
Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.


     Section 9. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this
Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or
effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified other than by a written
agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors,
permitted assigns and legal representatives.


     (b)  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:


     if to the Executive:



	 
	at the most recent address on record at the Company;



     if to the Company:



	 
	Mylan Laboratories Inc.
	1500 Corporate Drive
	Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317
	Attention: Chief Executive Officer



or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.


     (c)  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement. Any invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed severed from
this Agreement to the extent of its invalidity or unenforceability, and this
Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the
Agreement did not contain that particular provision to the extent of its
invalidity or unenforceability, provided that in lieu of any such invalid or
unenforceable term or provision, the


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parties hereto intend that there shall be
added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such
invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and
enforceable.


     (d)  The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement
such United States federal, state or local or foreign taxes as shall be
required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.


     (e)  The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any
right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder shall not be deemed to be
a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this
Agreement.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand
and the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its
behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.



	 	 	 
	STUART A. WILLIAMS	 	
MYLAN LABORATORIES INC.
	 	 	 
	   /s/ Stuart A. Williams	 	
   /s/ Robert J. Coury
	
	 	


	 	 	
By: Robert J. Coury
	 	 	
Its: Vice Chairman and CEO




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