Exhibit 10.1


 


AMENDMENT


 


February 25, 2005


 


THIS
AMENDMENT modifies and amends the Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”)
by and between DENDRITE INTERNATIONAL, INC. (“Dendrite”)
and Natasha Giordano (“Employee”). Unless
otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have their
respective meanings set forth in the Agreement.


 


The parties hereby
agree as follows:


 


1.             The
Agreement is hereby modified to include the following:


 


26.          VESTING
OF STOCK OPTIONS UPON “CHANGE IN CONTROL”


 


Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event
of a “Change in Control” (as defined below), all of Employee’s options owned by
him or her at the time of such event shall immediately vest.  For the purposes of this Agreement, “Change
in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events:


 


(i)
any “person” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and as used in Sections
13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a “beneficial owner”
(as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of Dendrite representing 33-1/3% or more of the combined voting
power of Dendrite’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the
election of the Board (the “Dendrite Voting Securities”); provided, however,
that the event described in this paragraph (i) shall not be deemed to be a
Change in Control by virtue of any of the following acquisitions: (A) by
Dendrite or any subsidiary, (B) by any employee benefit plan sponsored or
maintained by Dendrite or any subsidiary, 
(C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an
offering of such securities, (D) pursuant to a Non-Control Transaction (as
defined in paragraph (iii)), or (E) a transaction (other than one described in
(iii) below) in which Dendrite Voting Securities are acquired from Dendrite, if
a majority of the Incumbent Board (as defined below) approves a resolution
providing expressly that the acquisition pursuant to this clause (E) does not
constitute a Change in Control under this paragraph (i);


 


(ii)
individuals who, on the effective date of this Agreement, constitute the Board
(the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the
Effective Date, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a
vote of at least two-thirds of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board
(either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of Dendrite in
which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such
nomination) shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board; provided,
however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of
Dendrite as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect
to directors


 


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or any other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any
person other than the Board shall be deemed to be a member of the Incumbent
Board;


 


(iii)
the shareholders of Dendrite approve a merger, consolidation, share exchange or
similar form of corporate reorganization of Dendrite or any such type of
transaction involving Dendrite or any of its subsidiaries (whether for such
transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction or otherwise) (a “Business
Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) more
than 50% of the total voting power of the publicly traded corporation resulting
from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, any corporation
which directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of Dendrite
Voting Securities or all or substantially all of the assets of Dendrite and its
subsidiaries) eligible to elect directors of such corporation would be
represented by shares that were Dendrite Voting Securities immediately prior to
such Business Combination (either by remaining outstanding or being converted),
and such voting power would be in substantially the same proportion as the
voting power of such Dendrite Voting Securities immediately prior to the
Business Combination, (B) no person (other than any publicly traded holding
company resulting from such Business Combination, any employee benefit plan
sponsored or maintained by Dendrite (or the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination), or any person which beneficially owned, immediately
prior to such Business Combination, directly or indirectly, 33-1/3% or more of
Dendrite Voting Securities (a “Dendrite 33-1/3%          Stockholder”)) would become the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 33-1/3% or more of the total
voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors
of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination and no Dendrite
33-1/3% Stockholder would increase its percentage of such total voting power,
and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
corporation resulting from such Business Combination would be members of the
Incumbent Board at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the
initial agreement providing for such Business Combination (a “Non-Control
Transaction”); or


 


(iv)
the shareholders of Dendrite approve a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution of Dendrite or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all
of Dendrite’s assets.


 


Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of
Dendrite shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires
beneficial ownership of more than 33-1/3% of Dendrite Voting Securities as a
result of the acquisition of Dendrite Voting Securities by Dendrite which, by
reducing the number of Dendrite Voting Securities outstanding, increases the percentage
of shares beneficially owned by such person; provided, that if a Change in
Control of Dendrite would occur as a result of such an acquisition by Dendrite
(if not for the operation of this sentence), and after Dendrite’s acquisition
such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Dendrite Voting
Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Dendrite Voting
Securities beneficially owned by such person, then a Change in Control of
Dendrite shall occur.


 


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27.                               SEVERANCE
FOLLOWING TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING A “CHANGE IN CONTROL” “WITHOUT
CAUSE” OR FOR “GOOD REASON”


 


(a)           The following severance payment only
applies in the event of a Change in Control. 
If Employee’s employment hereunder is terminated within one (1) year
following a Change in Control (i) by Dendrite for any reason other than death,
Cause, or Disability (each as defined below) or (ii) by Employee for Good
Reason (as defined below), the Employee shall be entitled to receive severance
payments in an aggregate amount equal to the sum of twelve (12) months base
salary (calculated at the rate of base salary then being paid to Employee as of
the date of termination).  The severance
payments to be paid to Employee under this Section shall be referred to herein
as the “Change in Control Severance Payment”. 
Employee’s Change In Control Severance Payment shall be paid by Dendrite
in cash in twelve (12) consecutive equal monthly payments commencing not later
than thirty (30) days after the effective date of the termination of Employee’s
employment.  No interest shall accrue or
be payable on or with respect to any Change in Control Severance Payment.  In the event of a termination of Employee’s
employment described in this Section, Employee shall be provided continued “COBRA”
coverage pursuant to Sections 601 et seq. of ERISA under Dendrite’s group
medical and dental plans.  During the
period which Employee receives the Change in Control Severance Payment,
Employee’s cost of COBRA coverage shall be the same as the amount paid by
employees of Dendrite for the same coverage under Dendrite’s group health and
dental plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Employee becomes
re-employed with another employer and becomes eligible to receive health
coverage from such employer, the payment of COBRA coverage by Dendrite as
described herein shall cease.  In the
event Employee is entitled to the Change in Control Severance Payment as set
forth in this Section, Employee shall not be entitled to any other severance
payments from Dendrite.


 


(b)           The making of any Change in Control
Severance Payment under this Section is conditioned upon the signing of a
general release in form and substance satisfactory to Dendrite under which
Employee releases Dendrite and its affiliates together with their respective
officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and successors and assigns
from any and all claims he or she may have against them.  In the event Employee breaches any of the
covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, in addition to any other
remedies at law or in equity, Dendrite may cease making any Change in Control
Severance Payment otherwise due under this Section.  Nothing herein shall affect any of Employee’s
obligations or Dendrite’s rights under this Agreement.


 


(c)           For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause”
as used herein shall mean (i) any gross misconduct on the part of Employee with
respect to his duties under this Agreement, (ii) the engaging by Employee in an
indictable offense which relates to Employee’s duties under this Agreement or
which is likely to have a material adverse effect on the business of Dendrite,
(iii) the commission by Employee of any willful or intentional act which
injures in any material respect or could reasonably be expected to injure in
any material respect the reputation, business or business relationships of
Dendrite, including without limitation, a breach of any of his covenants or
agreements of this Agreement, or (iv) the engaging by Employee through gross


 


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negligence in conduct which injures materially or could reasonably be
expected to injure materially the business or reputation of Dendrite.


 


(d)           For purposes of this Agreement, “Good
Reason” as used herein shall mean, without Employee’s express written consent,
concurrently with or within one (1) year following a “Change in Control” (as
defined above), the occurrence of any of the following events which is not
corrected within ten (10) days following notice of such event given by Employee
to Dendrite:


 


(i)            the assignment to Employee of any duties
or responsibilities materially and adversely inconsistent with Employee’s
position (including any material diminution of such duties or responsibilities)
or a material and adverse change in Employee’s reporting responsibilities,
titles or offices with Dendrite;


 


(ii)           any material breach by Dendrite of this
Agreement with respect to the making of any compensation payments;


 


(iii)          any requirement of Dendrite that Employee
be based anywhere other than in a thirty-five (35) mile radius of the Dendrite
office Employee is based in on the date of consummation of the Change in
Control;


 


(iv)          the failure of Dendrite to continue in
effect any employee benefit plan, compensation plan, welfare benefit plan or
fringe benefit plan (such plans being referred to herein as “Welfare Plans”) in
which Employee is participating as of the effective date of this Agreement (or
as such benefits and compensation may be increased from time to time), or the
taking of any action by Dendrite which would materially and adversely affect
Employee’s participation in or materially reduce Employee’s benefits under such
Welfare Plans (other than an across-the-board reduction of such benefits affecting
senior executives of Dendrite) unless (i) Employee is permitted to participate
in other plans providing Employee with substantially comparable benefits (at
substantially comparable cost with respect to the Welfare Plans), (ii) any such
Welfare Plan does not provide material benefits to Employee (determined in
relation to Employee’s compensation and benefits package), (iii) such failure
or action is taken at the direction of Employee or with his consent, or (iv)
such failure or action is required by law; or


 


(v)           the failure of Dendrite to obtain an
agreement from a successor employer to assume Dendrite’s obligations under this
Agreement in the event of a “Change in Control”.


 


Employee
must notify Dendrite of any event constituting Good Reason within ninety (90)
days following Employee’s knowledge of its existence, it being understood that
Employee’s failure to do so shall deem such event not to constitute Good Reason
under this Agreement.


 


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(e)           For purposes of this Agreement, “Disabled”
as used herein shall have the same meaning as that term, or such substantially
equivalent term, has in any group disability policy carried by Dendrite.  If no such policy exists, the term “Disabled”
shall mean the occurrence of any physical or mental condition which materially
interferes with the performance of Employee’s customary duties in his capacity
as an employee where such disability has been in effect for a consecutive six
(6) month period (excluding permitted vacation time), the existence of which is
supported by credible medical evidence.


 


2.             Except as expressly
modified by this Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect.


 


IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed this Amendment as of
the first date written above.


 


 


	
   

  	
  DENDRITE
  INTERNATIONAL, INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  CHRISTINE A. PELLIZZARI

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name: Christine A.
  Pellizzari

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title: 

  	
  Senior Vice President,
  General Counsel

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  and Secretary

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  NATASHA GIORDANO

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Natasha Giordano

  
					



 


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