Document:

EXHIBIT 10.3

 

Exhibit 10.3

Dear             :

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“ML & Co.”) considers it essential to the best interests of its
stockholders to foster the continuous employment of key management personnel. Further, the Board
of Directors of ML & Co. (the “Board”) recognizes that the possibility of a change in control
exists, and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions that it may raise among
management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of
ML & Co. and its stockholders.

The Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the
continued attention and dedication of members of the management of ML & Co. and its subsidiaries
(the “Company”), including yourself, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of
potentially disturbing circumstances arising from any possible change in control of ML & Co.

In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Company, ML & Co. agrees that you shall
receive the severance benefits set forth in this letter agreement (this “Agreement”) in the event
your employment with the Company is terminated subsequent to a Change in Control (as defined in
Section 2 hereof) under the circumstances described below.

1.     Term of Agreement. The term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall commence on the
date hereof and shall continue in effect through                ; provided, however, that
commencing on                 and each                 hereafter, the original Term of this Agreement shall
automatically be extended for one additional year unless, not later than                of the preceding
year, ML & Co. shall have given notice that it does not wish to extend the Term. Notwithstanding
any such notice by ML & Co. not to extend the Term, if a Change in Control shall have occurred
during the original or extended Term, the Term shall continue in effect for a period of            (     )
months beyond the Term in effect immediately before such Change in Control.

2.     Change in Control. No benefits shall be payable hereunder unless there shall have
been a Change in Control, as set forth below. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in
Control” shall mean a change in control of ML & Co. of a nature that would be required to be
reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated

 

 

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),whether or not ML & Co.
is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided that, without limitation, a
Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if:

(A)     any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity, or any syndicate or group deemed to be a person under Section
14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of ML
& Co. representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of ML & Co.’s then outstanding
securities entitled to vote in the election of directors of ML & Co.;

(B)     during any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the
execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board
and any new directors, whose election by the Board or nomination for election by ML & Co.’s
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least three quarters (3/4) of the directors then still in
office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

(C)     all or substantially all of the assets of ML & Co. are liquidated or distributed.

If ML & Co. executes an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of
a Change in Control as described above, then, with respect to a termination of employment, unless
such termination is because of your death or Retirement, by the Company for Cause or Disability, or
by you other than for Good Reason, occurring after the execution of such agreement (and, if such
agreement expires or is terminated prior to consummation, prior to such expiration or termination
of such agreement), a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred as of the date of the
execution of such agreement.

3.     Termination Following Change in Control. If any of the events described in Section
2 hereof constituting a Change in Control shall have occurred, you shall be entitled to the
benefits provided in Subsection 4(D) hereof upon the subsequent termination of your employment
during the Term unless such termination is due to your death, Disability, or Retirement, by the
Company for Cause, or by you other than for Good Reason.

(A)     Disability. You shall be deemed to have incurred a “Disability” upon a
determination by the insurance carrier then responsible for long-term disability payments that you
are eligible for such payments (which determination shall require that you have been absent from
the full-time performance of your duties with the Company for six (6) consecutive months). Any
question as to the existence of your Disability upon which you and the carrier cannot agree shall
be determined by a qualified independent physician selected by you (or, if you are unable to make
such selection, by any adult member of your immediate family) and

 

 

approved by the carrier. The determination of such physician made in writing to the carrier and to
you shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.

(B)     Retirement. Termination of your employment based on “Retirement” shall mean your
voluntary termination of employment on or after your fifty-fifth (55th) birthday and your
completion of ten (10) or more years of service.

(C)     Cause. Termination by the Company of your employment for “Cause” shall mean
termination upon (i) the willful and continued failure by you substantially to perform your duties
with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your incapacity due to physical or
mental illness or from your Retirement or any such actual or anticipated failure resulting from
termination by you for Good Reason) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered
to you by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes
that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in
conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. For
purposes of this Subsection, no act or failure to act on your part shall be deemed “willful” unless
done, or omitted to be done, by you not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your
action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you
shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been
delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three
quarters (3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for
such purpose (after reasonable notice to you and an opportunity for you, together with your
counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board you
were guilty of conduct set forth above in clause (i) or (ii) of the first sentence of this
subsection and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

(D)     Good Reason. You shall be entitled to terminate your employment for Good Reason.
For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, without your express written consent, any
of the following:

(i)     Inconsistent Duties. A meaningful and detrimental alteration in
your position or in the nature or status of your responsibilities (including those
as a director of ML & Co., if any) from those in effect immediately prior to the
Change in Control;

(ii)     Reduced Salary or Bonus Opportunity. A reduction by the Company
in your annual base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time; a failure by the Company to increase your salary at a
rate commensurate with that of other key executives of the Company; or a reduction
in your annual bonus below the greater of (a) the annual bonus which you received,
or to which you were entitled, immediately prior to the Change in Control, or (b)
the average annual bonus paid to you by the Company for the three years preceding
the year in which the Change in Control occurs.

(iii)     Relocation. The relocation of the office of the Company where
you are employed at the time of the Change in Control (the “CIC Location”) to a
location which in your good faith assessment is an area not generally considered
conducive to maintaining the executive offices of a company such as ML & Co.

 

 

because of hazardous or undesirable conditions including without limitation a high
crime rate or inadequate facilities, or to a location which is more that fifty (50)
miles away from the CIC Location or the Company’s requiring you to be based more
than fifty (50) miles away from the CIC Location (except for required travel on the
Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with your customary
business travel obligations in the ordinary course of business prior to the Change
in Control);

(iv)     Compensation Plans. The failure by the Company to continue in
effect any compensation plan in which you participate, including but not limited to
the Company’s retirement program, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1978 Incentive
Equity Purchase Plan, Equity Capital Accumulation Plan, Canadian Capital
Accumulation Plan, Management Capital Accumulation Plan, Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan, limited partnership offerings, cash incentive compensation or any
other plans adopted and in effect prior to the Change in Control, unless an
equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has
been made with respect to such plan in connection with the Change in Control, or the
failure by the Company to continue your participation therein on at least as
favorable a basis, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the level of
your participation relative to other participants, as existed at the time of the
Change in Control;

(v)     Benefits and Perquisites. The failure by the Company to continue
to provide you with benefits at least as favorable as those enjoyed by you under any
of the Company’s retirement, life insurance, medical, health and accident,
disability or savings plans in which you were participating at the time of the
Change in Control; the taking of any action by the Company that would directly or
indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive you of any material
perquisite enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control including without
limitation, the use of a car, secretary, office space, telephones, expense
reimbursement and club dues; or the failure by the Company to provide you with the
number of paid vacation days to which you are entitled on the basis of years of
service with the Company in accordance with the Company’s normal vacation policy in
effect at the time of the Change in Control;

(vi)     No Assumption by Successor. The failure of ML & Co. to obtain a
satisfactory agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement, as contemplated in Section 5 hereof or, if the business of the Company
for which your services are principally performed is sold at any time

 

 

after a Change in Control, the purchaser of such business shall fail to agree to
provide you with the same or a comparable position, duties, compensation and
benefits (as described in subsections (iv) and (v) above) as provided to you by the
Company immediately prior to the Change in Control; or

(vii)     No Notice. Any purported termination of your employment which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of
Subsection (E) below (and, if applicable, the requirements of Subsection (C) above);
for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.

(E)     Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of your employment by the
Company or by you (other than for reasons of death, Disability, or Retirement) shall be
communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section
6 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth
in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of your
employment under the provision so indicated.

(F)     Date of Termination, Etc. “Date of Termination” shall mean (i) if your employment
is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given (provided
that you shall not have returned to the full-time performance of your duties during such thirty
(30) day period), and (ii) if your employment is terminated pursuant to Subsection (C) or (D) above
or for any other reason (other than Disability), the date specified in the Notice of Termination
(which, in the case of a termination pursuant to Subsection (C) above shall not be less than thirty
(30) days, and in the case of a termination pursuant to Subsection (D) above shall not be less than
thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given);
provided that if within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is given the party
receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the
termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined,
either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final
judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (which is not appealable or the time
for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected); provided
further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if such
notice is given in good faith and the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such
dispute with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, the Company
will continue to pay you your full compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the
dispute was given and continue you as a participant in all compensation, benefit, and insurance
plans and perquisites in which you were participating when the notice giving rise to the dispute
was given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this Subsection. Amounts paid
under this Subsection are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and shall not
be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.

 

 

4.     Compensation Upon Termination or During Disability. Following a Change in Control
upon termination of your employment or during Disability during the Term, ML & Co. shall cause
there to be provided to you the following benefits:

(A)     Disability. Upon your Disability, your benefits shall be determined in accordance
with the Company’s standard benefit and retirement programs and compensation plans then in effect
including those listed in Subsection 3(D)(iv) hereof.

(B)     Termination for Other than Good Reason or for Cause. If your employment shall be
terminated by the Company for Cause or by you other than for Good Reason, death or Retirement, ML &
Co. shall pay you your full base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at
the time Notice of Termination is given and any amounts to be paid to you pursuant to the Company’s
standard benefit and retirement programs and compensation plans then in effect, including those
listed in Subsection 3(D)(iv), and ML & Co. shall have no further obligations to you under this
Agreement.

(C)     your employment shall be terminated for Retirement, or by
reason of your death, your benefits shall be determined in accordance with the Company’s standard
benefit and retirement programs and compensation plans then in effect including those listed in
Subsection 3(D)(iv).

(D)     Termination for Other Reasons. If your employment by the Company shall be
terminated, unless such termination is because of your death, Disability, or Retirement, by the
Company for Cause, or by you other than for Good Reason, then you shall be entitled to the benefits
provided below:

(i)     Base Salary. ML & Co. shall pay you your full base salary through
the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time the Notice of Termination
is given;

(ii)     Severance Payment. In lieu of any further salary payments to you
for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, ML & Co. shall pay as severance
to you, not later than the fifth (5th) day following the Date of Termination, a lump
sum severance payment (the “Severance Payment”) equal to the lesser of (I) 2.99
times the average of the annual compensation (“Average Annual Compensation”) which
was payable to you by the Company (or any corporation (“Affiliate”) affiliated with
the Company within the meaning of section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the “Code”), determined without regard to section 1504(b) of the Code)
and includible in your gross income for Federal income tax purposes (or, in the
event that you are not subject to U.S. Federal Income tax, the amount that would
have been included in your gross income had you been subject to U.S. Federal Income
Tax) for the five (5) taxable years (the “Base Period”) preceding your taxable year
in which a Change in Control of ML & Co. occurred or (II) 2.99 times the average of
the annual salary which was payable to you by the Company (or an Affiliate) during
the Base Period and the annual bonus (the “Bonus”) which was payable to you by the
Company (or an Affiliate) with respect to performance during the Base Period. For
purposes of clause (I) of the first sentence of this Section 4(D)(ii), the amount of
your Average

 

 

Annual Compensation shall be determined in accordance with temporary or final
regulations promulgated under section 280G(d) of the Code. Unless a different
method of calculating your Average Annual Compensation is prescribed by such
regulations, if you were not employed by the Company (or an Affiliate) during the
entire Base Period, your Average Annual Compensation shall be the lesser of (a) the
average of your annual compensation for the complete taxable years during the Base
Period during which you were employed by the Company or (b) the average of your
annual compensation for both complete and partial taxable years during the Base
Period during which you were so employed, determined by annualizing any compensation
(other than nonrecurring items) includible in your gross income for any partial
taxable year or (c) the annual average of your total compensation for the Base
Period during which you were so employed, determined by dividing such total
compensation by the number of whole and fractional taxable years included in the
Base Period. In computing your Average Annual Compensation, compensation payable to
you by the Company (or an Affiliate) shall include every type and form of
compensation includible in your gross income in respect of your employment by the
Company (or an Affiliate), including compensation income recognized as a result of
your exercise of stock options or sale of the stock so acquired, except to the
extent otherwise provided in temporary or final regulations promulgated under
section 280G(d) of the Code. For purposes of clause (II) of the first sentence of
this Section 4(D)(ii), Bonus shall include (a) any annual cash bonus awarded under
the Company’s Variable Incentive Compensation Program or any similar or successor
program thereto (including any amounts of cash bonus awarded with respect to
performance during the Base Period but deferred for payment in subsequent years) and
(b) the grant value (calculated for a particular grant as specified in the record of
such grant filed with the minutes of the meetings of the Management Development and
Compensation Committee, or any successor committee thereto, of the Merrill Lynch &
Co., Inc. Board of Directors) of any annual award of restricted stock, restricted
units, stock options or any other non-cash bonus compensation awarded with respect
to performance during the Base Period under the Equity Capital Appreciation Plan,
the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan or any similar or successor plans thereto.
In the event that any portion of your compensation is not subject to U.S. Federal
Income Tax during the Base Period, all such compensation shall be deemed to be
subject to U.S. Federal Income tax for the purpose of making the calculations set
forth in this Section 4(d(ii).

(iii)     Legal Fees and Expenses. ML & Co. shall also pay to you all
legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of such termination (including
all such fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing

 

 

any such termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit
provided by this Agreement).

(iv)     Supplemental Retirement Benefits. In addition to the benefits to
which you are entitled under any pension plan or any annuity payable pursuant to the
termination of any pension plan or any payment due under any 401(k) savings, pension
or retirement program, ML & Co. shall pay you, not later than the fifth (5th) day
following the Date of Termination, a cash amount equal to the retirement
contribution that you would have been eligible to receive from the Company under the
terms of the ML & Co. retirement program, consisting of the Retirement Accumulation
Plan, the Employee Stock Ownership Plan and any applicable company contributions to
the 401(k) Savings & Investment Plan or other similar plan (without regard to any
amendment to such retirement program made subsequent to the Change in Control and on
or prior to the Date of Termination, which amendment adversely affects in any manner
the computation of retirement benefits thereunder), or any successor program or plan
that may be in effect at the time of the Change in Control, determined as if you
were fully vested thereunder and has continued (after the Date of Termination) to be
employed for an additional twenty-four (24) months at your highest annual rate of
compensation during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the Date of
Termination for purposes of determining your basic contributions and any applicable
supplemental contributions. In addition to the payment made by ML & Co. pursuant to
the foregoing sentence, ML & Co. shall pay you an amount sufficient to cover the
income taxes, if any, that accrue solely by virtue of your receipt of such payment.

(v)     Other Benefits. ML & Co. will pay you, not later than the fifth
(5th) day following the Date of Termination, a lump sum in lieu of continued
benefits, as follows:

Medical

24 times the monthly cost to an employee of coverage for medical
insurance pursuant to the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”) whether or
not you are eligible for COBRA benefits. You may elect COBRA
coverage, if then available, for a period of 18 months following the
Date of Termination and, if then available, elect to convert to an
individual policy, if these elections are made within the appropriate
time frames. In the event you are not eligible under the provisions
of COBRA, you will receive 24 times the monthly cost to ML & Co. or
its relevant affiliate of coverage for medical insurance for you and
your dependents under the ML & Co. policy, and you may elect and
apply such amount to the premiums required for you to remain a
participant in such policy, if permitted in accordance with its
terms.

 

 

Life Insurance

Two times the annual cost to convert your basic non-contributory
Merrill Lynch Group Insurance to a one year term policy. No payment
shall be made to replace supplemental contributory coverage.

Disability Insurance

Six times the dollar amount accrued annually by ML & Co. for your
basic long-term disability insurance plus four times your current
annual premium for coverage under ML & Co.’s supplemental long-term
disability program.

Business Travel Accident, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Two times your current annual premium for coverage under ML & Co.’s
Business Travel Accident and Accidental Death and Dismemberment
insurance.

Any calculations required to be made under this Section 4(D)(v) shall be made by the
Company in a fair and equitable manner that the Company, in its sole discretion, may
select. In addition to the payments made by ML & Co. pursuant to this Section
4(D)(v), ML & Co. shall pay you an amount sufficient to cover the income taxes, if
any, that accrue solely by virtue of your receipt of such payments (except for any
payment with respect to life insurance benefits that would have been taxable under
Section 79 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if you had remained an
employee of ML & Co.).

(vi)     Employee Benefit Plans. You shall be entitled to receive all
benefits payable to you under the Company’s standard benefit and retirement programs
and compensation plans not otherwise specifically provided for in Subsection 4(D),
including those listed in Subsection 3(D)(iv).

(E)     No Mitigation. You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment
provided for in this Section 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of
any payment of benefit provided for in this Section 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you
as the result of employment by another employer or by any retirement benefits received after the
Date of Termination.

(F)     Reduction of Payments In Certain Cases. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, if any amounts due to you under this Agreement and any other plan or program of ML & Co.
constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), and the amount of
the parachute payment, reduced by all federal, state and local taxes applicable thereto, including
the excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code, is less than the amount you would
receive if you were paid three times your “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the
Code), less $1.00, reduced by all federal, state and local taxes applicable thereto, then the
aggregate of the amounts constituting the

 

 

parachute payment shall be reduced to an amount that will equal three times your base amount less
$1.00. The provisions of this Section 4(F) shall be applied to you and any amounts received or to
be received by you as if all such amounts were subject to U.S. Federal Income taxes, including
Section 280G of the Code. The determinations to be made with respect to this subsection 4(F) shall
be made by an accounting firm (the “Auditor”) jointly selected by ML & Co. and you and paid by ML &
Co. The Auditor shall be a nationally recognized United States public accounting firm that has not
during the two years preceding the date of its selection acted, in any way, on behalf of ML & Co.
or any of its subsidiaries. If you and ML & Co. cannot agree on the firm to serve as the Auditor,
then you and ML & Co. shall each select one accounting firm and these two firms shall jointly
select the accounting firm to serve as the Auditor. If a determination is made by the Auditor that
a reduction in the aggregate of all payments due to you upon a Change in Control is required by
this subsection 4(F), you shall have the right to specify the portion of such reduction, if any,
that will be made under this Agreement and each plan or program of ML & Co. If you do not so
specify within sixty (60) days following the date of a determination by the Auditor pursuant to the
preceding sentence, ML & Co. shall determine, in its sole discretion, the portion of such
reduction, if any, to be made under this Agreement and each plan or program of ML & Co.

5.     Successors; Binding Agreement. (A) Assumption By Successor. ML & Co.
will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchaser, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of ML & Co. to expressly
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that ML & Co.
would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of ML & Co. to
obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a
breach of this Agreement and shall entitle you to compensation from ML & Co. in the same amount and
on the same terms as you would be entitled hereunder if you had terminated your employment for Good
Reason following a Change in Control, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the
date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination. As
used in this Agreement, “ML & Co.” shall mean ML & Co. as hereinbefore defined and any successor to
its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise.

(B)     Enforceability By Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors,
heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If you should die while any amount would still be
payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided
herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or
other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your estate.

6.     Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the                     , Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.,                     ,
with a copy to the                     ., or to you at the address set forth on the first page of this
Agreement or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

 

7.     Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing. No waiver by
either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a
waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent
time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the
subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not expressly set forth in this
Agreement and this Agreement shall supersede all prior agreements, negotiations, correspondence,
undertakings and communications of the parties, oral or written, with respect to the subject matter
hereof. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be
governed by the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts entered into and performed in
such State.

8.     Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision 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.

9.     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same
instrument.

10.   Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in New York 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 you shall be
entitled to seek specific performance of your right to be paid until the Date of Termination during
the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

 

11.   No Contract of Employment. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as giving
you any right to be retained in the employ of the Company.

12.   Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are intended solely for
convenience and shall not affect the rights of the parties to this Agreement.

If this letter sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof, kindly sign and return
to ML & Co. the enclosed copy of this letter which will then constitute our agreement on this
subject.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Sincerely,
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By	 	 
	

	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Agreed to as of the            day of           ,<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10 (h)

                               JOHNSON & JOHNSON
                         DEFERRED FEE PLAN FOR DIRECTORS

                        (Amended as of February 14, 2005)

      1. Purpose. The purpose of the Johnson & Johnson Deferred Fee Plan for
Directors (the "Plan") is to provide outside Directors of Johnson & Johnson (the
"Company") the opportunity to defer receipt of compensation earned as a Director
to a date following termination of such service. The provision of such an
opportunity is designed to aid the Company in attracting and retaining as
members of its Board of Directors persons whose abilities, experience and
judgment can contribute to the well being of the Company.

      2. Effective Date. The original effective date of the Plan was January 1,
1983. The Plan was amended in its entirety, effective as of January 1, 1995 and
again as of December 5, 1996.

      3. Eligibility. Any Director of the Company who is not also an Employee of
the Company or any related company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

      4. Deferred Compensation Account. A deferred compensation account shall be
established for each Director.

      5. Amount of Deferral. Each participant (effective retroactive to January
1, 2005) may elect to defer receipt of all or a specified part of any cash
compensation payable to the participant for serving on the Board of Directors or
for serving on committees of the Board of Directors of the Company. An amount
equal to all deferred compensation will be credited to the participant's
deferred compensation account on a quarterly basis as of the dividend payment
date in each quarter (the "Payment Date"). In the event that there shall not be
a dividend payment date in any quarter, then the Payment Date shall be deemed to
be the last business day of such quarter.

      6. Deferred Compensation Account - Hypothetical Investment Options.

            (a) Unless otherwise specified by the participant pursuant to the
terms of paragraph (b) of this Section 6, all amounts elected to be deferred
under this Plan for any calendar year ("Deferrals") shall be credited to the
participant's deferred compensation account, converted into equivalent units of
Johnson & Johnson Common Stock ("Company Stock") and adjusted as if the
compensation deferred had been invested in Company Stock as of the Payment Date,
until the date of final payment pursuant to Section 9 hereof ("Company Stock
Equivalent Units"). The number of Company Stock Equivalent Units shall be
determined by dividing the amount of compensation payable by the average of the
high and low price of the Company Stock as traded on the New York Stock Exchange
on the trading day immediately prior to the Payment Date, as reported by
Bloomberg (or another financial reporting service selected by the Company in its
sole discretion). The number of Company Stock Equivalent Units included in a
participant's deferred compensation account shall be adjusted to reflect
dividends and the value of such account shall be adjusted to reflect increases
or decreases in market value which would have resulted had funds equal to the
balance of the participant's deferred compensation account been invested in
Company Stock. Nothing herein obligates the

<PAGE>

Company to purchase any such Company Stock; and if such Company Stock is
purchased, it shall remain the sole property of the Company.

            (b) At the election of each participant, to be made as provided for
in Section 7, each deferred compensation account will be credited with interest
from the Payment Date, until the date of final payment pursuant to Section 9
hereof, at a rate equal to the annual rate of growth of investment in the
Johnson & Johnson Certificate of Extra Compensation Plan (the "CEC Plan"), for
the prior year provided, however, that the computation of said growth rate shall
not include dividend equivalents paid under the CEC Plan. The election permitted
under this Section 6(b) shall not be available to any participant who becomes a
participant in the Plan after December 31, 1995.

            (c) With respect to Company Stock Equivalent Units in a deferred
compensation account, the Company shall credit such account on each dividend
payment date declared with respect to the Company's Stock, a number of Company
Stock Equivalent Units equal to: (i) the product of (y) the dividend per share
of the Company's Stock which is payable as of the dividend payment date,
multiplied by (z) the number of Company Stock Equivalent Units credited to such
account as of the applicable dividend record date, divided by (ii) the average
of the high and low price of the Company Stock as traded on the New York Stock
Exchange on the trading day immediately prior to the dividend payment date, as
reported by Bloomberg (or another financial reporting service selected by the
Company in its sole discretion). Fractional Company Stock Equivalent Units shall
be carried forward and fractional dividend equivalent units shall be payable
thereon.

            (d) All account balances in Company Stock Equivalent Units from the
Company's Retirement Plan for Nonemployee Directors which have been transferred
to his/her deferred compensation account under this Plan, as of January 1, 1995,
by reason of the termination of such Retirement Plan, shall be treated for
purposes of this Plan as Deferrals.

      7. Time of Election of Deferral. A participant may change (i) the amount
of compensation deferred and/or (ii) the option elected under Section 6 with
respect to his/her account and deferrals for subsequent years, once annually in
December by completing forms provided by the Company for that purpose. Any such
change shall become effective on January 1 of the following year. If a
participant elects to change his/her investment option available under Section
6, the participant's account shall be valued as of December 31 with that value
being entered into his/her account under the new investment option as of the
following January 1 (except if such change is to Company Stock Equivalent Units,
the first trading day following such January 1 shall be used).

      8. Value of Deferred Compensation Account. The value of each participant's
deferred compensation account shall, as the case may be, include compensation
deferred, interest credited thereon, if any, and any adjustments for dividends,
and increases or decreases in the market value of Company Stock, pursuant to the
option selected under Section 6 or as otherwise required under the Plan. If the
Company Stock does not trade on any date a calculation of Common Stock
Equivalent Units is to be made under the Plan, the next preceding date on which
such stock was traded shall be utilized.

      9. Payment of Deferred Compensation. Upon a participant's completion of
service as a member of the Board of Directors (the "Completion Date"), each
participant (or in the event of the participant's death, the named beneficiary
or his/her estate) shall be entitled to receive in cash in a lump sum the value
of his/her deferred compensation

<PAGE>

account as of the Completion Date, unless such participant has elected, pursuant
to the provisions of Section 10 below, to further defer payment of his/her
deferred compensation account beyond such Completion Date. Company Stock
Equivalent Units shall be valued at the average of the high and low price of the
Company's Stock as traded on the New York Stock Exchange on the trading day
immediately prior to such date, as reported by Bloomberg (or another financial
reporting service selected by the Company in its sole discretion). No withdrawal
may be made from the participant's deferred compensation account prior to the
Completion Date. The value of a participant's deferred compensation account
shall, subject to any further election made pursuant to Section 10 below, be
paid as soon as practicable following the Completion Date or death.

      10. Further Deferral Election. In addition to the deferral elections
referred to above, a participant may also elect (in the manner provided for
below) to continue to defer the receipt of his/her deferred compensation account
beyond his/her Completion Date. The value of a participant's account on his/her
Completion Date may be deferred for up to 10 taxable years following such
Completion Date. If installments are elected, the first installment payment may
be made immediately at the Completion Date or be deferred for up to 10 taxable
years. Installment payments will be made annually (in the manner described
below) in approximately equal amounts (i.e. the balance of the account). The
minimum number of installments is two and the maximum number is 10 provided,
however, that all payments shall be made within ten (10) years of the Completion
Date. A participant may elect to defer up to 100% of the value of his/her
account at the Completion Date; or any percentage increment less than that. All
deferred or installment payments shall be made in cash. The following additional
rules shall apply:

      a) Immediate Lump Sum Payment. The participant will receive the full value
of his/her account in the calendar month of his/her Completion Date.

      b) Deferred Lump Sum Payment. The participant will receive the full value
of his/her account on or about January 15 of the year he/she elects to receive
payment in.

      c) Immediate Commencement of Installments. The participant will receive
the first installment in the calendar month of his/her Completion Date. All
subsequent installments on or about January 15 of each year.

      d) Deferred Commencement of Installments. The participant will receive the
first and all subsequent installments on or about January 15 of each year.

      e) In the event of death of a participant, the Company will make payment
in full of the balance of an account, as soon as administratively practical in a
single lump sum payment to the designated beneficiary or his/her estate.

      f) In making any payment due on or about January 15, the value of a
participant's account on the first trading day of such month shall be utilized.

      Any and all deferrals following a Completion Date shall be invested in
Company Stock Equivalent Units described in Section 6(a) above. To the extent a
participant's account was credited with the annual growth rate of an investment
in the CEC Plan (as described in Section 6(b) above), such account shall be
converted to Common Stock Equivalent units as of the Completion Date.

      An election by a participant to defer payment or elect installments of all
or a part of his/her deferred compensation account beyond the Completion Date
must be made a

<PAGE>

minimum of twelve (12) months prior to such Completion Date. Any such election
may be revised or revoked up to twelve (12) months prior to such Completion
Date; after such time any election may not be revoked or otherwise revised.

      Notwithstanding the above and upon implementation of the Plan, an
exception has been made for participants having a Completion Date during 1997.
For such participants, the deferral and or installment election must be made a
minimum of three (3) months and in the calendar year prior to the Completion
Date. For example, a participant having a Completion Date of April 1, 1997, must
make the deferral and/or installment election no later than December 31, 1996.
Any such election to defer and/or receive installment payments may only be
revised or revoked prior to the last permissible date for making such election.
After such time the election may not be revoked or otherwise revised.

      An election to defer payment and/or be paid in installments beyond a
Completion Date is effective only when filed with Extra Compensation Services on
the form utilized for such purposes. Any election made after the required
deadline shall be disregarded.

      11. Designation of Beneficiary. Each participant may, from time to time,
by writing filed with the Secretary of the Company, designate any legal or
natural person or persons (who may be designated contingently or successively)
to whom payments of a participant's deferred compensation account are to be made
if a participant dies prior to the receipt of payment of such account. A
beneficiary designation will be effective only if the signed form is filed with
the Secretary of the Company while the participant is alive and will cancel all
beneficiary designation forms filed earlier. If a participant fails to designate
a beneficiary as provided above, or if all designated beneficiaries die before
the participant or before complete payment of the deferred compensation account,
such account shall be paid to the estate of the last to die of the participant
and designated beneficiaries as soon as practicable after such death.

      12. Participant's Rights Unsecured. The right of any participant to
receive payment under the provisions of the Plan shall be an unsecured claim
against the general assets of the Company, and no provisions contained in the
Plan shall be construed to give any participant or beneficiary at any time a
security interest in any deferred compensation account or any other asset in
trust with the Company for the benefit of any participant or beneficiary.

      13. Statement of Account. A statement will be sent to participants as soon
as practical following the end of each year as to the value of his/her deferred
compensation account as of December 31 of such year.

      14. Assignability. No right to receive payments hereunder shall be
transferable or assignable by a participant or a beneficiary, except by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution.

      15. Administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by a
Committee appointed by and responsible to the Board of Directors. The Committee
shall consist of no less than three Directors of the Company. The Committee
shall act by vote or written consent of a majority of its members.

      16. Amendment or Termination of Plan. This Plan may at any time or from
time to time be amended, modified or terminated by the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors or the Board of Directors of the Company. No amendment,
modification or

<PAGE>

termination shall, without the consent of a participant, adversely affect such
participant's accruals in his deferred compensation accounts.

      17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the Laws of the State of New Jersey.

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