Document:

Exhibit 10.7(b)

 

VWR International, LLC

1310 Goshen Parkway

P.O. Box 2656

West Chester, Pennsylvania
19380

 

July 25, 2007

 

Ted Pulkownik

716 Silvermine Road

New Canaan, CT 06840

 

Dear Ted:

 

Reference is made to the Employment Letter dated June 29, 2007 (the
“Employment Letter”), between VWR International, LLC (the “Company”) and you. In
addition to the terms of your continuing employment set forth in the Employment
Letter, for so long as you continue to maintain your permanent residence
outside of a 100-mile radius of the Company’s corporate headquarters, you also
will be provided a housing allowance of $3,000 a month for housing within a
reasonable commuting distance of the Company’s corporate headquarters.

 

Except as specifically supplemented by this letter, the terms of your
employment shall be as set forth in the Employment Letter.

 

 

	
   

  	
  Sincerely,

  
	
   

  
	
   

  
	
   

  	
  John Ballbach

  
	
   

  
	
  Accepted and Agreed:

  
	
   

  
	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Ted Pulkownik

  
	
  Date:Exhibit 10.8

 

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

 

THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
(“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between VWR International, LLC (“VWR”),
and Charles F. Canfield (“Executive”) (VWR and Executive collectively referred
to as “the Parties”). Under this Agreement, VWR will provide Executive with
additional monetary benefits in return for Executive’s release of, and promise
not to sue on, any and all claims Executive may have against VWR arising out of
that employment, including any claims Executive might have under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq.

 

In consideration of the mutual promises
contained herein, and intending to be legally bound, VWR and Executive AGREE as
follows:

 

1.                                       Employment End Date. By mutual agreement, VWR’s employment
of Executive shall conclude permanently and irrevocably effective December 31,
2007 (“Employment End Date”).

 

2.                                       Responsibilities. Executive’s obligation to
work full-time (i.e., five full days per week) shall conclude upon the
Effective Date of this Agreement (as defined below). From the Effective Date
until September 31, 2007, Executive shall work on a reduced schedule of four
days per week. From October 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, Executive shall be
available to VWR as a consultant for up to a maximum of two days per week. During
all times prior to the Employment End Date, Executive shall perform such duties
as requested by VWR, so long as such duties are reasonably similar in type and
nature to the duties that Executive performed prior to the date of this
Agreement. VWR shall reimburse Executive for all business expenses incurred
prior to the Employment End Date in connection with the performance of the
duties requested by VWR, in accordance with VWR’s policies and procedures.

 

3.                                       Severance Payments. Conditioned upon Executive signing and not
revoking this Agreement within the time periods provided in Paragraphs 17 and
18 below, VWR shall (a) continue to pay Executive his current annual salary
until the earlier of (i) Executive’s voluntary resignation, (ii) termination by
VWR for Cause (as defined below), or (iii) the Employment End Date, and (b) at
the time and in the manner provided for in the 2007 VWR Management Incentive
Plan (the “Plan”), pay Executive the amount, if any, he would have earned under
the Plan had he remained a full-time employee through December 31, 2007, in
each case in accordance with VWR’s
regular payroll practices and as reduced by all payroll deductions required by
law and/or authorized by Executive. The amount of salary and incentive payment
paid to Executive in excess of prorated compensation for Executive’s reduced
responsibilities as set forth in Paragraph 2 above shall be referred to herein
as the “Severance Payments.”  The
Severance Payments and the opportunity for continued employment through the
Employment End Date shall constitute consideration for the releases and
covenants set forth herein. For purposes of this Agreement, Cause shall be
defined as the occurrence of any of the following events which, if susceptible
to cure, has not been cured within ten (10) days following delivery of written
notice by VWR: (i) material failure by the Executive, after notice thereof, to
perform satisfactorily his duties and responsibilities hereunder; (ii) gross
negligence, willful misconduct, dishonesty or breach of fiduciary duty to VWR;
(iii) the commission of an act of embezzlement 

 

 

of VWR’s funds or fraud committed in connection with the Executive’s
employment hereunder; (iv) material violation of VWR’s Code of Conduct; (v) the
material violation of other rules or policies of the VWR that results in a
material direct or indirect loss, damage or injury, monetarily or otherwise, to
VWR; (vi) conviction of or plea of nolo contendere
to a felony, the effect of which has a material adverse effect on VWR; or (vi)
the material breach of any provision of this Agreement.

 

4.                                       Good and Valuable Consideration. The
Severance Payments and opportunity for continued employment are in addition to
anything of value that Executive is entitled to receive from VWR and is good
and valuable consideration for this Agreement. Executive agrees to the terms
set forth in this Agreement in return for VWR’s promise to provide Executive
with the Severance Payments to which he would otherwise not be entitled.

 

5.                                       Sole Entitlement. Executive
acknowledges and agrees that, through the date he executes this Agreement, no
other wages, monies, or benefits are owing to him insofar as he has been paid
all compensation and benefits due and owing through that date.

 

6.                                       General Release. In consideration of the
Severance Payments, and of other good and valuable consideration the receipt of
which Executive hereby acknowledges, and intending to be legally bound, Executive
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases and forever discharges VWR and
any and all of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and related entities, and
each of its and their predecessors, successors, insurers, owners, stockholders,
directors, officers, Executives, attorneys, and other agents (collectively “Released
Parties”) of and from any and all complaints, promises, contracts,
controversies, suits, rights, interests, losses, debts, actions, claims,
demands, charges, obligations, causes of action, judgments, damages, penalties,
expenses, indemnities, and liabilities of any nature whatsoever (including
without limitation attorneys’ fees and costs), whether known or unknown,
suspected or unsuspected, anticipated or unanticipated, or whether or not
heretofore brought before any state or federal court or before any state or
federal agency or other governmental entity, which Executive has or may have
against any of the Released Parties, by reason of any and all acts, omissions,
events or facts occurring or existing prior to or on the date he signs this
Agreement, including, without limitation, all claims relating to or arising out
of his employment to date with VWR and/or the termination of that employment;
any and all claims arising under any contract of employment, whether express or
implied; any and all claims arising under any provision of the Constitution of
the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any other state; any and
all claims arising under any federal, state or other governmental statute,
regulation or ordinance, including without limitation the National Labor
Relations Act of 1947, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866, 1871, 1964, and 1991, the
Equal Pay Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 
the Bankruptcy Code, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Executive Retirement Income
Security Act, the False Claims Act, the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Act, and any other employee-protective law of any jurisdiction that may apply;
and any and all claims arising under any provision of any other law, common or
statutory, or other any other legal or equitable theory of recovery (“Released
Claims”). The Severance Payments are in lieu of and precludes Executive from
receiving any other severance payment or benefit from VWR.

 

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7.                                       ADEA Release. The
Severance Payments are also being given to Executive and hereby is also
accepted by Executive in full and final release and settlement of any and all
claims that Executive may have against the Released Parties under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act connected with Executive’s employment with VWR
or the termination of that employment, which arises on or before the date of
Executive’s acceptance of this Agreement as indicated below.

 

8.                                       Waiver and Relinquishment of Rights.  Executive acknowledges that he
may hereafter discover claims presently unknown or unsuspected, or facts in
addition to or different from those which he may now know or believe to be
true, with respect to the Released Claims. Nevertheless, Executive expressly
waives any and all claims that he may have against any of the Released Parties,
including any which are presently unknown, unsuspected, or unanticipated.

 

9.                                       No Right to Relief. Executive expressly
waives and shall have no claim or right to obtain or receive any money damages,
injunctive relief, or any other type or amount of relief not set forth in this
Agreement through any lawsuit, complaint, charge, action or proceeding
commenced or maintained in any court, agency, or other forum by him or by any
person or entity on his behalf with respect to the Released Claims.

 

10.                                 Promise Not To Sue On Released Claims. Executive warrants, covenants, and represents that he has not
heretofore assigned or transferred or purported to assign or transfer to any
person any Released Claim or any part or portion thereof, and agrees to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless VWR from and against any claim based on,
related to or arising out of any such assignment or transfer or purported or
claimed assignment or transfer. Executive also warrants, covenants, and
represents that, as of the date of this Agreement, neither he nor anyone acting
on his behalf has made or filed any lawsuit, complaint, charge, action or
proceeding against any of the Released Parties with any federal, state, or
local court agency or authority, or any other regulatory authority. Executive
further acknowledges that, except as may be prohibited by or unenforceable
under law, the Severance Payments are being given to Executive in return for
his promise not to initiate any court or judicial-type proceeding against the
Released Parties that involves any of the Released Claims, and Executive
further covenants not to initiate any such proceeding. However, nothing in this
Paragraph 10 shall be construed to prevent Executive from participating in an
investigation or proceeding conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission or the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Further, if any
provision of this Paragraph 10 subsequently shall be held by any court or
agency of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, such
provision shall be of no force and effect. The illegality or unenforceability
of any provision in this Paragraph 10 shall have no effect upon the remaining
provisions of this Agreement, and each remaining provision or portion thereof
shall continue to be valid and effective and shall be enforceable to the
fullest extent permitted by law.

 

11.                                 Representation Regarding FMLA. Executive
represents and warrants that VWR has never denied Executive the right to take leave
under the Family and Medical Leave Act and that VWR has never taken any adverse
action against Executive as a result of him requesting or taking any such
leave.

 

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12.                                 Consultation With An Attorney. Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to consult his
own attorney prior to entering into this Agreement and that he was afforded
sufficient time to undertake such consultation.

 

13.                                 Confidentiality. Executive acknowledges and
agrees that the terms of this Agreement are to remain STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and
that Executive will not discuss the terms of conditions of this Agreement with
any person except (a) for Executive’s immediate family and current or future
attorneys, accountants or tax advisors, each of whom shall agree before any
such disclosure to be bound by this confidentiality provision; or (b) as may be
required by law, rule or regulation adopted pursuant to law, court or
administrative order or decree, in or in connection with testimony given or
documents subpoenaed in a judicial or administrative proceeding. Should
Executive be asked to produce this Agreement or to testify about it or divulge
any of its terms, Executive agrees to immediately give written notice to VWR as
provided in Paragraph 19 below and to join VWR in seeking a confidentiality or
protective order in the form sought by VWR.

 

14.                                 Confidential
Information. Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that he had access to
trade secrets and other proprietary, confidential information of VWR, its
affiliates, and its and their subsidiaries and customers, including information
about employees, developments, business plans, finances, costs, customers,
profits, markets, sales, products, services, strategies, decisions, plans,
marketing, computer systems, software programs, and other information all of
which Executive agrees is highly confidential, not generally known or available
to the public or in the public domain, derives independent economic value from
not being generally known or available to the public, and which is the subject
of reasonable efforts by VWR to maintain its confidentiality (hereinafter
referred to as “Confidential Information”). In recognition of the foregoing,
Executive covenants and agrees to keep secret all Confidential Information and
not to, directly or indirectly, disclose or disseminate any Confidential
Information to anyone or make use of any of it for any purpose whatsoever. The
term “Confidential Information” shall not include information that can be
demonstrated to be generally known in the industry or to the public other than
through breach of Executive’s obligations to VWR.

 

15.                                 VWR’s Property. On the earlier of (i)
Executive’s voluntary resignation, (ii) termination by VWR or (iii) the
Employment End Date, Executive agrees to immediately return and deliver to VWR
any and all of VWR’s property in his possession, custody, or control, including
without limitation all Confidential Information, credit cards, keys (office,
desk), equipment, files, records, notes, documents, memoranda, computer
diskettes/CDs, computer programs, catalogs, customer lists, and any other data
or information in any form whatever. Executive shall at the same time submit in
writing to VWR his computer and voice mail passwords. Executive further agrees
to cooperate with VWR in providing information about the status of current
projects.

 

16.                                 Non-Disparagement. Executive shall not
communicate or publish, directly or indirectly, any disparaging comments or
information about VWR or any of its current or former officers, directors,
managers, supervisors, employees, or representatives to any person, 

 

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corporation, partnership, or any other entity, including without
limitation, any VWR current or former employee, customer, or pending or
prospective customer. VWR shall not communicate or publish, directly or
indirectly, any disparaging comments or information about Executive to any
person, corporation, partnership, or any other entity.

 

17.                                 Period of Consideration. By signing below, Executive acknowledges that VWR complied with
the ADEA by giving him a period of at least twenty-one (21) days from the date
that this Agreement was first provided to Executive to consider this Agreement
and to decide whether to accept it. If Executive decides to accept the
Agreement sooner than twenty-one (21) days following its receipt, he hereby
agrees that he is waiving his right to consider this Agreement for the full
21-day period. Further, Executive acknowledges that no representative of VWR
ever stated or implied that he had less than twenty-one (21) days to consider
this Agreement. And, Executive acknowledges that his decision to accept this
Agreement in less than twenty-one (21) days was voluntary and knowing on his
part and was not induced by any fraud, misrepresentation, or threat to withdraw
or alter this Agreement prior to the expiration of the 21-day period.

 

18.                                 Right To Revocation. This Agreement will
not become effective or enforceable for a period of seven (7) days from the
date of Executive’s acceptance of the Agreement by signing below. During this
seven (7) day period, Executive has a right to change his decision to accept
the Severance Payments that has been offered to him and to revoke this
Agreement by delivering written notice of revocation to VWR at the address
specified in Paragraph 19 below before 5:00 p.m. (EST/EDT) on the seventh day
after signing the Agreement. During this seven day period, Executive will not
receive any monies or benefits to which he would be entitled solely as a result
of this Agreement.

 

19.                                 Effective Date. If Executive decides to
accept this agreement, he must deliver this Agreement bearing his original
signature within the time period provided in Paragraph 17 above to VWR at the
following address:

 

George Van Kula

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary

VWR International

1310 Goshen Parkway

West Chester, PA 19380

 

This Agreement shall become effective and enforceable on the eighth day
after Executive signs the Agreement (“Effective Date”), unless sooner revoked
pursuant to Paragraph 18 above. Any notice required to be sent to VWR pursuant
to Paragraph 13 above or any other provision in this Agreement shall be sent to
the above.

 

20.                                 Injunctive Relief. Executive acknowledges that money damages
will be an inadequate remedy in the event of a proven breach of any of his
covenants or obligations under
this Agreement, including without limitation those contained in
Paragraphs 13, 14, 15, and 16, and that any such breach will cause VWR great
and irreparable injury and damage. In the event VWR proves that Executive has
breached any of his covenants
or obligations under this 

 

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Agreement, VWR
shall be entitled, without waiving any rights or remedies otherwise available
to VWR at law or in equity, to preliminary and permanent injunctive and other
equitable relief.

 

21.                                 No Admission Of Wrongdoing. Neither the offering or acceptance of this Agreement is intended
or shall be construed as an admission that either Executive or any of the
Released Parties has violated any federal, state or local law or regulation or
has committed any wrong against any other party to this Agreement.

 

22.                                 No Representation Of Tax Consequences. Executive acknowledges and certifies that VWR has not made any
representations as to the tax consequences of this Agreement or the Severance
Payments.

 

23.                                 Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all
respects be interpreted, enforced, and governed under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without reference to the principles of conflicts
of law otherwise applicable therein.

 

24.                                 Entire Agreement and Modifications. This
Agreement, and any previous agreement or agreements between Executive and any
of the Released Parties regarding Confidential Information and/or containing
restrictive covenants, together set forth the entire agreement between the
Parties and fully supersedes any and all other prior or contemporaneous written
or oral contracts, agreements, or understandings between the Parties pertaining
to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be modified only by an
instrument in writing signed by an authorized representative of each of the
Parties.

 

25.                                 Agreement Not Assignable. This Agreement shall not be assignable by Executive without the
prior written consent of VWR.

 

26.                                 Negotiation. Executive
acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement has been negotiated by and between
parties of equal bargaining power and each has had the opportunity to contribute
to its drafting and to consult with the attorney of their choosing. It shall
not be construed in favor of or against either of the Parties. Accordingly, the
rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved
against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this
Agreement.

 

27.                                 Severability. If a court of competent
jurisdiction adjudicates any covenant or obligation under this Agreement to be
invalid, void or unenforceable, then the Parties intend that the court modify
such provision only to the extent necessary to render the covenant or
obligation enforceable as modified or, if the covenant or obligation cannot be
so modified, the Parties intend that the court sever such covenant or
obligation, and that the remainder of this Agreement, and all remaining
covenants, obligations and provisions as so modified, shall remain valid,
enforceable, and in full force and effect.

 

28.                                 Further Assurances. Each
of the Parties shall execute any other documents and take any other actions as
may be reasonably necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this
Agreement.

 

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29.                                 Headings. The
paragraph headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this
Agreement.

 

30.                                 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, or in different
counterparts, any of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

31.                                 Facsimile. A
facsimile signature on this Agreement shall have the same force and effect as
an original signature.

 

32.                                 Knowing and Voluntary Agreement. Executive by signing below acknowledges and represents as follows:

 

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE SIGNED THIS
AGREEMENT VOLUNTARILY AFTER CAREFULLY READING AND FULLY UNDERSTANDING ALL OF
THE PROVISIONS AND EFFECTS OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES A RELEASE OF KNOWN
AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS AND RESTRICTS FUTURE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST VWR AND OTHER
RELEASED PARTIES. I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT
WITH MY OWN ATTORNEYS, WHO ARE THE ATTORNEYS OF MY OWN CHOOSING. I REPRESENT
THAT NEITHER VWR NOR ANY OF ITS AGENTS OR ATTORNEYS HAS MADE ANY REPRESENTATIONS
OR PROMISES TO ME CONCERNING THE TERMS OR EFFECT OF THIS AGREEMENT.

 

I REPRESENT THAT I AM COMPETENT TO ENTER INTO
THIS AGREEMENT ON MY OWN BEHALF. I FURTHER REPRESENT THAT I AM NOT BEING FORCED
OR COERCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND DO NOT ENTER INTO IT UNDER DURESS.
I ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT VOLUNTARILY AND UNDER MY OWN FREE WILL.

 

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS AGREEMENT
CONSISTS OF SEVEN (7) PAGES AND INCLUDES A RELEASE OF KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
Parties have executed this SEVERANCE
AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE.

 

	
   

  	
  VWR INTERNATIONAL, LLC

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  /

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Charles F. Canfield

  	
  / 

  	
   Date

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  George Van Kula

  	
  /

  	
   Date

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Senior Vice President, General Counsel

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  and Secretary

  
									

 

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