Document:

EX-10.1

 

Exhibit 
10.1

REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE PLAN

Effective February 1, 2006

INTRODUCTION

     The purposes of this Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Change in Control Severance Plan (this
“Plan”) are (i) to help the Company (as defined below) retain key employees of the Company,
(ii) to help maintain the focus of such employees on the business of the Company and to mitigate
the distractions caused by the possibility that the Company may be the target of an acquisition;
and (iii) to provide certain benefits to such employees in the event their employment is terminated
(or constructively terminated) after, or in contemplation of, a change in control. The possibility
of such terminations and the uncertainty it creates may result in the loss or distraction of key
employees of the Company to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders.

     The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) considers the retention of key
employees and the avoidance of such loss and distraction to be essential to protecting and
enhancing the best interests of the Company and it shareholders. The Board also believes that when
a change in control is perceived as imminent, or is occurring, the Board should be able to receive
and rely on disinterested service from employees regarding the best interests of the Company and
its shareholders without concern that employees might be distracted or concerned by the personal
uncertainties and risks created by a change in control.

 

 

     Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above purposes, the Board has caused the Company to
adopt this Plan, effective February 1, 2006 (the “Effective Date”).

     1. Definitions. For the purpose of this Plan the foregoing terms shall have the
following meanings:

          (a) “Anticipatory Termination” means a termination of an Eligible Executive’s
employment by the Company without Cause or by an Eligible Executive for Good Reason that occurs
after a tender offer is announced for the Company or after material discussions have occurred with
a possible acquirer with regard to a Transaction (as defined in the definition of “Change in
Control” below), provided, that such offer or discussions have not terminated.

          (b) “Average Bonus” shall mean the average amount in each of the Company’s last three
(3) completed fiscal years prior to the termination of employment (or if higher the last three (3)
completed fiscal years prior to the Change in Control) awarded to an Eligible Executive as an
annual bonus for such years (or if not employed on the last day of three prior completed fiscal
years, the average over those fiscal years when employed on the last day of a fiscal year or, if no
such dates, the average of the Average Bonus of all Eligible Executives in the Eligible Executive’s
Group; provided, that any bonus awarded to an Eligible Executive for a fiscal year during which he
or she was employed for only a portion of the year shall be annualized to reflect a full year’s
bonus for such year).

          (c) “Bonus” shall mean the product of (i) the Eligible Executive’s annual base salary
rate for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs (which is calculated immediately prior to
any reduction in base salary (if any) if such termination is by the Eligible

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Executive for Good Reason) multiplied by (ii) the average of the percentages that bonuses
represented of base salary for the fiscal years utilized to determine Average Bonus.

          (d) “Cause” shall mean, as to each Eligible Executive, (i) the Eligible Executive’s
willful misconduct involving the Company or its assets, business or employees or in the performance
of his or her duties which is materially injurious to the Company (in a manner which would affect
the Company economically or as to its reputation); (ii) the Eligible Executive’s indictment for, or
conviction of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony (provided that for this purpose, a
felony shall cover any action or inaction that is a felony or crime under federal, state or local
law in the United States (collectively, “U.S. law”) and any action or inaction which takes
place outside of the United States, if it would be a felony under U.S. law); (iii) the Eligible
Executive’s continued and substantial failure to attempt in good faith to perform his or her duties
with the Company (other than failure resulting from the Eligible Executive’s incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or injury), which failure has continued for a period of at least ten
(10) days after written notice thereof from the Company; (iv) the Eligible Executive’s breach of
any material provisions of any written agreement with the Company, which breach, if curable, is not
cured within ten (10) days after written notice thereof from the Company; or (v) the Eligible
Executive’s failure to attempt in good faith to promptly follow a written direction of the Board or
a more senior officer, provided that the failure shall not be considered “Cause” if the Eligible
Executive, in good faith, believes that such direction, or implementation thereof, is illegal or
inconsistent with the Company’s Code of Conduct and he or she promptly so notifies the Chairman of
the Board in writing. No act or failure to act by an Eligible Executive shall be deemed to be
“willful” if the Eligible Executive believed in good faith that such action or non-action was in,
or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.

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          (e) A “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) any “Person” (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”), as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof,
except that such term shall not include (1) the Company, (2) a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, (3) an underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (4) a corporation owned, directly or
indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company) is or becomes the “Beneficial Owner” (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Company’s then outstanding securities, excluding any
Person who is an officer or director of the Company or who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in
connection with a transaction described in clause (A) of subsection (iii) below; (ii) the following
individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving:
individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a
director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election
contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors
of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the
Company’s shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the
directors then still in office who either were directors on the Effective Date or whose
appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; (iii)
there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other than
(A) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation

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continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) at least sixty percent (60%) of the
combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any
parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in
which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding securities; or (iv) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the
sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than
a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an
entity at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of
which are owned by Persons in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company
immediately prior to such sale; subsections (iii) and (iv) above each a “Transaction”. For the
avoidance of doubt, the term “securities” shall refer solely to the Company’s Common Stock, par
value $.001 per share and Class A Stock, par value $.001 per share.

          (f) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          (g) “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.

          (h) “Company” shall mean Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and any successor thereto;
provided, that for the purposes of this Plan, other than any obligation to make

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payments or provide benefits hereunder and as to the definition of Change in Control,
“Company” shall also include all of the Company’s subsidiaries (as defined in Code Section 424(f)).

          (i) “Disability” shall mean, as to each Eligible Executive, the Eligible Executive’s
failure to have performed his or her material duties and responsibilities as a result of physical
or mental illness or injury for more than one hundred eighty (180) days during a three hundred
sixty-five (365) day period.

          (j) “Eligible Executives” shall mean Group 1 Executives and Group 2 Executives.

          (k) “Equity Grant” shall mean any stock option, restricted stock award, or other
equity grant under the Company’s long-term incentive plans.

          (l) “Good Reason” shall mean, as to each Eligible Executive, a termination (including,
if applicable, by retirement in accordance with Company policy) by the Eligible Executive and
effected by a written notice given within one hundred twenty (120) days after the occurrence of the
Good Reason event. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, as to each Eligible
Executive, the occurrence of any of the following events without the Eligible Executive’s express
written consent which event is not cured within ten (10) days after written notice thereof from the
Eligible Executive to the Company: (i) any material diminution in the Eligible Executive’s
position, duties, responsibilities, title or authority, or the assignment to the Eligible Executive
of duties and responsibilities materially inconsistent with his or her position, except in
connection with the Eligible Executive’s termination for Cause or as a result of death, or
temporarily as a result of the Eligible Executive’s incapacity or other

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absence for an extended period; (ii) any material breach by the Company of any material
provision of any written agreement with the Eligible Executive or failure to timely pay any
compensation obligation to the Eligible Executive; (iii) a reduction in the Eligible Executive’s
annual base salary or target bonus opportunity (if any); (iii) a relocation of the Eligible
Executive’s principal business location to an area outside of a fifty (50) mile radius of the
Eligible Executive’s current principal business location; or (iv) a failure by the Company to
comply with this Plan.

          (m) “Group 1 Executive” shall mean an officer or other executive who has been
designated by the Committee as a Group 1 Executive in accordance with Section 2 below.

          (n) “Group 2 Executive” shall mean an officer or other executive who has been
designated by the Committee as a Group 2 Executive in accordance with Section 2 below.

          (o) “Severance Multiplier” shall mean one for Group 1 Executives and two for Group 2
Executives.

          (p) A termination “without Cause” shall mean a termination of an Eligible Executive’s
employment by the Company other than for a termination for Cause or due to Disability.

     2. Eligible Executives. Eligible Executives shall consist of those officers and other
executives of the Company as the Committee in its sole discretion designates in writing to
participate in the Plan. At the time the Committee designates an employee as an Eligible

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Executive, the Committee shall also designate whether such Eligible Executive is a Group 1
Executive or a Group 2 Executive. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate an
employee’s participation in the Plan as an Eligible Executive by providing not less than one (1)
year’s prior written notice to the employee (a “Plan Participation Termination Notice”) at
any time following the two (2) year anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, that no
Plan Participation Termination Notice shall be effective after a Change in Control (whether sent
before or after). The Committee may designate additional Eligible Executives or change the
designation of any Group 1 Executive to a Group 2 Executive at any time in its sole discretion.

     3. Termination of Employment in Connection with a Change in Control. (a) If (i) a
Change in Control occurs and an Eligible Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by
the Company without Cause or by the Eligible Executive for Good Reason at any time within two (2)
years after the Change in Control or (ii) there was an Anticipatory Termination and the Change in
Control has taken place within one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter, such Eligible Executive
shall be entitled to the amounts provided in Section 4 upon such termination or, if an Anticipatory
Termination, upon the Change in Control (less any severance benefits previously paid or provided by
the Company).

          (b) In the event of an Anticipatory Termination, if any Equity Grants in the name of the
applicable Eligible Executive would vest as a result of the Anticipatory Termination had it
occurred after the Change in Control (or the Equity Grant otherwise would have vested pursuant to
its terms on or prior to the Change in Control if not for the Anticipatory Termination), any such
Equity Grant that otherwise would be forfeited shall not be forfeited pending a determination of
whether or not a Change in Control occurs within one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter (the
“Determination Period”), but during the Determination Period no

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unvested Equity Grant shall vest or be exercisable and no dividends shall be payable unless
and until the Change in Control takes place during the Determination Period. If a Change in
Control occurs during the Determination Period, then the Equity Grants that would have vested
during the Determination Period absent the Anticipatory Termination and any Equity Grants that
would vest on the Change in Control or, upon a without Cause or Good Reason termination within two
(2) years thereafter, shall become vested upon the Change in Control and the exercise period of all
Equity Grants that are subject to exercise conditions shall be extended, to the extent applicable,
to the later of (i) the permitted exercise dates after the Anticipatory Termination provided in the
plan or grant assuming the Change in Control had happened immediately prior to the Anticipatory
Termination and (ii) the date which is thirty (30) days following the first date after such Change
in Control in which shares of the Company could be traded by the Eligible Executive on the
applicable market under the Company’s or its subsidiary’s trading window policies but, (x) with
regard to any outstanding options on the Effective Date, not beyond the last day of extension
permitted under Code Section 409A without such Equity Grant being deemed subject to the additional
tax under Code Section 409A, and (y) in no event beyond the initial expiration date of the grant.
In the event an Equity Grant would expire after an Anticipatory Termination and prior to it
becoming exercisable (including as a result of a Change in Control) as a result of either (x) or
(y) of the forgoing sentence, it may be exercised during the thirty (30) day period prior to its
expiration (or, if in connection with a Change in Control, such other period (whether shorter or
longer) that applies to other similar Equity Grants) but the transaction shall be held in escrow
pending a determination of whether a Change in Control has taken place during the one hundred
eighty (180) day period after termination of the Eligible Executive’s employment.

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     4. Compensation on Change in Control Termination. (a) If, pursuant to Section 3, an
Eligible Executive is entitled to amounts and benefits under this Section 4, such Eligible
Executive shall receive the following payments and benefits from the Company:

          (i) (A) any base salary, bonus, paid time off or other compensation accrued or earned under
law or in accordance with the Company’s policies and practices applicable to the Eligible Executive
but not yet paid; (B) subject to submission of appropriate documentation, any incurred but
unreimbursed business expenses for the period prior to the Eligible Executive’s termination payable
in accordance with the Company’s policies and practices; and (C) any other amounts or vested
benefits due under the then applicable employee benefit (including without limitation any
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan), equity or incentive plans of the Company then in effect,
applicable to the Eligible Executive (including, without limitation, the Company’s 401(k) Savings
Plan) as shall be determined and paid in accordance with such plans;

          (ii) subject to Section 4(b) and Section 8 hereof, within ten (10) days after the satisfaction
of the requirements of Section 8 hereof (or, if such termination occurred prior to a Change in
Control, within ten (10) days after the latter of the aforesaid date or the Change in Control), a
lump sum payment equal to the product of (A) the Severance Multiplier times (B) the sum of (x) the
Eligible Executive’s annual base salary rate (which is calculated immediately prior to any
reduction in base salary (if any) if such termination is by the Eligible Executive for Good Reason)
and (y) the Eligible Executive’s Average Bonus;

          (iii) subject to Section 4(b) and Section 8 hereof, within ten (10) days after the
satisfaction of the requirements of Section 8 hereof (or, if such termination occurred prior to a
Change in Control, within ten (10) days after the latter of the aforesaid date or the

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Change in Control), a pro rata Bonus payment for the year in which the Eligible Executive is
terminated based on the portion of the year the Eligible Executive was employed;

          (iv) to the extent not paid pursuant to Section 4(a)(i)(A) above, any earned but unpaid bonus
for a previously completed fiscal year of the Company; provided that such bonus shall be paid to
the Eligible Executive in the year following the completed fiscal year of the Company when other
executives of the Company receive their bonuses;

          (v) subject to Section 4(b) and Section 8 hereof, continued coverage pursuant to the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), or otherwise, under the Company
health plans in which the Eligible Executive and his/her dependents participated immediately prior
to the Eligible Executive’s Date of Termination, or materially equivalent plans thereto (the
“Health Plans”), for the Eligible Executive and the Eligible Executive’s dependents until the
earlier of (A) (x) one (1) year following the Date of Termination applicable to the Eligible
Executive if the Eligible Executive is a Group 1 Executive, or (y) two (2) years following the Date
of Termination applicable to the Eligible Executive if the Eligible Executive is a Group 2
Executive , and (B) the Eligible Executive’s becoming eligible to participate in the health plan of
another employer; provided, that the Eligible Executive timely elects such coverage and
pays the same premium amount for such coverage as the Eligible Executive would pay if an active
employee immediately prior to the Change in Control (the “Existing Premium Amount”); and
further provided that such coverage shall cease to the extent that the providing of such coverage
would violate applicable law. Furthermore, to the extent that the applicable coverage period in
this Section 4(a)(v) exceeds the time for which the Eligible Executive and/or the Eligible
Executive’s dependents remain eligible for coverage under COBRA or, if the coverage can not be
provided under the Company’s

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policies or, if the providing of such coverage would result in taxation of the benefits under
Code Section 105(h) (or a successor provision), the Company shall make payments to the Eligible
Executive of the premiums it had been paying for such coverage for the Eligible Executive (but on a
fully taxed grossed-up basis).

          (vi) subject to Section 4(b) and Section 8 hereof, continued coverage (at Company expense to
the same extent as payments were made by the Company while the Eligible Executive was an active
employee) in all welfare benefit plans (other then those covered by (v) above) and financial/tax
advisory and preparatory services that the Eligible Executive participated in prior to his/her Date
of Termination for (x) one (1) year following the Date of Termination applicable to the Eligible
Executive if the Eligible Executive is a Group 1 Executive, or (y) two (2) years following the Date
of Termination applicable to the Eligible Executive if the Eligible Executive is a Group 2
Executive, provided that, if such continuing coverage would not be permitted under any such plan or
related insurance policy or would result in taxation of amounts received under such plan beyond the
amount of premium paid by the Company, then, in lieu of such continued coverage the Company shall
pay to the Eligible Executive a lump sum amount , promptly after satisfaction of the requirements
of Section 8 hereof, equal to the premium it would pay for such period for the Eligible Executive
for such coverage for the applicable period based on the rates in effect immediately prior to the
Date of Termination.

          (b) If the Company determines in good faith that any payment under Section 4(a) would cause a
violation of Code Section 409A if paid within the first six (6) months after termination of an
Eligible Executive’s employment, such amount(s) shall not be paid to such Eligible Executive during
such six (6) month period but shall instead be paid to such

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Eligible Executive in a lump sum (without interest) immediately after the end of such six (6)
month period. Thereafter, payments to such Eligible Executive shall be made in accordance with the
Company’s normal payroll practices. In the event that continuation of any benefit would in the
good faith judgment of the Company cause a violation of Code Section 409A if provided at Company
cost during the first six (6) months after the Date of Termination of an Eligible Executive, if the
Eligible Executive wants such benefit continuation, he/she shall pay to the Company the full cost
therefor during such six (6) month period and the Company shall reimburse him/her for such cost in
a lump sum payment immediately after the end of such six (6) month period.

     5. Excise Tax. In the event that an Eligible Executive shall become entitled to
payments and/or benefits provided by this Plan or any other amounts in the “nature of compensation”
(whether pursuant to the terms of this Plan or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the
Company, including, without limitation, an award agreement under an equity compensation plan, any
Person whose actions result in a change of ownership or effective control covered by Section
280G(b)(2) of the Code or any person affiliated with the Company or such person) as a result of a
Change in Control (collectively the “Company Payments”), and if such Company Payments will
be subject to the tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (and any
similar tax that may hereafter be imposed by any taxing authority) the amounts of any Company
Payments shall be automatically reduced to an amount one dollar less than an amount that would
subject the Eligible Executive to the Excise Tax; provided, however, that the reduction shall occur
only if the reduced Company Payments received by the Eligible Executive (after taking into account
further reductions for applicable federal, state and local income, social security and other taxes)
would be greater than the unreduced Company Payments

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to be received by the Eligible Executive minus (i) the Excise Tax payable with respect to such
Company Payments and (ii) all applicable federal, state and local income, social security and other
taxes on such Company Payments. The Eligible Executive may elect which payments and benefits shall
be reduced to accomplish the foregoing, but, if the Eligible Executive does not make such an
election, the first benefit to be reduced is acceleration of vesting of any stock option where the
exercise price exceeds the fair market value of the underlying shares at the time the acceleration
would otherwise occur, and the second benefit to be reduced shall be any cash payments under this
Plan.

          (a) For purposes of determining whether any of the Company Payments will be subject to the
Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (x) the Company Payments shall be treated as
“parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all “parachute
payments” in excess of the “base amount” (as defined under Code Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code)
shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless and except to the extent that, in the opinion
of the Company’s independent certified public accountants appointed prior to any change in
ownership (as defined under Code Section 280G(b)(2)) or tax counsel selected by such accountants
(the “Accountants”) such Company Payments (in whole or in part) either do not constitute
“parachute payments,” including giving effect to the recalculation of stock options in accordance
with Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1 Q/A33, represent reasonable compensation for services
actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code in excess of the “base
amount” or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, and (y) the value of any non-cash benefits
or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Accountants in accordance with the
principles of Section 280G of the Code. To the extent permitted under Revenue Procedure 2003-68,
the value determination shall be

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recalculated to the extent it would be beneficial to the Eligible Executive, at the request of
the Eligible Executive.

          (b) For purposes of making the calculation hereunder, the Eligible Executive shall be deemed
to pay U.S. federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of U.S. federal income taxation in
effect in the calendar year in which the Company Payments are to be made and state and local income
taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of the Eligible
Executive’s residence in effect for the calendar year in which the Company Payments are to be made,
net of the maximum reduction in U.S. federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of
such state and local taxes if paid in such year.

          (c) In the event of any controversy with the Internal Revenue Service (or other taxing
authority) with regard to the Excise Tax, the Eligible Executive shall permit the Company to
control issues related to the Excise Tax (at its expense), provided that such issues do not
potentially materially adversely affect the Eligible Executive, but the Eligible Executive shall
control any other issues. In the event the issues are interrelated, the Eligible Executive and the
Company shall in good faith cooperate so as not to jeopardize resolution of either issue, but if
the parties cannot agree the Eligible Executive shall make the final determination with regard to
the issues. In the event of any conference with any taxing authority as to the Excise Tax or
associated income taxes, the Eligible Executive shall permit the representative of the Company to
accompany the Eligible Executive, and the Eligible Executive and the Eligible Executive’s
representative shall cooperate with the Company and its representative.

          (d) The Company shall be responsible for all charges of the Accountants.

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          (e) The Company and the Eligible Executive shall promptly deliver to each other copies of any
written communications, and summaries of any verbal communications, with any taxing authority
regarding the Excise Tax.

     6. Notice of Termination. After a Change in Control, any purported termination of an
Eligible Executive’s employment (other than by reason of death) shall be communicated by written
Notice of Termination from the Company to the Eligible Executive or from the Eligible Executive to
the Company, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 19. For purposes of this Plan, a
“Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall set forth in reasonable detail the
facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of an Eligible Executive’s
employment. Further, a Notice of Termination for Cause after a Change in Control is required to
include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds
(2/3) of the entire membership of the Board (at a meeting of the Board which was called and held
for the purpose of considering such termination and at which the Eligible Executive had the right
to attend and speak) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Eligible Executive
has engaged in conduct set forth in the definition of Cause herein, and specifying the particulars
thereof in detail.

     7. Date of Termination. “Date of Termination,” with respect to any purported
termination of an Eligible Executive’s employment after a Change in Control, shall mean the date
specified in the Notice of Termination and, in the case of a termination by an Eligible Executive
for Good Reason, shall not be less than five (5) days nor more than sixty (60) days from the date
such Notice of Termination is given. In the event a Notice of Termination is given by the Company,
the Eligible Executive may treat such notice as having a Date of Termination at any date between
the date of receipt of such notice and the termination date

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indicated in the Notice of Termination by the Company; provided, that the Eligible Executive
must give the Company written notice of the Date of Termination if he or she deems it to have
occurred prior to the termination date indicated in the Notice of Termination.

     8. Acceptance and Release. Any and all amounts payable and benefits or additional
rights provided pursuant to Sections 4(a)(ii), (iii), (v) and (vi) above shall only be payable if
the Eligible Executive executes and delivers to the Company an Acceptance Form and Release in the
form attached hereto as Appendix B discharging all claims of the Eligible Executive which may have
occurred up to the Date of Termination applicable to the Eligible Executive (with such changes
therein as may be necessary to make it valid and encompassing under applicable law) within the
appropriate time described in the Acceptance Form and Release. Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, if an Eligible Executive materially breaches any of the provisions of Section 10 of
this Plan, the Company may cease all payments and benefits due to such Eligible Executive
thereafter under Sections 4(a)(ii), (iii), (v) and (vi) above (other than as required by law).

     9. No Duty to Mitigate/Set-off. The Company agrees that the Eligible Executive shall
not be required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to
the Eligible Executive by the Company pursuant to this Plan. Further, other than as set forth in
Section 4(a)(v)(B), the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Plan shall not be
reduced by any compensation earned by an Eligible Executive or benefit provided to an Eligible
Executive as the result of employment by another employer, unemployment insurance payments or
otherwise. Except as otherwise provided herein and apart from any disagreement between an Eligible
Executive and the Company concerning interpretation of this Plan or any term or provision hereof,
the Company’s obligations to make

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the payments provided for in this Plan and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder
shall not be affected by any circumstances, including without limitation, any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against an Eligible
Executive. The amounts due under Section 4 are inclusive, and in lieu of, any amounts payable
under any other salary continuation or cash severance arrangement of the Company and to the extent
paid or provided under any other such arrangement shall be offset against the amount due hereunder.

     10. Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation and Cooperation.

          (a) In consideration of participating in this Plan, by the execution and delivery to the
Committee of an Acknowledgement and Agreement to Restrictive Covenants set forth on Appendix A
attached hereto, if the Eligible Executive is employed by the Company at the time of a Change in
Control or has been terminated in an Anticipatory Termination within one hundred eighty (180) days
prior thereto, each Eligible Executive agrees to the following agreements:

          (i) during the Eligible Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Eligible
Executive agrees not to, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatsoever, communicate or disclose
to any unauthorized person, firm or corporation, or use for the Eligible Executive’s own account,
without the prior written consent of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the
“CEO”), any proprietary processes, trade secrets or other confidential data or information of the
Company and its related and affiliated companies concerning their businesses or affairs, accounts,
products, services or customers, it being understood, however, that the obligations of this Section
10(a) shall not apply to the extent that the aforesaid matters (i) are disclosed in circumstances
in which the Eligible Executive is legally

18

 

required to do so, provided that the Eligible Executive gives the Company prompt written
notice of receipt of notice of any legal proceedings so as the Company has the opportunity to
obtain a protective order, or (ii) become known to and available for use by the public other than
by the Eligible Executive’s wrongful act or omission;

          (ii) during the Eligible Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Eligible
Executive agrees to fully cooperate with the Company or its counsel in connection with any matter,
investigation, proceeding or litigation regarding any matter in which the Eligible Executive was
involved during the Eligible Executive’s employment with the Company or to which the Eligible
Executive has knowledge based on the Eligible Executive’s employment with the Company; and

          (iii) during the Eligible Executive’s employment with the Company and for the one (1) year
period thereafter, if the Eligible Executive is receiving the amounts and benefits provided under
Section 4, the Eligible Executive agrees that he or she will not individually or on behalf of any
other person, firm, corporation or other entity (actions of such other person, firm, corporation or
other entity not being attributable to the Eligible Executive unless he or she is personally
involved therewith), solicit, induce, hire or retain any employee of the Company (or any person who
had been such an employee in the prior three (3) months) to leave the employ of the Company and to
accept employment or retention as an independent contractor with, or render services to or with any
other person, firm, corporation or other entity unaffiliated with the Company or take any action to
assist or aid any other person, firm, corporation or other entity in identifying, soliciting,
hiring or retaining any such employee; provided, the Eligible Executive may serve as a reference
after the Eligible Executive is no longer employed by the Company, but not with regard to any
entity with which the Eligible

19

 

Executive is affiliated or from which the Eligible Executive is receiving compensation and
this provision shall not be violated by general advertising not specifically targeted at employees
of the Company.

          (b) Because the Company’s remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the
provisions of this Section 10 would be inadequate, in the event of such a breach or threatened
breach by an Eligible Executive, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company shall be entitled
to seek equitable relief in the form of specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a
temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

          (c) If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that any restriction in this
Section 10 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable, such restriction
may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted.

          (d) The agreements set forth in this Section 10 are in addition to any other activity
limitations an Eligible Executive is subject to under any other agreement between the Eligible
Executive and the Company or any other plan or arrangement of the Company applicable to the
Eligible Executive.

     11. Service with Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Plan, employment by a subsidiary
or a parent of the Company shall be deemed to be employment by the Company and references to the
Company shall include all such entities, except that the payment obligation hereunder shall be
solely that of the Company. A Change in Control, however, as used in this Plan, shall refer only
to a Change in Control of the Company.

20

 

     12. Liability Insurance; Indemnification.

     If an Eligible Executive is receiving the payments and benefits under Section 4, then:

          (a) the Company shall continue to cover such Eligible Executive, or cause the Eligible
Executive to be covered, under any director and officer insurance maintained after the Change in
Control for directors and officers of the Company (whether by the Company or another entity) at the
highest level so maintained for any other past or active director or officer with regard to any
action or omission of the Eligible Executive while an officer or director of the Company. Such
coverage shall continue for any period during which the Eligible Executive may have any liability
for the aforesaid actions or omissions; and

          (b) following a Change in Control, the Company shall, with regard to matters related to such
Eligible Executive’s period of employment with the Company, indemnify the Eligible Executive to the
fullest extent permitted or authorized by the Company’s bylaws against any claims, suits,
judgments, expenses (including reasonable attorney fees), with advancement of legal fees and
disbursements to the fullest extent permitted by law, arising from, out of, or in connection with
the Eligible Executive’s services as an officer or director of the Company, as an officer or
director of any affiliate for which the Eligible Executive was required to serve as such by the
Company or as a fiduciary of any benefit plan of the Company or any affiliate.

     13. Funding. This Plan shall be funded out of the general assets of the Company as
and when benefits are payable under this Plan. To the extent that any Eligible Executive acquires
a right to receive payments under this Plan, such right shall not be secured by

21

 

any assets of the Company or any of its affiliated companies. The Eligible Executives shall
be general creditors of the Company. Any assignment, lien or other encumbrance by an Eligible
Executive of the amounts and benefits provided under this Plan shall be null and void. If the
Company decides in its sole discretion to establish any advance accrued reserve on its books
against the future expense of benefits payable hereunder, or if the Company decides in its sole
discretion to fund a trust under this Plan, such reserve or trust shall not under any circumstances
be deemed to be an asset of this Plan.

     14. Administration of this Plan.

          (a) The general administration of this Plan on behalf of the Company (as “Plan Administrator”
under Section 3(16)(A) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”)) shall be placed with the Committee.

          (b) The Company may, in its sole discretion, pay or reimburse the members of the Committee for
all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with their duties hereunder.

          (c) Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members attending a meeting
at which a quorum is present (which meeting may be held telephonically), or by written action in
accordance with applicable law. Subject to the terms of this Plan and provided that the Committee
acts in good faith, the Committee shall have complete authority to determine an Eligible
Executive’s participation and benefits under this Plan, to interpret and construe, in its sole
discretion, the provisions of this Plan, and to make decisions in all disputes involving the rights
of any person interested in this Plan. All decisions by the Committee shall be made in the
Committee’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all

22

 

persons having or claiming any interest in this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all
decisions of the Committee after a Change in Control shall be reviewable on a de novo basis by an
arbitrator or court , as applicable.

          (d) The Committee may delegate any and all of its powers and responsibilities hereunder to
other persons by formal resolution filed with and accepted by the Board. Any such delegation shall
not be effective until it is accepted by the Board and the persons designated and may be rescinded
at any time by written notice from the Committee to the person to whom the delegation is made.

          (e) The Committee may employ such legal counsel, accountants and other persons as may be
required in carrying out its work in connection with this Plan.

          (f) The Committee shall maintain such accounts and records regarding the fiscal and other
transactions of this Plan and such other data as may be required to carry out its functions under
this Plan and to comply with all applicable laws.

          (g) The Company shall be the Plan Administrator for the purposes of any applicable law and
shall be responsible for the preparation and filing of any required returns, reports, statements or
other filings with appropriate governmental agencies. The Company shall also be responsible for
the preparation and delivery of information to persons entitled to such information under any
applicable law.

          (h) The Company shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law and its Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws (but only to the extent not directly covered by insurance) its officers
and directors, (and any employee involved in carrying out the functions of

23

 

the Company under this Plan), each member of the Committee, and any person designated pursuant
to Section 14(d) above, against any expenses, including amounts paid in settlement of a liability,
which are reasonably incurred in connection with any legal action to which such person is a party
by reason of his or her duties or responsibilities with respect to this Plan, except with regard to
matters as to which he or she shall be adjudged in such action to be liable for gross negligence,
willful misconduct or fraud in the performance of his or her duties.

     15. ERISA Provisions (Including Claims Procedures). This Plan is intended to be a
“top hat” welfare benefit plan within the meaning of U.S. Department of Labor Regulation Section
2520.104-24. Administrative provisions about this Plan are contained in Appendix C hereto. This
Plan document, including the Appendices hereto, shall constitute the Plan document and shall be
distributed to Eligible Executives in this form.

     16. Employee Benefit Plans. The amounts and benefits specified in Section 4 hereof
shall not be paid to any Eligible Executive as an employee and no Eligible Executive shall be
eligible to participate in employee benefit plans maintained by the Company following the Date of
Termination applicable to such Eligible Executive except as specifically provided herein or in such
benefit plan(s). Amounts paid pursuant to Section 4 shall not be taken into account for purposes
of determining contributions to or calculating accrued benefits under the employee benefit plans
maintained by the Company, except for accrued amounts that would be so taken into account pursuant
to the terms of the applicable plan.

     17. Successors; Binding Agreement. In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon
any successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect,
by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of

24

 

the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree in writing to be
obligated to make the payments and provide the benefits under this Plan in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Company would have been obligated under this Plan if no such succession
had taken place. This Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each Eligible
Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees. If an Eligible Executive shall die while any amount would
still be payable to such Eligible Executive hereunder, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided
herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to the executors, personal
representatives or administrators of such Eligible Executive’s estate as if the Eligible Executive
had continued to live. No rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by an Eligible
Executive.

          18. Amendment and Termination. This Plan shall continue until terminated by the
Company in accordance with this Section 18, but the Plan shall cover only the first Change in
Control occurring hereafter. The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate, in whole or in
part, any or all of the provisions of this Plan by action of the Board or the Committee at any time
and for any reason prior to a Change in Control, provided that in no event shall any amendment
which reduces an Eligible Executive’s right to payment and/or benefits under this Plan or any
termination of this Plan be effective as to any Eligible Executive then participating in this Plan
prior to the one (1) year anniversary such amendment or Plan termination is adopted by the Board or
the Committee, and provided further that no such amendment or termination that is not effective
prior to a Change in Control shall be effective after a Change in Control.

25

 

          19. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted under this Plan
shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, or sent by registered mail, postage prepaid.
Any such notice shall be deemed given when so delivered personally, or, if mailed, five (5) days
after the date of deposit in the United States mails,

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	(i)
	 	If to the Company, to:
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	777 Old Saw Mill River Road	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Tarrytown, New York 10591	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Attention: Chief Executive Officer	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	(ii)
	 	If to an Eligible Executive, to his or her last	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	shown address on the books of the	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Company.	 	 

          20. Separability. If any provisions of this Plan (including the appendices hereto)
shall be declared to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, (by a court of competent
jurisdiction) such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity of the remaining
provisions of this Plan (including the appendices hereto).

          21. Legal Fees.

               (a) In the event the Company does not make the payments due hereunder on a timely basis (as
determined by an arbitrator) and the matter is arbitrated pursuant to Section 22 below, if the
Eligible Executive prevails in such arbitration, the Company shall pay all costs of such
arbitration, including reasonable legal fees and other reasonable fees and

26

 

expenses which the Eligible Executive may incur (on a tax grossed up basis, to the extent such
amounts are taxable to the Eligible Executive).

               (b) The Company shall pay to the Eligible Executive interest at the prime lending rate (as
reported from time to time by The Wall Street Journal) on all or any part of any amount to
be paid to Eligible Executive hereunder that is not paid when due. The prime rate for each
calendar quarter shall be the prime rate in effect on the first day of the calendar quarter.

          22. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Plan shall be settled exclusively by arbitration conducted in the City of New York in the State of
New York under the Commercial Arbitration Rules then prevailing of the American Arbitration
Association and such submission shall request the American Arbitration Association to: (i) appoint
an arbitrator experienced and knowledgeable concerning the matter then in dispute; (ii) require the
testimony to be transcribed; (iii) require the award to be accompanied by findings of fact and the
statement for reasons for the decision; and (iv) request the matter to be handled by and in
accordance with the expedited procedures provided for in the Commercial Arbitration Rules. The
determination of the arbitrators, which shall be based upon a de novo interpretation of this Plan,
shall be final and binding and judgment may be entered on the arbitrators’ award in any court
having jurisdiction. The Company shall pay all costs of the American Arbitration Association and
the arbitrator.

          23. Withholding. The Company shall have the right to make such provisions as it deems
necessary or appropriate to satisfy any obligations it reasonably believes it may have to withhold
federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by reason of payments pursuant

27

 

to this Plan. In lieu thereof, the Company shall have the right to withhold the amounts of
such taxes from any other sums due or to become due from the Company to an Eligible Executive upon
such terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe.

          24. Code Section 409A. This Plan is intended to comply with the applicable
requirements of Code Section 409A and shall be limited, construed, interpreted and administered in
accordance with such intent. The Company reserves the right to amend the provisions of this Plan
at any time in order to avoid the imposition of the additional tax under Code Section 409A on any
payments to be made hereunder. The Company shall indemnify the Eligible Executives for any taxes,
interest or penalties incurred under Code Section 409A as a result of any payments or benefits
hereunder in such a manner that the Eligible Executive will have no after tax cost as a result
thereof.

          25. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Plan shall prevent or limit an
Eligible Executive’s continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive, equity or
other plan or program provided by the Company for which the Eligible Executive may qualify, nor
shall anything herein (except Section 8) limit or otherwise prejudice such rights as the Eligible
Executive may have under any other currently existing plan, agreement as to employment, or
termination from employment with the Company or any other contractual or statutory entitlements.
Amounts that are vested benefits or those which an Eligible Executive is otherwise entitled to
receive under any other plan or program of the Company, at or subsequent to the Termination Date
applicable to such Eligible Executive, shall be payable in accordance with such other plan or
program, except as otherwise specifically provided herein. With the exception of the provisions in
this Agreement regarding vesting and exercisability of Equity Grants following an Anticipatory
Termination, nothing in this Plan will affect any term or

28

 

provision of any stock option award between an Eligible Executive and the Company and the
rights set forth in this Plan are in addition to, and not in lieu of, the terms of any such award
agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Eligible Executive shall not be entitled to
received duplicative severance payments and benefits and, to the extent that an Eligible Executive
is entitled to severance payments and benefits under any other plan or agreement, such Eligible
Executive shall be entitled to the greater of the payments and benefits thereunder or hereunder but
not under both plans or agreements.

          26. At Will Employment. This Plan does not constitute a contract of employment and,
subject to any other agreement between an Eligible Executive and the Company, the Company reserves
the right to terminate an Eligible Executive’s employment at any time with or without reason or
notice (unless otherwise prohibited by law), subject to the payment and other provisions hereof.

          27. Governing Law. The construction, interpretation and administration of this Plan shall
be governed by ERISA. To the extent not so governed, it shall be construed, interpreted, and
governed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to rules relating
to conflicts of law.

29

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan has been adopted effective as of February 1, 2006, and Regeneron
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has caused this instrument to be signed by its officer or representative duly
authorized on this 24th day of January, 2006.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 /s/ Leonard Schleifer	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:  Leonard Schleifer	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:    President and Chief
Executive Officer	 	 	 	 

30

 

Appendix A

FORM OF

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

The Compensation Committee

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

777 Old Saw Mill River Road

Tarrytown, New York 10591

     Reference is hereby made to the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Change in Control Severance
Plan, effective February 1, 2006 (the “Plan”). Any capitalized term used but not defined herein
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Plan.

     In consideration of participation in the Plan as an Eligible Executive, the undersigned hereby
acknowledges and agrees that if the undersigned is employed by the Company at the time of a Change
in Control or has been terminated in an Anticipatory Termination within one hundred eighty (180)
days prior thereto, the undersigned shall be bound by the restrictive covenants and agreements set
forth in Section 10 of the Plan.

                                                            

[Name of Eligible Executive]

Effective Date:

 

 

Appendix B

ACCEPTANCE FORM AND RELEASE

Release

     1. I agree and acknowledge that the payments and other benefits provided pursuant to the
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Change in Control Severance Plan
(“Plan”), effective February 1, 2006
and my rights under any equity grant (i) are in full discharge of any and all liabilities and
obligations of the Company to me, monetarily or with respect to employee benefits or otherwise,
including but not limited to any and all obligations arising under any alleged written or oral
employment agreement, policy, plan or procedure of the Company and/or any alleged understanding or
arrangement between me and the Company; and (ii) exceed any payment, benefit, or other thing of
value to which I might otherwise be entitled under any policy, plan or procedure of the Company
and/or any agreement between me and the Company.

     2. In consideration for the payments and benefits to be provided to me pursuant to the Plan, I
forever release and discharge the Company from any and all claims. This includes claims that are
not specified in this Acceptance Form and Release (this “Release”), claims of which I am not
currently aware, claims under: (i) the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended; (ii) Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; (iii) the Americans with Disabilities Act, as
amended; (iv) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (excluding claims for
accrued, vested benefits under any employee benefit pension plan of the Company in accordance with
the terms and conditions of such plan and applicable law); (v) the Workers’ Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act; (vi) the Family and Medical Leave Act; (vii) any claim under the New
York State Human Rights Law and the New York City

 

 

Administrative Code; (viii) any other claim (whether based on federal, state, or local law,
statutory or decisional) relating to or arising out of my employment, the terms and conditions of
such employment, the separation of such employment, and/or any of the events relating directly or
indirectly to or surrounding the separation of that employment, including, but not limited to,
breach of contract (express or implied), wrongful discharge, detrimental reliance, defamation,
emotional distress or compensatory or punitive damages; and (ix) any claim for attorneys’ fees,
costs, disbursements and/or the like. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the sole
matters to which this Release does not apply are (i) the rights of indemnification and directors
and officers liability insurance coverage to which I was entitled immediately prior to my
termination; (ii) my rights under any tax-qualified pension plan or claims for accrued vested
benefits under any other employee benefit plan, policy or arrangement maintained by the Company or
under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985; and (iii) my rights under the
specific terms of any equity grant.

     3. This Release applies to me and to anyone who succeeds to my rights, such as my heirs,
executors, administrators of my estate, trustees, and assigns. This Release is for the benefit of
(i) the Company, (ii) any related corporation or entity, (iii) any director, officer, employee, or
agent of the Company or of any such related corporation or entity, or (iv) any person, corporation
or entity who or that succeeds to the rights of the Company or of any such person, corporation or
entity.

     4. I acknowledge that I: (a) have carefully read in their entirety the Plan, this Release [and
the information attached as Appendix I provided pursuant to the Older Workers Benefit Protection
Act]; (b) have had an opportunity to consider fully for at least [twenty-one (21)] [forty-five
(45)] days the terms of the Plan, this Release [and information attached as Appendix

2

 

I]; (c) have been advised by the Company in writing to consult with an attorney of my choosing
in connection with the Plan, this Release [and the information attached as Appendix I]; (d) fully
understand the significance of all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, Release [and the
information attached as Appendix I], and have discussed them with my independent legal counsel, or
have had a reasonable opportunity to do so; (e) have had answered to my satisfaction any questions
I have asked with regard to the meaning and significance of any of the provisions of the Plan, this
Release [and the information attached as Appendix I]; and (f) am signing this Release voluntarily
and of my own free will and assent to all the terms and conditions contained herein and contained
in the Plan and the Release.

     5. I understand that I will have [twenty-one (21)] [forty-five (45)] days from the date of
receipt of this Release [and information attached as Appendix I] to consider the terms and
conditions of those documents. I may execute and thereby accept this Release by signing and sending
it to                                         . After executing this Release and returning it to                                         , I shall
have seven (7) days (the “Revocation Period”) to revoke this Release by indicating my desire to do
so in writing delivered by no later than 5:00 p.m. on the seventh (7th) day following the date I
sign and return this Release. The effective date of this Release shall be the eighth (8th) day
following my signing and return of this Release. If the last day of the Revocation Period falls on
a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the last day of the Revocation Period will be deemed to be the next
business day. In the event I do not accept this Release, or in the event I revoke this Release
during the Revocation Period, my rights under the Plan, this Release, including but not limited to
my rights to receive payments and other benefits from the Company, shall be deemed automatically
null and void.

3

 

Print Name:                                                                                 Date:                                                             

                              Employee

Signature:                                                            

                              Employee

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	STATE OF NEW YORK

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	)	 	 	ss:	 	 
	COUNTY OF                     

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 

          On this                      day of                                          , before me personally came                                          to be known and
known to me to be the person described and who executed the foregoing Release, and (s)he duly
acknowledged to me that (s)he executed the same.

                                                                      

                          Notary Public

4

 

ACCEPTANCE FORM AND RELEASE

Acceptance Form:

I have read the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Change in Control Severance Plan, effective
February 1, 2006 (“Plan”) and the accompanying Release [and the information attached as Appendix
I] and hereby accept the benefits provided under the Plan, subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in the Plan and the Release.

Print Name:                                                                                 Date:                                                             

                              Employee

Signature:                                                            

                              Employee

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	STATE OF NEW YORK

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	)	 	 	ss:	 	 
	COUNTY OF                     

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 

     On this                      day of                                                              , before me personally came                                          to be known and
known to me to be the person described and who executed the foregoing Release, and (s)he duly
acknowledged to me that (s)he executed the same.

	 	 	 
	                                                            
	 	 
	Notary

	 	Public

 

 

APPENDIX C

PROVISIONS RELATING TO ERISA

          A. Claims Procedure 1. Any claim by an Eligible Executive with respect to eligibility,
participation, contributions, benefits or other aspects of the operation of the Plan shall be made
in writing to a person designated by the Committee from time to time for such purpose. If the
designated person receiving a claim believes, following consultation with the Chairman of the
Committee, that the claim should be denied, he or she shall notify the Eligible Executive in
writing of the denial of the claim within ninety (90) days after his or her receipt thereof. This
period may be extended an additional ninety (90) days in special circumstances and, in such event,
the Eligible Executive shall be notified in writing of the extension, the special circumstances
requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Committee expects to make a determination
with respect to the claim. If the extension is required due to the Eligible Executive’s failure to
submit information necessary to decide the claim, the period for making the determination will be
tolled from the date on which the extension notice is sent until the date on which the Eligible
Executive responds to the Plan’s request for information.

          2. If a claim is denied in whole or in part, or any adverse benefit determination is made with
respect to the claim, the Eligible Executive will be provided with a written notice setting forth
(a) the specific reason or reasons for the denial making reference to the pertinent provisions of
the Plan or of Plan documents on which the denial is based, (b) a description of any additional
material or information necessary to perfect or evaluate the claim, and explain why such material
or information, if any, is necessary, and (c) inform the Eligible Executive of his or
her right, pursuant to Paragraph A(1) of this Appendix, to request review of the decision.
The

 

 

notice shall also provide an explanation of the Plan’s claims review procedure and the time
limits applicable to such procedure, as well as a statement of the Eligible Executive’s right to
bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on
review. If an Eligible Executive is not notified (of the denial or an extension) within ninety
(90) days from the date the Eligible Executive notifies the Plan Administrator, the Eligible
Executive may request a review of the application as if the claim had been denied.

          3. An Eligible Executive may appeal the denial of a claim by submitting a written request for
review to the Committee, within sixty (60) days after written notification of denial is
received. Such period may be extended by the Committee for good cause shown. The claim will then
be reviewed by the Committee. In connection with this appeal, the Eligible Executive (or his or
her duly authorized representative) may (a) be provided, upon written request and free of charge,
with reasonable access to (and copies of) all documents, records, and other information relevant to
the claim; and (b) submit to the Committee written comments, documents, records, and other
information related to the claim. If the Committee deems it appropriate, it may hold a hearing as
to a claim. If a hearing is held, the Eligible Executive shall be entitled to be represented by
counsel.

          4. The review by the Committee will take into account all comments, documents, records, and
other information the Eligible Executive submits relating to the claim. The Committee will make a
final written decision on a claim review, in most cases within sixty (60) days after receipt of a
request for a review. In some cases, the claim may take more time to review, and an additional
processing period of up to sixty (60) days may be required. If that happens, the Eligible
Executive will receive a written notice of that fact, which will also indicate
the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Committee

 

 

expects to make a determination with respect to the claim. If the extension is required due to the
Eligible Executive’s failure to submit information necessary to decide the claim, the period for
making the determination will be tolled from the date on which the extension notice is sent to the
Eligible Executive until the date on which the Eligible Executive responds to the Plan’s request
for information.

          5. The Committee decision on the claim for review will be communicated to the Eligible
Executive in writing. If an adverse benefit determination is made with respect to the claim, the
notice will include (a) the specific reason(s) for any adverse benefit determination, with
references to the specific Plan provisions on which the determination is based; (b) a statement
that the Eligible Executive is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable
access to (and copies of) all documents, records and other information relevant to the claim; and
(c) a statement of the Eligible Executive’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of
ERISA. An Eligible Executive may not start a lawsuit to obtain benefits until after he or she has
requested a review and a final decision has been reached on review, or until the appropriate time
frame described above has elapsed since the Eligible Executive filed a request for review and you
have not received a final decision or notice that an extension will be necessary to reach a final
decision. The law also permits the Eligible Executive to pursue his or her remedies under section
502(a) of ERISA without exhausting these appeal procedures if the Plan has failed to follow them.

     B. Plan Interpretation and Benefit Determination

          1. The Committee (or, where applicable, any duly authorized delegee of the Committee) shall
have the exclusive right, power, and authority, in its sole and absolute

 

 

discretion, to administer, apply and interpret the Plan and any other documents, and to decide
all factual and legal matters arising in connection with the operation or administration of the
Plan.

          2. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the Committee (or, where
applicable, any duly authorized delegee of the Committee) shall have the sole and absolute
discretionary authority to:

               (a) take all actions and make all decisions (including factual decisions) with respect to the
eligibility for, and the amount of, benefits payable under the Plan;

               (b) formulate, interpret and apply rules, regulations and policies necessary to administer the
Plan;

               (c) decide questions, including legal or factual questions, relating to the calculation and
payment of benefits, and all other determinations made, under the Plan;

               (d) resolve and/or clarify any factual or other ambiguities, inconsistencies and omissions
arising under this Plan or other Plan documents; and

               (e) process, and approve or deny, benefit claims and rule on any benefit exclusions.

     All determinations made by the Committee (or, where applicable, any duly authorized delegee of
the Committee) with respect to any matter arising under the Plan shall be final and binding on the
Company, Eligible Executive, beneficiary, and all other parties affected thereby. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, all decisions of the Committee after a Change in Control shall be reviewable on a de
novo basis by an arbitrator or court , as applicable.<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made as of the 23 day of January, 2006, by and
between Century Aluminum Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
Michael A. Bless (the "Executive").

                                    RECITALS

     A. The Company desires to employ Executive as its Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer; and

     B. Executive is willing to accept such employment on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     THE PARTIES AGREE as follows:

     1.1 Position and Term of Employment. Executive's employment hereunder shall
commence as of January 23, 2006, and shall end December 31, 2008, unless
terminated sooner pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement or extended by the
mutual agreement of the parties. Executive shall be employed as the Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and shall devote his
full business time, skill, attention and best efforts in carrying out his duties
and promoting the best interests of the Company. Executive shall also serve as a
director and/or officer of one or more of the Company's subsidiaries as may be
requested from time to time by the Board of Directors. Subject always to the
instructions and control of the Board of Directors of the Company, Executive
shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and

<PAGE>

shall be responsible for the day to day financial affairs of the company and for
the development of the Company's short and long term financial plans.

     Executive shall not at any time while employed by the Company or any of its
affiliates (as defined in the Severance Protection Agreement between the Company
and Executive dated as of January 23, 2006, (the "SPA"), incorporated in this
Agreement by this reference), without the prior consent of the Board of
Directors, knowingly acquire any financial interests, directly or indirectly, in
or perform any services for or on behalf of any business, person or enterprise
which undertakes any business in substantial competition with the business of
the Company and its affiliates or sells to or buys from or otherwise transacts
business with the Company and its affiliates; provided that Executive may
acquire and own a de minimus amount of the outstanding capital stock of any
public corporation which sells or buys from or otherwise transacts business with
the Company and its affiliates.

     2.1 Base Salary.

          (a) (i) Effective as of January 23, 2006, Executive shall be paid an
initial salary at the monthly rate of $31,250, which shall be paid in accordance
with the Company's normal payroll practice with respect to salaried employees,
subject to applicable payroll taxes and deductions (the "Base Salary").
Executive's Base Salary shall be subject to review and possible change in
accordance with the usual practices and policies of the Company. However,
Executive's base annual salary shall not be reduced to less than $375,000.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

               (ii) If for any reason other than Executive's voluntary
resignation, his death, or termination for cause pursuant to Section 7(c),
Executive does not continue to be employed by the Company, Executive shall
continue to receive an amount equal to his then current Base Salary plus an
annual performance bonus equal to the highest annual bonus payment Executive has
received in the previous three years ("Highest Annual Bonus") for the then
remaining balance of the term of this Agreement. In no event shall such payment
be less than one year's Base Salary plus Highest Annual Bonus. The foregoing
amounts shall be paid to Executive over the remaining term of this Agreement or
one year (whichever is applicable) in accordance with the Company's payroll and
bonus payment policies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payments under this
subparagraph (ii) shall be made if the Company makes all payments to Executive
required to be made, if any, under the SPA in the event of a Change in Control
(as defined in the SPA).

          (b) If Executive resigns voluntarily or ceases to be employed by
reason of his death or by the Company (or any affiliate) for cause as described
in Section 7(c) of this Agreement, all benefits described in Sections 2 and 4
hereof shall terminate (except to the extent previously earned or vested).

          (c) If Executive's employment shall have been terminated as a result
of Executive's disability pursuant to Section 7(b), the Company shall pay in
equal monthly installments for the then remaining balance of the term of this
Agreement or one year, whichever is greater, to Executive (or his beneficiaries
or personal representatives, as the case may be) disability benefits at a rate
per annum equal to one hundred percent (100%) of his then current Base Salary,
plus amounts equal to the Highest Annual

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

Bonus, less payments and benefits, if any, received under any disability plan or
insurance provided by the Company and less any "sick leave" payments received
from the Company for the applicable period.

     2.2 Bonuses. Executive shall be eligible for an annual performance bonus in
amounts between 0 and 100 percent of his Base Salary based upon his individual
performance and achievement by the Company of overall objectives as determined
by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors ("Compensation
Committee"). The target range for Executive's performance bonus will be between
35% and 100% of his base salary. The Company agrees that Executive shall be
entitled to receive a cash bonus of not less than $187,500 for his services for
the full year 2006, which shall be payable in the 2007 calendar year.

     2.3 Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse Executive in accordance
with the Company's normal practices any travel, hotel and other expenses or
disbursements reasonably incurred or paid by Executive hereunder in connection
with the services performed by Executive, in each case upon presentation by
Executive of itemized accounts of such expenditures or such other supporting
information as the Company may require.

     2.4 Relocation; Housing. The Company shall pay for all reasonable and
customary relocation expenses to Monterey, California, as set forth in the
Relocation Policy attached to this Agreement.

     3.1 Incentive Plan. Executive shall be eligible for option grants and
performance share unit awards under the Company's Amended and Restated 1996

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), and the Guidelines adopted to implement the
Plan. Upon approval by the Compensation Committee, the Company shall grant
Executive options to purchase 30,000 shares of Company stock at an exercise
price based on the price of the stock on the trading day immediately preceding
the start date ("Start Date") of his employment, determined in accordance with
the Plan and pursuant to a stock option award agreement. The options would vest
one-third on the Start Date, one-third on the one year anniversary of the Start
Date, and one-third on the day preceding the two year anniversary of the Start
Date. In addition the Compensation Committee shall be asked to approve a grant
of 20,000 restricted stock shares, which grant will vest one-third on the day
preceding the one year anniversary of the Start Date, one-third on the day
preceding the two year anniversary of the Start Date, and one-third on the day
preceding the three year anniversary of the Start Date.

     3.2 Effect of Termination of Employment or Change in Control.

          (a) If Executive shall resign voluntarily or cease to be employed by
the Company (or an affiliate) for cause as described in Section 7(c) of this
Agreement, except as provided in the SPA, all benefits described in Section 3
hereof shall terminate (except to the extent previously earned or vested and, if
Executive retires, those which may become vested upon retirement pursuant to the
terms of the Guidelines).

          (b) If Executive dies or becomes disabled, all options which have not
vested will accelerate and vest immediately, and, in the event of Executive's
death, all option rights will transfer to Executive's representative. If
Executive's employment terminates by reason of death or disability, Executive or
Executive's representative may

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

exercise all unexercised options within three years after such death or
disability or the expiration date of the option, whichever is sooner.

          (c) If Executive dies, becomes disabled or retires, performance shares
awarded to such Executive pursuant to the Guidelines shall immediately vest, but
be valued and awarded at the times and in the manner awarded to other plan
participants pursuant to the terms of such Guidelines.

          (d) If there is a Change in Control, then all options and performance
shares that have not vested will accelerate and vest immediately. Performance
shares awarded to Executive pursuant to the Guidelines shall be valued at 100
percent as though the Company had achieved its target for each relevant plan
period. The Executive shall be entitled to receive one share of the Company's
common stock upon the vesting of each Performance Share. Upon a Change in
Control, the Executive shall have the right to require the Company to purchase,
for cash, and at fair market value, any shares of stock purchased upon exercise
of any option or received upon the vesting of any Performance Share. (Terms used
in this Section, unless defined in this Employment Agreement, are as defined in
the SPA.)

     4.1 Other Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in life,
medical, dental, hospitalization, disability and life insurance benefit plans
made available by the Company to its senior executives and shall also be
eligible to participate in existing retirement or pension plans offered by the
Company to its senior executives, but, except as otherwise provided in Section
4.2, subject in each case to the terms and requirements of each such plan or
program; and

                                       -6-

<PAGE>

     4.2 Pension Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to receive retirement
benefits as follows:

          (a) Qualified Plan Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to
receive, upon his retirement as provided for in the Company's Employees'
Retirement Plan (the "Qualified Plan"), payments under the Qualified Plan
computed as set forth in that plan.

          (b) Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits. In addition to
payments the Executive is entitled to receive under the Qualified Plan,
Executive also shall be entitled to receive Supplemental Executive Benefits as
set forth in this Agreement and in the SERB Plan, which benefits are an amount
equal to the difference between the amount Executive would receive under the
Qualified Plan and the amount he would be entitled to receive had his benefit
under the Qualified Plan not been subject to the limitations on benefits and
contributions set forth in Sections 401 (a)(17) and 415 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as at any time amended, and the regulations thereunder.

          (c) Vesting. The Qualified Plan Benefits and the Supplemental
Retirement Benefit described in Section 4.2 (b) shall be fully vested as of the
date of this Agreement. Upon the termination of Executive's employment he shall
be entitled to receive all such benefits as provided in Section 4.2 (d).

          (d) Time and Method of Payment of Benefits. Benefit payments under the
SERB Plan shall be made to Executive in the same manner as provided under the
Qualified Plans. Except as otherwise provided in the Qualified Plans, no
benefits shall be payable hereunder prior to death, disability or termination of
employment.

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

          (e) Prohibition on Assignment. Other than pursuant to the laws of
descent and distribution, Executive's right to benefit payments under this
Section 4.2 are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale,
transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment by
creditors of Executive or Executive's beneficiary.

          (f) Source of Payments. Subject to Section 10 of the SERB Plan
("Section 10"), all benefits under this Section 4.2 shall be paid in cash from
the general funds of the Company, and, except as set forth below, no special or
separate fund shall be established or other segregation of assets made to assure
such payments; provided, however, that the Company may establish a bookkeeping
reserve to meet its obligations hereunder. It is the intention of the parties
that the arrangements be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In the event of a
possible Change in Control, and before a Change in Control occurs, the Company
shall contribute to the Trust described in Section 10, and in the manner
described therein, those amounts necessary to cause the present value of the
Trust assets to be no less than the present value of the future benefits payable
under the SERB Plan.

          (g) Executive's Status. Executive shall have the status of a general
unsecured creditor of the Company, and the SERB Plan shall constitute a mere
promise to make benefit payments in the future.

          (h) Survival of Benefit. The Supplemental Retirement benefits
described in this Section 4.2 shall not be reduced during the term of this
Agreement or

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

thereafter, and Executive's rights with respect to these benefits shall survive
any termination (or non-renewal) of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, a termination pursuant to Section 7(c), or any amendment or
termination of the SERB Plan, to the full extent necessary to protect the
interests of Executive under this Agreement and under the terms of the SERB
Plan.

     5. Confidential Information. Except as specifically permitted by this
Section 5, and except as required in the course of his employment with the
Company, while in the employ of the Company or thereafter, Executive will not
communicate or divulge to or use for the benefit of himself or any other person,
firm, association, or corporation without the prior written consent of the
Company, any Confidential Information (as defined herein) owned, or used by the
Company or any of its affiliates that may be communicated to, acquired by or
learned of by Executive in the course of, or as a result of, Executive's
employment with the Company or any of its affiliates. All Confidential
Information relating to the business of the Company or any of its affiliates
which Executive shall use or prepare or come into contact with shall become and
remain the sole property of the Company or its affiliates.

     "Confidential Information" means information not generally known about the
Company and its affiliates, services and products, whether written or not,
including information relating to research, development, purchasing, marketing
plans, computer software or programs, any copyrightable material, trade secrets
and proprietary information, including, but not limited to, customer lists.

     Executive may disclose Confidential Information to the extent it (i)
becomes part of the public domain otherwise than as a result of Executive's
breach hereof or (ii) is

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

required to be disclosed by law. If Executive is required by applicable law or
regulation or by legal process to disclose any Confidential Information,
Executive will provide the Company with prompt notice thereof so as to enable
the Company to seek an appropriate protective order.

     Upon request by the Company, Executive agrees to deliver to the Company at
the termination of Executive's employment, or at such other times as the Company
may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports and other documents
(and all copies thereof) containing Confidential Information that Executive may
then possess or have under his control.

     6. Assignment of Patents and Copyrights. Executive shall assign to the
Company all inventions and improvements within the existing or contemplated
scope of the Company's business made by Executive while in the Company's employ,
together with any such patents or copyrights as may be obtained thereon, both
domestic and foreign. Upon request by the Company and at the Company's expense,
Executive will at any time during his employment with the Company and after
termination regardless of the reason therefore, execute all proper papers for
use in applying for, obtaining and maintaining such domestic and foreign patents
and/or copyrights as the Company may desire, and will execute and deliver all
proper assignments therefore.

     7. Termination.

          (a) This Agreement shall terminate upon Executive's death.

          (b) The Company may terminate Executive's employment hereunder upon
fifteen (15) days' written notice if in the opinion of the Board of Directors,

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

Executive's physical or mental disability has continued or is expected to
continue for one hundred and eighty (180) consecutive days and as a result
thereof, Executive will be unable to continue the proper performance of his
duties hereunder. For the purpose of determining disability, Executive agrees to
submit to such reasonable physical and mental examinations, if any, as the Board
of Directors may request and hereby authorizes the examining person to disclose
his findings to the Board of Directors of the Company.

          (c) The Company may terminate Executive's employment hereunder "for
cause" (as hereinafter defined). If Executive's employment is terminated for
cause, Executive's salary and all other rights not then vested under this
Agreement shall terminate upon written notice of termination being given to
Executive. As used herein, the term "for cause" means the occurrence of any of
the following:

               (i) Executive's disregard of a direct, material order of the
Board of Directors of the Company, the substance of which order is (a) a proper
duty of Executive pursuant to this Agreement, (b) permitted by law and (c)
otherwise permitted by this Agreement, which disregard continues after fifteen
(15) days' opportunity and failure to cure; or

               (ii) Executive's conviction for a felony or any crime involving
moral turpitude.

     8. Additional Remedies. Executive recognizes that irreparable injury will
result to the Company and to its business and properties in the event of any
breach by Executive of the non-compete provisions of Section 1, the
confidentiality provisions

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

of Section 5 or the assignment provisions of Section 6 and that Executive's
continued employment is predicated on the covenants made by him pursuant to such
Sections. In the event of any breach by Executive of his obligations under said
provisions, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedies and
damages available, to injunctive relief to restrain any such breach by Executive
or by any person or persons acting for or with Executive in any capacity
whatsoever and other equitable relief.

     9. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company and their
respective legal representatives, successors and assigns. Neither this Agreement
nor any of the duties or obligations hereunder shall be assignable by Executive.

     10. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be interpreted and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Each of the
Company and Executive consents to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court
sitting in California, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement.

     11. Headings. The paragraph headings used in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement
for any purpose or in any way affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

     12. Severability. If any provision, paragraph or subparagraph of this
Agreement is adjudged by any court to be void or unenforceable in whole or in
part, this adjudication shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this
Agreement.

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

     13. Complete Agreement. This Agreement and the SPA embody the complete
agreement and understanding among the parties, written or oral, which may have
related to the subject matter hereof in any way and neither shall be amended
orally, but only by the mutual agreement of the parties in writing, specifically
referencing this Agreement or the SPA, as the case may be. To the extent there
is an inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the
SPA, the Agreement which provides terms most favorable to the Executive shall
govern.

     14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more separate
counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement.

CENTURY ALUMINUM COMPANY

By: /s/ Logan W. Kruger                 /s/ Michael A. Bless
    ---------------------------------   ----------------------------------------
Title: President and Chief Executive    Michael A. Bless
       Officer

                                      -13-

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