Document:

zbh-ex1011_350.htm

Exhibit 10.11

CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

 

THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of ________ __ 20__, is made by and between ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ____________________ (the “Executive”).  The capitalized words and terms used throughout this Agreement are defined in Article XIII.

Recitals

 

A.The Company considers it essential to the best interests of its stockholders to foster the continuous employment of key management personnel.

B.The Board recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a Change in Control exists and that such a possibility, and the uncertainty and questions that it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders.

C.The Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s management, including the Executive, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a Change in Control.  

D.The parties intend that no amount or benefit will be payable under this Agreement unless a termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company occurs following a Change in Control, or is deemed to have occurred following a Change in Control, as provided in this Agreement.  

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Agreement

 

In consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

 

Term of Agreement

This Agreement will commence on the date stated above and will continue in effect through December 31, 20__.  Beginning on January 1, 20__, and each subsequent January 1, the term of this Agreement will automatically be extended for one additional year, unless either party gives the other party written notice not to extend this Agreement at least 30 days before the extension would otherwise become effective or unless a Change in Control occurs.  If a Change in Control occurs during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement will continue in effect for a period of 24 months from the end of the month in which the Change in Control occurs.  

ARTICLE II

 

Compensation other than Severance Payments

SECTION 2.01.  Disability Benefits.  Following a Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, during any period that the Executive fails to perform the Executive’s full-time duties with the Company as a result of Disability, the Executive will receive short-term and long-term disability benefits as provided under short-term and long-term disability plans having terms no less favorable than the terms of the Company’s short-term and long-term disability plans as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, together with all other compensation and benefits payable to the Executive pursuant to the terms of any compensation 

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or benefit plan, program, or arrangement maintained by the Company during the period of Disability.

SECTION 2.02.  Compensation Previously Earned.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason following a Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, the Company will pay the Executive’s salary accrued through the Date of Termination, at the rate in effect at the time the Notice of Termination is given, together with all other compensation and benefits payable to the Executive through the Date of Termination under the terms of any compensation or benefit plan, program, or arrangement maintained by the Company during that period.

SECTION 2.03.  Normal Post-Termination Compensation and Benefits.  Except as provided in Section 3.01, if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason following a Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, the Company will pay the Executive the normal post-termination compensation and benefits payable to the Executive under the terms of the Company’s retirement, insurance, and other compensation or benefit plans, programs, and arrangements, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control.  This provision does not restrict the Company’s right to amend, modify, or terminate any plan, program, or arrangement prior to a Change in Control.

SECTION 2.04.  No Duplication.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive will not be entitled to duplicate benefits or compensation under this Agreement and the terms of any other plan, program, or arrangement maintained by the Company or any affiliate.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

Severance Payments

SECTION 3.01.  Payment Triggers.  

(a)In lieu of any other severance compensation or benefits to which the Executive may otherwise be entitled under any agreement, plan, program, policy, or arrangement of the Company (and which the Executive hereby expressly waives), the Company will pay the Executive the Severance Payments described in Section 3.02 upon termination of the Executive’s employment following a Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, in addition to the payments and benefits described in Article II, unless the termination is (1) by the Company for Cause, (2) by reason of the Executive’s death, or (3) by the Executive without Good Reason.  

(b)For purposes of this Section 3.01, the Executive’s employment will be deemed to have been terminated following a Change in Control by the Company without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason if (1) the Executive’s employment is terminated without Cause prior to a Change in Control at the direction of a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company, the consummation of which will constitute a Change in Control; or (2) the Executive terminates his employment with Good Reason prior to a Change in Control (determined by treating a Potential Change in Control as a Change in Control in applying the definition of Good Reason), if the circumstance or event that constitutes Good Reason occurs at the direction of such a Person.

(c)The Severance Payments described in this Article III are subject to the conditions stated in Article VI.

SECTION 3.02.  Severance Payments.  The following are the Severance Payments referenced in Section 3.01:

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(a)  Lump Sum Severance Payment.  In lieu of any further salary payments to the Executive for periods after the Date of Termination, and in lieu of any severance benefits otherwise payable to the Executive, the Company will pay to the Executive, in accordance with Section 3.04, a lump sum severance payment, in cash, equal to two (2) times the sum of (1) the higher of the Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the event or circumstance upon which the Notice of Termination is based or in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, and (2) if Severance Payments are triggered under Section 3.01(a), the amount of the Executive’s target annual bonus entitlement under the Incentive Plan (or any other bonus plan of the Company then in effect) as in effect immediately prior to the event or circumstance giving rise to the Notice of Termination, or, if Severance Payments are triggered under Section 3.01(b), the amount of the largest aggregate annual bonus paid to the Executive with respect to the three years immediately prior to the year in which the Notice of Termination was given.  If the Board determines that it is not workable to determine the amount that the Executive’s target bonus would have been for the year in which the Notice of Termination was given, then, for purposes of this paragraph (a), the Executive’s target annual bonus entitlement will be the amount of the largest aggregate annual bonus paid to the Executive with respect to the three years immediately prior to the year in which the Notice of Termination was given.

(b)  Incentive Compensation.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Incentive Plan or any other compensation or incentive plans of the Company, the Company will pay to the Executive, in accordance with Section 3.04, a lump sum amount, in cash, equal to the sum of (1) any incentive compensation that has been allocated or awarded to the Executive for a completed calendar year or other measuring period preceding the Date of Termination (to the extent not payable pursuant to Section 2.02) provided that, if Severance Payments are triggered 

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under Section 3.01(b), the performance conditions applicable to such incentive compensation are met, and (2) if Severance Payments are triggered under Section 3.01(a), a pro rata portion (based on elapsed time) to the Date of Termination of the aggregate value of all contingent incentive compensation awards to the Executive for the current calendar year or other measuring period under the Incentive Plan, the Award Plan, or any other compensation or incentive plans of the Company, calculated as to each such plan using the Executive’s annual target percentage under that plan for that year or other measuring period and as if all conditions for receiving that target award had been met, or, if Severance Payments are triggered under Section 3.01(b), then with respect to each such plan, an amount equal to the average annual award paid to the Executive under such plan during the three years immediately prior to the year in which the Notice of Termination was given multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of whole months elapsed since the beginning of the calendar year or other measuring period to the Date of Termination and the denominator of which is 12 (or the number of whole months in the measuring period).

(c)  Options and Restricted Shares.  All outstanding Options will become immediately vested and exercisable (to the extent not yet vested and exercisable as of the Date of Termination).  To the extent not otherwise provided under the written agreement evidencing the grant of any restricted Shares to the Executive, all outstanding Shares that have been granted to the Executive subject to restrictions that, as of the Date of Termination, have not yet lapsed will lapse automatically upon the Date of Termination, and the Executive will own those Shares free and clear of all such restrictions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, options and restricted Shares remain subject to any forfeiture or clawback claims under the applicable option plan or award agreement.

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(d)  Welfare Benefits.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.02(d), for a 24-month period after the Date of Termination, the Company will arrange to provide the Executive with life insurance coverage substantially similar to that which the Executive is receiving from the Company immediately prior to the Notice of Termination (without giving effect to any reduction in that coverage subsequent to a Change in Control).  Life insurance coverage otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Section 3.02(d) will be reduced to the extent comparable coverage is actually received by or made available to the Executive without greater cost to Executive than as provided by the Company during the 24‐month period following the Executive’s termination of employment (and the Executive will report to the Company any such coverage actually received by or made available to the Executive).

If, as of the Date of Termination, the Company reasonably determines that the continued life insurance coverage required by this Section 3.02(d) is not available from the Company’s group insurance carrier, cannot be procured from another carrier, and cannot be provided on a self-insured basis without adverse tax consequences to the Executive or his death beneficiary, then, in lieu of continued life insurance coverage, the Company will pay the Executive, in accordance with Section 3.04, a lump sum payment, in cash, equal to 24 times the full monthly premium payable to the Company’s group insurance carrier for comparable coverage for an executive employee under the Company’s group life insurance plan then in effect.  

The Company will offer the Executive and any eligible family members the opportunity to elect to continue medical and dental coverage pursuant to COBRA.  The Executive will be responsible for paying the required monthly premium for that coverage, but the Company will pay the Executive, in accordance with Section 3.04, a lump sum cash stipend  

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equal to 24 times the monthly COBRA premium then charged to qualified beneficiaries for the same level of health and dental coverage the Executive had in effect immediately prior to his termination, and the Executive may, but is not required to, choose to use the stipend for the payment of COBRA premiums for any COBRA coverage that the Executive or eligible family members may elect.  The Company will pay the stipend to the Executive whether or not the Executive or any eligible family member elects COBRA coverage, whether or not the Executive continues COBRA coverage for the maximum period permitted by law, and whether or not the Executive receives medical or dental coverage from another employer while the Executive is receiving COBRA continuation coverage.  Payment of the stipend will not in any way extend or modify the Executive’s continuation coverage rights under COBRA or any similar continuation coverage law.

(e)  Matching  Contributions.  In addition to the vested amounts, if any, to which the Executive is entitled under the Savings Plan as of the Date of Termination, the Company will pay the Executive, in accordance with Section 3.04, a lump sum amount equal to the value of the unvested portion, if any, of the employer matching contributions (and attributable earnings) credited to the Executive under the Savings Plan.

(f)  Outplacement Services.  For a period not to exceed six (6) months following the Date of Termination, the Company will provide the Executive with reasonable outplacement services consistent with past practices of the Company prior to the Change in Control or, if no past practice has been established prior to the Change in Control, consistent with the prevailing practice in the medical device manufacturing industry.

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SECTION 3.03.  Limitation on Severance Payments.

(a)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event that any Severance Payments paid or payable to the Executive or for his benefit pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise in connection with a Change in Control (“Total Payments”) would be subject to any Excise Tax, then the value of the Total Payments will be reduced to the extent necessary so that, within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii), the aggregate present value of the payments in the nature of compensation to (or for the benefit of) the Executive that are contingent on a Change in Control (with a Change in Control for this purpose being defined in terms of a “change” described in Code Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(i) or (ii)), do not exceed 2.999 multiplied by the Base Amount.  For this purpose, cash Severance Payments will be reduced first (if necessary, to zero), and all other, non-cash Severance Payments will be reduced next (if necessary, to zero).  For purposes of the limitation described in the preceding sentence, the following will not be taken into account:  (1) any portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive effectively waived in writing prior to the Date of Termination, and (2) any portion of the Total Payments that, in the opinion of the Accounting Firm, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2). 

(b)For purposes of this Section 3.03, the determination of whether any portion of the Total Payments would be subject to an Excise Tax will be made by an Accounting Firm selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Executive.  For purposes of that determination, the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments will be determined by the Accounting Firm in accordance with the principles of Section 280G(d)(3) and (4).

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SECTION 3.04.  Time of Payment.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 3.02, payments provided for in that Section will be made as follows:

(a)  Subject to Section 3.04(c), if Executive signs and does not rescind the General Release in accordance with Section 6.03, the Company will pay to the Executive the amount due under Section 3.02 on the sixtieth (60th) business day following the Date of Termination.

(b)  At the time that payment is made under Section 3.04(a), the Company will provide the Executive with a written statement setting forth the manner in which all of the payments to Executive under this Agreement were calculated and the basis for the calculations including, without limitation, any opinions or other advice the Company received from auditors or consultants (other than legal counsel) with respect to the calculations (and any such opinions or advice that are in writing will be attached to the statement).

(c)  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, , any and all payments under this Agreement that constitute deferred compensation under the Section 409A Standards shall be suspended until, and will be payable on, the date that is six (6) months after the Executive’s separation from service (or, if earlier, the date the Executive dies after separation from service).

SECTION 3.05.  Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses.  To the extent permissible under the Section 409A Standards, if the Executive finally prevails with respect to any bona fide, good faith dispute between the Executive and the Company regarding the interpretation, terms, validity or enforcement of this Agreement (including any dispute as to the amount of any payment due under this Agreement), the Company will pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with that dispute  pursuant to the terms of this paragraph.  Payment or reimbursement of those fees and expenses will be made within fifteen (15) business days after delivery of the Executive’s written 

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request for payment, accompanied by such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company reasonably may require, but the Executive may not submit such a request until the dispute has been finally resolved by a legally binding settlement or by an order or judgment that is not subject to appeal or with respect to which all appeals have been exhausted.  Any payment pursuant to this paragraph will be made no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the dispute is finally resolved by a legally binding settlement or nonappealable judgment or order.

In addition, the Company will pay the reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of Code Section 4999 to any payment or benefit provided under this Agreement and including, but not limited to, auditors’ fees incurred in connection with the audit or proceeding.  Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be made within fifteen (15) business days after the delivery of the Executive’s written request for payment, accompanied by such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company reasonably may require, but in no case later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the audit is completed or there is a final and nonappealable settlement or other resolution of the matter. 

ARTICLE IV

Termination of Employment

SECTION 4.01.  Notice of Termination.  After a Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, any purported termination of the Executive’s employment (other than by reason of death) will be communicated by a written Notice of Termination from one party to the other party in accordance with Article VIII.  The Notice of Termination will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and will set forth in reasonable 

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detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the cited provision.  

SECTION 4.02.  Date of Termination.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.01, with respect to any purported termination of the Executive’s employment after a Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, the term “Date of Termination” will have the meaning set forth in this Section.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated for Disability, Date of Termination means thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given, provided that the Executive does not return to the full-time performance of the Executive’s duties during that 30-day period.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, Date of Termination means the date specified in the Notice of Termination, which, in the case of a termination by the Company, cannot be less than 30 days (except in the case of a termination for Cause) and, in the case of a termination by the Executive, cannot be less than 15 days nor more than 60 days from the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

ARTICLE V

No Mitigation

The Company agrees that, if the Executive’s employment by the Company is terminated during the term of this Agreement, the Executive is not required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to the Executive by the Company pursuant to Article III.  Further, the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in Article III (other than Section 3.02(d)) will not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the Company, or otherwise.

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ARTICLE VI

The Executive’s Covenants

SECTION 6.01.  Noncompetition Agreement.  In consideration for this Agreement, the Executive will execute, concurrent with the execution of this Agreement, a noncompetition agreement with the Company; provided, however, that if the Executive has an existing noncompetition agreement with the Company, the Company, rather than entering into a new noncompetition agreement with the Executive, may instead, as a condition to entering into this agreement, require that the Executive acknowledge and affirm his continuing obligations under such existing noncompetition agreement and re-affirm his agreement to honor the obligations as set forth in that document.

SECTION 6.02.  Potential Change in Control.  The Executive agrees that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in the event of a Potential Change in Control during the term of this Agreement, the Executive will remain employed by the Company until the earliest of (a) a date that is six months following the date of the Potential Change of Control, (b) the date of a Change in Control, (c) the date on which the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason (determined by treating the Potential Change in Control as a Change in Control in applying the definition of Good Reason) or by reason of death, or (d) the date the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for any reason.

SECTION 6.03.  General Release.  The Executive agrees that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Executive will not be eligible for any Severance Payments under this Agreement unless the Executive timely signs, and does not timely revoke, a General Release in substantially the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.  The Executive will be given 21 days to consider the terms of the General Release.  The General 

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Release will not become effective until seven days following the date the General Release is executed.  If the Executive does not return the executed General Release to the Company by the end of the 21-day period, that failure will be deemed a refusal to sign, and the Executive will not be entitled to receive any Severance Payments under this Agreement.  In certain circumstances, the 21-day period to consider the General Release may be extended to a 45-day period.  The Executive will be advised in writing if the 45-day period is applicable.  In the absence of such notice, the 21-day period applies. If any payment under this Agreement constitutes deferred compensation under the Section 409A Standards, and the 21-day or 45-day review period extends into a new calendar year, any payment of such deferred compensation shall occur in the new calendar year.

ARTICLE VII

Successors; Binding Agreement

SECTION 7.01.  Obligation of Successors.  

(a)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 the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no succession had occurred.  

(b)Subject to Section 7.01(c), failure of the Company to obtain such an assumption and agreement under Section 7.01(a) prior to the effectiveness of any such succession will be a breach of this Agreement and will entitle the Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount as the Executive would be entitled to under this Agreement if the Executive were to terminate employment for Good Reason after a Change in 

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Control, except that, for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which the succession becomes effective will be deemed the Date of Termination.

(c)Payment of benefits under Section 7.01(b) shall be made on the deemed Date of Termination if, and only if, the succession resulted from a transaction that satisfies the definition of change in control under Section 409A of the Code.  If the transaction does not satisfy the definition of change in control under Section 409A, payment of benefits due under Section 7.01(b) shall be made within 30 days of the Executive’s actual date of termination of employment, subject to the provisions of Section 3.04(c).  No interest or earnings shall be paid due to any delay in payment under this Section 7.01(c).

SECTION 7.02.  Enforcement Rights of Others.  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees.  If the Executive dies while any amount is still payable to the Executive under this Agreement, (other than amounts that, by their terms, terminate upon the Executive’s death), then, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, all such amounts will be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the executors, personal representatives, or administrators of the Executive’s estate.

ARTICLE VIII

Notices

For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below, or to such other address as either party may 

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furnish to the other in writing in accordance with this Article VIII, except that notice of change of address will be effective only upon actual receipt:

To the Company:

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

Attention:  General Counsel

345 East Main Street

Post Office Box 708

Warsaw, Indiana 46581-0708

 

To the Executive:

 

 

At Executive’s principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company

 

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

This Agreement will not be construed as creating an express or implied contract of employment and, except as otherwise agreed in writing between the Executive and the Company, the Executive will not have any right to be retained in the employ of the Company.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived, or discharged unless the waiver, modification, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and an officer of the Company specifically designated by the Board.  No waiver by either party at any time of any breach by the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other party will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any other time.  Neither party has made any agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement that are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.  Except as provided in the following two sentences, the validity, interpretation, construction, and performance of this 

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Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Indiana, to the extent not preempted by federal law.   This Agreement will at all times be effected, construed, interpreted, and applied in a manner consistent with the Section 409A Standards, and in resolving any uncertainty as to the meaning or intention of any provision of this Agreement, the interpretation that will prevail is the interpretation that causes the Agreement to comply with the Section 409A Standards.  In addition, to the extent that any terms of this Agreement would subject the Executive to gross income inclusion, interest, or additional tax pursuant to Code Section 409A, those terms are to that extent superseded by the applicable Section 409A Standards.  All references to sections of the Exchange Act or the Code will be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to those sections.  Any payments provided for under this Agreement will be paid net of any applicable withholding required under federal, state, or local law and any additional withholding to which the Executive has agreed.  The obligations of the Company and the Executive under Articles III, IV, and VI will survive the expiration of the term of this Agreement.  In no event shall Company be liable for any taxes, penalties, interest or additional tax payments assessed against Executive because of any benefits, remuneration or reimbursements provided under this Agreement.

ARTICLE X

Validity

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.  

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ARTICLE XI

Counterparts

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

ARTICLE XII

Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration

All claims by the Executive for benefits under this Agreement must be in writing and will be directed to and determined by the Board.  Any denial by the Board of a claim for benefits under this Agreement will be delivered to the Executive in writing and will set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon.  The Board will afford a reasonable opportunity to the Executive for a review of the decision denying a claim and will further allow the Executive to appeal to the Board a decision of the Board within 60 days after notification by the Board that the Executive’s claim has been denied.  Any further dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement will be settled exclusively by arbitration in Warsaw, Indiana in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect.  Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction.  Each party will bear its own expenses in the arbitration for attorneys’ fees, for its witnesses, and for other expenses of presenting its case.  Other arbitration costs, including arbitrators’ fees, administrative fees, and fees for records or transcripts, will be borne equally by the parties.  Notwithstanding anything in this Article to the contrary, if the Executive prevails with respect to any dispute submitted to arbitration under this Article, the Company will reimburse or pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses that the Executive incurred in connection with that dispute as required by Section 3.05.

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ARTICLE XIII

Definitions

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms will have the meanings indicated below:

(a)  “Accounting Firm” means an accounting firm, other than the Company’s independent auditors, that is designated as one of the four largest accounting firms in the United States.

(b)  “Award Plan” means the Company’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

(c)  “Base Amount” has the meaning stated in Code Section 280G(b)(3).

(d)  “Beneficial Owner” has the meaning stated in Rule 13d‐3 under the Exchange Act.

(e)  “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(f)  “Cause” for termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment, after any Change in Control, means (1) the willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform the Executive’s duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after the issuance of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason by the Executive pursuant to Section 4.01) for a period of at least 30 consecutive days after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive’s duties; (2) the Executive willfully engages in conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise; or (3) the Executive is convicted of, or has entered a plea of no contest to, a felony.  

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For purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of this definition, no act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part will be deemed “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive’s act, or failure to act, was in the best interest of the Company.

(g)  A “Change in Control” will be deemed to have occurred if any of the following events occur:

(1) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by that Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates) representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities; or

(2) during any period of two consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of the period constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director designated by a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (1), (3) or (4) of this paragraph whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved), cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board; or

(3) the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than (A) a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the 

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merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, at least 75% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or the surviving entity outstanding immediately after the merger or consolidation; or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities; or

(4) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all the Company’s assets.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control will not include any event, circumstance, or transaction occurring during the six-month period following a Potential Change in Control that results from the action of any entity or group that includes, is affiliated with, or is wholly or partly controlled by the Executive; provided, further, that such an action will not be taken into account for this purpose if it occurs within a six-month period following a Potential Change in Control resulting from the action of any entity or group that does not include the Executive.     

(h)  “COBRA” means the continuation coverage provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

(i)  “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and interpretative rules and regulations.

(j)  “Company” means Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor to its business and/or assets that assumes and agrees to perform this 

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Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise (except in determining, under Section XIII(g), whether or not any Change in Control of the Company has occurred in connection with the succession).

(k)  “Company Shares” means shares of common stock of the Company or any equity securities into which those shares have been converted.

(l)  “Date of Termination” has the meaning stated in Section 4.02.

(m)  “Disability” has the meaning stated in the Company’s short-term or long-term disability plan, as applicable, as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control.

(n)  “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and interpretive rules and regulations.

(o)  “Excise Tax” means any excise tax imposed under Code Section 4999.

(p)  “Executive” means the individual named in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

(q)  “General Release” has the meaning stated in Section 6.03.

(r)  “Good Reason” for termination by the Executive of the Executive’s employment means the occurrence (without the Executive’s express written consent) of any one of the following acts by the Company, or failures by the Company to act, unless, in the case of any act or failure to act described in paragraph (1), (4), (5), (6), or (7) below, the act or failure to act is corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in the Executive’s Notice of Termination:

(1) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent with the Executive’s status as an executive officer of the Company or a substantial adverse 

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alteration in the nature or status of the Executive’s responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control;

(2) a reduction by the Company in the Executive’s annual base salary as in effect on the date of this Agreement or as the same may be increased from time to time, or the level of the Executive’s entitlement under the Incentive Plan as in effect on the date of this Agreement or as the same may be increased from time to time;

(3) the Company’s requiring the Executive to be based more than 50 miles from the Company’s offices at which the Executive is based immediately prior to a Change in Control (except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Executive’s business travel obligations immediately prior to the Change in Control), or, in the event the Executive consents to any such relocation of his offices, the Company’s failure to provide the Executive with all of the benefits of the Company’s relocation policy as in operation immediately prior to the Change in Control;

(4) the Company’s failure, without the Executive’s consent, to pay to the Executive any portion of the Executive’s current compensation (which means, for purposes of this paragraph (4), the Executive’s annual base salary as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or as it may be increased from time to time, and the awards earned pursuant to the Incentive Plan) or to pay to the Executive any portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any deferred compensation program of the Company, within seven days of the date the compensation is due;

(5) the Company’s failure to continue in effect any compensation plan in which the Executive participates immediately prior to a Change in Control, which plan is material to the Executive’s total compensation, including, but not limited to, the Incentive 

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Plan and the Award Plan or any substitute plans adopted prior to the Change in Control, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to that plan, or the Company’s failure to continue the Executive’s participation in such a plan (or in a substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the level of the Executive’s participation relative to other participants, as existed at the time of the Change in Control;

(6) the Company’s failure to continue to provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by the Executive under any of the Company’s pension (including, without limitation, , the Company’s Savings and Investment Program,), life insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which the Executive was participating at the time of the Change in Control; the taking of any action by the Company that would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of those benefits or deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control; or the Company’s failure to provide the Executive with the number of paid vacation days to which the Executive is entitled on the basis of years of service with the Company in accordance with the Company’s normal vacation policy in effect at the time of the Change in Control; or

(7) any purported termination of the Executive’s employment that is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of Section 4.01; for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination will be effective.

The Executive’s right to terminate the Executive’s employment for Good Reason will not be affected by the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness.  The 

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Executive’s continued employment will not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act that constitutes Good Reason.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the occurrence of an event that would otherwise constitute Good Reason will cease to be an event constituting Good Reason if the Executive does not timely provide a Notice of Termination to the Company within 120 days of the date on which the Executive first becomes aware (or reasonably should have become aware) of the occurrence of that event.

(s)  “Incentive Plan” means the Company’s Executive Performance Incentive Plan.

(t)  “Notice of Termination” has the meaning stated in Section 4.01.

(u)  “Options” means options for Shares granted to the Executive under the Award Plan.

(v)  “Person” has the meaning stated in section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; however, a Person will not include (1) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (2) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (3) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of those securities, or (4) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

(w)  ”Potential Change in Control” will be deemed to have occurred if any one of the following events occurs:

(1)  the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;

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(2)  the Company or any Person publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions that, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control;

(3)  any Person who is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 10% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities, increases that Person’s beneficial ownership of those securities by 5% or more over the percentage so owned by that Person on the date of this Agreement; or

(4)  the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.

 (x)  “Savings Plan” means the Company’s Savings and Investment 401(k)  Program, which, for purposes of this Agreement, will be deemed to include the Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan.

(y)  “Section 409A Standards” means the standards for nonqualified deferred compensation plans established by Code Section 409A.

(z)  “Severance Payments” means the payments described in Section 3.02.

(a)  “Shares” means shares of the common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company.

(bb)  “Total Payments” has the meaning stated in Section 3.03(a).

EXECUTIVEZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.

_________________________________By: ______________________________

      Dennis E. Cultice

Vice President, Global Compensation, Benefits, HRIS and HR Operations

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

GENERAL RELEASE

 

Name: __________________________            Notification Date:  ____________

 

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) has offered me certain severance benefits (the “Severance Benefits”) pursuant to a Change in Control Severance Agreement (“Agreement”) between the Company and me.  I will only be able to receive the Severance Benefits in consideration for my signing this General Release. 

 

The Company has advised me of, and I acknowledge the following:

 

I have (INSERT NUMBER – 21 OR 45, DEPENDING ON REASON FOR SEPARATION – IN ACCORDANCE WITH OWBPA REQUIREMENTS) calendar days (the “Review Period”) from the date I receive this General Release to consider and sign it. If I do not return this signed General Release by the end of the Review Period (i.e., by INSERT DATE), the Company will consider this my refusal to sign, and I will not receive the Severance Benefits.  If I choose to sign this General Release prior to expiration of the Review Period, I thereby waive my right to review for the full time period allowed.  If I sign this General Release and am age 40 or older as of the date of my signing, it will not be effective for a period of seven calendar days thereafter, during which time I may change my mind and revoke my signature.  To revoke my signature, I must notify the Company in writing at 345 East Main Street, Warsaw, IN, 46580, Attention:  General Counsel, within seven calendar days of the date I signed this General Release.  

 

By signing this General Release I am giving up, to the fullest extent permitted by law, my right to sue the Company and any of its affiliates, parent companies and subsidiaries, and its and their past and present officers, directors, employees, and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) based upon any act or event occurring prior to my signing this General Release.  Without limitation, and again to the fullest extent permitted by law, I specifically release the Company from any and all claims arising out of my employment and termination, up to and including the date of my signing of this General Release, including claims based on discrimination under federal anti-discrimination laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, claims for interference with my rights to benefits under section 510 or penalties under section 502(c) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and any and all applicable federal, state, and local laws.  I acknowledge and agree that I have received all compensation to which I am entitled from the Released Parties other than the above-referenced Severance Benefits (which remain subject to my entering into this General Release) and agree that I am not eligible to receive any additional form of compensation under any Released Party’s pay, bonus, commission, or incentive policy or program. I further agree that although I am not precluded by this Agreement from filing an administrative charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a comparable state or local civil rights commission, I specifically and expressly waive any rights to receive, directly or indirectly, any monetary damages or other monies from the filing of such charge.  

 

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US.115484722.02

 

I agree, as a condition of receiving the Severance Benefits, and subject to any rights and obligations I may have under applicable law (including, but not limited to, my right to file and participate in the investigation of an administrative charge of the type described above and any non-waivable rights I may have to make disclosures specifically allowed or required by applicable law), that I will not make negative comments about or otherwise disparage or try to injure the reputation of any of the Released Parties.  I agree to refrain from making negative statements about any Released Party and/or its methods of doing business, management practices, policies, and the quality of its services or products.  I acknowledge and agree that this restriction applies to all forms of communication including such things as oral statements, written statements, e-mail, text messages, comments on blogs or any other form of electronic or other type of communication.  

 

For the sake of clarification, and subject to any non-waivable rights as described above, I acknowledge that this General Release shall not affect my legal obligation to protect the confidentiality of the Released Parties’ information or any of my other obligations under any confidentiality, intellectual property, non-competition, and/or non-solicitation agreement that I have entered into with the Company or with any of the other Released Parties.  

 

As a condition of receiving the Severance Benefits I agree that for a period of 90 calendar days beginning with my separation date I shall make myself reasonably available to respond to inquiries from the Released Parties related to carrying out an orderly transition of business following my termination of employment.  I agree that I will provide the Company’s General Counsel or his or her delegate two contact telephone numbers at which I can be reached, either in person or by message, and will update that contact information within 24 hours if it changes.  I further agree that I will return such calls from any of the Released Parties no later than the end of the business day immediately following the date of the call, and will provide information responsive to the request to the best of my ability.  I understand and acknowledge that my agreement to promptly and fully respond to such inquiries is a material condition of my eligibility for the Severance Benefits, and further understand and agree that in the event I do not cooperate as described herein, I will be immediately obligated to repay to the Company the entire gross amount of my Severance Benefits.

 

By signing this General Release, I affirm that I have provided complete and truthful information in response to all inquiries (the “Inquiries”) made by any of the Released Parties and any investigating authorities in connection with any governmental investigation of any of the Released Parties or litigation involving any of the Released Parties. By signing this General Release, I further affirm that I have disclosed to the Company’s General Counsel or his or her delegate any and all concerns I may have had arising from or related to my employment regarding potential material violations of applicable law and/or the Company’s Code of Conduct.  I agree, by signing the General Release, that if it is later determined that I knowingly provided materially misleading or untruthful information in response to any such Inquiries or failed to disclose during my employment any potential material violations of applicable law or the Company’s Code of Conduct of which I was aware, I will be immediately obligated to repay to the Company the entire gross amount of my Severance Benefits. 

 

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I agree to cooperate with any of the Released Parties in response to any governmental investigation. I acknowledge that in connection with my job responsibilities with any of the Released Parties I may have obtained or been privy to information that could be relevant to its or their defense of Company-related lawsuits currently pending or which may be asserted against it or them. I agree to make myself reasonably available for providing such information and, to the extent necessary, testimony. I understand that the Company will reimburse any reasonable out‐of-pocket expenses I may incur in providing this cooperation. I further understand that the Company will compensate me for time spent on such assistance at an hourly rate based on my base salary as of my termination date, with time spent rounded to the nearest quarter hour for billing purposes. Any such payment will be reported to me on a Form 1099, and I agree that I will be responsible for any resulting tax liability.

 

By signing this General Release, I am NOT giving up my right to appeal a denial of a claim for benefits submitted under my medical or dental coverage, life insurance or disability program maintained by the Company.  Also, I am NOT giving up my right to file for unemployment insurance benefits at the appropriate time if I so choose, and my signing of this General Release will NOT affect my rights, if any, to coverage by Workers’ Compensation insurance.  In addition, this General Release will not affect any benefits to which I am entitled under the Agreement or any claim arising out of the enforcement of the Agreement.  I agree that this General Release shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana.

 

My signature below acknowledges that I have read the above, understand what I am signing, and am acting of my own free will.  The Company has advised me to consult with an attorney and any other advisors of my choice prior to signing this General Release.  

 

 

SIGNATURE  ________________________________   DATE  ____________________

 

PRINT NAME ________________________________ 

 

 

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US.115484722.02zbh-ex1012_349.htm

Exhibit 10.12

CORPORATE EXECUTIVE CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-COMPETITION
AND NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT

 

This Corporate Executive Confidentiality, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement (“Agreement”) is made by and between Zimmer, Inc., a corporation having its principal headquarters in Warsaw, Indiana, and ______________________________ (“Employee”).

 

Recitals

A.For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Company" means Zimmer, Inc., Zimmer US, Inc. and/or any or each of their affiliates, parents, or direct or indirect subsidiaries (including but not limited to Biomet, Inc. and its affiliates, parents or direct or indirect subsidiaries), as well as any successor-in-interest to Zimmer, Inc., Zimmer US, Inc. and/or to any of their direct or indirect subsidiaries, affiliates, or parents.

B.Employee is employed or is being employed by Company in an executive and/or high-level managerial capacity in which Employee has or will have extensive access to trade secrets and confidential information of Company, and/or is being offered certain equity incentives.

C.Company has offered Employee employment and/or other valuable consideration, which may include without limitation such consideration as a job promotion, an increase in compensation, and/or an equity award, contingent upon Employee's entering into this Agreement.

Agreement

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Company and Employee agree to be legally bound as follows:

1.Acknowledgements.  Employee acknowledges that Company is engaged in the highly competitive business of the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of orthopedic- and musculoskeletal-related medical and surgical devices, products, and services, including but not limited to hip, knee, trauma, extremities, craniomaxillofacial, thoracic, dental rehabilitation, spine, microfixation, bone healing, bone cement, surgical, sports medicine, orthopedic diagnostic (including unique diagnostic products developed for or by Company) and/or biologics devices, products, processes and services, and that Employee serves or will serve in an executive and/or high-level managerial capacity for Company and in that capacity Employee has and/or will have access to and has and/or will gain knowledge of substantial trade secrets and confidential information of Company.

2.Non-Disclosure and Ownership of Confidential Information.  Employee acknowledges that Confidential Information is a valuable, special, and unique asset of Company, and solely the property of Company, and agrees to the following; provided, however, that this policy does not, in any manner, prevent employees from filing a complaint with, providing information to, or participating in an investigation conducted by, the Securities and Exchange 

 

Commission, the United States Equal Opportunity Commission or any other governmental or law enforcement agency.

(a)Confidential Information Defined.  The term “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, any and all of Company’s trade secrets, confidential and proprietary information and all other information and data of Company that is not generally known to the public or other third parties who could derive economic value from its use or disclosure.  Confidential Information includes, without limitation, technical information such as product specifications, compounds, formulas, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, inventions, techniques, new products and surgical training methods, and research and development information; confidential business methods and processes; business plans and strategies; marketing plans and strategies; non-public financial information including budgets, sales data, sales forecasts, sales quotas, and information regarding profits or losses; office optimization and logistics information; information pertaining to current and prospective customers; information pertaining to distributors and sales structures; pricing information; discount schedules; costing information; personnel information; compensation structure, schedules and plans; and information about current and prospective products or services, whether or not reduced to writing or other tangible medium of expression, including work product created by Employee in rendering services for Company.

(b)Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information.  During Employee's employment with Company and thereafter, Employee will not disclose, transfer, or use (or seek to induce others to disclose, transfer, or use) any Confidential Information for any purpose other than( i) disclosure to authorized employees and agents of Company who are bound to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information; (ii) for authorized purposes during the course of Employee’s employment in furtherance of Company’s business; and/or (iii) as specifically allowed or required under applicable law.  Employee's non-disclosure obligations shall continue as long as the Confidential Information remains confidential and shall not apply to information that becomes generally known to the public through no fault or action of Employee. The Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act provides that individuals may not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (a) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney if such disclosure is made solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law or for pursuing an anti-retaliation lawsuit; or (b) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal and the individual does not disclose the trade secret except pursuant to a court order.

(c)Protection of Confidential Information.  Employee will notify Company in writing of any circumstances which may constitute unauthorized disclosure, transfer, or use of Confidential Information.  Employee will use Employee's best efforts to protect Confidential Information from unauthorized disclosure, transfer, or use.  Employee will implement and abide by all procedures adopted by Company to prevent unauthorized disclosure, transfer, or use of Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the above requirements, nothing in this Agreement shall restrict Employee's right to make disclosures specifically allowed or required under applicable law.

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3.Ownership of Intellectual Property.

(a)Invention Defined.  The term “Invention” includes, but is not limited to ideas, programs, processes, systems, intellectual property, works of authorship, copyrightable materials, discoveries, and/or improvements which Employee discovers, invents, originates, develops, makes, authors, or conceives alone or in conjunction with others during Employee’s employment with Company and/or within six (6) months after Employee’s employment ends which relate to Company’s present or future business.  An Invention is covered by this Agreement regardless of whether (i) Employee conceived of the Invention in the scope of Employee’s employment; (ii) the Invention is patentable; or (iii) Company takes any action to commercialize or develop the Invention.

(b)Ownership of Inventions.  Inventions are solely the property of Company.  Employee agrees that by operation of law and/or the effect of this Agreement Employee does not have any rights, title, or interest in any Inventions.  Notwithstanding, Employee may be recognized as the inventor of an Invention without retaining any other rights associated therewith.

(c)Disclosure and Assignment of Inventions.  Employee hereby assigns to Company all right, title and interest Employee may have in any Inventions that are discovered, invented, originated, developed, made, authored, or conceived by Employee (whether alone or with others) during Employee’s employment with Company and/or within six (6) months after Employee’s employment ends which relate to Company’s present or future business.  Employee agrees to: (i) promptly disclose all such Inventions in writing to Company; (ii) keep complete and accurate records of all such Inventions, which records shall be Company property and shall be retained on Company premises; and (iii) execute such documents and do such other acts as may be necessary in the opinion of Company to establish and preserve Company’s property rights in all such Inventions.  This section shall not apply to any Invention for which no equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of Company was used and which was developed entirely on Employee’s own time, and (1) which does not relate (a) directly to the business of Company, or (b) to Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, and (2) which does not result from any work performed by Employee for Company.

(d)Works of Authorship.  All written, graphic or recorded material and all other works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression made or created by Employee, solely or jointly with others, during Employee’s employment with Company and relating to Company’s business, actual or contemplated, shall be the exclusive property of Company (collectively “Works”).  Company will have the exclusive right to copyright such Works.  Employee agrees that if any Work created while employed by Company, whether or not created at the direction of Company, is copyrightable, such Work will be a “work made for hire,” as that term is defined in the copyright laws of the United States.  If, for any reason, any copyrightable Works created by Employee are excluded from that definition, Employee hereby assigns and conveys to Company all right, title and interest (including any copyright and renewals) in such Works.

(e)Attribution and Use of Works and Inventions; Waiver of Assertion of “Moral” Rights in Inventions and Works.  Employee agrees that Company and its licensees are not 

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required to designate Employee as author, inventor or developer of any Works or Inventions when distributed or otherwise.  Employee hereby waives, and agrees not to assert, any “moral” rights in any Inventions and Works.  Employee agrees that Company and its licensees shall have sole discretion with regard to how and for what purposes any Inventions or Works are used or distributed.

(f)Employee Cooperation in Establishment of Company Proprietary Rights.  Employee will sign documents of assignment, declarations and other documents and take all other actions reasonably required by Company, at Company’s expense, to perfect and enforce any of its proprietary rights.  In the event Company is unable, for any reason whatsoever, to secure Employee’s signature to any lawful or necessary documents required to apply for, prosecute, perfect, or assign any United States or foreign application for Letters Patent, trademark, copyright registration, or other filing to protect any Invention or Work, Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Employee’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and on Employee’s behalf, to execute and file any such application, registration or other filing, and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution, issuance or assignment of Letters Patent or other protections on such Inventions, or registrations for trademark or copyright or other protections on such Works, with the same force and effect as if executed by Employee.

4.Return of Confidential Information and Company Property.  Immediately upon termination of Employee’s employment with Company, Employee shall return to Company all of Company’s property relating to Company’s business, including without limitation all of Company’s property which is in the possession, custody, or control of Employee such as Confidential Information, documents, hard copy files, copies of documents and electronic information/files, and equipment (e.g., computers and mobile phones).

5.Obligations to Other Entities or Persons.  Employee warrants that Employee is not bound by the terms of a confidentiality agreement or any other legal obligation which would either preclude or limit Employee from disclosing or using any of Employee’s ideas, inventions, discoveries or other information or otherwise fulfilling Employee’s obligations to Company.  While employed by Company, Employee shall not disclose or use any confidential information belonging to another entity or other person.

6.Conflict of Interest and Duty of Loyalty.  During Employee’s employment with Company, Employee shall not engage, directly or indirectly, in any activity, employment or business venture, whether or not for remuneration, that (i) is competitive with Company’s business; (ii) deprives or potentially could deprive Company of any business opportunity; (iii) conflicts or potentially could conflict with Company’s business interests; or (iv) is otherwise detrimental to Company, including but not limited to preparations to engage in any of the foregoing activities.

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7.Restrictive Covenants.  Employee agrees to, and covenants to comply with, each of the following separate and divisible restrictions:

(a)Definitions.

(1)“Competing Product” is defined as any implant, device, or medical product(s), service(s), instrument(s) or supplies that is or are the same as, related to, or similar to any product, process or service that Company is researching, developing, manufacturing, distributing, selling and/or providing at the time of Employee’s separation from employment with Company (including, but not limited to, any product or service Company’s Hip, Knee, Trauma, Extremities, Craniomaxillofacial, Thoracic, Biologics, Surgical, Sports Medicine, Microfixation, Bone Healing, Bone Cement, Orthopedic Diagnostic, Spine and/or Dental division is researching, developing, manufacturing, distributing, selling and/or providing at the time of Employee's separation from employment with Company).

(2)“Competing Organization” is defined as any organization that researches, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes and/or sells one or more Competing Products.  A Competing Organization is diversified if it operates multiple, independently operating business divisions, units, lines or segments some of which do not research, develop, manufacture, market, distribute and/or sell any Competing Products.

(3)“Prohibited Capacity” is defined as (a) any same or similar capacity to that held by Employee at any time during Employee's last two (2) years of employment with Company; (b) any executive or managerial capacity; or (c) any capacity in which Employee’s knowledge of Confidential Information and/or Inventions would render Employee’s assistance to a Competing Organization a competitive advantage.

(4)“Restricted Geographic Area” is defined as all countries, territories, parishes, municipalities and states in which Company is doing business or is selling its products at the time of termination of Employee’s employment with Company, including but not limited to every parish and municipality in the state of Louisiana.  Employee acknowledges that this geographic scope is reasonable given Employee's position with Company, the international scope of Company's business; and the fact that Employee could compete with Company from anywhere Company does business.   

(5)“Restricted Period” is defined as the date Employee executes this Agreement, continuing through the eighteen (18) months after the Employee’s last day of employment with Company unless otherwise extended by Employee’s breach of this Agreement.  The running time on the Restricted Period shall be suspended during any period in which Employee is in violation of any of the restrictive covenants set forth herein, and all restrictions shall automatically be extended by the period Employee was in violation of any such restrictions.

(6)“Customer” is defined as any person or entity with respect to whom, as of the date of Employee’s separation from Company employment or at any time during the two years prior to such separation, Company sold or provided any products and/or services. 

(7)“Active Prospect” is defined as any person or entity that Company individually and specifically marketed to and/or held discussions with regarding the distribution 

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and/or sale of any of Company's products, processes or services at any time during the last six (6) months of Employee’s employment with Company.

(8)“Severance Benefit Period” is the period of time represented by the total amount of any severance benefit offered to Employee (whether or not actually paid).  By way of illustration, if Employee were offered a lump-sum severance benefit equivalent to ten (10) weeks of Employee’s final base pay upon termination of his or her employment with the Company, Employee’s Severance Benefit Period would be 10 weeks, whether or not Employee actually fulfilled all requirements of receiving, and did receive, any portion of the severance benefit.

(b)Restrictive Covenants.  During the Restricted Period, Employee agrees to be bound by each of the following independent and divisible restrictions:  

(1)Covenant Not to Compete.  

(A)Employee will not, within the Restricted Geographic Area, be employed by, work for, consult with, provide services to, or lend assistance to any Competing Organization in a Prohibited Capacity.  

(B)Employee may be employed by, work for, consult with, provide services to, or lend assistance to a Competing Organization provided that: (i) the Competing Organization’s business is diversified; (ii) the part of the Competing Organization's business with which Employee will be affiliated would not, evaluated on a stand-alone basis, be a Competing Organization; (iii) Employee’s affiliation with the Competing Organization does not involve any Competing Products; (iv) Employee provides Company a written description of Employee’s anticipated activities on behalf of the Competing Organization which includes, without limitation, an assurance satisfactory to Company that Employee’s affiliation with the Competing Organization does not constitute a Prohibited Capacity; and (v) Employee's affiliation with the Competing Organization does not constitute a competitive disadvantage to Company.

(2)Covenant Not to Solicit Customers or Active Prospects.  Employee will not, directly or indirectly, (i) provide, sell, or market; (ii) assist in the provision, selling or marketing of; or (iii) attempt to provide, sell or market any Competing Products to any of Company’s Customers or Active Prospects located in the Restricted Geographic Area.

(3)Covenant Not to Interfere With Business Relationships.  Employee will not, within the Restricted Geographic Area, urge, induce or seek to induce any of Company’s independent contractors, subcontractors, distributors, brokers, consultants, sales representatives, customers, vendors, suppliers or any other person or entity with whom Company has a business relationship at the time of Employee's separation from Company employment to terminate its or their relationship with, or representation of, Company or to cancel, withdraw, reduce, limit or in any manner modify any such person’s or entity’s business with, or representation of, Company

(4)Covenant Not to Solicit Company Employees.  Employee will not employ, solicit for employment, or advise any other person or entity to employ or solicit for employment, any individual employed by Company at the time of Employee's separation from Company 

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employment, or otherwise directly or indirectly induce or entice any such employee to leave his/her employment with Company.

(5)Covenant Not to Disparage Company.  Employee will not make or publish any disparaging or derogatory statements about Company; about Company's products, processes, or services; or about Company's past, present and future officers, directors, employees, attorneys and agents.  Disparaging or derogatory statements include, but are not limited to, negative statements regarding Company’s business or other practices; provided, however, nothing herein shall prohibit Employee from providing any information as may be compelled by law or legal process.

8.Reasonableness of Terms.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that the restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement restrict Employee from engaging in activities for a competitive purpose and are reasonably necessary to protect Company’s legitimate interests in Confidential Information, Inventions, and goodwill.  Additionally, Employee acknowledges and agrees that the restrictive covenants are reasonable in all respects, including, but not limited to, temporal duration, scope of prohibited activities and geographic area.  Employee further acknowledges and agrees that the restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement will not pose unreasonable hardship on Employee and that Employee will have a reasonable opportunity to earn an equivalent livelihood without violating any provision of this Agreement.

9.Non-Competition Period Payments.    

(a)Eligibility and Amount.  In the event of Employee’s involuntary separation from employment with the Company for a reason that renders Employee eligible for benefits under the terms of the Company’s Severance Plan, then to the extent Employee is denied, solely because of the restrictive covenant provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement, a specific full-time or part-time employment, consulting, or other position that would otherwise be offered to Employee by a Competing Organization, and provided Employee satisfies all conditions stated herein, then upon expiration of Employee’s Severance Benefit Period, Company will make monthly payments to Employee for each month Employee remains unemployed through the end of the Restricted Period.  These monthly payments shall equal the lesser of Employee’s monthly base pay at the time of Employee's separation from Company employment (exclusive of bonus and other extra compensation and any other employee benefits) or the monthly compensation that would have been offered to Employee by the Competing Organization.  This Section 9 will not apply if Employee leaves employment with the Company voluntarily or if Company terminates Employee’s employment for a reason or reasons that render Employee ineligible for benefits under terms of the Company’s Severance Plan.

(b)Verification of Eligibility for Non-Competition Period Payments.  To qualify for payments under this Section 9, Employee must provide Company detailed written documentation supporting eligibility for payment, including, at a minimum, (i) the name and location of the Competing Organization that would have employed Employee but for the provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement, (ii) the title, nature, and detailed job responsibilities of the employment position with the Competing Organization that Employee was denied, (iii) the date Employee was denied the employment position, and (iv) the name and contact information of a managerial employee at the Competing Organization who has sufficient authority to confirm that Employee 

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was denied this specific employment position with the Competing Organization solely because Employee is subject to the provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement (the “eligibility documentation”).  Upon receipt of the eligibility documentation, Company will determine eligibility for payment and, if eligibility is established, payments will commence as of the date of Company’s receipt of the eligibility documentation or the date Employee’s Severance Benefit Period ends, whichever is later.  

(c)Obligation to Pursue Replacement Employment and Verification of Continued Eligibility for Non-Competition Period Payments.  Employee is obligated to diligently seek and pursue replacement employment that does not violate Section 7 of this Agreement ("replacement employment") during any period in which Employee seeks and/or accepts payment from Company under this Section 9.  After eligibility for non-competition period payments is established, Employee will, on or before the 15th day of each month of eligibility for continued payments, submit to Company a written statement (i) identifying by name and address all prospective employers with whom Employee has applied or inquired about employment; (ii) identifying positions sought with each listed employer and specific actions taken in seeking each position; (iii) describing all other efforts made to obtain replacement employment; and (iv) describing any offers of employment received, including the name of the employer; the nature, title, and compensation terms of the position offered; the actual or anticipated start date if the offer has been accepted; and the reason(s) for declining if the offer was declined.  

(d)Effect of Replacement Employment on Non-Competition Period Payments.  If Employee is denied a specific employment, consulting or other such position with a Competing Organization solely because of the restrictive covenant provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement but obtains other work for compensation, and the monthly compensation (including base pay, commissions, incentive compensation, bonuses, fees and other compensation) for the replacement work is less than Employee’s monthly base pay at the time of Employee’s separation from employment with Company, Company agrees to pay Employee the difference for each such month through the end of the Restricted Period, again upon expiration of any severance benefits which Employee was offered and provided Employee satisfies all conditions stated herein, with monthly payments not to exceed the amount to which Employee is entitled under subsection (a) of this Section 9. Employee shall submit to Company payroll records and/or any other records reasonably requested by Company showing all compensation received by Employee from the replacement work as a condition of Company's payment of Non-Competition Period Payments covering any period of time when Employee performs work for compensation.  

(e)Company's Right To Provide Release of Obligations in Lieu of Non-Competition Period Payments.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, Company reserves the right to release Employee from Employee’s obligations under Section 7 of this Agreement at any time during the Restricted Period, in full or in sufficient part to allow Employee to accept an opportunity that would otherwise be prohibited under this Agreement, at which time Company’s payment obligations under this Section 9 shall cease immediately and Employee shall not be entitled to any further such payments or compensation.

10.Severability, Modification of Restrictions.  The covenants and restrictions in this Agreement are separate and divisible, and to the extent any clause, portion or section of this Agreement is determined to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, Company and Employee 

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acknowledge and agree that such unenforceability or invalidity shall not affect the enforceability or validity of the remainder of the Agreement.  If any particular covenant, provision or clause of this Agreement is determined to be unreasonable or unenforceable for any reason, including, without limitation, temporal duration, scope of prohibited activity, and/or scope of geographic area, Company and Employee acknowledge and agree that such covenant, provision or clause shall automatically be deemed reformed to have the closest effect permitted by applicable law to the original form and shall be given effect and enforced as so reformed to whatever extent would be reasonable and enforceable under applicable law.  The parties agree that any court interpreting the provisions of this Agreement shall have the authority, if necessary, to reform any such provision to make it enforceable under applicable law.

11.Remedies.  Employee acknowledges that a breach or threatened breach by Employee of this Agreement will give rise to irreparable injury to Company and that money damages will not be adequate relief for such injury.  Accordingly, Employee agrees that Company shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief, including, but not limited to, temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and/or permanent injunctions, without having to post any bond or other security, to restrain or prohibit such breach or threatened breach, in addition to any other legal remedies which may be available.  In addition to all other relief to which it shall be entitled, Company shall be entitled to cease all payments to which Employee would otherwise be entitled under Section 9 hereto; continue to enforce this Agreement; recover from Employee all payments made under Section 9 to the extent attributable to a time during which Employee was in violation of the covenants for which payment was made; and recover from Employee all litigation costs and attorneys’ fees incurred by Company in any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in which Company prevails in any respect, including, but not limited to, any action or proceeding in which Company seeks enforcement of this Agreement or seeks relief from Employee’s violation of this Agreement.

12.Survival of Obligations.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee’s obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, Employee’s non-disclosure and non-competition obligations, shall survive the termination of Employee’s employment with Company, whether such termination is with or without cause and whether it is voluntary or involuntary.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Agreement alters the at-will nature of Employee's employment and that either Company or Employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.  Employee further acknowledges and agrees that:  (a) Employee’s non-disclosure, non-disparagement, non-solicitation and non-competition covenants set forth in Sections 2 and 7 of this Agreement shall be construed as independent covenants and that no breach of any contractual or legal duty by Company shall be held sufficient to excuse or terminate Employee’s obligations or to preclude Company from obtaining injunctive relief or other remedies for Employee’s violation or threatened violation of such covenants, and (b) the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to Company's enforcement of Employee's obligations under Sections 2 and 7 of this Agreement.

13.Governing Law and Choice of Forum.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, notwithstanding any state’s choice-of-law rules to the contrary.  The parties agree that any legal action relating to this Agreement 

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shall be commenced and maintained exclusively before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana if jurisdiction permits, or otherwise before any appropriate state court located in Kosciusko County, Indiana.  The parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction of such courts and waive any right to challenge or otherwise object to personal jurisdiction or venue, in any action commenced or maintained in such courts.  Language translations aside, the English version shall govern.

14.Enforcement.  The parties agree that Zimmer, Inc., Zimmer US, Inc. and/or any or each of their affiliates, parents, or direct or indirect subsidiaries (including but not limited to Biomet, Inc. and its direct or indirect subsidiaries), as well as any successor-in-interest to Zimmer, Inc., Zimmer US, Inc. and/or to any of their direct or indirect subsidiaries, affiliates, or parents are express and intended parties to and beneficiaries to this Agreement, with full rights to enforce this Agreement independently or in conjunction with each other.

15.Successors and Assigns.  Company shall have the right to assign this Agreement, and, accordingly, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and may be enforced by, any and all successors and assigns of Company, including without limitation by asset assignment, stock sale, merger, consolidation or other corporate reorganization, and shall be binding on Employee.  The services to be provided by Employee to Company are personal to Employee, and Employee shall not have the right to assign Employee’s duties under this Agreement.

16.Modification.  This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented, or modified except by a written document signed by both Employee and a duly authorized officer of Company.

17.No Waiver.  The failure of Company to insist in any one or more instances upon performance of any provision of this Agreement or to pursue its rights hereunder shall not be construed as a waiver of any such provisions or the relinquishment of any such rights.

18.Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which when taken together will constitute one and the same agreement.

19.Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, including Recitals, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subjects specifically addressed herein, and supersedes any prior agreements, understandings, or representations, oral or written, on the subjects addressed herein.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the employee has an existing non-competition, confidentiality, and/or non-solicitation agreement in favor of Company and has breached or violated the terms thereof, Company may continue to enforce its rights and remedies under and pursuant to such existing agreement.

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Employee’s signature below indicates that Employee has read the entire Agreement, understands what Employee is signing, and is signing the Agreement voluntarily.  Employee agrees that Company advised Employee to consult with an attorney prior to signing the Agreement.

 

 

 

“EMPLOYEE”

 

 

 

(Employee Signature)

 

Printed Name: 

 

Date: 

 

 

“COMPANY”

 

 

 

By:_______________________________________

 

 

Printed Name: _____________________________

 

Title: _____________________________________

 

Date: _____________________________________

 

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