EX-10.1 2 d585245dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of July 26, 2018 (the “Agreement”), between IQVIA Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) and Ari Bousbib (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Executive continue to serve the Company as its Chief Executive Officer and President on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

1. General.

This Agreement shall govern the terms and conditions of the Executive’s continued employment with the Company on and after July 26, 2018 (the “Effective Date”). The Executive’s principal place of employment shall continue to be at the Company’s offices in New York, New York and Parsippany, New Jersey.

2. Employment, Duties and Agreements.

(a)    Position. The Company hereby agrees to continue to employ the Executive as its Chief Executive Officer and President, and the Executive hereby agrees to continue in such position and agrees to serve the Company in such capacities during the employment period fixed by Section 4 hereof (the “Employment Period”). During the Employment Period, subject to the requirements of applicable law (including, without limitation, any rules or regulations of any exchange on which the common stock of the Company is listed, if applicable), the Company agrees to propose to the shareholders of the Company at each applicable annual meeting occurring during the Employment Period the re-election of the Executive as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and the Executive shall so serve if re-elected. In addition, and without further compensation, the Executive shall serve as a director and/or officer of one or more of the Company’s Affiliates (as defined below) if so elected or appointed from time to time. In the event the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason, the Executive’s membership on the Board and the Executive’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company and any of the Company’s Affiliates shall also terminate, and the Executive shall be deemed to resign from the Board and from all such director and officer positions immediately upon such termination of employment, in each case, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Executive. The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with the Executive’s position and as may be reasonably assigned by the Board from time to time. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall report to, and shall act in accordance with, all reasonable instructions and directions of the Board and all applicable policies and rules of the Company.

(b)    Duties. During the Employment Period, excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive shall devote his full working time, energy and attention, and his best efforts, abilities, experience and talent, to the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder and shall faithfully and diligently endeavor to promote the business and best interests of the Company.


(c)    Outside Activities. During the Employment Period, the Executive may not, without the prior written consent of the Board, directly or indirectly, operate, participate in the management, operations or control of, or act as an executive, officer, consultant, agent or representative of, any type of business or service (other than as an executive of the Company); provided, that it shall not be a violation of the foregoing for the Executive to (i) manage his personal, familial, real estate, financial and legal affairs or trusts or (ii) serve as a director of (or similar position with) an educational, charitable, community, civic, religious or similar type of organization, with the approval of the Board, so long as, in each such case, such activities do not interfere with the performance of his duties and responsibilities to the Company as provided hereunder; and provided, further, that the Board shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the Executive serving as a director on the board of a company whose activities are not in competition, directly or indirectly, with those of the Company and the amount of time and attention required of the Executive to satisfy his obligations as such a director are not reasonably likely to, and do not, detract from the execution of his duties and responsibilities hereunder in any material respect. Such consent is hereby granted for the Executive to continue as a member of the board of directors of The Home Depot, Inc.

3. Compensation.

(a)    Base Salary. As compensation for the agreements made by the Executive herein and the performance by the Executive of his obligations hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay the Executive, pursuant to its normal and customary payroll procedures, a base salary at the rate of $1,600,000 per annum (the “Base Salary”). The Executive’s Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually by the Board or the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) for increase only.

(b)    Annual Bonus. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible, through participation in the Company’s annual bonus plan or program for its executives generally, as in effect from time to time (the “Bonus Plan”), to earn an annual bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) in each fiscal year during the Employment Period, with a target Annual Bonus of 200% of Base Salary, with the actual amount of the Annual Bonus paid to the Executive based on the achievement of performance objectives approved by the Board or the Compensation Committee (it being understood that the Executive may be eligible to earn an Annual Bonus in excess of the target Annual Bonus if performance for a fiscal year exceeds target performance to the extent determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee in accordance with the terms of the Bonus Plan). In addition, the Board or the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, increase the Executive’s target Annual Bonus opportunity as a percentage of Base Salary. To the extent so earned, any Annual Bonus shall be paid in accordance with the Bonus Plan.

(c)    Equity Awards. During the Employment Period the Executive shall be eligible to receive equity and equity-based awards in the discretion of the Board or the Compensation Committee and on such terms and conditions as determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee. Any equity and equity-based awards granted to the Executive, whether before or after the Effective Date, shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable Company equity incentive plan(s), as may be in effect from time to time, and the award agreements governing such equity or equity-based awards (any such plan and award agreements, collectively, the “Equity Agreements”).

 

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(d)    Benefits. During the Employment Period, except as specifically provided herein, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs of the Company that are made available generally to other senior executive officers of the Company, including the IMS Health Retirement Plan, the IMS Health Savings Equalization Plan, and the IMS Health Retirement Excess Plan (in each case, or any successor plan), but excluding the IMS Health Defined Contribution Executive Retirement Plan and those plans maintained for legacy employees of Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc., (ii) the Executive shall be entitled to be reimbursed up to $50,000 per year in the aggregate for home security and financial and estate planning expenses, tax preparation services and executive physical exams, (iii) the Executive shall be entitled to use a Company-leased automobile and be reimbursed for operating expenses relating to such automobile, (iv) the Executive shall be entitled to use the Company’s aircraft for business use and for up to 150 hours per year of personal use, subject, in the case of personal use, to the business needs of the Company, and the Executive’s family may accompany the Executive on any such travel, and (v) the Executive and/or the Executive’s family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in, and shall receive all benefits under, all of the Company’s welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs, including, but not limited to, its disability and health insurance plans and vacation/sick/personal days provided by the Company, which are made available generally to other senior executive officers of the Company (for the avoidance of doubt, such plans, practices, policies or programs shall not include any plan, practice, policy or program which provides benefits in the nature of severance or continuation pay), subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the applicable Company plan, practice, policy or program and subject, in the case of any reimbursement, to the Company’s policies and procedures now in force or as such policies and procedures may be modified with respect to all senior executive officers of the Company.

(e)    Reimbursement of Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable business expenses upon the presentation of statements of such expenses in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures now in force or as such policies and procedures may be modified with respect to all senior executive officers of the Company.

(f)    Section 280G. If all, or any portion, of the payments provided under this Agreement, either alone or together with other payments or benefits which the Executive receives or is entitled to receive from the Company or any of its Affiliates (as defined below), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) an amount limited so that no portion thereof shall fail to be tax deductible under Section 280G of the Code (the “Limited Amount”), or (ii) if the amount otherwise payable or to be provided to the Executive (without regard to clause (i)) reduced by the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code and all applicable federal, state and local employment and income taxes (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate) is greater than the Limited Amount, the amount otherwise payable to the Executive. If it is determined that the Limited Amount will maximize the Executive’s after-tax proceeds, payments and benefits shall be reduced to equal the Limited Amount in the following order: (i) first, by reducing cash severance payments (if and to the extent such severance payments are deemed to be “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code), (ii) second, by reducing other payments and benefits to which Q&A 24(c) of Section 1.280G-1 of the Treasury Regulations does not apply, and (iii) finally, by reducing all

 

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remaining payments and benefits (in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), starting with those payments and benefits for which the amount required to be taken into account under Section 280G of the Code is the greatest). All determinations made pursuant this Section 3(f) will be made at the Company’s expense by the independent public accounting firm most recently serving as the Company’s outside auditors or such other accounting or benefits consulting group or firm as the Company may designate.

4. Employment Period.

The Employment Period shall terminate on the third anniversary of the Effective Date, provided that on the third anniversary of the Effective Date and on each one-year anniversary thereafter, the Employment Period shall automatically be extended for additional one-year periods unless either party provides the other party with notice of non-renewal at least sixty (60) days before any such anniversary (the anniversary date on which the Employment Period terminates shall be referred to herein as the “Scheduled Termination Date”). For greater clarity, a non-renewal notice given as contemplated in this Section 4 shall be a Notice of Termination (as defined below) of employment, effective on the Scheduled Termination Date, for all purposes of this Agreement, and if given by the Company shall give rise to an involuntary separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) on the Scheduled Termination Date. If such Notice of Termination is given by the Company (an “Expiration Termination”), the Executive shall be entitled to receive the payments as set forth in Section 6(a) below. If such Notice of Termination is given by the Executive, the Executive shall only be entitled to receive the payments set forth in Section 6(c) below.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated during the Employment Period prior to the Scheduled Termination Date upon the earliest to occur of any one of the following events (at which time the Employment Period shall be terminated):

(a)    Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon his death.

(b)    Disability. The Company shall be entitled to terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Disability” if, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or disability, the Executive shall have been unable to perform his duties hereunder for a period of six (6) consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after written Notice of Termination is thereafter given the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of his duties hereunder.

(c)    Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall mean: (i) a material breach by the Executive of this Agreement or any agreement governing the terms of any equity or equity incentive award granted to the Executive, (ii) a material breach by the Executive of any written policy of the Company or any of its Affiliates that is damaging to the financial condition or reputation of the Company or its Affiliates, (iii) the willful failure by the Executive to reasonably and substantially perform his duties to the Company or any of its Affiliates, which failure is materially damaging to the financial condition or reputation of the Company or such Affiliate, (iv) the Executive’s willful misconduct or gross negligence which is injurious to the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (v) the commission by the Executive of a felony or other serious crime involving

 

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moral turpitude. In the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, the Company shall permit the Executive up to fifteen (15) days to cure such breach or failure if reasonably susceptible to cure. If, subsequent to the Executive’s termination of employment for other than Cause, it is determined that the Executive’s employment could have been terminated for Cause, the Executive’s employment shall be deemed to have been terminated for Cause retroactively to the date the events giving rise to such Cause occurred. For purposes of this Agreement, “Affiliates” means all persons and entities directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with respect to a specified person or entity, where control shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(d)    Without Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder during the Employment Period without Cause by giving a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 5 below).

(e)    Voluntarily. The Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder, without Good Reason, including as a result of Retirement, provided that the Executive provides the Company with notice of his intent to terminate his employment at least thirty (30) days, or, in the case of Retirement, at least one hundred and twenty (120) days, in advance of the Date of Termination (as defined in Section 5 below) in accordance with Section 5(a) below.

(f)    For Good Reason. The Executive may terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason, provided the Executive complies with all requirements of such a termination as provided hereunder and in Section 5 below. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following events or conditions occurring without the Executive’s express prior written consent, provided that the Executive shall have given written notice of such event or condition within a period not to exceed twenty (20) days of the Executive’s initial knowledge of the first existence of such event or condition, the Company shall not have remedied such event or condition within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice and the Executive shall have actually terminated his employment within thirty (30) days thereafter: (i) a materially adverse alteration in the nature or status of the Executive’s title, duties, responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) or the conditions of employment, provided, that a failure to re-appoint the Executive as Chairman of the Board or the Executive’s failure to be re-elected to the Board by the Company’s shareholders shall not constitute Good Reason hereunder, (ii) a material reduction in the Executive’s annual base salary or target annual bonus opportunity, (iii) a change of thirty-five (35) miles or more in the Executive’s principal place of employment, except for required travel on business to an extent substantially consistent with the Executive’s business travel obligations, (iv) the failure by the Company to pay to the Executive any material portion of the Executive’s compensation due hereunder, or (v) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement.

5. Termination Procedure.

(a)    Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or by the Executive during or upon the expiration of the Employment Period (other than a termination on account of the death of Executive) shall be communicated by written “Notice of Termination” to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement.

 

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(b)    Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Date of Termination” shall mean (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death, (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 4(c) of this Agreement, on the date the Executive receives Notice of Termination from the Company, (iii) if the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment without Good Reason, the date specified in the notice given pursuant to Section 4(e) herein, which shall not be less than thirty (30) days after the Notice of Termination (or one hundred and twenty (120) days thereafter, in the case of Retirement), (iv) if the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, the date specified in the notice given by the Executive of the event constituting Good Reason, which shall comply with the time periods and procedural requirements provided in Section 4(f) of this Agreement, and (v) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given or any later date (within thirty (30) days, or any alternative time period agreed upon by the parties, after the giving of such notice) set forth in such Notice of Termination, including the Scheduled Termination Date, as applicable.

6. Termination Payments.

(a)    Without Cause, For Good Reason or an Expiration Termination. In the event the Employment Period terminates under this Agreement as a result of any of (x) the Company terminating the Executive’s employment without Cause, (y) the Executive terminating his employment for Good Reason, or (z) an Expiration Termination, the Company shall pay the Executive (A) within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination, the Executive’s accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the Date of Termination; the Annual Bonus earned for the year prior to the Date of Termination if the Date of Termination occurs after year end but before the Annual Bonus is paid; unreimbursed expenses due under Section 3(e) of this Agreement; and vested rights under compensation and/or benefits plans (all to the extent not theretofore paid) (collectively, the “Accrued Benefits”) and (B) two (2) times the sum of Executive’s Base Salary and target Annual Bonus, payable in equal installments over a twenty four (24)-month period in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices, payable as provided in Section 6(e) below. In addition, (I) any equity or equity-based awards (or portions thereof) that are granted to the Executive after the Effective Date that are subject solely to time-based vesting conditions (collectively, the “Time Awards”), to the extent then unvested, shall vest in full as of the Date of Termination and, if applicable, shall remain exercisable until the latest date on which such awards may be exercised under the applicable Equity Agreements, determined without regard to the Executive’s termination of employment, and (II) any equity or equity-based awards (or portions thereof) that are granted to the Executive after the Effective Date that are subject to performance-based vesting conditions (the “Performance Awards”), to the extent then unvested, shall be eligible to vest following the end of the applicable performance period based on actual performance. The payments and benefits provided under this Section 6(a) (other than clause 6(a)(A)), including any accelerated vesting as provided herein, are subject to and conditioned upon the (i) Executive executing a timely and valid general release and waiver (in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A) (the “Release”), waiving all claims the Executive may have against the Company its successors, assigns, Affiliates, executives, officers and directors, (ii) the Executive delivering the executed Release to the Company within the time period specified by the Company following the Date of Termination, (iii) such Release and the waiver contained therein becoming effective in accordance with their respective terms, and (iv) the Executive’s compliance with Section 9 of this Agreement (the conditions described in (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), the “Termination Conditions”). For

 

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the avoidance of doubt, upon a termination of the Employment Period without Cause, as a result of Good Reason, or due to an Expiration Termination, the Executive shall not be entitled to any other compensation or benefits not expressly provided for in this Section 6(a), regardless of the time that would otherwise remain in the Employment Period had the Employment Period not been so terminated. Except as provided in this Section 6(a), and except for any vested benefits under any tax qualified pension plans of the Company, any rights under the Equity Agreements, and continuation of health insurance benefits on the terms and to the extent required by Section 4980B of the Code, and Section 601 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (which provisions are commonly known as “COBRA”), or such other similar law or regulation as may be applicable to the Executive or the Company with respect to the Executive, the Company shall have no additional obligations under this Agreement.

(b)    Change in Control. In the event the Employment Period terminates under this Agreement under circumstances described in Section 6(a) above except that such termination occurs within twenty-four (24) months following a transaction or event constituting a “change in control event” of the Company under Section 409A of the Code, the Company shall provide the Executive with all payments and benefits described in Section 6(a) above except that the amounts payable under clause (B) of the first sentence of Section 6(a) shall be payable in a lump sum following such termination at the time provided in Section 6(e) below rather than over a twenty four (24)-month period, and the Time Awards and the Performance Awards, to the extent then unvested, shall vest in full upon such termination, with the Performance Awards vesting based on a deemed achievement of target performance, and, if applicable, the Time Awards remaining exercisable until the latest date on which such awards may be exercised under the applicable Equity Agreements, determined without regard to the Executive’s termination of employment.

(c)    Cause or Voluntarily Other than for Good Reason (including Retirement). If the Executive’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period by the Company for Cause or voluntarily by the Executive other than for Good Reason, the Company shall pay the Executive within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination the Accrued Benefits. If the Executive terminates his employment due to his Retirement, subject to compliance by the Executive with the Termination Conditions, (I) the Time Awards, to the extent then unvested, shall vest as of the Date of Termination as to a prorated number of the shares subject to the portion of each such Time Award that would vest on the next regularly scheduled vesting date, prorated to reflect the number of whole months the Executive was employed following the most recent vesting date prior to the Date of Termination (or the date of grant, if there has not been a vesting date) over the number of whole months from the most recent vesting date prior to the Date of Termination (or the date of grant, if there has not been a vesting date) until the next regularly scheduled vesting date of such Time Award and, if applicable, shall remain exercisable until the latest date on which such awards may be exercised under the applicable Equity Agreements, determined without regard to the Executive’s termination of employment, and (II) the Performance Awards, to the extent then unvested, shall be eligible to vest following the end of the applicable performance period based on actual performance, with the number of shares subject to such awards that vest based on performance pro rated to reflect the number of whole months the Executive was employed during the applicable performance period over the number of whole months in the applicable performance period. Except as provided in this Section 6(c), and except for any vested benefits under any tax qualified pension plans of the Company, any rights under the Equity Agreements, and continuation of health insurance benefits on the terms and to the extent required by COBRA, or such other

 

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similar law or regulation as may be applicable to the Executive or the Company with respect to the Executive, the Company shall have no additional obligations under this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Retirement” shall mean a permanent retirement from active employment with the Company (other than at a time when Cause exists) after attaining age sixty-two (62) with at least five (5) years of employment with the Company or its subsidiaries.

(d)    Disability or Death. If the Executive’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period as a result of the Executive’s death or by the Company due to his Disability, the Company shall pay the Executive or the Executive’s estate, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination, the Accrued Benefits. In addition, the Time Awards and Performance Awards, to the extent then unvested, shall vest in full upon such termination, with Performance Awards vesting based on a deemed achievement of target performance, and, if applicable, the Time Awards remaining exercisable until the latest date on which such awards may be exercised under the applicable Equity Agreements, determined without regard to the Executive’s termination of employment, subject, in the case of a termination by the Company due to the Executive’s Disability, to compliance by the Executive (or his guardian or authorized representative, in the case of the Release) with the Termination Conditions. Except as provided in this Section 6(d), and except for any vested benefits under any tax qualified pension plans of the Company, any rights under the Equity Agreements, and continuation of health insurance benefits on the terms and to the extent required by COBRA, or such other similar law or regulation as may be applicable to the Executive or the Company with respect to the Executive, the Company shall have no additional obligations under this Agreement.

(e)    Release. Subject to Section 7(a) of this Agreement, any cash severance payments due under Section 6(a) or 6(b) of this Agreement will be paid or provided, or will begin to be paid or provided, on the first payroll date following the date the Release becomes irrevocable (the “Release Date”), with all payments and benefits that would have otherwise been made prior to the Release Date paid or provided on such date. In the case of any equity or equity-based award that vests (or remains eligible to vest) pursuant to Section 6(a), 6(b), 6(c) or 6(d) of this Agreement, (i) if the award requires exercise, the portion of the award that vests pursuant to such Section shall not become exercisable until the Release Date; and (ii) if the award requires the delivery of cash or shares upon vesting, such cash or shares shall be delivered as soon as administratively practicable after the Release Date, but in no event later than (x) sixty (60) days following the Termination Date for any equity or equity-based award that is a Time Award and (y) for any Performance Award, as soon as reasonably practicable following the vesting date of such Performance Award, but in no event later than the March 15th of the year following the year in which the performance period ends, as set forth in the agreement evidencing such award (or any earlier date, after vesting, as may be required to avoid characterization as non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable), in each case, notwithstanding any contrary provision in the equity compensation plan under which such award was granted or in the agreement evidencing such award.    Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Section 7(a) of this Agreement, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, if the Executive’s (or his guardian’s or authorized representative’s) period for considering the Release spans two (2) calendar years, then any payments or benefits that are subject to such release shall in all events be made in the second calendar year.

 

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(f)    Treatment of Equity. To the extent not specifically provided for herein, the vesting and exercisability of equity and equity-based awards (if any) held by the Executive at termination, and all other terms of such equity and equity-based awards (if any), shall be governed by the Equity Agreements.

7. Timing of Payments and Section 409A.

(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if at the time of the Executive’s termination of employment, the Executive is a “specified employee,” as defined below, any and all amounts payable under Section 6 above on account of such separation from service that would (but for this provision) be payable within six (6) months following the date of termination, shall instead be paid on the next business day following the expiration of such six (6) month period or, if earlier, the date of the Executive’s death; except (A) to the extent of amounts that do not constitute a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Treasury regulation Section 1.409A-1(b) (including without limitation by reason of the safe harbor set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), as determined by the Company in its reasonable good faith discretion); (B) benefits which qualify as excepted welfare benefits pursuant to Treasury regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5); or (C) other amounts or benefits that are not subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(b)    For purposes of this Agreement, all references to “termination of employment” and correlative phrases shall be construed to require a “separation from service” (as defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury regulations after giving effect to the presumptions contained therein), and the term “specified employee” means an individual determined by the Company to be a specified employee under Treasury regulation Section 1.409A-1(i).

(c)    Each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment and the right to a series of installment payments under this Agreement is to be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

(d)    Any reimbursements under this Agreement that would constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be subject to the following additional rules: (i) no reimbursement of any such expense shall affect the Executive’s right to reimbursement of any such expense in any other taxable year; (ii) reimbursement of the expense shall be made, if at all, promptly, but not later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred; and (iii) the right to reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

8. Legal Fees; Indemnification; Officers’ Liability Insurance.

(a)    In the event of any contest or dispute between the Company and the Executive with respect to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment hereunder, each of the parties shall be responsible for its respective legal fees and expenses.

(b)    The Executive shall be indemnified for all acts and omissions to act to the maximum extent permitted under the Company’s charter, by-laws and under applicable law. During the Employment Period and for six (6) years thereafter, the Executive shall be entitled to the same officers’ and directors’ liability insurance coverage that the Company provides generally

 

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to its other members of the Board (and if none, then to its officers), as may be amended from time to time for such directors and officers.

9. Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure; Executive Cooperation; Non-Disparagement.

(a)    Non-Competition. Without the consent in writing of the Board, the Executive will not, at any time during the Employment Period and for the two years following the Employment Period, acting alone or in conjunction with others, directly or indirectly (i) engage (either as owner, investor, partner, stockholder, employer, employee, consultant, advisor, or director) in any business in which he has been directly engaged on behalf of the Company or any Affiliate, or has supervised as an executive thereof, during the last two years prior to such termination, or which was engaged in or planned by the Company or an Affiliate at the time of such termination, in any geographic area in which such business was conducted or planned to be conducted; (ii) induce, or attempt to induce, any customers of the Company or any of its Affiliates with whom the Executive has had contacts or relationships, directly or indirectly, during and within the scope of his employment with the Company or any of its Affiliates, to curtail or cancel their business with the Company or any such Affiliate; (iii) induce, or attempt to influence, any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates to terminate employment; or (iv) solicit, hire or retain as an employee or independent contractor, or assist any third party in the solicitation, hire, or retention as an employee or independent contractor, any person who during the previous 12 months was an employee of the Company or any Affiliate. The provisions of subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) above are separate and distinct commitments independent of each of the other subparagraphs. It is agreed that the ownership of not more than one percent (1%) of the equity securities of any company having securities listed on an exchange or regularly traded in the over-the-counter market shall not, of itself, be deemed inconsistent with clause (i) of this Section 9(a).

(b)    Non-Disclosure. The Executive shall not, at any time during the Employment Period and thereafter (including following the Executive’s termination of employment for any reason), disclose, use, transfer, or sell, except in the course of employment with or other service to the Company, any proprietary information, secrets, organizational or employee information, or other confidential information belonging or relating to the Company, any of its Affiliates or customers so long as such information has not otherwise been disclosed or is not otherwise in the public domain, except as required by law or pursuant to legal process. In addition, upon termination of employment for any reason, the Executive will return to the Company or its Affiliates all documents and other media containing information belonging or relating to the Company or its Affiliates; provided, however, that the Executive may keep a copy of his contacts and/or rolodex and any compensatory or other agreements that are personal to the Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary, (a) nothing contained in this Agreement or any other agreement containing confidentiality provisions or other restrictive covenants in favor of the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be construed to limit, restrict or in any other way affect the Executive’s communicating with any governmental agency or entity, or communicating with any official or staff person of a governmental agency or entity, concerning matters relevant to the governmental agency or entity and (b) the Executive will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for disclosing a trade secret (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii)

 

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in a complaint or other document filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding; provided that notwithstanding this immunity from liability, Executive may be held liable if Executive unlawfully accesses trade secrets by unauthorized means.

(c)    Ownership of Work. The Executive will promptly disclose in writing to the Company all inventions, discoveries, developments, improvements and innovations (collectively referred to as “Inventions”) that the Executive has conceived or made during the Employment Period; provided, however, that in this context “Inventions” are limited to those which (i) relate in any manner to the existing or contemplated business or research activities of the Company or its Affiliates; (ii) are suggested by or result from the Executive’s work at the Company or its Affiliates (including any predecessors); or (iii) result from the use of the time, materials or facilities of the Company or its Affiliates. All Inventions will be the Company’s property rather than the Executive’s. Should the Company request it, the Executive agrees to sign any document that the Company may reasonably require to establish ownership in any Invention.

(d)    Cooperation With Regard to Litigation. The Executive agrees to cooperate with the Company, during the Employment Period and thereafter (including following the Executive’s termination of employment for any reason), by making himself available to testify on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, and to assist the Company, or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, in any such action, suit, or proceeding, by providing information and meeting and consulting with the Board or its representatives or counsel, or representatives or counsel to the Company, or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, as may be reasonably requested and after taking into account the Executive’s post-termination responsibilities and obligations. The Company agrees to reimburse the Executive, on an after-tax basis each calendar quarter, for all expenses actually incurred in connection with his provision of testimony or assistance in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(d) of this Agreement but not later than the last day of the year in which the expense was incurred.

(e)    Non-Disparagement. Subject to last sentence of Section 9(b) of this Agreement, the Executive shall not, at any time during the Employment Period and thereafter, make statements or representations, or otherwise communicate, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or take any action which may, directly or indirectly, disparage or be damaging to the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, advisors, businesses or reputations, nor shall any member of the Board, any officer of the Company, or the Senior Vice President of Human Resources of the Company make any such statements or representations regarding the Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Executive or the Company from making truthful statements that are required by applicable law, regulation or legal process. The Company agrees that the Executive, in addition to any other remedies available to him, shall be entitled to apply for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against any breach of the covenant contained in this subsection (e), without having to post bond.

(f)    Enforcement of Covenants. The Executive acknowledges that he has carefully read and considered all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the restraints imposed upon him pursuant to this Section 9. The Executive agrees without reservation that each of the restraints contained herein is necessary for the reasonable and proper protection of the goodwill, confidential information and other legitimate interests of the Company and its Affiliates; that each

 

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and every one of those restraints is reasonable in respect to subject matter, length of time and geographic area; and that these restraints, individually or in the aggregate, will not prevent him from obtaining other suitable employment during the period in which the Executive is bound by these restraints. The Executive further agrees that he will never assert, or permit to be asserted on his behalf, in any forum, any position contrary to the foregoing. The Executive further acknowledges that, were he to breach any of the covenants contained in this Section 9, the damage to the Company would be irreparable. The Executive therefore agrees that the Company, in addition to any other remedies available to it, shall be entitled to apply for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against any breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any of said covenants, without having to post bond. The parties further agree that, in the event that any provision of this Section 9 shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a geographic area or too great a range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Executive agrees that the period set forth in Section 9(a) above shall be tolled, and shall not run, during any period of time in which the Executive is in violation of the terms thereof, in order that the Company and its Affiliates shall have all of the agreed upon temporal protection recited herein. No breach of any provision of this Agreement by the Company, or any other claimed breach of contract or violation of law, or change in the nature or scope of the Executive’s employment relationship with the Company, shall operate to extinguish the Executive’s obligation to comply with this Section 9.

10. Miscellaneous.

(a)    Survival. The provisions of Section 6, Section 8(b), Section 9 and such provisions of this Section 10 as apply to give effect to such other surviving provisions shall survive the termination of the Employment Period and any termination or expiration of this Agreement.

(b)    Any notice or other communication required or permitted under this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and shall be deemed to be given when delivered personally or four days after it is mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or one day after it is sent by a reputable overnight courier service and, in each case, addressed as follows (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties):

 

If to the Company:

IQVIA Holdings Inc.

83 Wooster Heights Road

Danbury, CT 06810

Attn: General Counsel

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

Attention:Renata J. Ferrari, Esq.

 

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Email:Renata.Ferrari@ropesgray.com

Facsimile:617-235-7690

If to the Executive:

Ari Bousbib

At his last residence address shown on the payroll records of the Company

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

Arnold & Porter

601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Attn: Joshua F. Alloy

Email: Josh.Alloy@arnoldporter.com

Facsmile: 202-942-5999

or to such other address as any party hereto may designate by notice to the others.

(c)    This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the Executive’s employment hereunder, and supersedes and is in full substitution for any and all prior understandings or agreements with respect to the Executive’s employment (it being understood that any equity and equity-based awards shall be governed by the relevant Equity Agreements), including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement by and among IMS Health Incorporated, Healthcare Technology Holdings Inc. and the Executive dated August 16, 2010 and the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and among IMS Health Holdings Inc., IMS Health Incorporated and the Executive dated as of February 12, 2014.

(d)    This Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto, and any provision hereof may be waived only by an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought. The failure of any party hereto at any time to require the performance by any other party hereto of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the full right to require such performance at any time thereafter, nor shall the waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision hereof be taken or held to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of such provision or a waiver of the provision itself or a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement.

(e)    The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that each party has reviewed and negotiated the terms and provisions of this Agreement and has had the opportunity to contribute to its revision. Accordingly, the rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement. Rather, the terms of this Agreement shall be construed fairly as to both parties hereto and not in favor or against either party.

(f)    The parties hereto hereby represent that they each have the authority to enter into this Agreement, and the Executive hereby represents to the Company that the execution of, and

 

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performance of duties under, this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of or otherwise violate any other agreement to which the Executive is a party. The Executive hereby further represents to the Company that he will not utilize or disclose any confidential information obtained by the Executive in connection with any former employment with respect to his duties and responsibilities hereunder.

(g)    This Agreement is binding on and is for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives. Neither this Agreement nor any right or obligation hereunder may be assigned by the Executive.

(h)    The Company shall 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 assume this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in the Agreement, “the Company” shall mean both the Company as defined above and any such successor that assumes this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise.

(i)    Any provision of this Agreement (or portion thereof) which is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction and subject to this Section, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, without affecting in any way the remaining provisions thereof in such jurisdiction or rendering that or any other provisions of this Agreement invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction. If any covenant should be deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable because its scope is considered excessive, such covenant shall be modified so that the scope of the covenant is reduced only to the minimum extent necessary to render the modified covenant valid, legal and enforceable.

(j)    The Company may withhold from any amounts payable to the Executive hereunder all federal, state, city or other taxes that the Company may reasonably determine are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, (it being understood, that the Executive shall be responsible for payment of all taxes in respect of the payments and benefits provided herein).

(k)    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey without reference to its principles of conflicts of law.

(l)    This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic or facsimile of a signature shall be deemed to be and have the effect of an original signature.

(m)    The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be a part of or control or affect the meaning of any provision hereof.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

*    *    *    *    *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

ARI BOUSBIB
/s/ Ari Bousbib
Name: Ari Bousbib

 

IQVIA HOLDINGS INC.
/s/ Eric Sherbet

Name: Eric Sherbet

Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel

          and Secretary

[Signature Page to Ari Bousbib Employment Agreement]

 

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EXHIBIT A

Form of Release

We advise you to consult an attorney before you sign this Release. You have until the date which is seven (7) days after the Release is signed and returned to IQVIA Holdings Inc. to change your mind and revoke your Release. Your Release shall not become effective or enforceable until after that date.

In consideration for the payments and benefits provided under Section 6 of your Employment Agreement with IQVIA Holdings Inc. dated as of July 26, 2018 and effective as of such date (the “Agreement”), in connection with the termination of your employment (such payments and benefits collectively, the “Separation Payments”), by your signature below, you, for yourself and on behalf of your heirs, executors, agents, representatives, successors and assigns, hereby release and forever discharge IQVIA Holdings Inc. and its past and present parent corporations, subsidiaries, divisions, subdivisions, affiliates and related companies (collectively, the “Company”) and the Company’s past, present and future agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, assigns, stockholders, attorneys, insurers, employee benefit programs (and the trustees, administrators, fiduciaries and insurers of such programs), and any other persons acting by, through, under or in concert with any of the persons or entities listed herein, and their successors (hereinafter “those associated with the Company”), with respect to any and all claims, demands, actions and liabilities, whether in law or equity, which you may have against the Company or those associated with the Company of whatever kind, including, but not limited to, those arising out of your employment with the Company or the termination of that employment, except as otherwise expressly set forth below. You agree that this Release covers, but is not limited to, claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq., Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and any local, state or federal law, regulation or order providing workers’ compensation benefits, restricting an employer’s right to terminate employees or otherwise regulating employment, enforcing express or implied employment contracts or requiring an employer to deal with employees fairly or in good faith, or dealing with discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, veteran status, marital status, religion, disability, handicap, or age. You also agree that this Release includes claims based on wrongful termination of employment, breach of contract (express or implied), tort, or claims otherwise related to your employment or termination of employment with the Company and any claim for attorneys’ fees, expenses or costs of litigation. For the avoidance of doubt, as it relates to the Company’s agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, assigns, stockholders, attorneys and insurers, this Release does not include a release of claims, demands, actions and liabilities that are not related in any way to your relationship with the Company (whether as an employee, officer or director), the termination of that relationship or your equity ownership in the Company.

This Release covers all claims based on any facts or events, whether known or unknown by you, that occurred on or before the date of this Release. You expressly waive all rights you might have under any law that is intended to protect you from waiving unknown claims and by your signature


below indicate your understanding of the significance of doing so. Examples of released claims include, but are not limited to: (a) claims that in any way relate to your employment with the Company, or the termination of that employment, such as claims for compensation, bonuses, commissions, equity awards, lost wages, or unused accrued vacation or sick pay (other than the Separation Payments); (b) claims that in any way relate to the design or administration of any employee benefit program; (c) claims that you have irrevocable or vested rights to severance or similar benefits (other than the Separation Payments) or to post-employment health or group insurance benefits; (d) any claim, such as a benefit claim, that was explicitly or implicitly denied before you signed this Release; (e) any claim you might have for extra benefits as a consequence of payments you receive because of signing this Release; or (f) any claim to attorneys’ fees or other indemnities. Except to enforce this Release, you agree that you will never commence, prosecute, or cause to be commenced or prosecuted any lawsuit or proceeding of any kind against the Company, or those associated with the Company related to the claims released in this Agreement, in any forum and agree to withdraw with prejudice all such complaints or charges, if any, that you have filed against the Company or those associated with the Company. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, nothing herein is intended to or shall preclude you or anyone on your behalf from filing a complaint and/or charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any similar state or local government agency and/or filing a related lawsuit and/or cooperating with said agency in any investigation or other proceeding. Nonetheless, you acknowledge that you shall not be entitled to receive any personal relief, recovery, or monies in connection with any such complaint, charge or related lawsuit brought against the Company or any of those associated with the Company, without regard as to who brought said complaint or charge.

Anything in this Release to the contrary notwithstanding, this Release does not include a release of: (i) any rights you may have to indemnification and recovery of officers and directors liability insurance proceeds under any agreement (including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement), law, Company organizational document or policy, or otherwise; (ii) any rights you may have to equity, compensation or benefits under the Company’s equity, compensation or benefit plans that were accrued and unpaid prior to the date hereof and payable hereafter, except as otherwise provided in your Agreement or claims specifically identified in this Release; (iii) any rights or claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act or any other law, in each case, that arise after you sign this Release; (iv) your right to enforce this Release or any of the foregoing items described in this paragraph; or (v) your rights and obligations as a shareholder of the Company.

By signing this Release, you further agree as follows:

 

i. You have read this Release carefully and fully understand its terms;

 

ii. You have had at least twenty-one (21) days (or at least forty-five (45) days if so indicated by the Company) to consider the terms of the Release;

 

iii. You have seven (7) days from the date you sign this Release to revoke it by written notification to the Company. After this seven (7)-day period, this Release is final and binding and may not be revoked;

 

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iv. You have been advised to seek legal counsel and have had an opportunity to do so;

 

v. You would not otherwise be entitled to the benefits provided under your Agreement had you not agreed to execute this Release; and

 

vi. Your agreement to the terms set forth above is voluntary.

 

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By my signature below I acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Release as of the date indicated below.

 

Ari Bousbib

 

 

Date: _______________

[Signature Page to Ari Bousbib Release Agreement]

 

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