UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 28, 2015

 

 

Baxter International Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

1-4448   36-0781620

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Baxter Parkway, Deerfield, Illinois   60015
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(224) 948-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Departure of Directors and Officers

On October 28, 2015, Baxter International Inc. (the “Company”) announced the retirement of Robert L. Parkinson, Jr. as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and as Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) effective as of December 31, 2015.

Appointment of Officers

On October 28, 2015, the Board approved the appointment of José E. Almeida to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President effective as of January 1, 2016, concurrent with the retirement of Mr. Parkinson. Prior to that time, Mr. Almeida will serve as an executive officer of the Company. Mr. Almeida, age 53, served as an operating executive to the Carlyle Group L.P. from May 2015 until October 2015. Previously, he served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Covidien plc (“Covidien”) from March 2012 to January 2015, prior to Medtronic, Inc.’s acquisition of Covidien, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Covidien from July 2011 to March 2012. Mr. Almeida served in other executive roles with Covidien (and formerly Tyco Healthcare) between April 2004 and June 2011. Mr. Almeida has served on the board of directors of State Street Corporation since 2013 and on the boards of directors of Analog Devices and EMC Corporation since 2015.

Pursuant to the Company’s offer letter dated October 28, 2015, Mr. Almeida is entitled to the following:

 

    Annual base salary of $1,300,000;

 

    Eligibility to participate in the Company’s Management Incentive Compensation Program with a target bonus of 135% of annual base salary;

 

    An initial grant of $9,000,000 in long-term equity incentives under the Company’s 2015 Incentive Plan, consisting of a grant of 720,000 stock options, 63,043 performance share units (based on the Company’s total shareholder return for the period between October 28, 2015 and December 31, 2018) and 63,043 performance share units (based on the achievement of the return on capital measure to be established by the Board for 2016 compensation for executive officers, with vesting cycles to coincide with the Company’s March 2016 long-term incentive grants);

 

    Severance equal to two year’s base salary and target bonus (including health care coverage described in Mr. Almeida’s change of control agreement, as described below) in the event of an involuntary termination without cause by the Company or termination by Mr. Almeida with good reason within five years of October 28, 2015; and

 

    Participation in the Company’s other benefit plans in accordance with practices for other executives of a similar level (including entry into the Company’s form of change of control agreement for executive officers).

The foregoing summary of the offer (including the related equity grants) is qualified in its entirety by the complete text of the offer letter and the related equity plan description, copies of which are attached hereto Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.


Election of Directors

In addition, the Board has appointed Mr. Almeida to the 2017 class of the Board and as Chairman of the Board effective as of January 1, 2016. Mr. Almeida brings to the Board over 20 years of experience in the medical products industry, with strong leadership and management experience, as well as demonstrated international expertise.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On October 28, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Parkinson’s retirement and the appointment of Mr. Almeida as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and election as Chairman, effective as of January 1, 2016. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

10.1    Offer Letter dated October 28, 2015
10.2    Baxter International Inc. Equity Plan, adopted as of October 28, 2015
99.1    Press release dated October 28, 2015


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: October 29, 2015

 

BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
By:   /s/ David P. Scharf
  David P. Scharf
  Corporate Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

 


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

10.1    Offer Letter dated October 28, 2015
10.2    Baxter International Inc. Equity Plan, adopted as of October 28, 2015
99.1    Press release dated October 28, 2015

Exhibit 10.1

 

LOGO

October 28, 2015

Mr. José E. Almeida

12 Jeffrey Drive

North Attleboro, MA 02760

Dear Joe,

We are pleased to welcome you and confirm our verbal offer of employment with Baxter. Baxter is a global diversified healthcare company that applies innovative science and technology to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. It is this enduring commitment and our higher purpose of saving and sustaining lives that binds us a global team.

Your first day of employment is effective as of the date of execution of this letter. You will initially be elected as an Executive Officer of the Company, and your official appointment of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President will occur on January 1, 2016.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

The following explains the terms of your employment:

 

¡ Your salary will be $1,300,000 annualized.

 

¡ You will be eligible to participate in the Company’s annual cash bonus program beginning with the 2016 Plan year. Your target bonus will be 135% of your annual salary. The actual bonus you will receive will vary depending on both business performance and your individual assessment as determined by the Baxter Board of Directors.

 

¡ You will be eligible to participate in the Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program for senior management. Your initial annual LTI target will be $9,000,000. The LTI Program delivers this value through a mix of 50% stock options and 50% performance share units (PSUs). Baxter’s equity value targets are assessed annually and are subject to change based on market competitiveness and the company’s financial performance. Therefore, your equity value target in the future may be greater or less than what is stated in this letter.

 

¡ In fulfillment of the preceding paragraph, effective with the start of your employment, we will accelerate the granting of your 2016 annual LTI award of $9,000,000. Your stock options will have an exercise price based on the closing price of Baxter’s stock on the date of this letter’s execution. One-half of your PSUs will be based on Baxter’s relative total shareholder return versus its peer group for the period from the date of execution of this letter to December 31, 2018. The remaining one-half of your PSUs will be based on a return on capital measure, to be set by the Board in March 2016, for the period January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2018. Subject to the terms of the LTI Program, these grants will have vesting cycles to coincide with the Company’s March 2016 LTI grants. The stock options will vest in three equal installments, with the first installment vesting in March 2017. The PSUs will have a performance period ending on December 31, 2018 and will vest in the first quarter of 2019, subject to approval by the Baxter Board of Directors.

 

¡ You will be eligible for a severance agreement that applies in the event of a change in control of the Company (CIC Agreement). We anticipate that you will enter into such severance agreement as of the date of execution of this letter.

 

¡

Outside the context of the CIC Agreement, if your employment is terminated within five years following the date of this letter other than (a) by the Company for Cause or (b) by you without Good Reason, the

 

Baxter Healthcare Corporation

One Baxter Parkway / Deerfield, Illinois 60015

T 224.948.2000


Company will provide you not more than sixty days following your termination of employment with a lump sum separation payment equal to two times your annual base salary and bonus target, including health care coverage described in the CIC Agreement, provided that you have properly executed within forty-five days following the Date of Termination and not timely revoked a customary release of claims in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company. In exchange and also outside the context of the CIC Agreement, you agree to abide by the non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-disparagement provisions provided in Section 9 of the CIC Agreement. The capitalized terms in this paragraph have the meanings provided in the CIC Agreement without regard to whether a Change in Control has occurred.

 

¡ You will be eligible to participate in the U.S. Deferred Compensation Plan beginning with the 2016 plan year. Through this plan, you can elect to defer eligible compensation (base salary and OICP bonus) and receive Company contributions in respect to amounts above the Internal Revenue Service limits set for qualified 401(k) plans.

 

¡ You will be eligible for 5 weeks of vacation per year.

 

¡ The term of your employment is “at will” which means that you or the Company may end your employment at any time and for any reason.

 

¡ All payments to you from the Company may be subject to tax and other withholdings and deductions as required or permitted by applicable law and Company policies.

 

¡ All payments to you from the Company are also subject to Baxter’s Executive Compensation Recoupment Policy.

 

¡ We intend that all consideration to be paid or provided under this letter comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code so as not to subject you to taxes or penalties that may be imposed under 409A. This letter shall be interpreted consistent with that intent, and, to the extent any provision hereof would result in your payment of such taxes or penalties, we agree to amend this letter in a manner to bring it into compliance with 409A and preserve as possible the economic value of the relevant consideration.

RELOCATION

 

¡ Baxter will assist you with relocation expenses from Boston to Illinois, according to our Relocation Policy. At the appropriate time, a representative from AIReS will be contacting you to initiate your relocation process.

 

¡ Baxter has committed considerable resources to develop a program that will benefit you during your relocation. You are asked to take part in this partnership and complete the relocation agreement prior to beginning the relocation process.

BENEFITS

 

¡ Baxter provides a comprehensive benefits program. As of your start date, you will be eligible to participate in Baxter’s Flexible Benefits Program which includes: Medical Benefits, Dental Benefits, Prescription Service, and Personal Accident Insurance, subject to the Plan’s provisions. Please note that you must enroll within 21 days of your start date to receive this coverage . You are also immediately eligible for Basic Employee Term Life Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, and Business Travel Insurance.


¡ You will be eligible for reimbursement for an annual executive physical examination. We participate in an Executive Physical program offered by Northwestern University. More details on that program will be provided as part of your new hire orientation.

 

¡ You are also eligible to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), which provides employees with the opportunity to purchase Baxter common stock each month at a 15 percent discount through convenient payroll deductions. More information on the ESPP will be provided at your new hire orientation.

 

¡ You will be eligible to contribute to the Company’s 401(k) plan (Incentive Investment Plan) on the first of the month following one month of employment. At that time, you will also be eligible to participate in the Company’s matching in the plan.

 

  Please note that Baxter’s Benefits Program is subject to change and any such change would supersede this letter.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

 

 

¡ Your employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background screen that will be conducted on behalf of Baxter.

 

¡ You represent that you have no obligations, oral or in writing, with any of your former employers which restrict your ability to be employed by Baxter. You understand that your continued employment is contingent upon this representation. Additionally, Baxter has not made this offer of employment to you in order to obtain from you any confidential or trade secret information of your former employers, and Baxter will not ask you to use or disclose such confidential and trade secret information in your Baxter employment. Indeed, you have a continuing obligation not to use or disclose the confidential and trade secret information of your former employers or other party, and, by entering into Baxter employment, you acknowledge that you will not use or disclose any of the confidential and trade secret information of your former employers or other party.

 

¡ Your employment is contingent upon your timely scheduling and completion of a drug screening test in accordance with Company policy, and receiving a satisfactory result. You will receive an e-mail from First Advantage, Baxter’s drug screening vendor, with instructions on how to complete your drug screen. You will need to complete the drug screen within 72 business hours of receiving notification to do so. You will need to bring with you the Registration Number found in the e-mail you will receive, and a valid photo identification.

 

¡ This offer and continued employment at Baxter are contingent upon providing valid authorization to work in the United States. Federal guidelines require all new employees to complete I-9 forms within 72 hours of their start dates. For remote employees, Baxter partners with Kelly Services to assist in the completion of Section 1 and Section 2 of your I-9. Kelly Services will be contacting you to schedule a time to complete this information, and they will be responsible for returning the I-9 documentation back to Baxter.

 

¡ Baxter’s Code of Conduct communicates Baxter’s business ethics policies and procedures. You will be asked to acknowledge your receipt and understanding of and agree to be bound by Baxter’s Code of Conduct at New Hire Orientation.


Please indicate your written acceptance of this offer, and acknowledgement that the Company’s standard plans, policies and programs in connection with this letter were provided to you separately, by signing the original copy of this letter and returning it in the enclosed envelope.

We are committed to making Baxter a rewarding place to work and develop where we do work that benefits so many in such a profound way. We look forward to having you join the team.

Sincerely,

Baxter Board of Directors by

Thomas T. Stallkamp, Lead Director

/s/ Thomas T. Stallkamp

John Forsyth, Compensation Committee Chair

/s/ John Forsyth

Accepted by:

José E. Almeida

/s/ José E. Almeida

Exhibit 10.2

Baxter International Inc.

Equity Plan

adopted as of October 28, 2015

 

1. Purpose

This Equity Plan (the “ Plan ”) has been adopted by the Compensation Committee (the “ Committee ”) of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Baxter International Inc. (“ Baxter ”) and by the Board.

 

2. Participants

Participants in this Plan (each a “ Participant ”) shall be select employees of Baxter or its subsidiaries (the “ Company ”) to whom the Committee may make awards of stock options (each an “ Option ”) and performance share units (each a “ PSU ,” and together with Options, “ Awards ”) under this Plan; provided , that for certain Participants (including the Chief Executive Officer of Baxter), awards under this Plan must be approved by the Board in accordance with the terms of the Committee’s charter and applicable federal and state securities and tax law. References herein to “Committee” shall be deemed to refer to the Board with respect to any such Participants.

 

3. Awards

Awards shall be made pursuant to and for the purposes stated in the Company’s 2015 Incentive Pan (the “ Program ”) and identified in the individual grant materials provided to the Participant (the “ Grant ”). Such Grant materials consist of a communication letter to Participants notifying them of their Awards. All Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to the Company’s Executive Compensation Recoupment Policy. Each Award shall be granted as of the date approved and as provided in the Grant (the “ Grant Date ”). The purchase price for each Share subject to an Option shall be the Fair Market Value of a share of common stock (the “ Common Stock ”), par value $1.00, of Baxter (each a “ Share ”) on the Grant Date. The terms of each Award will be as set forth in this Plan. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Plan shall have the meanings set forth in the Program. Options are not intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of section 422 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “ Code ”).

 

4. Options

4.1. Options shall become exercisable as follows: (i) one-third on March 3, 2017, (ii) one-third on March 3, 2018, and (iii) the remainder on March 3, 2019. After Options become exercisable (in each case, in whole or in part) and until they expire, the Options may be exercised in whole or in part, in the manner specified by the Committee. If Options would become exercisable on a date that is not a business day, they will become exercisable on the next business day. A business day is any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Under no circumstances may Options be exercised after they have expired. Shares may be used to pay the purchase price for Shares to be acquired upon exercise of Options or fulfill any tax withholding obligation, subject to any requirements or restrictions specified by the Committee.


4.2. If a Participant’s employment with the Company terminates before the Participant’s Options become exercisable, the Options will expire when the Participant’s employment with the Company terminates, except (i) in connection with a Qualifying Retirement or death or disability (each as outlined below) or (ii) if the Participant is rehired by the Company within ninety days of termination, in which case the Participant shall be construed to have been continuously employed by the Company for purposes of vesting and exercise.

4.3. If a Participant’s employment with the Company terminates after the Participant’s Options become exercisable, the Options will not expire immediately but will remain exercisable. Subject to Section 4.6 and except in the event of a Qualifying Retirement (as provided in Section 4.4 ), the Options will expire ninety days after the Participant’s employment with the Company terminates. If the Participant dies or becomes disabled during the ninety-day period, the Options will expire on the fifth anniversary of the termination date.

4.4. If the employment of a Participant who is at least 65 years of age, or at least 55 years of age with at least 10 years of employment with the Company, is terminated other than for Cause or by reason of the Participant’s death or disability (a “ Qualifying Retirement ”) then (i) if the date of such termination is after December 31, 2016, the Options shall continue to vest as provided in Section 4.1, or (ii) if the date of such termination is on or prior to December 31, 2016, a portion of the Options shall continue to vest as provided in Section 4.1 , which portion shall be determined as follows: (# shares covered by Option award) * (# of months worked, rounded to nearest whole month) / 14. Subject to Section 4.6 , the Participant’s Options (whether vesting pursuant to (i) or (ii) or previously vested) shall expire on the fifth anniversary of the termination date.

4.5 If the employment of a Participant is terminated due to death or disability, then (i) if the date of such termination is after December 31, 2016, the Options shall vest immediately, or (ii) if the date of such termination is on or prior to December 31, 2016, a portion of the Options shall vest immediately, which portion shall be determined as follows: (# shares covered by Option award) * (# of months worked, rounded to nearest whole month) / 14. Subject to Section 4.6 , such Options will expire on the fifth anniversary of the termination date.

4.6. Options that have not previously expired will expire at the close of business on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date. If Options would expire on a date that is not a business day, they will expire at the close of business on the last business day preceding that date.

4.7. Except as the Committee may otherwise provide, Options may only be exercised by the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, or a person to whom the Participant’s rights in the Options are transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

4.8. A transfer of employment within the Company will not constitute a termination of employment within the meaning of the Plan.

 

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4.9. A transfer of employment to a company that assumes an Option or issues a substitute option in a transaction to which Section 424 of the Code applies will not constitute a termination of employment within the meaning of the Plan.

4.10. Except to the extent that it would cause the Option to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without receiving permission from any Participant, substitute stock appreciation rights (“ SARs ”) for any or all outstanding Options. Upon the grant of substitute SARs, the related Options replaced by the substitute SARs shall be cancelled. The grant price of the substitute SARs shall be equal to the Option Price of the related Options, the term of the substitute SARs shall not exceed the term of the related Options, and the terms and conditions applicable to the substitute SARs shall otherwise be substantially the same as those applicable to the related Options replaced by the substitute SARs. Upon exercise, the SARs will be settled in Shares.

 

5. Performance Share Units

 

5.1. The PSUs will be earned 50% under Section 5.1(a) and 50% under Section 5.1(b) as follows:

5.1(a). The PSUs earned under this subsection (a) will be earned based on the rank of Baxter’s growth in shareholder value (“ GSV ”) relative to the GSV of companies in the healthcare peer group selected by the Committee on or prior to the date hereof (the “ GSV PSUs ”). GSV will be measured over a three-year period beginning with the Grant Date and ending on December 31, 2018 (the “ GSV Performance Period ”).

The GSV PSUs will pay out in shares of Common Stock in a range of 0% to 200% of the number of GSV PSUs awarded to the Participant as follows:

 

Baxter’s Percent Rank

   Percentage of Target Grant Earned

85 percent or above

   200%

75 percent

   150%

60 percent

   100%

25 percent

   25%

Below 25 percent

   0%

The GSV PSUs will pay out linearly between each set of data points. GSV will be measured based on the average closing stock prices over the last twenty days of the GSV Performance Period (plus reinvested dividends) divided by average closing stock prices over the twenty trading days prior to the beginning of the GSV Performance Period.

5.1(b). The PSUs earned under this subsection (b) will be earned based on a return on capital measure for the Company to be selected by the Committee for the Company’s executive officers generally for 2016 compensation (the “ Return on Capital PSUs ”). The Committee will also determine, with respect to the Return on Capital PSUs, the frequency with which the return on capital measure will be measured for the period beginning January 1, 2016 and ending on December 31, 2018 (the “ Return on Capital Performance Period ” and together with the GSV Performance Period, the “ Performance Periods ”). If there is more than one measurement period within the Return on Capital Performance Period, the Return on Capital RSUs will be allocated

 

3


on a pro rata basis across the measurement periods. For each measurement period, the Committee will set a target return on capital performance within the first ninety (90) days of each measurement period and assess annual performance against that target after the conclusion of that measurement period, which shall be finalized in accordance with Section 5.1(c) . If there is more than one measurement period within the Return on Capital Performance Period, Return on Capital PSUs for each measurement period shall be deemed earned at such time but shall not vest until the end of the three-year Return on Capital Performance Period. The use of the term “earned” in this context shall not be construed to imply that the Participant has completed any portion of the service required to receive a payment with respect to the ROIC PSUs until the end of the vesting period.

For each measurement period, the Committee will establish the range of shares of Common Stock into which the Return on Capital PSUs awarded to the Participant will pay out based on the return on capital achieved by the Company during such measurement period; provided , that such range shall be the same range established by the Committee for executive officers generally for 2016 compensation.

5.1(c). Following the end of the Performance Periods, the Committee shall determine the PSU payout, which determination shall be final and binding. Shares of Common Stock earned will be delivered or otherwise made available to the Participant as soon as practical after the Committee makes its determination but not later than the March 15 after the end of the Performance Periods. PSUs will only be settled in shares of Common Stock. Any other settlement modality shall be considered an exception, which would have to be approved separately by the Committee.

5.2. If a Participant’s employment with the Company terminates before the end of the Performance Periods, any unvested PSUs shall be forfeited on the effective date of termination, except (i) in connection with a Qualifying Retirement or death or disability (each as outlined below), or (ii) if the Participant is rehired by the Company within ninety days of termination, in which case the Participant shall be construed to have been continuously employed by the Company for purposes of vesting.

5.3. If the employment of a Participant terminates in a Qualifying Retirement then (i) if the date of such termination is after December 31, 2016, the PSUs will remain eligible for payout at the end of the Performance Periods on the terms provided in Section 5.1 , or (ii) if the date of such termination is on or prior to December 31, 2016, a portion of the unearned PSUs shall remain eligible for payout at the end of the Performance Periods on the terms provided in Section 5.1 , which portion shall be determined as follows: (# PSUs awarded) * (# of months worked, rounded to nearest whole month) / 14.

5.4 . If the employment with the Company of a Participant is terminated due to death or disability, the PSUs shall vest as follows: (i) if the date of such termination is after December 31, 2016, any unearned Return on Capital PSUs and any GSV PSUs shall pay out at 100% of the Target Grant (as depicted in the table in Section 5.1(a) and the related table to be established by the Committee in accordance with Section 5.1(b) ), in addition to payment of any earned ROIC PSUs, within the later of (A) sixty days of death or disability and (B) sixty days of the establishment of the related Target Grant, or (ii) if the date of such termination is on or prior to December 31, 2016, a portion of the unearned PSUs shall pay out as provided in (i), which portion shall be determined as follows: (# PSUs awarded) * (# of months worked, rounded to nearest whole month) / 14.

 

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5.4. The PSUs shall not be transferable and may not be sold, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered.

5.5. A transfer of employment within the Company will not constitute a termination of employment within the meaning of the Plan.

5.6. Until the shares of Common Stock have been delivered or otherwise made available as provided in Section 5.1 , the Participant shall not be treated as a shareholder as to those shares of Common Stock relating to the PSUs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant shall be permitted to receive additional PSUs with respect to the PSUs based upon the dividends and distributions paid on shares of Common Stock to the same extent as if each PSU were a share of Common Stock (without adjustment prior to vesting for payment levels set forth in the table in Section 5.1(a) and the related table to be established by the Committee in accordance with Section 5.1(b) ), which additional PSUs shall be determined in amount and value in the Company’s discretion and shall be delivered or made available at the same time and to the same extent as the PSUs to which they relate or as otherwise determined by the Company.

5.7. To the extent required by Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, no PSUs that become payable to a specified employee (as defined in the Baxter International Inc. and Subsidiaries Deferred Compensation Plan) by reason of a separation from service shall be paid until the first day of the seventh month following the separation from service, and the PSUs shall be otherwise interpreted and administered in accordance with Section 409A.

 

6. Change in Control

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Program or this Plan (and in lieu of vesting at the times otherwise provided in the Program), if the termination of employment of a Participant occurs upon or within twenty-four (24) months following a Change in Control by reason of (a) termination by the Company for reasons other than for Cause or (b) termination by the Participant for Good Reason, then (i) all Awards shall become immediately vested and exercisable, and (ii) in the case of PSUs, all performance targets shall be deemed to be met at 100% of the Target Grant (consistent with the table in Section 5.1(a) and the related table to be established by the Committee in accordance with Section 5.1(b) ), as may be equitably increased in the discretion of the Committee to reflect actual performance through the date of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company’s consent is required to consummate a Change of Control transaction prior to the establishment of return of capital and related targets in accordance with Section 5.1(b) , the Committee shall establish such targets, and otherwise satisfy its obligations under Section 5.1(b) with respect to the Return on Capital PSUs, prior to providing such consent.

 

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7. Additional Definitions

For purposes of the Plan, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings provided below.

Affiliate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Cause ” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Change in Control Agreement.

Change in Control ” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Change in Control Agreement.

Change in Control Agreement ” means the change in control agreement to be entered into between the Company and the Participant on or about the Grant Date that provides for benefits upon termination for good reason or cause in connection with a change in control of Baxter.

Good Reason ” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Participant’s Change in Control Agreement.

Person ” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) Baxter or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of Baxter or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of Baxter in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of Baxter.

 

8. Withholding

Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, all Awards (including the payout of Awards) under the Plan are subject to withholding of all applicable taxes, which withholding obligations may be satisfied, with the consent of the Committee, through the surrender of Shares that the Participant already owns or to which a Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan; provided , however, with the consent of the Committee, previously-owned Shares that have been held by the Participant or Shares to which the Participant is entitled under the Plan may only be used to satisfy the minimum tax withholding required by applicable law (or other rates that will not have a negative accounting impact).

 

9. Program Controls

Except as specifically provided in the Plan, in the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and the Program, the Program will control, but only to the extent such Program provisions will not violate the provisions of section 409A of the Code.

 

6

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Deborah Spak, (224) 948-2349

media@baxter.com

Investor Contacts:

Scott Bohaboy, (224) 948-3212

Clare Trachtman, (224) 948-3085

BAXTER NAMES JOSÉ ALMEIDA CHAIRMAN AND CEO

DEERFIELD, Ill., October 28, 2015 – The board of directors of Baxter International (NYSE: BAX) today announced it has named José (Joe) Almeida the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective January 1, 2016. Almeida will join the company immediately as an executive officer to facilitate a smooth leadership transition.

Almeida, 53, will succeed Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., who has served as the company’s Chairman and CEO since 2004 and will retire from these roles January 1, 2016, with a brief transition period thereafter. Upon retirement, Parkinson will assume the title of Chairman Emeritus.

“Joe brings to Baxter tremendous experience in the global medical products marketplace and has a demonstrated record of improving profitability and creating value for all stakeholders,” said Parkinson. “His deep understanding of the complex global supply chain will be a great strength for the company as he oversees a broad portfolio of medically necessary products across a geographically expansive marketplace. What Joe brings to Baxter in skill and experience is imperative to the company’s stated goal of accelerating profitable growth over the near and long term.”

“Baxter is a trusted and admired brand in healthcare. The foundational mission of Baxter to save and sustain lives is at the center of the company’s ability to endure, serving the needs of healthcare providers and patients for more than 80 years,” said Almeida. “Leading the company as it emerges from the spinoff of Baxalta presents an outstanding opportunity to create value and further the company’s mission.”

“We are extremely pleased for Joe to assume the leadership role at Baxter and carry forward important growth initiatives underway, while creating new opportunities to unleash value,” said Thomas T. Stallkamp, lead independent director of Baxter. “Joe has more than 24 years of global healthcare experience and an outstanding record of results and clear alignment to our strategy and culture, which led the board to unanimously endorse him as the right leader for the company,” said Stallkamp. “We also owe our gratitude to Bob Parkinson, whose leadership, integrity and vision have transformed and prepared Baxter for sustained success.”

About Almeida

Almeida served as Chairman, President and CEO of Covidien from 2012 through 2015 and was named a director of the company in 2011. Prior to his appointment as Chairman, President and CEO at Covidien, Almeida was President of its Medical Devices organization. In this position, he oversaw several businesses accounting for approximately two-thirds of the company’s total annual revenues and approximately three-quarters of its operating profit.

In addition to Covidien, Almeida held leadership positions at Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc., American Home Products’ Acufex Microsurgical division, and Johnson & Johnson’s Professional Products division. He began his career as a management consultant at Andersen Consulting (Accenture).

A native of Brazil, Mr. Almeida received a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering from Escola de Engenharia Mauá in São Paulo.


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About Baxter

Baxter provides a broad portfolio of essential renal and hospital products, including home, acute and in-center dialysis; sterile IV solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition; biosurgery products and anesthetics; and pharmacy automation, software and services. The company’s global footprint and the critical nature of its products and services play a key role in expanding access to healthcare in emerging and developed countries. Baxter’s employees worldwide are building upon the company’s rich heritage of medical breakthroughs to advance the next generation of healthcare innovations that enable patient care.

This release includes forward-looking statements concerning Baxter’s future performance and information related to the recent appointment of José Almeida as Baxter’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman, effective as of January 1, 2016. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: continued strength in the company’s financial position, including cash flows; future decisions of the board of directors of the company; the ability to achieve the intended results from the recent separation of the biopharmaceutical and medical products businesses or increased profitability in connection with recent management changes; and other risks identified in Baxter’s most recent filing on Form 10-K and other SEC filings, all of which are available on Baxter’s website. Baxter does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

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