UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

x         Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011
 
OR

o        Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from ____ to ____

Commission File No. 1-6651


HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Indiana
35-1160484
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
 
1069 State Route 46 East
Batesville, Indiana
47006-8835
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

(812) 934-7777
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 
Yes
 
ü
 
No  
 
 

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 
Yes
 
ü
 
No  
   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).


Large accelerated filer R
Accelerated filer £
Non-accelerated filer £
Smaller reporting company £

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 
Yes
     
No
     ü
 

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, without par value – 63,155,226 shares as of July 21, 2011.



 
 

 
 
HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q


     
Page
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
       
   
       
    3
     
     
       
   
  4
     
       
   
  5
     
     
       
   
  6
       
   
   
16
       
 
23
       
 
23
       
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
       
 
24
       
 
24
       
 
24
       
 
25
       
26

 
2

 
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
(Dollars in millions except per share data)
 
 
 
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net Revenues
                       
Capital sales
  $ 267.2     $ 246.2     $ 802.7     $ 714.0  
Rental revenues
    117.6       114.4       358.4       359.0  
Total revenues
    384.8       360.6       1,161.1       1,073.0  
                                 
Cost of Revenues
                               
Cost of goods sold
    145.4       132.5       436.0       397.4  
Rental expenses
    51.8       50.1       154.4       155.0  
Total cost of revenues
    197.2       182.6       590.4       552.4  
                                 
Gross Profit
    187.6       178.0       570.7       520.6  
                                 
Research and development expenses
    17.3       14.1       48.3       43.4  
Selling and administrative expenses
    124.6       116.2       375.1       358.6  
Litigation charge (Note 14)
    42.3       -       42.3       -  
Special charges (Note 8)
    (1.2 )     -       1.4       5.0  
                                 
Operating Profit
    4.6       47.7       103.6       113.6  
                                 
Interest expense
    (2.1 )     (2.1 )     (6.3 )     (6.4 )
Investment income and other, net
    1.1       0.7       1.8       1.5  
                                 
Income Before Income Taxes
    3.6       46.3       99.1       108.7  
                                 
Income tax expense (Note 9)
    2.1       15.5       29.1       33.5  
                                 
Net Income
    1.5       30.8       70.0       75.2  
Less:  Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
    -       0.2       0.2       0.6  
                                 
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders
  $ 1.5     $ 30.6     $ 69.8     $ 74.6  
                                 
                                 
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders per Common Share - Basic
  $ 0.02     $ 0.48     $ 1.10     $ 1.19  
                                 
                                 
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders per Common Share - Diluted
  $ 0.02     $ 0.48     $ 1.09     $ 1.17  
                                 
Dividends per Common Share
  $ 0.1125     $ 0.1025     $ 0.3175     $ 0.3075  
                                 
                                 
Average Common Shares Outstanding - Basic (thousands) (Note 10)
    63,584       63,193       63,367       62,889  
                                 
                                 
Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted (thousands) (Note 10)
    64,211       63,987       64,139       63,516  
                                 
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
                               
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(Dollars in millions)

   
June 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2010
 
ASSETS
           
Current Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 282.5     $ 184.5  
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances (Note 2)
    341.4       353.1  
Inventories (Note 2)
    109.1       108.5  
Deferred income taxes (Notes 1 and 9)
    39.8       40.4  
Other current assets
    52.5       52.7  
Total current assets
    825.3       739.2  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 2)
    230.3       243.7  
Investments and investment securities (Notes 1 and 6)
    11.3       12.1  
Goodwill
    81.1       81.1  
Software and other intangible assets, net (Note 2)
    125.7       136.6  
Other assets
    28.1       32.9  
Total Assets
  $ 1,301.8     $ 1,245.6  
                 
LIABILITIES
               
Current Liabilities
               
Trade accounts payable
  $ 60.6     $ 80.6  
Short-term borrowings (Note 4)
    102.8       53.1  
Accrued compensation
    81.4       88.9  
Accrued product warranties (Note 12)
    16.3       15.8  
Litigation accrual (Note 14)
    42.3       -  
Other current liabilities
    47.6       50.3  
Total current liabilities
    351.0       288.7  
                 
Long-term debt (Note 4)
    49.9       98.5  
Accrued pension and postretirement benefits (Note 5)
    60.7       59.0  
Deferred income taxes (Notes 1 and 9)
    31.2       31.3  
Other long-term liabilities
    55.7       52.3  
Total Liabilities
    548.5       529.8  
                 
Noncontrolling interest (Note 3)
    -       8.3  
                 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
               
                 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Common Stock
    4.4       4.4  
Additional paid-in-capital
    111.2       119.3  
Retained earnings
    1,253.3       1,203.6  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (Note 7)
    (51.2 )     (61.8 )
Treasury stock, at cost (Notes 2 and 11)
    (564.4 )     (558.0 )
Total Shareholders' Equity
    753.3       707.5  
Total Liabilities, Non-Controlling Interest and Shareholders' Equity
  $ 1,301.8     $ 1,245.6  
                 
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
               
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(Dollars in millions)

   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Operating Activities
           
Net income
  $ 70.0     $ 75.2  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
               
   operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    78.1       73.7  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    1.8       (12.7 )
Loss on disposal of property, equipment leased to others,
               
       intangible assets and impairments
    1.7       2.0  
Stock compensation
    9.2       9.0  
Tax settlement
    -       (8.2 )
Litigation charge
    42.3       -  
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans
    (6.8 )     -  
Change in working capital excluding cash, current investments,
               
current debt, acquisitions and dispositions:
               
Trade accounts receivable
    12.6       19.2  
Inventories
    (0.6 )     (14.4 )
Other current assets
    5.8       (12.4 )
Trade accounts payable
    (20.0 )     (11.4 )
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (10.6 )     0.6  
Other, net
    5.7       (9.4 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    189.2       111.2  
                 
Investing Activities
               
Capital expenditures and purchase of intangibles
    (52.0 )     (43.9 )
Proceeds on sales of property and equipment leased to others
    5.2       1.6  
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
    -       (7.1 )
Proceeds on investment sales/maturities
    0.4       19.2  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (46.4 )     (30.2 )
                 
Financing Activities
               
Change in short-term debt
    1.8       (1.4 )
Payment on revolver
    -       (45.0 )
Purchase of noncontrolling interest
    (11.5 )     -  
Payment of cash dividends
    (20.0 )     (19.4 )
Proceeds on exercise of options
    42.0       15.1  
Proceeds from stock issuance
    2.1       1.9  
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans
    6.8       -  
Treasury stock acquired
    (70.0 )     (2.3 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (48.8 )     (51.1 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    4.0       (4.4 )
                 
Total Cash Flows
    98.0       25.5  
                 
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
               
At beginning of period
    184.5       170.6  
At end of period
  $ 282.5     $ 196.1  
                 
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
               
 
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Dollars in millions except per share data)

1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Hill-Rom,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries.  The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (“2010 Form 10-K”) as filed with the United States (“U.S.”) Securities and Exchange Commission.  The September 30, 2010 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet was derived from audited Consolidated Financial Statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.  In the opinion of management, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to state fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented.  Quarterly results are not necessarily indicative of annual results.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Hill-Rom and its subsidiaries.  All subsidiaries are wholly-owned as of June 30, 2011.  During the first quarter of our fiscal 2011 we acquired the remaining 40 percent noncontrolling interest in a former joint venture (Note 3).  Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements including the accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Examples of such estimates include our accounts receivable reserves (Note 2), investments (Note 6), income taxes (Note 9), accrued warranties (Note 12) and accrued litigation and self insurance reserves (Note 14), among others.

Investment Securities

At June 30, 2011, investment securities consisted primarily of AAA rated student loan auction rate securities (“ARS”).  These securities are generally insured through the U.S. government’s Federal Family Education Loan Program, to the extent the borrowers meet certain prescribed criteria in their underlying lending practices.  These securities are classified as available-for-sale and changes in their fair value are recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (“AOCL”).

We regularly evaluate all investments classified as available-for-sale for possible impairment based on current economic conditions, credit loss experience and other criteria.  The evaluation of investments for impairment requires significant judgments to be made including (i) the identification of potentially impaired securities; (ii) the determination of their estimated fair value; (iii) the assessment of whether any decline in estimated fair value is other-than-temporary; and (iv) the likelihood of selling before recovery.  If there is a decline in a security’s net realizable value that is other-than-temporary and we are not likely to sell before recovery, the decline is separated into the amount of impairment related to credit loss and the amount of impairment related to all other factors.  The decline related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings, while the decline related to all other factors is recognized in AOCL.

Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Units

Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are directly imposed on a revenue producing transaction between us and our customers, including but not limited to sales taxes, use taxes and value added taxes, are accounted for on a net (excluded from revenues and costs) basis.

 
Income Taxes

We and our eligible domestic subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. income tax return.  Foreign operations file income tax returns in a number of jurisdictions.  Deferred income taxes are computed using an asset and liability approach to reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and the corresponding income tax amounts.  We have a variety of deferred tax assets in numerous tax jurisdictions.  These deferred tax assets are subject to periodic assessment as to recoverability and if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the benefits will not be realized, valuation allowances are recognized.  In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that we would recover these deferred tax assets, future taxable income, the reversal of existing temporary differences and tax planning strategies are considered.

We believe that our estimates for the valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets are appropriate based on current facts and circumstances.  Entering the fiscal year we had $28.5 million of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, on a tax-effected basis, primarily related to foreign operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes.  It is possible that sustainable improvements in foreign earnings could result in a reconsideration of the need for these valuation allowances, resulting in the accelerated recognition of all or some portion of the previously unrecognized tax benefits.

We account for uncertain income tax positions using a threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  The difference between the tax benefit recognized in the financial statements for an uncertain income tax position and the tax benefit claimed in the tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

There have been no significant changes to our assessment of the impact of recently issued accounting standards included in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2010 Form 10-K except as noted below:

On October 1, 2010, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB”) revised authoritative guidance requiring entities to provide more information about sales of securitized financial assets and similar transactions, particularly if the seller retains some risk with respect to the assets.  Our adoption of this guidance was prospective and did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

On October 1, 2010, we adopted the FASB’s revised authoritative guidance to improve financial reporting for companies involved with variable interest entities to provide more relevant and reliable information to users of financial statements.  Our adoption of this guidance was prospective and did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements.  The amendment requires companies to include expanded disclosures for their recurring Level 3 fair value measurements.  In addition, companies must report the level in the fair value hierarchy of assets and liabilities not recorded at fair value but where fair value is disclosed. The amendment will be applied prospectively and will be effective for our quarter ending March 31, 2012, with early adoption prohibited. Our adoption of this amendment is not expected to have a material effect, but may require additional disclosure on our available-for-sale marketable securities, which are classified and disclosed as Level 3 fair value measurements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to the authoritative guidance on comprehensive income.  The amendment eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity or include the components in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and instead requires the presentation of comprehensive income in either (1) a continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) two separate but consecutive statements.  The amendment will be effective for our quarter ending December 31, 2012.  The adoption of this amendment is not expected to have a material effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, but will require a change in the presentation of comprehensive income from the notes of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, where it is currently disclosed, to the face of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
2.  Supplementary Balance Sheet Information
 
   
June 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2010
 
             
Allowance for possible losses and discounts on trade receivables
  $ 27.3     $ 29.0  
                 
Inventories:
               
Finished products
  $ 63.1     $ 64.2  
Raw materials and work in process
    46.0       44.3  
Total inventory
  $ 109.1     $ 108.5  
                 
Accumulated depreciation of property, plant and equipment
  $ 599.4     $ 561.3  
                 
Accumulated amortization of software and other intangible assets
  $ 157.2     $ 137.8  
                 
Preferred stock, without par value:
               
Shares authorized
    1,000,000       1,000,000  
Shares issued
 
None
   
None
 
                 
Common stock, without par value:
               
Shares authorized
    199,000,000       199,000,000  
Shares issued
    80,323,912       80,323,912  
Shares outstanding
    63,122,931       62,786,883  
                 
Treasury shares
    17,200,981       17,537,029  
                 
 
3.  Acquisitions

On November 9, 2009, we entered into a joint venture with Encompass Group, LLC (“Encompass Group”), to form Encompass TSS, LLC (“Encompass”), of which we ultimately owned 60 percent.  For our 60 percent ownership interest we paid $7.5 million to Encompass Group, contributed cash and entered into license and distribution agreements with Encompass.  On November 30, 2010, we purchased the remaining 40 percent of Encompass for $10.6 million, plus a variable earn-out with a minimum of $1.2 million and a maximum of $1.6 million per year over five years.  We have a total of $5.5 million accrued in other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 30, 2011 related to the earn-out.

If the Encompass joint venture had been consummated at the beginning of our 2010 fiscal year or wholly-owned, the impact to revenues and net income on an unaudited pro forma basis would not have been material to our financial results in any of the periods presented.
 
4.  Financing Agreements

Total debt consists of the following:
 
 
 
June 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2010
 
             
Outstanding finance credit lines
  $ 10.1     $ 8.1  
Revolving credit facility
    45.0       45.0  
Unsecured 8.50% debentures due on December 1, 2011
    47.7       48.4  
Unsecured 7.00% debentures due on February 15, 2024
    19.7       19.7  
Unsecured 6.75% debentures due on December 15, 2027
    29.8       29.8  
Other
    0.4       0.6  
Total debt
    152.7       151.6  
Less current portion of debt
    102.8       53.1  
Total long-term debt
  $ 49.9     $ 98.5  
 
We have trade finance credit lines and uncommitted letter of credit facilities.  These lines are associated with the normal course of business and are not currently, nor have they historically, been of material size to the overall business.
 

Unsecured debentures outstanding at June 30, 2011 have fixed rates of interest.  We have deferred gains included in the preceding table from the termination of previous interest rate swap agreements, and those deferred gains amounted to $1.3 million at June 30, 2011 and $2.1 million at September 30, 2010.  The deferred gains are being amortized and recognized as a reduction of interest expense over the remaining term of the related debt through 2011 and 2024, and as a result, the effective interest rates on that debt have been and will continue to be lower than the stated interest rates.

We have a $500.0 million senior revolving credit facility, which expires on March 28, 2013 (subject to extension upon satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the credit facility).  Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest at variable rates, and the availability of borrowings is subject to our ability at the time of borrowing to meet certain specified conditions, including compliance with covenants contained in the credit agreement governing the facility.  The credit agreement contains covenants that, among other matters, require us to maintain a ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA (each as defined in the credit agreement) of not more than 3.5:1.0 and a ratio of consolidated EBITDA to interest expense of not less than 3.5:1.0.  The proceeds of the five-year facility shall be used, as needed: (i) for working capital, capital expenditures, and other lawful corporate purposes; and (ii) to finance acquisitions.

As of June 30, 2011, we had outstanding borrowings of $45.0 million and undrawn letters of credit of $5.8 million under the five-year facility, leaving $449.2 million of borrowing capacity available under the facility.

The fair value of our debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to us for debt of the same remaining maturities.  The book values of our short-term debt instruments approximate fair value.  The estimated fair values of our long-term debt instruments were $51.2 and $95.7 million at June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010.
 
5.  Retirement and Postretirement Plans

We sponsor four defined benefit plans: a master defined benefit retirement plan, a nonqualified supplemental executive defined benefit retirement plan and two defined benefit retirement plans covering employees in Germany and France.  Benefits for such plans are based primarily on years of service and the employee’s level of compensation during specific periods of employment.  We contribute funds to trusts as necessary to provide for current service and for any unfunded projected future benefit obligation over a reasonable period of time.  All of our plans have a September 30th measurement date.  The following table includes the components of net pension expense for our defined benefit plans.

   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Service cost
  $ 1.3     $ 1.3     $ 3.9     $ 3.8  
Interest cost
    3.3       3.3       9.9       9.9  
Expected return on plan assets
    (4.1 )     (3.2 )     (12.5 )     (9.8 )
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost, net
    0.1       0.1       0.4       0.4  
Amortization of net loss
    1.0       0.7       3.0       2.0  
Net pension expense
  $ 1.6     $ 2.2     $ 4.7     $ 6.3  
 
We also sponsor a domestic postretirement health care plan that provides health care benefits to qualified retirees and dependents until eligible for Medicare.  Annual costs related to the domestic postretirement health care plan are not significant.

6.  Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurements are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 
·
Level 1:  Financial instruments with unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets and liabilities.

 
·
Level 2:  Financial instruments with observable inputs other than those included in Level 1 such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
 

 
·
Level 3:  Financial instruments with unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.  Unobservable inputs reflect our own assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).  Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances, which might include our own data.

The following table summarizes our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis included in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, as of June 30, 2011:

         
Fair Value Measurements
 
         
Quoted Prices in
   
Significant Other
   
Significant
 
         
Active Markets for
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
 
         
Identical Assets
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
 
   
Total
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
Assets:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 282.5     $ 282.5     $ -     $ -  
Available-for-sale marketable securities
    11.3       -       -       11.3  
Total assets at fair value
  $ 293.8     $ 282.5     $ -     $ 11.3  
 
At June 30, 2011, we had $11.3 million of AAA rated student loan ARS.  While we continue to earn interest on the ARS at the contractual rate, these investments are not currently being bought and sold in an active market and therefore do not have readily determinable market values.  At June 30, 2011, our investment advisors provided a valuation based on unobservable inputs for the ARS.  The investment advisors utilized a discounted cash flow approach (an “income approach”) to arrive at this valuation, which was corroborated by separate and comparable discounted cash flow analysis prepared by us.  The assumptions used in preparing the discounted cash flow model include estimates of interest rates, timing and amount of cash flows, credit spread related yield and illiquidity premiums and expected holding periods of the ARS.  These assumptions are volatile and subject to change as the underlying sources of these assumptions and market conditions change.  Activity related to our ARS was not significant during the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

7.  Comprehensive Income

The net-of-tax effect of unrealized gains or losses on: our available-for-sale securities, foreign currency translation adjustments, pension (or other defined benefit postretirement plans) actuarial gains or losses, prior service costs or credits are required to be included in comprehensive income.

The composition of comprehensive income is as follows:
 
   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Net income
  $ 1.5     $ 30.8     $ 70.0     $ 75.2  
                                 
Net gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities and other investments
    -       -       (0.1 )     0.3  
                                 
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net-of-tax
    1.6       (9.0 )     11.0       (13.2 )
                                 
Items not yet recognized as a component  of net periodic pension
                               
or postretirement benefit cost, net-of-tax
    -       -       (0.3 )     (0.1 )
                                 
Total comprehensive income
    3.1       21.8       80.6       62.2  
                                 
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest
    -       (0.2 )     (0.2 )     (0.6 )
 
                               
Total comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders
  $ 3.1     $ 21.6     $ 80.4     $ 61.6  
 
8.  Special Charges

Over the past several years, we have placed a focus on improving our cost structure and business processes through various means including consolidation of certain manufacturing and select back office operations, customer rationalizations and various other organizational changes.  Activity related to these actions during fiscal 2011 was as follows:
 

   
Beginning Balance
                     
Ending Balance
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
Expenses
   
Cash Payments
   
Reversals
   
June 30, 2011
 
Fiscal Year 2010 Actions
                             
Q2 - Restructuring
  $ 1.5     $ -     $ 1.0     $ -     $ 0.5  
Q4 - Restructuring
    3.7       3.3       1.6       2.6       2.8  
Total
  $ 5.2     $ 3.3     $ 2.6     $ 2.6     $ 3.3  
 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded an additional special charge of $2.6 million related to our fiscal 2010 fourth quarter action.  The majority of the charge related to additional severance and other benefits provided to affected employees of that action as well as a write-down of assets held for sale.   During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded a benefit of $1.2 million primarily related to the net reversal of severance recorded in relation to our fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 restructuring action, partially offset by an additional write-down of assets held for sale.  The above table excludes the write-down of our assets.
 
9.  Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011 was 58.3 and 29.4 percent compared to 33.5 and 30.8 percent for the comparable periods in the prior year.

The effective tax rate in the current quarter was higher than the prior year due to the effect of period tax items, including the tax benefit associated with the litigation charge, measured against a lower income base.  In looking at the full year tax rate, the lower effective tax rate in fiscal 2011 reflects the benefits from increased earnings in lower-rate jurisdictions, including improved European income, some of which was not subject to tax as a result of the utilization of previously unrecognized operating loss carryforwards.  We currently carry full valuation allowances on these loss carryforwards, thus the recognition of income and the release of valuation allowance results in no tax expense on these earnings.  Should earnings continue and our outlook remain positive in these jurisdictions, we will be required to reassess the need and amount of our recorded valuation allowances which could result in the release of previously unrecognized tax benefits.

Absent the impact of the litigation charge, the full year 2011 effective tax rate benefited from the recognition of period tax benefits of $2.1 million relating principally to the retroactive reinstatement of the research and development tax credit.  The comparable prior year period included favorable period tax benefits of $6.6 million relating primarily to the recognition of previously unrecognized tax benefits of $6.5 million associated with the resolution of an income tax matter with the IRS.

During the current quarter, the IRS completed its audit of the income tax return filed for fiscal 2009.  In conjunction with the resolution of certain income tax matters with the IRS in the quarter and other activities, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits has decreased from September 30, 2010.  As of June 30, 2011 the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $21.6 million, which includes $12.7 million that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate in future periods. The remaining amount relates to items which, if recognized would not impact our effective tax rate.

It is reasonably possible that the Company will resolve other on-going audit issues with the IRS, state, local or foreign jurisdictions in the next twelve months. The resolution of these matters, in combination with the expiration of certain statutes of limitation in other jurisdictions, make it reasonably possible that our unrecognized tax benefits may decrease as a result of either payment or recognition by approximately $10 to $14 million in the next twelve months, excluding interest.
 
 
10.  Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per share are calculated based upon the weighted average number of outstanding common shares for the period, plus the effect of deferred vested shares.  Diluted earnings per share are calculated consistent with the basic earnings per share calculation plus the effect of dilutive unissued common shares related to stock-based employee compensation programs.  For all periods presented, anti-dilutive stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.  Cumulative treasury stock acquired, less cumulative shares reissued, have been excluded in determining the average number of shares outstanding.

Earnings per share are calculated as follows (share information in thousands):

   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Net income attributable to common shareholders
  $ 1.5     $ 30.6     $ 69.8     $ 74.6  
                                 
Average shares outstanding - Basic
    63,584       63,193       63,367       62,889  
Add potential effect of exercise of stock options
                               
and other unvested equity awards
    627       794       772       627  
Average shares outstanding - Diluted
    64,211       63,987       64,139       63,516  
                                 
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share - Basic
  $ 0.02     $ 0.48     $ 1.10     $ 1.19  
                                 
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share - Diluted
  $ 0.02     $ 0.48     $ 1.09     $ 1.17  
                                 
Shares with anti-dilutive effect excluded from the computation of  Diluted EPS
    654       2,582       584       4,030  
 
11.  Common Stock

Share Repurchases

We repurchased 0.6 and 1.5 million shares of our common stock during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011 for $27.3 and $64.7 million.  In May 2011, our Board of Directors approved an expansion of our share repurchase authorization by 3.0 million shares.  Share repurchases may be made through the open market or private transactions and as of June 30, 2011, a cumulative total of 25.2 million shares had been repurchased by us at market trading prices, leaving 3.5 million shares remaining for purchase under the Board’s authorization.  The Board’s approval has no expiration date and currently there are no plans to terminate this program in the future.

Stock Based Compensation

The stock based compensation cost that was charged against income, net of tax, for all plans was $1.6 and $5.9 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011, and $1.1 and $5.7 million for the comparable periods of fiscal 2010.

12.  Guarantees

We routinely grant limited warranties on our products with respect to defects in material and workmanship.  The terms of these warranties are generally one year, however, certain components and products have substantially longer warranty periods.  We recognize a reserve with respect to these obligations at the time of product sale, with subsequent warranty claims recorded directly against the reserve.  The amount of the warranty reserve is determined based on historical trend experience for the covered products.  For more significant warranty-related matters which might require a broad-based correction, separate reserves are established when such events are identified and the cost of correction can be reasonably estimated.

A reconciliation of changes in the warranty reserve for the periods covered in this report is as follows:
 

   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 16.5     $ 15.2     $ 15.8     $ 17.1  
Provision for warranties during the period
    3.8       3.3       12.0       10.5  
Warranty claims during the period
    (4.0 )     (3.6 )     (11.5 )     (12.7 )
Balance at end of period
  $ 16.3     $ 14.9     $ 16.3     $ 14.9  
 
In the normal course of business we enter into various other guarantees and indemnities in our relationships with suppliers, service providers, customers, business partners and others.  Examples of these arrangements would include guarantees of product performance, indemnifications to service providers and indemnifications of our actions to business partners.  These guarantees and indemnifications have not historically nor do we expect them to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations, although indemnifications associated with our actions generally have no dollar limitations.

In conjunction with our acquisition and divestiture activities, we have entered into select guarantees and indemnifications of performance with respect to the fulfillment of commitments under applicable purchase and sale agreements.  The arrangements generally indemnify the buyer or seller for damages associated with breach of contract, inaccuracies in representations and warranties surviving the closing date and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments retained under the applicable contract.  With respect to sale transactions, we also routinely enter into non-competition agreements for varying periods of time.  Guarantees and indemnifications with respect to acquisition and divestiture activities, if triggered, could have a materially adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

13.  Segment Reporting

We disclose segment information that is consistent with the way in which management operates and views the business.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we changed our segment reporting to reflect changes in our organizational structure and management’s view of the business.  We moved our surgical reporting unit from the International and Surgical segment (now referred to as the International segment) to the North America Acute Care segment.  In addition, manufacturing and research and development costs were fully allocated to our three segments.  We have also assigned additional direct functional costs to the segments as well as an allocation of certain corporate functional expenses that can be attributed to the segments.  The prior year segment information included in this Note has been updated to reflect these changes.  Our new operating structure contains the following reporting segments:

 
·
North America Acute Care - sells and rents our hospital patient support and near-patient technologies, as well as our health information technology solutions and surgical accessories, to acute care facilities .
 
 
·
North America Post-Acute Care - sells and rents a variety of products outside of the hospital setting including long-term acute care, extended care and home care and our respiratory care products in all settings .
 
 
·
International - sells and rents similar products as our North America businesses to Europe and the rest of the world.

Our performance under the new operating structure continues to be measured on a divisional income basis before litigation and special charges.  Divisional income generally represents the division’s standard gross profit less its direct operating costs along with an allocation of manufacturing and distribution costs, research and development and corporate functional expenses.

Corporate expenses, while not considered a segment, are presented separately to aid in the reconciliation of segment information to consolidated financial information.  These costs include corporate costs that support the entire organization such as administration, finance, legal and human resources.
 

   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenues:
                       
North America Acute Care
  $ 239.1     $ 214.9     $ 708.5     $ 638.2  
North America Post-Acute Care
    51.6       49.9       156.1       153.6  
International
    94.1       95.8       296.5       281.2  
     Total revenues
  $ 384.8     $ 360.6     $ 1,161.1     $ 1,073.0  
                                 
Divisional income:
                               
North America Acute Care
  $ 50.0     $ 44.1     $ 157.3     $ 120.5  
North America Post-Acute Care
    9.6       9.9       31.9       33.7  
International
    5.1       9.3       19.8       13.3  
Corporate expenses
    (19.0 )     (15.6 )     (61.7 )     (48.9 )
     Total divisional income
    45.7       47.7       147.3       118.6  
                                 
Litigation charge
    42.3       -       42.3       -  
Special charges
    (1.2 )     -       1.4       5.0  
Operating profit
    4.6       47.7       103.6       113.6  
                                 
Interest expense
    (2.1 )     (2.1 )     (6.3 )     (6.4 )
Investment income and other, net
    1.1       0.7       1.8       1.5  
  Income before income taxes
  $ 3.6     $ 46.3     $ 99.1     $ 108.7  
   
14.  Commitments and Contingencies

Batesville Casket Antitrust Litigation

In 2005 the Funeral Consumers Alliance, Inc. and a number of individual consumer casket purchasers filed a purported class action antitrust lawsuit on behalf of certain consumer purchasers of Batesville® caskets against us and our former Batesville Casket Company, Inc. subsidiary (now wholly-owned by Hillenbrand, Inc.), and three national funeral home businesses.

The district court has dismissed the claims and denied class certification, but in October 2010, the plaintiffs appealed these decisions to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  If the plaintiffs were to succeed in reversing the district court’s dismissal of the claims, but not the denial of class certification, then the plaintiffs would be able to pursue individual damages claims: the alleged overcharges on the plaintiffs’ individual casket purchases, which would be trebled as a matter of law, plus reasonable attorneys fees and costs.

If the plaintiffs were to (1) succeed in reversing the district court’s dismissal of the claims, (2) succeed in reversing the district court order denying class certification and certify a class, and (3) prevail at trial, then the damages awarded to the plaintiffs, which would be trebled as a matter of law, could have a significant material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity.  The plaintiffs filed a report indicating that they are seeking damages ranging from approximately $947.0 million to approximately $1.46 billion before trebling on behalf of the purported class of consumers they seek to represent.

We and Hillenbrand, Inc. have entered into a judgment sharing agreement that apportions the costs and any potential liabilities associated with this litigation between us and Hillenbrand, Inc.  We believe that we have committed no wrongdoing as alleged by the plaintiffs and that we have meritorious defenses to class certification and to plaintiffs’ underlying allegations and damage theories.

Office of Inspector General Investigation

On February 8, 2008, we were served with an Administrative Investigative Demand subpoena by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee pursuant to a Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General investigation.  On September 18, 2008, we were informed that the investigation was precipitated by the 2005 filing of a qui tam complaint under the False Claims Act in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.  Although the complaint has been only partially unsealed at this point and we have not been formally served, we know that the plaintiffs seek recovery of significant damages and civil penalties relating to the alleged submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and/or Medicaid for the provision of durable medical equipment.
 

We recently entered into mediation regarding these allegations and have reached agreement with respect to a tentative financial settlement in the amount of $42 million.   This settlement remains contingent on our reaching an acceptable Corporate Integrity Agreement with the HHS Office of Inspector General.   We can provide no assurances as to when, if ever, we would be able to successfully finalize a settlement.  However, in conjunction with reaching agreement on the financial terms with respect to this matter, we have recognized a charge in the quarter of $42.3 million, including $0.3 million of estimated legal fees to finalize the terms of the arrangement. In the event that we are unable to finalize a settlement, the matter may proceed to litigation.  In that event, if it were found that we had failed to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we could be subject to substantial fines or penalties and possible exclusion from participation in federal health care programs.

Freedom Medical Antitrust Litigation

On October 19, 2009, Freedom Medical, Inc. filed a complaint against us, another manufacturer and two group purchasing organizations in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.  The plaintiff alleges that we and the other defendants conspired to exclude it from the biomedical equipment rental market and to maintain our market share by engaging in a variety of conduct in violation of state and federal antitrust laws.  The plaintiff also has asserted claims for business disparagement, common law conspiracy and tortuous interference with business relationships.  The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief and money damages in an unspecified amount. The parties have agreed to mediate this matter, but no date for such mediation has been set.  At this time, we cannot assess the likelihood of an adverse outcome or determine an estimate, or a range of estimates, of potential damages, nor can we give any assurances that this matter will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Stryker Litigation

On April 4, 2011, we filed two separate actions against Stryker Corporation alleging infringement of certain Hill-Rom patents covering proprietary communications networks, status information systems and powered wheels used in our beds or stretchers.  One suit was filed in the Southern District of Indiana and the other was filed in the Western District of Wisconsin.  Both suits seek monetary damages and injunctions against Stryker for selling or distributing any beds, stretchers or ancillary products that infringe Hill-Rom’s patents. Stryker is seeking to transfer the Wisconsin litigation to the Southern District of Indiana, and has also responded with counterclaims seeking declaratory judgment for noninfringement and invalidity for the patents at issue.  A trial date of October 1, 2012 has been set.  In the Indiana litigation, Stryker has counterclaimed for non-infringement and invalidity for several of the patents at issue, and has filed counterclaims alleging infringement of three of their patents.  A trial date for this lawsuit has not yet been set.  Because the litigation is in a preliminary stage, we cannot assess the likelihood of a positive or negative outcome or determine an estimate, or a range of estimates, of potential damages, nor can we give any assurances that this matter will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

General

We are subject to various other claims and contingencies arising out of the normal course of business, including those relating to governmental investigations and proceedings, commercial transactions, product liability, employee related matters, antitrust, safety, health, taxes, environmental, product guarantees and warranties as well as other matters.  Litigation is subject to many uncertainties and the outcome of individual litigated matters is not predictable with assurance.  It is possible that some litigation matters for which reserves have not been established could be decided unfavorably to us, and that any such unfavorable decisions could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We are involved in possible claims and are generally self-insured up to certain limits for product/general liability, workers’ compensation, auto liability and professional liability insurance programs.  These policies have deductibles and self-insured retentions ranging from $150 thousand to $1.5 million per occurrence, depending upon the type of coverage and policy period.  We are also generally self-insured up to certain stop-loss limits for certain employee health benefits, including medical, drug and dental.  Our policy is to estimate reserves based upon a number of factors including known claims, estimated incurred but not reported claims and outside actuarial analysis, which are based on historical information along with certain assumptions about future events.
 

Item 2.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
              FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements and Factors That May Affect Future Results

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding our future plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, representations and projections. We have tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “encourage,” “expect,” “may,” “goal,” “become,” “pursue,” “estimate,” “strategy,” “will,” “projection,” “forecast,” “continue,” “accelerate,” “promise,” “increase,” “higher,” “lower,” “reduce,” “improve,” “expand,” “progress,” “potential” or the negative of those terms or other variations of them or by comparable terminology.  The absence of such terms, however, does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in any forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (“2010 Form 10-K”) as well as the discussions in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis”.  We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Overview

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the accompanying interim financial statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations” included in our 2010 Form 10-K.

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is a leading worldwide manufacturer and provider of medical technologies and related services for the health care industry, including patient support systems, safe mobility and handling solutions, non-invasive therapeutic products for a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions, medical equipment rentals and information technology solutions.  Our comprehensive product and service offerings are used by health care providers across the health care continuum in hospitals, extended care facilities and home care settings worldwide, to enhance the safety and quality of patient care.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, including the related notes, are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”).  We provide adjusted income before taxes, income tax expense and diluted earnings per share results because we use these measures internally for planning, forecasting and evaluating the performance of the business.

In addition, we analyze net revenues on a constant currency basis to better measure the comparability of results between periods.  We believe that evaluating growth in net revenues on a constant currency basis provides an additional and meaningful assessment to both management and investors.

We believe use of these non-GAAP measures contribute to an understanding of our financial performance and provide an additional analytical tool to understand our results from core operations and to reveal underlying trends.  These measures should not, however, be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or as superior to measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Results of Operations

In this section, we provide a high-level overview of our consolidated results of operations.  Immediately following this section is a discussion of our results of operations by reportable segment.
 
 
Net Revenues

   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Percentage Change
 
   
 
   
 
         
Constant
 
 (Dollars in millions)
 
2011
   
2010
   
As Reported
   
Currency
 
Revenues:
                       
Capital sales
  $ 267.2     $ 246.2       8.5       5.2  
Rental revenues
    117.6       114.4       2.8       1.2  
Total Revenues
  $ 384.8     $ 360.6       6.7       3.9  
                                 
                                 
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
   
Percentage Change
 
                           
Constant
 
 (Dollars in millions)
    2011       2010    
As Reported
   
Currency
 
Revenues:
                               
Capital sales
  $ 802.7     $ 714.0       12.4       11.2  
Rental revenues
    358.4       359.0       (0.2 )     (0.5 )
Total Revenues
  $ 1,161.1     $ 1,073.0       8.2       7.3  
 
Capital sales increased for both the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011 primarily as a result of North America Acute Care sales volume growth in nearly all product categories, led by patient support systems (increased 20.8 and 27.4 percent), and favorable product mix for the first half of the year.  This favorability was partially offset by declines in volume in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, most notably in the third quarter.  Latin America has shown volume growth in both the three- and nine-month periods and foreign exchange rates also benefited the capital sales comparison in both periods, primarily in the third quarter.

Rental revenues were favorably impacted during both periods due to strong respiratory care revenues as well as the effect of favorable foreign exchange rates.  For the first nine months this strength was offset by first quarter volume declines in our rental business due to a weaker flu season compared to fiscal 2010.

Gross Profit
 
   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
(Dollars in millions)
 
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Gross Profit
                       
Capital
  $ 121.8     $ 113.7     $ 366.7     $ 316.6  
Percent of Related Revenues
    45.6%       46.2 %       45.7%       44.3%  
                                 
Rental
    65.8       64.3       204.0       204.0  
Percent of Related Revenues
    56.0%       56.2 %       56.9%       56.8%  
                                 
Total Gross Profit
  $ 187.6     $ 178.0     $ 570.7     $ 520.6  
Percent of Related Revenues
    48.8%       49.4 %       49.2%       48.5%  

 
Total gross profit increased 5.4 and 9.6 percent and gross margin (as a percentage of revenues) decreased by 60 basis points for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 and increased 70 basis points for the nine-month period.

Capital gross profit increased 7.1 and 15.8 percent due to higher volumes for both the three- and nine-month periods.  Gross margin decreased 60 basis points for the three-month period despite higher volumes and favorable geographic mix, as these favorable trends were offset by unfavorable product mix and the effects of higher commodity and fuel costs.  Gross margin increased over the first nine-month period by 140 basis points primarily due to improved geographic and product mix, as well as favorable material costs.

Rental gross profit increased by 2.3 percent for the three-month period on higher volume and was flat for the nine-month period.  Gross margins were relatively consistent for both periods.  Fiscal 2011 included a gain of $0.6 and $1.4 million for the three- and nine-month periods recognized in connection with a vendor’s product recall.  Absent such gains, the gross margins would have been down slightly in both periods due to reduced leverage of field service costs.


Other

   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
(Dollars in millions)
 
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Research and development expenses
  $ 17.3     $ 14.1     $ 48.3     $ 43.4  
Percent of Total Revenues
    4.5%       3.9%       4.2%       4.0%  
                                 
Selling and administrative expenses
  $ 124.6     $ 116.2     $ 375.1     $ 358.6  
Percent of Total Revenues
    32.4%       32.2%       32.3%       33.4%  
                                 
Litigation charge
  $ 42.3     $ -     $ 42.3     $ -  
Special charges
  $ (1.2 )   $ -     $ 1.4     $ 5.0  
                                 
Interest expense
  $ (2.1 )   $ (2.1 )   $ (6.3 )   $ (6.4 )
Investment income
  $ 0.5     $ 0.6     $ 1.5     $ 1.7  
Other
  $ 0.6     $ 0.1     $ 0.3     $ (0.2 )
 
Research and development expenses increased 22.7 and 11.3 percent for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011 due to increased investment in the development of new products.  Selling and administrative expenses grew during both periods, staying relatively consistent as a percentage of sales for the three-month period and improving 110 basis points for the nine-month period.  The increase in expense for both periods was the result of increases in legal costs for litigation and patent related matters, costs associated with the upgrade of our information technology platform, increases in sales and marketing expenses as well as the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates.  The increase for the three-month period was partially offset by lower variable compensation costs.  Selling and administrative expenses for the nine-month period also included approximately $3 million of costs related to community donations and severance that we do not expect to repeat.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded a litigation charge of $42.3 million in conjunction with reaching a tentative agreement on financial terms to settle a United States Office of Inspector General’s (“OIG”) investigation.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded a benefit of $1.2 million primarily related to the net reversal of severance recorded in relation to our fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 restructuring actions.  The net charge of $1.4 million for the nine-month period relates mainly to write-downs associated with our assets held for sale during both our second and third quarters .  The first nine months of fiscal 2010 included a charge of $5.0 million related to organizational changes that included the elimination of approximately 160 employee positions.

GAAP and Adjusted Earnings
 
   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2011
   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2010
 
                                     
(Dollars in millions except per share data)
 
Income Before
Income Taxes
   
Income Tax
Expense
   
Diluted EPS
   
Income Before
Income Taxes
and NCI
   
Income Tax
Expense
   
Diluted EPS
 
                                     
GAAP Earnings
  $ 3.6     $ 2.1     $ 0.02     $ 46.3     $ 15.5     $ 0.48  
Adjustments:
                                               
Litigation charge
    42.3       12.3       0.47       -       -       -  
Vendor product recall
    (0.6 )     (0.2 )     (0.01 )     -       -       -  
Special charges
    (1.2 )     (0.3 )     (0.01 )     -       -       -  
Gain on sale of non-strategic assets
    -       -       -       -       1.7       (0.03 )
Adjusted Earnings
  $ 44.1     $ 13.9     $ 0.47     $ 46.3     $ 17.2     $ 0.45  

 
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30, 2011
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30, 2010
 
                                     
   
Income Before
Income Taxes
and NCI
   
Income Tax
Expense
   
Diluted EPS *
   
Income Before
Income Taxes
and NCI
   
Income Tax
Expense
   
Diluted EPS*
 
                                     
GAAP Earnings
  $ 99.1     $ 29.1     $ 1.09     $ 108.7     $ 33.5     $ 1.17  
Adjustments:
                                               
Litigation charge
    42.3       12.3       0.47       -       -       -  
Vendor product recall
    (1.4 )     (0.5 )     (0.01 )     -       -       -  
Special charges
    1.4       0.7       0.01       5.0       1.7       0.05  
Gain on sale of non-strategic assets
    -       -       -       -       1.7       (0.03 )
Tax settlement
    -       -       -       -       6.5       (0.10 )
Adjusted Earnings
  $ 141.4     $ 41.6     $ 1.55     $ 113.7     $ 43.4     $ 1.10  
                                                 
* May not add due to rounding.
                                               
 
The effective tax rate for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011 was 58.3 and 29.4 percent compared to 33.5 and 30.8 percent for the comparable periods in the prior year.

The adjusted effective rate for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011 was 31.5 and 29.4 percent compared to 37.1 and 38.2 percent for the comparable periods in the prior year.  The lower adjusted effective rate for both periods in fiscal 2011 reflects the benefits from increased earnings in lower-rate jurisdictions, including improved European income, some of which was not subject to tax as a result of the utilization of previously unrecognized operating loss carryforwards.  We currently carry full valuation allowances on these loss carryforwards, thus the recognition of income and the release of valuation allowance results in no tax expense on the earnings.  Should earnings continue and our outlook remain positive in these jurisdictions, we will be required to reassess the need and amount of our recorded valuation allowances which could result in the release of previously unrecognized tax benefits.

The adjusted effective tax rate for the nine months ended June 30, 2011 also benefited from the recognition of period tax benefits of $2.1 million principally relating to the impact of the retroactive reinstatement of the research and development tax credit back to January 1, 2010.

The comparable prior year period included favorable period tax benefits of $6.6 million relating primarily to the recognition of previously unrecognized tax benefits of $6.5 million associated with the resolution of an income tax matter with the IRS.  This amount was excluded from the adjusted effective tax rate for fiscal 2010.
   
Net income attributable to common shareholders was $1.5 million for the third quarter and $69.8 million for the first nine months ended June 30, 2011.  On an adjusted basis, net income attributable to common shareholders increased $1.3 and $29.9 million, representing increases of 4.5 and 42.9 percent for the three- and nine-month periods.  Diluted earnings per share decreased 95.8 percent for the third quarter, however increased 4.4 percent on an adjusted basis.  For the first nine months, diluted earnings per share fell 6.8 percent, however increased 40.9 percent on an as adjusted basis.

Business Segment Results of Operations

During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we changed our segment reporting to reflect changes in our organizational structure and management’s view of the business.  We moved our surgical reporting unit from the International and Surgical segment (now referred to as the International segment) to the North America Acute Care segment.  In addition, manufacturing and research and development costs were fully allocated to our three segments.  We have also assigned additional direct functional costs to the segments as well as an allocation of certain corporate functional expenses that can be attributed to the segments.  The prior year segment information below has been updated to reflect these changes.
 

   
Quarterly Period Ended June 30
   
Percentage Change
 
   
 
   
 
         
Constant
 
(Dollars in millions)
 
2011
   
2010
   
As Reported
   
Currency
 
Revenues:
                       
North America Acute Care
  $ 239.1     $ 214.9       11.3       10.9  
North America Post-Acute Care
    51.6       49.9       3.4       3.4  
International
    94.1       95.8       (1.8 )     (11.5 )
Total revenues
  $ 384.8     $ 360.6       6.7       3.9  
                                 
Divisional income:
                               
North America Acute Care
  $ 50.0     $ 44.1       13.4          
North America Post-Acute Care
    9.6       9.9       (3.0 )        
International
    5.1       9.3       (45.2 )        
Corporate Expenses
    (19.0 )     (15.6 )     (21.8 )        
Total divisional income
  $ 45.7     $ 47.7       (4.2 )        
                                 
                                 

   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
   
Percentage Change
 
   
 
   
 
         
Constant
 
(Dollars in millions)
 
2011
   
2010
   
As Reported
   
Currency
 
Revenues:
                       
North America Acute Care
  $ 708.5     $ 638.2       11.0       10.5  
North America Post-Acute Care
    156.1       153.6       1.6       1.6  
International
    296.5       281.2       5.4       3.0  
Total revenues
  $ 1,161.1     $ 1,073.0       8.2       7.3  
                                 
Divisional income:
                               
North America Acute Care
  $ 157.3     $ 120.5       30.5          
North America Post-Acute Care
    31.9       33.7       (5.3 )        
International
    19.8       13.3       48.9          
Corporate Expenses
    (61.7 )     (48.9 )     (26.2 )        
Total divisional income
  $ 147.3     $ 118.6       24.2          
 
North America Acute Care

North America Acute Care capital sales increased 16.1 and 17.0 percent for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011 mainly due to higher volumes in nearly all product categories led by our patient support systems, which increased 20.8 and 27.4 percent.  In addition, product mix was modestly favorable for the first half of the year.  Rental revenues were essentially flat for the third quarter and decreased by 2.1 percent for the nine-month period.  The decline in the first nine months was due primarily to a decline in therapy rentals in the first quarter driven by a weaker flu season compared to fiscal 2010, and year long pressure from our moveable medical equipment business.

North America Acute Care divisional income increased significantly for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011 primarily due to an increase in capital gross profit driven by higher volumes in each period.  Favorable product mix also contributed to the higher capital gross profit in the first half of the year, but was somewhat unfavorable for the three-month period.  Our rental margins, although lower in each period on reduced leverage of field services costs, benefited from a gain recognized in connection with a vendor’s product recall of $0.6 and $1.4 million for the three- and nine-month periods.  Operating expenses were slightly higher during both periods as a result of new product investments and increased variable compensation.

North America Post-Acute Care

North America Post-Acute Care capital sales increased 3.4 percent for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 and were essentially flat for the nine-month period.  Capital sales for both periods benefited by double-digit growth in our respiratory care business offset by a decline in sales within our extended care business for the nine-month period.  Rental revenues increased 3.4 and 2.0 percent as a result of a double-digit increase in rental volumes of The Vest® respiratory care system for both periods, including the effect of a third party payor refund in the prior year.  This favorability was partially offset by lower rentals in our extended care and home care businesses in both periods.

North America Post-Acute Care divisional income declined for both the three- and nine-month periods due to higher operating expenses related to investments in our sales channels and new products.  Total gross profit was essentially flat year over year for both periods.


International

International capital sales decreased 4.4 percent for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, and 13.7 percent on a constant currency basis.  For the nine-month period capital revenue increased by 5.9 percent and 3.3 percent on a constant currency basis.  On a constant currency basis, the decrease during the third quarter was driven primarily by lower volumes in Europe as well as the Middle East, Asia and Australia, while growth for the first nine months was attributed to volume increases in Latin America.  Rental revenues increased 16.3 and 2.7 percent for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2011.  On a constant currency basis rental revenues increased 3.3 and 1.0 percent for both periods.  The increase for both periods in rental revenues was a result of growth from a recent bariatric product introduction in Europe, which was offset during the first nine months by the rationalization of an unprofitable rental business.

International divisional income decreased for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, however, increased for the first nine months.  During the three-month period gross profit was down slightly on lower volumes, while for the nine months gross profit was up on overall higher volumes and improved gross margin rates in both capital and rental.  During both periods, operating expenses increased related to investments in new product development and the effects of unfavorable foreign exchange rates.  For the nine-month period operating expenses were also impacted by severance costs incurred in the first half of the year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
   
Year To Date Period Ended June 30
 
   
 
   
 
 
(Dollars in millions)
 
2011
   
2010
 
Cash Flows Provided By (Used In):
           
Operating activities
  $ 189.2     $ 111.2  
Investing activities
    (46.4 )     (30.2 )
Financing activities
    (48.8 )     (51.1 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    4.0       (4.4 )
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
  $ 98.0     $ 25.5  
 
Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities was driven primarily by net income, adjusted by non-cash expenses related to depreciation and amortization and a third quarter litigation charge.  We also realized improvements in our days sales outstanding over our first nine months.  These sources of cash were offset by the payout of our performance-based compensation and restructuring accruals related to our 2010 fiscal year and the timing of payments on our trade payables.  The increase over the first nine months of fiscal 2010 was due to improved financial performance and the timing of tax payments, offset by higher payouts of performance-based compensation in fiscal 2011 related to fiscal 2010 performance.

Investing Activities

Cash used for investing activities consists mainly of capital expenditures.  The increase in cash used for investing during our first nine months was due to investments in our rental fleet offset by proceeds received in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 from the sale of a portion of our auction rate securities.

Financing Activities

Cash used for financing activities consisted mainly of repurchasing shares of our common stock, cash dividend payments and the purchase of the remaining 40 percent noncontrolling interest in our former Encompass joint venture, partially offset by cash received from stock option exercises.  The slight decline in the use of cash compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2010 was due to debt payments, including the $45 million payment on our revolving credit facility in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 exceeding the net impact of higher stock option exercises and share repurchases and the purchase of the noncontrolling interest in our former Encompass joint venture in the current year.
 
 
 
Other Liquidity Matters

Net cash flows from operating activities and selected borrowings have represented our primary sources of funds for growth of the business, including capital expenditures and acquisitions.

We have a $500.0 million five-year senior revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, which expires on March 25, 2013 (subject to extension upon satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the credit facility).  The syndication group consists of 11 financial institutions, which we believe reduces our exposure to any one institution and should leave us with significant borrowing capacity in the event that any one of the institutions within the group is unable to comply with the terms of our agreement.  As of June 30, 2011, we had outstanding borrowings of $45.0 and $5.8 million of outstanding, undrawn letters of credit under the facility, leaving $449.2 million of borrowing capacity available.

We have $97.2 million of senior notes outstanding at various fixed interest rates as of June 30, 2011.  Of the total amount, $49.5 million are classified as long-term and $47.7 million as short-term in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Our most recent credit ratings from Standard and Poor’s Rating Services and Moody’s Investor Service were credit ratings of BBB- and Baa3 with stable outlook.

Our financing agreements contain no restrictive provisions or conditions relating to dividend payments, working capital or additional unsecured indebtedness (except to the extent that a dividend payment or incurrence of additional unsecured indebtedness would result in a default under our financing agreements), but there are limitations with respect to secured indebtedness.  Our debt agreements also contain no credit rating triggers.  Credit rating changes can, however, impact the cost of borrowings under our financing agreements.  Additionally, there are restrictive covenants in the Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) between us and Hillenbrand, Inc.  This agreement has certain limitations on indebtedness, dividends and share repurchases and acquisitions.

Our pension plans invest in a variety of equity and debt securities.  At September 30, 2010, our latest measurement date, our pension plans were underfunded by approximately $50.8 million.  Given the significant funding contribution made during fiscal 2010, we currently do not anticipate any further contributions to our master pension plan in fiscal 2011.

We intend to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends comparable to those paid over the past two years.  However, the declaration and payment of dividends by us will be subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, covenants associated with debt obligations, legal requirements and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.  We are not currently permitted to increase our dividend, absent a waiver from Hillenbrand, Inc. pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we received a waiver in accordance with the Distribution Agreement and our Board of Directors approved a third quarter dividend of $0.1125 per share, $0.01 higher than the prior quarter.

We intend to continue to pursue selective acquisition candidates in certain areas of our business, but the timing, size or success of any acquisition effort and the related potential capital commitments cannot be predicted.  We expect to fund future acquisitions primarily with cash on hand, cash flow from operations and borrowings.  We do not expect the Distribution Agreement limitations described above will limit our ability to execute our current growth strategy.

As of June 30, 2011, we had authorization to repurchase 3.5 million shares of our common stock.  Repurchased shares are used for general business purposes.

We believe that cash on hand and generated from operations, along with amounts available under our credit facility, will be sufficient to fund operations, working capital needs, our tentative settlement related to the OIG matter should it be finalized, capital expenditure requirements and financing obligations.  However, disruption and volatility in the credit markets could impede our access to capital.  If we need additional sources of capital, whether as a result of reduced cash generated by operations, unavailability of borrowings under our credit facility, adverse results in litigation matters or increased cash requirements to fund acquisitions, such sources of capital may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.
 

Contractual Obligations and Contingent Liabilities and Commitments

There have not been any significant changes since September 30, 2010 impacting our contractual obligations and contingent liabilities and commitments except as discussed in Note 14 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our accounting policies require management to make significant estimates and assumptions using information available at the time the estimates are made.  Such estimates and assumptions significantly affect various reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses.  If future experience differs materially from these estimates and assumptions, our results of operations and financial condition could be affected.  A detailed description of our accounting policies is included in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and the Critical Accounting Policies Section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our 2010 Form 10-K.  There have been no material changes to such policies since September 30, 2010.

For a further summary of certain accounting policies and estimates and recently issued accounting pronouncements applicable to us, see Note 1 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.

Item 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

We are exposed to various market risks, including fluctuations in interest rates, liquidity issues with respect to auction rate securities, collection risk associated with our accounts and notes receivable portfolio and variability in currency exchange rates.  We have established policies, procedures and internal processes governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage our exposure to such risks.

We are subject to variability in foreign currency exchange rates in our international operations.  Exposure to this variability is periodically managed primarily through the use of natural hedges, whereby funding obligations and assets are both managed in the local currency.  We, from time-to-time, enter into currency exchange agreements to manage our exposure arising from fluctuating exchange rates related to specific and forecasted transactions.  We operate this program pursuant to documented corporate risk management policies and do not enter into derivative transactions for speculative purposes.  The sensitivity of earnings and cash flows to variability in exchange rates is assessed by applying an appropriate range of potential rate fluctuations to our assets, obligations and projected results of operations denominated in foreign currencies.

Our currency risk consists primarily of foreign currency denominated firm commitments and forecasted foreign currency denominated intercompany and third-party transactions.  At June 30, 2011, the notional amount of open foreign exchange contracts was $10.2 million.  The maximum length of time over which we hedge transaction exposures is 15 months.  Derivative gains/(losses), initially reported as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, are reclassified to earnings in the period when the transaction affects earnings.

For additional information on market risks related to our auction rate securities and pension plan assets, see Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, in our 2010 Form 10-K.

Item 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our management, with the participation of our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (the “Certifying Officers”), has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, the Certifying Officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report for the information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act to be recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and such information is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Except as described in the following paragraph, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

We utilize a company-wide information technology (“IT”) platform.  This IT platform is integrated into substantially all of our company-wide operations and materially impacts our manufacturing, sales, accounting and other back-office functionality.  In the second quarter of fiscal 2011, we completed the first phase of a multi-year initiative to upgrade this platform, with the second phase of the initiative scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter.  This upgrade includes changes to the design and operation of controls over financial reporting as well as monitoring controls surrounding the implementation of these changes.  We are testing controls for design effectiveness prior to implementation of each phase, and operating effectiveness during and after implementation.
 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.       LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Refer to Note 14 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q for further information on our legal proceedings.

Item 1A.    RISK FACTORS

For information regarding the risks we face, see the discussion under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010.  There have been no material changes to the risk factors described in that report.

Item 2.       UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased (1)
   
Average Price Paid per
Share
   
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
   
Maximum Number of
Shares that May Yet Be
Purchased Under Plans
or Programs (2)
 
April 1, 2011 - April 30, 2011
    1,875     $ 38.19       -       1,080,000  
May 1, 2011 - May 31, 2011
    23,083       45.35       -       4,080,000  
June 1, 2011 - June 30, 2011
    600,455       45.52       600,000       3,480,000  
Total
    625,413     $ 45.49       600,000       3,480,000  
 
(1)
All shares purchased during the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 were in connection with employee payroll tax withholding for restricted and deferred stock distributions and the share repurchase program discussed below.

(2)
In May 2011, the Board approved an expansion of its previously announced share repurchase authorization by 3 million shares, bringing the total number of shares available for repurchase to 28.7 million shares.  As of June 30, 2011, a cumulative total of 25.2 million shares have been repurchased under this existing authorization, which does not have an expiration date and currently there are no plans to terminate this program in the future.

 
Item 6.       EXHIBITS

A.
Exhibits

10.1*
Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
   
10.2*
Employment Agreement between Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Alton Shader, dated July 11, 2011
   
10.3*
Limited Recapture Agreement between Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Alton Shader, dated July 11, 2011
   
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
101.LAB
XBRL Extension Labels Linkbase Document
   
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
 

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 thereunto duly authorized.





     
HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
     
(Registrant)
       
       
DATE:  July 28, 2011
By:
 
/s/ Mark J. Guinan
 
Name:
  Mark J. Guinan
 
Title:
 
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(duly authorized officer and
principal financial officer)

 
 
 
26

EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, John J. Greisch, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.;

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the periods covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)  designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)  disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)  all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: July 28, 2011

/S/  John J. Greisch                                               
John J. Greisch
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 

 
EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Mark J. Guinan, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.;

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the periods covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)  designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)  disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)  all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:  July 28, 2011

/S/  Mark J. Guinan                                             
Mark J. Guinan
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 

EXHIBIT 32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


In connection with the Quarterly Report of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John J. Greisch, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 
(1)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 
(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.


/S/ John J. Greisch
John J. Greisch
President and Chief Executive Officer

July 28, 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and will be retained by Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
 

 

EXHIBIT 32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


In connection with the Quarterly Report of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Mark J. Guinan, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 
(1)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 
(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.


/S/ Mark J. Guinan
Mark J. Guinan
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

July 28, 2011



 




A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and will be retained by Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
 
 
 

 
EXHIBIT 10.1
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

(As Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2011)




 
 
 
 

 
 
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
1
ARTICLE II.
ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PLAN
4
2.1
Committee
4
2.2
Committee Duties
4
2.3
Agent
5
2.4
Binding Effect of Decisions
5
ARTICLE III.
PARTICIPATION
5
ARTICLE IV.
SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT
5
4.1
Supplemental Retirement Benefit
5
4.2
Subject To Pension Plan
6
4.3
Payment of Supplemental Retirement Benefits
6
4.4
Change in Control
7
4.5
Forfeiture of Supplement Retirement Benefit
7
4.6
Frozen Supplemental Retirement Benefit
7
ARTICLE V.
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
8
5.1
Defined Contributions
8
5.2
Matching Contributions
9
5.3
Supplemental Contributions
9
5.4
Defined Contribution Accounts, Matching Account and Supplemental Contribution Account
10
5.5
Earnings on Accounts
10
5.6
Vesting
10
5.7
Distribution of Aggregate Account
11
5.8
Forfeiture of Aggregate Account
11
ARTICLE VI.
OFFSET FOR OBLIGATIONS TO EMPLOYER
11
ARTICLE VII.
RIGHTS OF A PARTICIPANT
11
ARTICLE VIII.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
11
8.1
Amendment
11
8.2
Termination
11
ARTICLE IX.
DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS
12
9.1
Claim
12
9.2
Claim Decision
12
9.3
Request for Review
12
 
 
 

 
 
9.4
Review of Decision
12
ARTICLE X.
NOTICES
13
ARTICLE XI.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
13
11.1
Controlling Law
13
11.2
Captions
13
11.3
Facility of Payment
13
11.4
Withholding of Payroll Taxes
13
11.5
Protective Provisions
13
11.6
Terms
13
11.7
Successor
14
ARTICLE XII.
UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN
14
ARTICLE XIII.
RIGHTS TO BENEFITS
14
ARTICLE XIV.
CODE SECTION 409A COMPLIANCE
14
ARTICLE XV.
BOARD APPROVAL
14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- 2 -

 
 
HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
 
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
 
(As Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2011)
 


R E C I T A L S
 
WHEREAS, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (the "Employer") previously established and implemented a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("Plan") to provide selected key executives of the Employer with competitive supplemental retirement benefits and additional retirement income.
 

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
 

 
1.1            "Aggregate Account" means the vested (pursuant to Article V) balance credited to a Participant's Defined Contribution Account, Matching Account and/or Supplemental Contribution Account, including contribution credits and deemed income, gains and losses (to the extent realized as determined by the Employer, in its discretion) credited thereto.  A Participant's Aggregate Account shall be determined as of the date of reference.  A Participant's Aggregate Account shall be utilized solely as a device for measurement and determination of the amount to be paid to the Participant pursuant to this Plan.  A Participant's Aggregate Account shall not constitute or be treated as a trust fund of any kind. (a) (b)
 
1.2            "Base Salary" means the annual calendar earnings of a Participant including wages and salary as reported for federal income tax purposes, but excluding all bonus payments of any kind, commissions, incentive compensation, equity based compensation, long term performance compensation, perquisites and other forms of additional compensation.
 
1.3            "Beneficiary" means, with respect to the Supplemental Retirement Benefit (as defined in paragraph 4.1(a)), the person, persons, trust or other entity designated by the Participant to receive any benefits payable under the Pension Plan, and with respect to payments related to the Aggregate Account, the person, persons, trust or other entity designated by the Participant to receive benefits payable under the Deferred Compensation Guidelines.
 
1.4            "Board" means the Board of Directors of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
 
1.5            "Cause" means
 
 
(i)
a Participant's embezzlement or material misappropriation of funds or property of the Employer, or
 
 
 

 
 
 
(ii)
the willful engaging by a Participant in conduct constituting a felony or gross misconduct, which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Employer.
 
1.6           A "Change in Control" means
 
 
(i)
the date that any person, corporation, partnership, syndicate, trust, estate or other group acting with a view to the acquisition, holding or disposition of securities of the Company, becomes, directly or. indirectly, the beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Beneficial Owner"), of securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the voting power of all securities of the Company having the right under ordinary circumstances to vote at an election of the Board ("Voting Securities"), other than by reason of (x) the acquisition of securities of the Company by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (y) the acquisition of securities of the Company directly from the Company, or (z) the acquisition of securities of the Company by one or more members of the Hillenbrand Family (which term shall mean descendants of John A. Hillenbrand and their spouses, trusts primarily for their benefit or entities controlled by them);
 
 
(ii)
the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation unless
 
(A)           the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the merger or consolidation, beneficially own, immediately after the merger or consolidation, shares entitling such shareholders to 50% or more of the voting power of all securities of the corporation surviving the merger or consolidation having the right under ordinary circumstances to vote at an election of directors in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, of Voting Securities of the Company;
 
(B)           no person, corporation, partnership, syndicate, trust, estate or other group beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to such merger or consolidation; and
 
(C)           the members of the Board, immediately prior to the merger or consolidation, constitute, immediately after the merger or consolidation, a majority of the board of directors of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the merger;
 
 
(iii)
the date on which a majority of the members of the Board consist of persons other than Current Directors (which term shall mean any member of the Board on the date hereof and any member whose nomination or election has been approved by a majority of Current Directors then on the Board);
 
 
(iv)
the consummation of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or
 
 
-2-

 
 
 
(v)
the date of approval of the shareholders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company.
 
1.7          "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
1.8           "Committee" means the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board.
 
1.9           "Company" means Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and its Subsidiaries.
 
1.10         "Deferral Election" means the written election made by a Participant on the Deferral Elections Checklist form as timely submitted and accepted by the Committee.
 
1.11         "Deferred Compensation Guidelines" means the Company's "Deferred Compensation Payment Administrative Guidelines", as amended by the Committee in its sole discretion.
 
1.12         "Defined Contribution Account" means the account maintained on the books of account of the Employer for each Participant pursuant to Section 5.1.  Separate Defined Contribution Accounts shall be maintained for each Participant.  The Defined Contribution Account shall be utilized solely as a device for measurement and determination of the amount to be paid to the Participant pursuant to this Plan.  A Participant's Defined Contribution Account shall not constitute or be treated as a trust fund of any kind.
 
1.13         "Effective Date" means January 1, 2004.
 
1.14         "Employer" means Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., an Indiana corporation, and its Subsidiaries.
 
1.15         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
 
1.16         "Matching Account" means the account maintained on the books of account of the Employer for each Participant pursuant to Section 5.2.  Separate Matching Accounts shall be maintained for each Participant.  A Matching Account shall be utilized solely as a device for measurement and determination of the amount to be paid to the Participant pursuant to this Plan.  A Matching Account shall not constitute or be treated as a trust fund of any kind.
 
1.17         "Participant" means any individual who is a non-bargained for, full-time or regular part-time employee of the Employer who is selected for participation in this Plan pursuant to Article III or who is otherwise described in Article III.
 
1.18         "Pension Plan" means the Hill-Rom, Inc. Pension Plan, as amended.
 
1.19         "Plan Year" means the twelve (12) month period ending on the December 31 of each year during which this Plan is in effect, provided that the first Plan Year shall commence on the Effective Date and end on December 31 of the calendar year in which the Effective Date occurs.
 
1.20         "Savings Plan" means the Hill-Rom, Inc. Savings Plan, as amended.
 
 
-3-

 
 
1.21         "Subsidiary" means an operating company unit of which a majority equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company.
 
1.22         "Supplemental Contribution Account" means the account maintained on the books of account of the Employer for each Participant pursuant to Section 5.3.  Separate Supplemental Contribution Accounts shall be maintained for each Participant.  The Supplemental Contribution Account shall be utilized solely as a device for measurement and determination of the amount to be paid to the Participant pursuant to this Plan.  An Participant's Supplemental Contribution Account shall not constitute or be treated as a trust fund of any kind.
 
1.23         "Target Bonus" means the designated percentage of a Participant's Base Salary utilized in the Company's short term incentive compensation plan, regardless of what percent of a Participant's Base Salary had been paid.
 

ARTICLE II.
ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PLAN
 
2.1           Committee .  This Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and all decisions made by the Committee pursuant to provisions of this Plan shall be made by a majority of the Committee members present at any duly held regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present or by the unanimous written consent of a majority of the Committee members in lieu of any such meeting.
 
2.2           Committee Duties .  The Committee shall also have the authority to make, amend, interpret, and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of this Plan and decide or resolve any and all questions, including interpretations of this Plan, as may arise in connection with this Plan.  The Committee shall have the sole discretionary authority and all powers necessary to accomplish these purposes, including, but not by way of limitation, the right, power, authority and duty:
 
 
(a)
To make rules, regulations and procedures for the administration of this Plan which are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions hereof, provided such rules, regulations and procedures are evidenced in writing and copies thereof are delivered to the Employer.
 
 
(b)
To construe and interpret all terms, provisions, conditions and limitations of this Plan;
 
 
(c)
To correct any defect, supply any omission, construe any ambiguous or uncertain provisions, or reconcile any inconsistency that may appear in this Plan, in such manner and to such extent as it shall deem expedient to carry this Plan into effect;
 
 
(d)
To employ and compensate such accountants, attorneys, investment advisors and other agents and employees as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable in the proper and efficient administration of this Plan;
 
 
-4-

 
 
 
(e)
To determine all questions relating to eligibility;
 
 
(f)
To determine the amount, manner and time of payment of any benefits hereunder and to prescribe procedures to be followed by distributees in obtaining benefits;
 
 
(g)
To prepare, file and distribute, in such manner as the Committee determines to be appropriate, such information and material as is required by the reporting and disclosure requirements of ERISA; and
 
 
(h)
To make a determination as to the right of any person to receive a benefit under this Plan.
 
2.3           Agent .  In the administration of this Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, employ an agent and delegate to it such administrative duties as it sees fit and may, from time to time, consult with counsel who may be counsel to the Employer.
 
2.4           Binding Effect of Decisions .  The decision or action of the Committee with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation and application of this Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in this Plan and shall not be subject to appeal except as provided in Article IX.
 
ARTICLE III.
PARTICIPATION
 
Participation in this Plan shall be determined by the Committee or any person designated by it. In no event shall any employee of the Employer become eligible to participate in this Plan if such employee would not be considered a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees for purposes of ERISA.
 
ARTICLE IV.
SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT
 
4.1            Supplemental Retirement Benefit .
 
 
(a)
For each Participant who participates in the Pension Plan and continues to accrue a benefit thereunder while this Plan is in effect ("Traditional Participant"), such Traditional Participant shall be paid a monthly benefit under this Plan ("Supplemental Retirement Benefit") equal in amount to (1) the monthly benefit payable under the Pension Plan (i) without the limitations on maximum benefits set forth in Section 415 of the Code, and (ii) with the changes to the calculation of "Earnings" (as defined in the Pension Plan) as described in paragraph (b) of this Section 4.1, less (2) the monthly benefit payable under the Pension Plan.
 
 
-5-

 
 
 
(b)
For purposes of calculating the Supplemental Retirement Benefit under this Section 4.1, "Earnings" as defined in the Pension Plan shall include the amount of a Traditional Participant's Target Bonus (whether or not the target is attained and whether or not the Target Bonus is paid) for a calendar year, including any Target Bonus for calendar years prior to the Effective Date for the same years that Earnings is used to determine the Participant's monthly benefit payable under the Pension Plan, and such Earnings shall not be limited by the compensation limits set forth in Code Section 401(a)(17); provided however, that such "Earnings" may be limited in amount by the Board or Committee, as they determine in their sole discretion, for any one or more Traditional Participants.
 
 
(c)
Exhibit "A" attached hereto provides an example of the calculation of "Average Monthly Earnings" (as defined in the Pension Plan) used in the calculation of a Traditional Participant's Supplemental Retirement Benefit hereunder.
 
4.2            Subject To Pension Plan .  Except as provided in Article 4.1 above and as provided below in Section 4.3 with respect to the payment of the Supplemental Retirement Benefit, the Supplemental Retirement Benefit to be paid a Traditional Participant shall be subject to all provisions of the Pension Plan, including but not limited to, all monthly benefit calculations, normal and early retirement, deferred vested benefits, disability retirement, vesting, benefit election options, beneficiary designations and joint and survivor benefits.
 
4.3            Payment of Supplemental Retirement Benefits .
 
 
(a)
Normal Supplemental Retirement Benefits.  Except as provided in Section 4.3(d) below, each Traditional Participant who attains his Normal Retirement Date (as defined in the Pension Plan) shall receive a monthly benefit.  Unless such Traditional Participant elects a form of annuity set forth on Annex A attached hereto prior to the date of his Normal Retirement Benefit Commencement Date (as defined below), such Traditional Participant, if unmarried, shall receive a life annuity with guaranteed payment for 24 months ("Single, Normal Form of Payment"), or if married, a 50% joint and survivor annuity ("Married, Normal Form of Payment").  Monthly Normal Supplemental Retirement Benefit payments shall begin as of the first day of the calendar month following the six month anniversary date of a Traditional Participant's termination of employment ("Normal Retirement Benefit Commencement Date") and shall be paid monthly thereafter as of the first day of each succeeding month.
 
 
(b)
Early Supplemental Retirement Benefits.  Except as provided in Section 4.3(d) below, each Traditional Participant who attains his Early Retirement Date (as defined in the Pension Plan) shall receive a monthly benefit.  Unless such Traditional Participant elects a form of annuity set forth on Annex A attached hereto prior to the date his Early Retirement Benefit Commencement Date (as defined below), such Traditional Participant, if unmarried, shall receive a Single, Normal Form of Payment, or if married, a Married, Normal Form of Payment.  Monthly Early Supplemental Retirement Benefit payments shall begin on the first day of the calendar month following the six month anniversary date of a Traditional Participant's termination of employment  ("Early Retirement Benefit Commencement Date") and shall be paid monthly thereafter as of the first day of each succeeding month.  A Traditional Participant can elect to change his Early Retirement Benefit Commencement Date so long as such election is made a year prior to the Early Retirement Benefit Commencement Date and made before attaining age 60.  The new Early Retirement Benefit Commencement Date must be a date after the 5th anniversary of the Early Retirement Benefit Commencement Date and must be a date before he attains age 65.
 
 
-6-

 
 
 
 (c)
Deferred Vested Supplemental Retirement Benefits.  Except as provided in Section 4.3(d) below, each Traditional Participant who attains his Vested Retirement Date (as defined in the Pension Plan) shall receive a monthly benefit.  Unless such Traditional Participant elects a form of annuity set forth on Annex A attached hereto prior to  the date of his Deferred Vested Benefit Commencement Date (as defined below), such Traditional Participant, if unmarried, shall receive a Single, Normal Form of Payment, or if married, a Married, Normal Form of Payment.  Monthly Deferred Vested Supplemental Retirement Benefits shall begin on the later to occur of (i) the first day of the calendar month following the date a Traditional Participant attains age 55 or (ii) the first day of the calendar month following the sixth month anniversary date of a Traditional Participant's termination of employment ("Deferred Vested Benefit Commencement Date") and shall be paid monthly thereafter as of the first day of each succeeding month.  A Traditional Participant can elect to change his Deferred Vested Benefit Commencement Date so long as such election is made a year prior to the Deferred Vested Benefit Commencement Date and made before attaining age 60.  The new Early Retirement Benefit Commencement Date must be a date after the 5th anniversary of the Deferred Vested Benefit Commencement Date and must be a date before he attains age 65.
 
 
(d)
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Traditional Participant is a "specified employee" under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then any payments to be made to such Traditional Participant under this Section 4.3 shall commence on the first day of the calendar month following the six-month anniversary of the date of his termination of employment.
 
4.4           Change in Control .  Notwithstanding the vesting requirement set forth in the Pension Plan and except as provided in Section 4.4 below, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control a Traditional Participant shall be credited with five (5) years of "Vesting Service" (as defined in the Pension Plan) for purposes of determining whether a Traditional Participant is eligible for a Supplemental Retirement Benefit.
 
4.5           Forfeiture of Supplement Retirement Benefit .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV, upon the termination of a Traditional Participant's employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for Cause, such Traditional Participant shall forfeit all rights to any Supplemental Retirement Benefit under this Article IV, and the Employer shall have no obligation to make any such payments.
 
4.6           Frozen Supplemental Retirement Benefit.   If the Committee (at its sole discretion) should determine that a Traditional Participant is no longer eligible to earn or accrue a Supplemental Retirement Benefit as provided for under this Article IV, then, on the date of such determination by the Committee, the Traditional Participant's Supplemental Retirement Benefit shall be frozen as of such date and he or she will earn or accrue no Supplemental Retirement Benefit thereafter.
 
 
-7-

 
 
ARTICLE V.
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
 
5.1           Defined Contributions .
 
 
(a)
Each Plan Year the Employer shall record as a contribution to the Defined Contribution Account of a Traditional Participant an amount equal to (1) the maximum amount of contribution of whatever kind the Employer would have had to make to the Savings Plan for and on behalf of a Traditional Participant for such Plan Year (i) without the annual additions limits set forth in Code Section 415 and (ii) with the changes to the calculation of "Compensation" (as defined in the Savings Plan) as described in paragraph (c) of this Section 5.1, less (2) the amount of contribution of whatever kind that the Employer actually made to the Savings Plan for and on behalf of the Traditional Participant for such Plan Year.
 
 
(b)
For each Participant who is not a Traditional Participant ("Non-Traditional Participant"), each Plan Year the Employer shall record as a contribution to the Defined Contribution Account of a Non-Traditional Participant an amount equal to (1) the maximum amount of contribution of whatever kind, other than any Employer Matching Contributions (as defined in the Savings Plan), the Employer would have had to make to the Savings Plan for and on behalf of a Non-Traditional Participant for such Plan Year (i) without the annual additions limits set forth in Code Section 415 and (ii) with the changes to the calculation of "Compensation" (as defined in the Savings Plan) as described in paragraph (c) of this Section 5.1, less (2) the amount of contribution of whatever kind, other than any Employer Matching Contributions, that the Employer actually made to the Savings Plan for and on behalf of the Non-Traditional Participant for such Plan Year.
 
 
(c)
For purposes of calculating the Defined Contributions under this Section 5.1, "Compensation" as defined in the Savings Plan shall include the amount of a Participant's Target Bonus (whether or not the target is attained and whether or not the Target Bonus is paid) for a Plan Year, and such "Compensation" shall not be limited by the compensation limits set forth in Code Section 401(a)(17); provided however, that such "Compensation" may be limited in amount by resolution of the Board or Committee, as they determine in their sole discretion, for any one or more Participants.
 
 
 
-8-

 
 
5.2           Matching Contributions .
 
 
(a)
For each Non-Traditional Participant who has elected to contribute the maximum amount as provided under Code Section 402(g)(1) as a "qualified cash or deferred arrangement" (as defined in Code Section 401(k)(2)) to the Savings Plan, each Plan Year the Employer shall record as a contribution to the Matching Account of a Non-Traditional Participant an amount equal to (1) the maximum amount of Employer Matching Contributions (as defined in the Savings Plan) the Employer would have had to make to the Savings Plan for and on behalf of a Non-Traditional Participant for such Plan Year (i) without the annual additions limits set forth in Code Section 415, (ii) without any  limits on a Non-Traditional Participant's "qualified cash or deferred arrangement" under Code Sections 401(k) or 402(g)(1), (iii) without any limits on a matching contribution as set forth in Code Section 401(m) and (iv) with the changes to the calculation of "Compensation" (as defined in the Savings Plan) as described in paragraph (c) of this Section 5.2, less (2) the amount of Employer Matching Contributions that the Employer actually made to the Savings Plan for and on behalf of the Non-Traditional Participant for such Plan Year.
 
 
(b)
For each Non-Traditional Participant who has not elected to contribute the maximum amount as provided under Code Section 402(g)(1) as a "qualified cash or deferred arrangement" (as defined in Code Section 401(k)(2)) to the Savings Plan, each Plan Year the Employer shall record as a contribution to the Matching Account of a Non-Traditional Participant an amount equal to (1) the maximum amount of Employer Matching Contributions (as defined in the Savings Plan) the Employer would have had to make to the Savings Plan for and on behalf of a Non-Traditional Participant for such Plan Year (i) without the annual additions limits set forth in Code Section 415, (ii) without any  limits on a Non-Traditional Participant's "qualified cash or deferred arrangement" under Code Sections 401(k), (iii) without any limits on a matching contribution as set forth in Code Section 401(m), (iv) with the limits on a Non-Traditional Participant's "qualified cash or deferred arrangement" under Code Section 402(g)(i) and (v) with the changes to the calculation of "Compensation" (as defined in the Savings Plan) as described in paragraph (c) of this Section 5.2, less (2) the amount of Employer Matching Contributions that the Employer actually made to the Savings Plan for and on behalf of the Non-Traditional Participant for such Plan Year.
 
 
(c)
For purposes of calculating the Matching Contributions under this Section 5.2,   "Compensation" as defined in the Savings Plan shall include the amount of a Participant's Target Bonus (whether or not the target is attained and whether or not the Target Bonus is paid) for a Plan Year and such "Compensation" shall not be limited by the compensation limits set forth in Code Section 401(a)(17); provided however, that such "Compensation" may be limited in amount by the Board or Committee, as they determine in their sole discretion, for any one or more Non-Traditional Participants.
 
5.3           Supplemental Contributions .
 
 
(a)
Each Plan Year the Employer shall record as a contribution to the Supplemental Contribution Account of certain Participants selected by the Committee an amount equal to three percent (3%) of such Participants’ "Compensation" (as defined in the Savings Plan) with such changes to its calculation as described in paragraph (b) of this Section 5.3.
 
 
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(b)
For purposes of calculating the Supplemental Contributions under this Section 5.3, "Compensation" as defined in the Savings Plan shall include the amount of a selected Participant's Target Bonus (whether or not the target is attained and whether or not the Target Bonus is paid) for a Plan Year and such "Compensation" shall not be limited by the compensation limits set forth in Code Section 401(a)(17); provided however, that such "Compensation" may be limited in amount by the Board or Committee, as they determine in their sole discretion, for any one or more of the selected Participants.
 
5.4           Defined Contribution Accounts, Matching Account and Supplemental Contribution Account .  All Employer contributions made pursuant to this Section V shall be credited to a Participant's Defined Contribution Account, Matching Account and/or, Supplemental Contribution Account which shall be a bookkeeping account established for each Participant by the Employer.  The time when the Employer contributions are credited to a Participant's Defined Contribution Account, Matching Account and/or Supplemental Contribution Account shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.  The Defined Contribution Accounts, the Matching Accounts and the Supplemental Contribution Account shall be unfunded and shall maintain all credits made to such account, pursuant to this Plan for the benefit of a Participant.
 
5.5           Earnings on Accounts .  The balance of a Participant's Defined Contribution Account, Matching Account and/or Supplemental Contribution Account, shall accrue interest credited monthly to the Participant's Defined Contribution Account balance, Matching Account balance and/or Supplemental Contribution Account balance at the end of the Company's fiscal months at a rate which is equal to the monthly prime interest rate (determined as of the first day of each month) charged by the Company's principal bank, or, at the election of the Committee, Participants selected by the Committee may be credited at such other rate or rates as may be determined by the Committee.   Effective as soon as administratively possible after the approval of the restatement of this Plan (as of January 1, 2011) by the Board, the balance of a Participant's Defined Contribution Account, Matching Account and/or Supplemental Contribution Account shall be treated as having been directed by a Participant to be invested in the same investment options maintained under the Savings Plan in a manner and in percentages as elected under this Plan, which may be in a manner and percentages different from the elections under the Savings Plan.
 
5.6           Vesting .  A Participant shall be fully (100%) vested in all amounts credited to his or her Defined Contribution Account and Supplemental Contribution Account, and a Participant shall vest in all amounts credited to his or her Matching Account pursuant to the vesting schedule maintained under the Savings Plan for any Employer Matching Contributions made to the Savings Plan by the Employer; provided however, that upon the occurrence of an event which is a Change in Control, each Participant shall be fully 100% vested in such Participant's Matching Account.
 
 
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5.7           Distribution of Aggregate Account .  A Participant's Aggregate Account shall be paid within fifteen (15) days of the   six-month anniversary of the date of  the Participant's termination of employment.
 
5.8           Forfeiture of Aggregate Account .  Notwithstanding anything in this Article V, upon the termination of a Participant's employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for Cause, such Participant shall forfeit all rights to his or her Aggregate Account under this Article V, and the Employer shall have no obligations with respect to this Article V.
 
ARTICLE VI.
OFFSET FOR OBLIGATIONS TO EMPLOYER
 
If, at such time as the Participant becomes entitled to benefit payments hereunder, the Participant has any debt, obligation or other liability representing an amount owing to the Company or any Subsidiary, and if such debt, obligation, or other liability is due and owing at the time benefit payments are payable hereunder, the Employer may offset the amount owed the Company or the Subsidiary against the amount of benefits otherwise distributable hereunder.
 
ARTICLE VII.
RIGHTS OF A PARTICIPANT
 
Establishment of this Plan shall not be construed as giving any Participant the right to be retained in the Employer's service or employ or the right to receive any benefits not specifically provided by this Plan.
 
Payments under this Plan will not be segregated from the general funds of the Employer and no Participant will have any claim on any specific assets of the Employer.  To the extent that any Participant acquires a right to receive benefits under this Plan, his or her right will be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Employer and is not assignable or transferable except to his or her Beneficiary or estate.
 
ARTICLE VIII.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
 
8.1           Amendment .  This Plan may be amended from time to time by resolution of the Board.  The amendment of any one or more provisions of this Plan shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Plan.  No amendment shall reduce any benefits accrued by any Participant prior to the amendment, and each amendment shall comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A.
 
8.2           Termination .  The Board has the right to terminate this Plan at any time.  The termination of the Plan shall comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A.  Any benefit accrued prior to this Plan's termination will continue to be subject to the provisions of this Plan.
 
 
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ARTICLE IX.
DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS
 
9.1           Claim .  A person who believes that he is being denied a benefit to which he is entitled under this Plan (hereinafter referred to as a "Claimant") may file a written request for such benefit with the Committee, setting forth his claim.  The request must be addressed to the Committee.
 
9.2           Claim Decision .  Upon receipt of a claim, the Committee shall advise the Claimant that a reply will be forthcoming within a reasonable time, but not later than 90 days from its receipt of the claim and shall, in fact, deliver such reply within such period.  The Committee may, however, extend the reply period for an additional 90 days if the Committee determines that special circumstances require such an extension.  If an extension is required, written notice shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the termination of the initial 90-day period.  The extension notice shall indicate (i) the special circumstances requiring an extension of time; and (ii) the date by which the Committee expects to tender the benefit determination.  If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Committee shall adopt a written opinion, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth:
 
 
(a)
The specific reason for such denial;
 
 
(b)
The specific reference to pertinent provisions of this agreement upon which such denial is based;
 
 
(c)
A description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary.
 
 
(d)
Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review, including the Claimant's right to bring a civil action following an adverse benefit determination on review; and
 
 
(e)
The time limits for requesting a review.
 
9.3           Request for Review .  Within sixty (60) days after the receipt by the Claimant of the written opinion described above, the Claimant may request in writing that the Committee review its determination.  Such request must be addressed to the Committee.  The Claimant or his duly authorized representative may, but need not, review the pertinent documents, records and other information, receive copies of such information, and submit documents, records, issues and comments in writing for consideration by the Committee.  If the Claimant does not request a review of the Committee's determination within such sixty (60) day period, he shall be barred and estopped from challenging the Participating Employer's determination.
 
9.4           Review of Decision .  Within a reasonable time not later than sixty (60) days after the Board of Directors' receipt of a request for review, the Committee will review its determinations.  After considering all materials presented by the Claimant, the Committee will render a written opinion, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth (a) the specific reasons for the decision; (b) and containing specific references to the pertinent provisions of this Plan on which the decision is based; (c) a statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Claimant's claim for benefits; and (d) a statement of the Claimant's right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.  If special circumstances require that the sixty (60) day time period be extended, the Committee will so notify the Claimant prior to the termination of the initial 60-day period and will render the decision as soon as possible, but no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the filing of the request for review.  The extension notice will set forth:  (a) the special circumstances; and (b) the date as of which the benefit determination will be made.
 
 
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ARTICLE X.
NOTICES
 
Notices and elections under this Plan must be in writing.  A notice or election is deemed delivered if it is delivered personally or mailed by registered or certified mail to the person at his or her last known business address.
 
ARTICLE XI.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
11.1         Controlling Law .  The provisions of this Plan shall be subject to regulation under ERISA.  To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Plan shall be construed and interpreted according to the laws of the State of Indiana.
 
11.2         Captions .  The captions of Articles and Sections of this Plan are for the convenience of reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of its provisions.
 
11.3         Facility of Payment .  Any amounts payable hereunder to any Participant who is under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to properly manage his or her financial affairs may be paid to the legal representative of such Participant or may be applied for the benefit of such Participant in any manner which the Committee may select, and any such payment shall be deemed to be payment for such Participant's account and shall be a complete discharge of all liability of the Employer with respect to the amount so paid.
 
11.4         Withholding of Payroll Taxes .  To the extent required by the laws in effect at the time compensation or deferred compensation payments are made, the Employer shall withhold from such compensation, or from deferred compensation payments made hereunder, any taxes required to be withheld for federal, state or local government purposes.
 
11.5         Protective Provisions .  A Participant will cooperate with the Employer by furnishing any and all information requested by the Employer in order to facilitate the payment of benefits hereunder.
 
11.6         Terms .  Whenever any words are used herein in the masculine, they shall be construed as though they were used in the feminine in all cases where they would so apply; and wherever any words are used herein in the singular or in the plural, they shall be construed as though they were used in the plural or the singular, as the case may be, in all cases where they would so apply.
 
 
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11.7         Successor .  The provisions of this Plan shall bind and inure to the benefit of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and its successors and assigns.  The terms successors and assigns as used herein shall include any corporate or other business entity which shall, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, acquire all or substantially all of the business and assets of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and successors of any such company or other business entity.
 
ARTICLE XII.
UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN
 
It is the intention of the parties that the arrangements herein described be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I or ERISA.  Plan participants have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Employer.  This Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Employer to make payments in the future.
 
ARTICLE XIII.
RIGHTS TO BENEFITS
 
Subject to Article VI, a Participant's rights to benefit payments under this Plan are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors of the participant or the participant's beneficiaries.
 
ARTICLE XIV.
CODE SECTION 409A COMPLIANCE
 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Plan is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance thereunder.  Accordingly, all provisions herein, or incorporated by reference, shall be construed and interpreted to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.  Further, for purposes of Code Section 409A, a "termination of employment" as used in this Plan shall mean a "separation from service" as used in Code Section 409A.
 
ARTICLE XV.
BOARD APPROVAL
 
This amended and restated Plan was approved, affirmed and ratified by the Board on May 6, 2011.
 
 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer has caused this Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan to be executed this 5 th day of May, 2011.

 
HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
 
     
       
 
By:
/s/ John Greisch  
       
  Name: John Greisch  
       
  Title: President and CEO  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXECUTION PAGE FOR HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
 
 

 
 
EXHIBIT "A"
 
Example of
Average Monthly Earnings for
Supplemental Retirement Benefit


Calculation of Target Bonus

 

                   
   
Base Salary
   
Target
Bonus %
   
Target
Bonus
 
                 
Year 5
  $ 210,000     40%     $ 84,000  
Year 4
    201,500     30%       60,450  
Year 3
    194,000     30%       58,200  
Year 2
    185,500     24%       44,520  
Year 1
    180,000     24%       43,200  
 
                   
   
Earnings (Pension Plan)
w/o § 401(a)17 limits
   
Target Bonus
   
Supplemental
Retirement
Earnings
 
                   
Year 5
  $ 210,000     $ 84,000     $ 294,000  
Year 4
    201,500       60,450       261,950  
Year 3
    194,000       58,200       252,200  
Year 2
    185,500       44,520       230,020  
Year 1
    180,000       43,200       223,200  
                    $ 1,261,370  
 
Average Monthly Earnings for Supplemental Retirement Benefit:

$ 1,261,370  ÷ 5 ÷ 12 = $ 21,023

 
Exhibit A-1

 
 
ANNEX A
 
 
Payment Annuity Options
   
1.  Single Life Annuity
   
2.  66-2/3% Joint and Survivor Annuity
   
3.  75% Joint and Survivor Annuity
   
4.  100% Joint and Survivor Annuity
   
5.  5-Year Certain and Life
   
6.  10-Year Certain and Life
   
7. 15-Year Certain and Life
   
8. 20-Year Certain and Life
 
 


 
Annex A-1

EXHIBIT 10.2
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
P R E A M B L E
 
This Employment Agreement defines the essential terms and conditions of our employment relationship with you.  The subjects covered in this Agreement are vitally important to you and to the Company.  Thus, you should read the document carefully and ask any questions before signing the Agreement.  Given the importance of these matters to you and the Company, you are required to sign the Agreement as a condition of employment.


 
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated and effective this 11 th day of July, 2011 is entered into by and between Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. ("Company") and Alton Shader ("Employee").
 
W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company and its affiliated entities are engaged in the healthcare industry throughout the United States and abroad including, but not limited to, the design, manufacture, sale, service and rental of hospital beds and stretchers, hospital furniture, medical-related architectural products, specialty sleep surfaces (including therapeutic surfaces), air clearing devices, biomedical and asset management services, as well as other medical-related accessories, devices, products and services;
 
WHEREAS, the Company is willing to employ Employee in an executive or managerial position and Employee desires to be employed by the Company in such capacity based upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
 
WHEREAS, in the course of the employment contemplated under this Agreement and as a continuation of Employee's past employment with the Company , if applicable, it will be necessary for Employee to acquire and maintain knowledge of certain trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information regarding the Company as well as any of its parent, subsidiary and/or affiliated entities (hereinafter jointly referred to as the "Companies"); and
 
WHEREAS, the Company and Employee (collectively referred to as the "Parties") acknowledge and agree that the execution of this Agreement is necessary to memorialize the terms and conditions of their employment relationship as well as safeguard against the unauthorized disclosure or use of the Company's confidential information and to otherwise preserve the goodwill and ongoing business value of the Company;
 
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of Employee's employment, the Company's willingness to disclose certain confidential and proprietary information to Employee and the mutual covenants contained herein as well as other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
 
 
 

 
.
 
1.
Employment .  Effective July 11, 2011, the Company agrees to employ Employee and Employee agrees to commence employment and serve as Senior Vice President and President Post Acute Care.  Employee agrees to perform all duties and responsibilities traditionally assigned to, or falling within the normal responsibilities of, an individual employed in the above-referenced positions.  Employee also agrees to perform any and all additional duties or responsibilities as may be assigned by the Company in its sole discretion. The Parties acknowledge that both these titles and the underlying duties may change.
 
2.
Best Efforts and Duty of Loyalty .  During the term of employment with the Company, Employee covenants and agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to perform all assigned duties in a diligent and professional manner and in the best interest of the Company.  Employee agrees to devote Employee's full working time, attention, talents, skills and best efforts to further the Company's business and agrees not to take any action, or make any omission, that deprives the Company of any business opportunities or otherwise act in a manner that conflicts with the best interest of the Company or is otherwise detrimental to its business.  Employee agrees not to engage in any outside business activity, whether or not pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage, without the express written consent of the Company.  Employee shall act at all times in accordance with the Company's Code of Ethical Business Conducts, and all other applicable policies which may exist or be adopted by the Company from time to time.
 
3.
At-Will Employment .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, Employee specifically acknowledges and accepts such employment on an "at-will" basis and agrees that both Employee and the Company retain the right to terminate this relationship at any time, with or without cause, for any reason not prohibited by applicable law upon notice as required by this Agreement.  Employee acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement is intended to create, nor should be interpreted to create, an employment contract for any specified length of time between the Company and Employee.
 
4.
Compensation .  For all services rendered by Employee on behalf of, or at the request of, the Company, Employee shall be paid as follows:
 
 
(a)
A base salary at the bi-weekly rate of Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and Zero Cents ($12,500.00), less usual and ordinary deductions;
 
 
(b)
Incentive compensation, payable solely at the discretion of the Company, pursuant to the Company's existing Incentive Compensation Program or any other program as the Company may establish in its sole discretion; and
 
 
(c)
Such additional compensation, benefits and perquisites as the Company may deem appropriate
 
5.
Changes to Compensation .  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Employee acknowledges that the Company specifically reserves the right to make changes to Employee's compensation in its sole discretion including, but not limited to, modifying or eliminating a compensation component.  The Parties agree that such changes shall be deemed effective immediately and a modification of this Agreement unless, within seven (7) days after receiving notice of such change, Employee exercises Employee's   right to terminate this Agreement without cause or for "Good Reason" as provided below in Paragraph No. 11.  The Parties anticipate that Employee's compensation structure will be reviewed on an annual basis but acknowledge that the Company shall have no obligation to do so.
 
 
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6.
Direct Deposit .  As a condition of employment, and within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Agreement, Employee agrees to make all necessary arrangements to have all sums paid pursuant to this Agreement direct deposited into one or more bank accounts as designated by Employee.
 
7.
Warranties and Indemnification .  Employee warrants that Employee is not a party to any contract, restrictive covenant, or other agreement purporting to limit or otherwise adversely affecting Employee's ability to secure employment with any third party.  Alternatively, should any such agreement exist, Employee warrants that the contemplated services to be performed hereunder will not violate the terms and conditions of any such agreement.  In either event, Employee agrees to fully indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any and all claims arising from, or involving the enforcement of, any such restrictive covenants or other agreements.
 
8.
Restricted Duties .  Employee agrees not to disclose, or use for the benefit of the Company, any confidential or proprietary information belonging to any predecessor employer(s) that otherwise has not been made public and further acknowledges that the Company has specifically instructed Employee not to disclose or use such confidential or proprietary information.  Based on Employee's understanding of the anticipated duties and responsibilities hereunder, Employee acknowledges that such duties and responsibilities will not compel the disclosure or use of any such confidential and proprietary information.
 
9.
Termination Without Cause .  The Parties agree that either party may terminate this employment relationship at any time, without cause, upon sixty (60) days' advance written notice or, if terminated by the Company, pay in lieu of notice (hereinafter referred to as "notice pay").  In such event, Employee shall only be entitled to such compensation, benefits and perquisites that have been paid or fully accrued as of the effective date of Employee's   separation and as otherwise explicitly set forth in this Agreement.  However, in no event shall Employee be entitled to notice pay if Employee is eligible for and accepts severance payments pursuant to the provisions of Paragraphs 16 and 17, below.
 
10.
Termination With Cause .  Employee's employment may be terminated by the Company at any time "for cause" without notice or prior warning.  For purposes of this Agreement, "cause" shall mean the Company's good faith determination that Employee has:
 
 
(a)
Acted with gross neglect or willful misconduct in the discharge of his/her duties and responsibilities or refused to follow or comply with the lawful direction of the Board of Directors of the Company or the terms and conditions of this Agreement providing such refusal is not based primarily on Employee's good faith compliance with applicable legal or ethical standards;
 
 
3

 
 
 
(b)
Acquiesced or participated in any conduct that is dishonest, fraudulent, illegal (at the felony level), unethical, involves moral turpitude or is otherwise illegal and involves conduct that has the potential, in the Company's reasonable opinion, to cause the Company, its officers or its directors embarrassment or ridicule;
 
 
(c)
Violated a material requirement of any Company policy or procedure, specifically including a violation of the Company's Code of Ethics or Associate Policy Manual;
 
 
(d)
Disclosed without proper authorization any trade secrets or other Confidential Information (as defined herein);
 
 
(e)
Engaged in any act that, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, is contrary to its best interests or would hold the Company, its officers or directors up to probable civil or criminal liability, provided that, if Executive acts in good faith in compliance with applicable legal or ethical standards, such actions shall not be grounds for termination for cause; or
 
 
(f)
Engaged in such other conduct recognized at law as constituting cause.
 
Upon the occurrence or discovery of any event specified above, the Company shall have the right to terminate Employee's employment, effective immediately, by providing notice thereof to Employee without further obligation to Employee, other than accrued wages or other accrued wages, deferred compensation or other accrued benefits of employment (collectively referred to herein as "Accrued Obligations"), which shall be paid in accordance with the Company's past practice and applicable law. To the extent any violation of this Paragraph is capable of being promptly cured by Employee (or cured within a reasonable period to the Company's satisfaction), the Company agrees to provide Employee with a reasonable opportunity to so cure such defect.  Absent written mutual agreement otherwise, the Parties agree in advance that it is not possible for Employee to cure any violations of sub-paragraph (b) or (d) and, therefore, no opportunity for cure need be provided in those circumstances.
 
11.
Termination by Employee for Good Reason .  Employee may terminate this Agreement and declare this Agreement to have been terminated "without cause" by the Company (and, therefore, for "Good Reason") upon the occurrence, without Employee's consent, of any of the following acts by the Company, or failures by the Company to act (each a “Good Reason Condition”), provided (i) the Employee provides written notice to the Company of the occurrence of the Good Reason Condition within ten (10) business days after the Employee has knowledge of the Good Reason Condition; (ii) the Company fails to notify the Employee of the Company’s intended method of correction within thirty (30) business days after the Company receives Employee’s notice, or the Company fails to correct the Good Reason Condition within thirty (30) business days after such Employee notice; and (iii) the Employee resigns within ten (10) business days after the end of the 30-business-day period specified in (ii):
 
 
(a)
A material diminution in Employee’s duties;
 
 
4

 
 
 
(b)
The failure to elect or reelect Employee as Vice President or other officer of the Company (unless such failure is related in any way to the Company's decision to terminate Employee for cause);
 
 
(c)
The failure of the Company to continue to provide Employee with office space, related facilities and support personnel (including, but not limited to, administrative and secretarial assistance) within the Company's principal executive offices commensurate with his responsibilities to, and position within, the Company;
 
 
(d)
A material reduction by the Company in the amount of Employee's base salary or the discontinuation or material reduction by the Company of Employee's participation at the same level of eligibility as compared to other peer employees in any incentive compensation, additional compensation, benefits, policies or perquisites subject to Employee understanding that such reduction(s) shall be permissible if the change applies in a similar way to other peer level employees;
 
 
(e)
The relocation of the Company's principal executive offices or Employee's place of work to a location requiring a change of more than fifty (50) miles in Employee's daily commute; or
 
 
(f)
Any other action or inaction by the Company that constitutes a material breach of this Employment Agreement.
 
12.
Termination Due to Death or Disability .  In the event Employee dies or suffers a disability (as defined herein) during the term of employment, this Agreement shall automatically be terminated on the date of such death or disability without further obligation on the part of the Company other than the payment of Accrued Obligations.  For purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be considered to have suffered a "disability" upon a determination that Employee cannot perform the essential functions of Employee's position as a result of a such a disability and the occurrence of one or more of the following events:
 
 
(a)
Employee becomes eligible for or receives any benefits pursuant to any disability insurance policy as a result of a determination under such policy that Employee is permanently disabled;
 
 
(b)
Employee becomes eligible for or receives any disability benefits under the Social Security Act; or
 
 
(c)
A good faith determination by the Company that Employee is and will likely remain unable to perform the essential functions of Employee's duties or responsibilities hereunder on a full-time basis, with or without reasonable accommodation, as a result of any mental or physical impairment.
 
Notwithstanding anything expressed or implied above to the contrary, the Company agrees to fully comply with its obligations under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as any other applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance governing the provision of leave to individuals with serious health conditions or the protection of individuals with disabilities, as well as the Company's obligation to provide reasonable accommodation thereunder.
 
 
5

 
 
13.
Exit Interview .  Upon termination of Employee's employment for any reason, Employee agrees, if requested, to participate in an exit interview with the Company and reaffirm in writing Employee's post-employment obligations as set forth in this Agreement.
 
14.
Section 409A Notification .  Employee acknowledges that Employee   has been advised of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, which added Section 409A to the Internal Revenue Code ("Section 409A"), and significantly changed the taxation of nonqualified deferred compensation plans and arrangements.  Under proposed and final regulations as of the date of this Agreement, Employee has been advised that Employee's severance pay and other termination benefits may be treated by the Internal Revenue Service as providing "nonqualified deferred compensation," and therefore subject to Section 409A.  In that event, several provisions in Section 409A may affect Employee's receipt of severance compensation, including the timing thereof.  These include, but are not limited to, a provision which requires that distributions to "specified employees" of public companies on account of separation from service may not be made earlier than six (6) months after the effective date of such separation.  If applicable, failure to comply with Section 409A can lead to immediate taxation of such deferrals, with interest calculated at a penalty rate and a 20% penalty.  As a result of the requirements imposed by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Employee agrees if Employee   is a "specified employee" at the time of Employee's termination of employment and if payments in connection with such termination of employment are subject to Section 409A and not otherwise exempt, such payments (and other benefits to the extent applicable) due Employee at the time of termination of employment shall not be paid until a date at least six (6) months after the effective date of Employee's termination of employment ("Employee's Effective Termination Date").  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any payment under the terms of this Agreement would constitute an impermissible acceleration of payments under Section 409A or any regulations or Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder, such payments shall be made no earlier than at such times allowed under Section 409A.  If any provision of this Agreement (or of any award of compensation) would cause Employee to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A or any regulations or Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder, the Company or its successor may reform such provision; provided that it will (i) maintain, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A and (ii) notify and consult with Employee regarding such amendments or modifications prior to the effective date of any such change.  Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to Employee pursuant to this Agreement, which constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A.  To the extent required to avoid an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A, amounts reimbursed to Employee under this Agreement shall be paid to Employee on or before the last day of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (and in-kind benefits provided to Employee) during any one year may not affect amounts reimbursed or provided in any subsequent tax year, and the right to reimbursement (and in-kind benefits provided to Employee) under this Agreement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
 
 
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15.
Section 409A Acknowledgement .  Employee acknowledges that, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, both Parties shall be independently responsible for accessing their own risks and liabilities under Section 409A that may be associated with any payment made under the terms of this Agreement or any other arrangement which may be deemed to trigger Section 409A.  Further, the Parties agree that each shall independently bear responsibility for any and all taxes, penalties or other tax obligations as may be imposed upon them in their individual capacity as a matter of law.  To the extent applicable, Employee understands and agrees that Employee   shall have the responsibility for, and Employee   agrees to pay, any and all appropriate income tax or other tax obligations for which Employee   is individually responsible and/or related to receipt of any benefits provided in this Agreement.  Employee agrees to fully indemnify and hold the Company harmless for any taxes, penalties, interest, cost or attorneys' fee assessed against or incurred by the Company on account of such benefits having been provided to Employee or based on any alleged failure to withhold taxes or satisfy any claimed obligation.  Employee understands and acknowledges that neither the Company, nor any of its employees, attorneys, or other representatives has provided or will provide Employee with any legal or financial advice concerning taxes or any other matter, and that Employee   has not relied on any such advice in deciding whether to enter into this Agreement.
 
16.
Severance Payments .  In the event Employee's employment is terminated by the Company without cause (including by Employee for Good Reason), and subject to the normal terms and conditions imposed by the Company as set forth herein and in the attached Separation and Release Agreement, Employee shall be eligible to receive severance pay based upon Employee's base salary at the time of termination for a period determined in accordance with any guidelines as may be established by the Company or for a period up to twelve (12) months (whichever is longer).
 
17.
Severance Payment Terms and Conditions .  No severance pay shall be paid if Employee voluntarily leaves the Company's employ without Good Reason, as defined above, or is terminated for cause.  Any severance pay made payable under this Agreement shall be paid in lieu of, and not in addition to, any other contractual, notice or statutory pay or other accrued compensation obligation (excluding accrued wages and deferred compensation).  Additionally, such severance pay is contingent upon Employee fully complying with the restrictive covenants contained herein and executing a Separation and Release Agreement in a form not substantially different from that attached as Exhibit A.  Further, the Company's obligation to provide severance hereunder shall be deemed null and void should Employee fail or refuse to execute and deliver to the Company the Company's then-standard Separation and Release Agreement (without modification) within any time period as may be prescribed by law or, in absence thereof, twenty-one (21) days after the Employee's Effective Termination Date.  Conditioned upon the execution and delivery of the Separation and Release Agreement as set forth in the prior sentence, Severance pay benefits shall be paid as follows: (i) in one lump sum equivalent to six (6) months' salary on the day following the date which is six (6) months following Employee's Effective Termination Date with any remainder to be paid in bi-weekly installments equivalent to the Employee's salary commencing upon the next regularly scheduled payroll date, if both the severance pay benefit is subject to Section 409A and if Employee is a "specified employee" under Section 409A or (ii) for any severance pay benefits not subject to clause (i), begin upon the next regularly scheduled payroll following the earlier to occur of fifteen (15) days from the Company's receipt of an executed Separation and Release Agreement or the expiration of sixty (60) days after Employee's Effective Termination Date and shall be paid on the Company's regularly scheduled pay dates; provided, however, that if the before-stated sixty (60) day period ends in a calendar year following the calendar year in which the sixty (60) day period commenced, then any benefits not subject to clause (i) shall only begin on the next regularly scheduled payroll following the expiration of sixty (60) days after the Employee's Effective Termination Date.  Excluding any lump sum payment due as a result of the application of Section 409A (which shall be paid regardless of reemployment), all other severance payments provided hereunder shall terminate upon reemployment.
 
 
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18.
Assignment of Rights .
 
 
(a)
Copyrights .  Employee agrees that all works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression by Employee during the term of this Agreement relating to the Company's business ("Works"), either solely or jointly with others, shall be and remain exclusively the property of the Company.  Each such Work created by Employee is a "work made for hire" under the copyright law and the Company may file applications to register copyright in such Works as author and copyright owner thereof.  If, for any reason, a Work created by Employee is excluded from the definition of a "work made for hire" under the copyright law, then Employee does hereby assign, sell, and convey to the Company the entire rights, title, and interests in and to such Work, including the copyright therein, to the Company.  Employee will execute any documents that the Company deems necessary in connection with the assignment of such Work and copyright therein.  Employee will take whatever steps and do whatever acts the Company requests, including, but not limited to, placement of the Company's proper copyright notice on Works created by Employee to secure or aid in securing copyright protection in such Works and will assist the Company or its nominees in filing applications to register claims of copyright in such Works.  The Company shall have free and unlimited access at all times to all Works and all copies thereof and shall have the right to claim and take possession on demand of such Works and copies.
 
 
(b)
Inventions .  Employee agrees that all discoveries, concepts, and ideas, whether patentable or not, including, but not limited to, apparatus, processes, methods, compositions of matter, techniques, and formulae, as well as improvements thereof or know-how related thereto, relating to any present or prospective product, process, or service of the Company ("Inventions") that Employee conceives or makes during the term of this Agreement relating to the Company's business, shall become and remain the exclusive property of the Company, whether patentable or not, and Employee will, without royalty or any other consideration:
 
 
(i)
Inform the Company promptly and fully of such Inventions by written reports, setting forth in detail the procedures employed and the results achieved;
 
 
(ii)
Assign to the Company all of Employee's rights, title, and interests in and to such Inventions, any applications for United States and foreign Letters Patent, any United States and foreign Letters Patent, and any renewals thereof granted upon such Inventions;
 
 
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(iii)
Assist the Company or its nominees, at the expense of the Company, to obtain such United States and foreign Letters Patent for such Inventions as the Company may elect; and
 
 
(iv)
Execute, acknowledge, and deliver to the Company at the Company's expense such written documents and instruments, and do such other acts, such as giving testimony in support of Employee's inventorship, as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company, to obtain and maintain United States and foreign Letters Patent upon such Inventions and to vest the entire rights and title thereto in the Company and to confirm the complete ownership by the Company of such Inventions, patent applications, and patents.
 
19.
Company Property .  All records, files, drawings, documents, data in whatever form, business equipment (including computers, PDAs, cell phones, etc.), and the like relating to, or provided by, the Company shall be and remain the sole property of the Company.  Upon termination of employment, Employee shall immediately return to the Company all such items without retention of any copies and without additional request by the Company.  De minimis items such as pay stubs, 401(k) plan summaries, employee bulletins, and the like are excluded from this requirement.
 
20.
Confidential Information .  Employee acknowledges that the Company and its affiliated entities (herein collectively referred to as "Companies") possess certain trade secrets as well as other confidential and proprietary information which they have acquired or will acquire at great effort and expense.  Such information may include, without limitation, confidential information, whether in tangible or intangible form, regarding the Companies' products and services, marketing strategies, business plans, operations, costs, current or prospective customer information (including customer identities, contacts, requirements, creditworthiness, preferences, and like matters), product concepts, designs, prototypes or specifications, research and development efforts, technical data and know-how, sales information, including pricing and other terms and conditions of sale, financial information, internal procedures, techniques, forecasts, methods, trade information, trade secrets, software programs, project requirements, inventions, trademarks, trade names, and similar information regarding the Companies' business(es) (collectively referred to herein as "Confidential Information").  Employee further acknowledges that, as a result of Employee's employment with the Company, Employee will have access to, will become acquainted with, and/or may help develop, such Confidential Information.  Confidential Information shall not include information readily available in the public so long as such information was not made available through fault of Employee or wrong doing by any other individual.
 
21.
Restricted Use of Confidential Information .  Employee agrees that all Confidential Information is and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company and/or its affiliated entities.  Except as may be expressly authorized by the Company in writing, Employee agrees not to disclose, or cause any other person or entity to disclose, any Confidential Information to any third party while employed by the Company and for as long thereafter as such information remains confidential (or as limited by applicable law).  Further, Employee agrees to use such Confidential Information only in the course of Employee's duties in furtherance of the Company's business and agrees not to make use of any such Confidential Information for Employee's own purposes or for the benefit of any other entity or person.
 
 
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22.
Acknowledged Need for Limited Restrictive Covenants .  Employee acknowledges that the Companies have spent and will continue to expend substantial amounts of time, money and effort to develop their business strategies, Confidential Information, customer identities and relationships, goodwill and employee relationships, and that Employee will benefit from these efforts.  Further, Employee acknowledges the inevitable use of, or near-certain influence by Employee's knowledge of, the Confidential Information disclosed to Employee during the course of employment if allowed to compete against the Company in an unrestricted manner and that such use would be unfair and extremely detrimental to the Company.  Accordingly, based on these legitimate business reasons, Employee acknowledges each of the Companies' need to protect their legitimate business interests by reasonably restricting Employee's ability to compete with the Company on a limited basis.
 
23.
Non-Solicitation .  During Employee's employment and for a period of eighteen (18) months thereafter, Employee agrees not to directly or indirectly engage in the following prohibited conduct:
 
 
(a)
Solicit, offer products or services to, or accept orders for, any Competitive Products or otherwise transact any competitive business with, any customer or entity with whom Employee had contact or transacted any business on behalf of the Company (or any Affiliate thereof) during the eighteen (18) month period preceding Employee's date of separation or about whom Employee possessed, or had access to, confidential and proprietary information;
 
 
(b)
Attempt to entice or otherwise cause any third party to withdraw, curtail or cease doing business with the Company (or any Affiliate thereof), specifically including customers, vendors, independent contractors and other third party entities;
 
 
(c)
Disclose to any person or entity the identities, contacts or preferences of any customers of the Company (or any Affiliate thereof), or the identity of any other persons or entities having business dealings with the Company (or any Affiliate thereof);
 
 
(d)
Induce any individual who has been employed by or had provided services to the Company (or any Affiliate thereof) within the six (6) month period immediately preceding the effective date of Employee's separation to terminate such relationship with the Company (or any Affiliate thereof);
 
 
(e)
Assist, coordinate or otherwise offer employment to, accept employment inquiries from, or employ any individual who is or had been employed by the Company (or any Affiliate thereof) at any time within the six (6) month period immediately preceding such offer, or inquiry;
 
 
(f)
Communicate or indicate in any way to any customer of the Company (or any Affiliate thereof), prior to formal separation from the Company, any interest, desire, plan, or decision to separate from the Company; or
 
 
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(g)
Otherwise attempt to directly or indirectly interfere with the Company's business, the business of any of the Companies or their relationship with their employees, consultants, independent contractors or customers.
 
24.
Limited Non-Compete .  For the above-stated reasons, and as a condition of employment to the fullest extent permitted by law, Employee agrees during the Relevant Non-Compete Period not to directly or indirectly engage in the following competitive activities:
 
 
(a)
Employee shall not have any ownership interest in, work for, advise, consult, or have any business connection or business or employment relationship in any competitive capacity with any Competitor unless Employee provides written notice to the Company of such relationship prior to entering into such relationship and, further, provides sufficient written assurances to the Company's satisfaction that such relationship will not, jeopardize the Company's legitimate interests or otherwise violate the terms of this Agreement;
 
 
(b)
Employee shall not engage in any research, development, production, sale or distribution of any Competitive Products, specifically including any products or services relating to those for which Employee had responsibility for the eighteen (18) month period preceding Employee's date of separation;
 
 
(c)
Employee shall not market, sell, or otherwise offer or provide any Competitive Products within Employee's Geographic Territory (if applicable) or Assigned Customer Base, specifically including any products or services relating to those for which Employee had responsibility for the eighteen (18) month period preceding Employee's date of separation; and
 
 
(d)
Employee shall not distribute, market, sell or otherwise offer or provide any Competitive Products to any customer of the Company with whom Employee had contact or for which Employee had responsibility at any time during the eighteen (18) month period preceding Employee's date of separation.
 
25.
Non-Compete Definitions .  For purposes of this Agreement, the Parties agree that the following terms shall apply:
 
 
(a)
"Affiliate" includes any parent, subsidiary, joint venture, or other entity controlled, owned, managed or otherwise associated with the Company;
 
 
(b)
"Assigned Customer Base" shall include all accounts or customers formally assigned to Employee within a given territory or geographical area or contacted by Employee at any time during the eighteen (18) month period preceding Employee's date of separation;
 
 
(c)
"Competitive Products" shall include any product or service that directly or indirectly competes with, is substantially similar to, or serves as a reasonable substitute for, any product or service in research, development or design, or manufactured, produced, sold or distributed by the Company;
 
 
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(d)
"Competitor" shall include any person or entity that offers or is actively planning to offer any Competitive Products and may include (but not be limited to) any entity identified on the Company's Illustrative Competitor List, attached hereto as Exhibit B, which shall be amended from time to time to reflect changes in the Company's business and competitive environment (updated competitor lists will be provided to Employee upon reasonable request);
 
 
(e)
"Geographic Territory" shall include any territory formally assigned to Employee as well as all territories in which Employee has provided any services, sold any products or otherwise had responsibility at any time during the eighteen (18) month period preceding Employee's date of separation;
 
 
(f)
"Relevant Non-Compete Period" shall include the period of Employee's employment with the Company as well as a period of eighteen (18) months after such employment is terminated, regardless of the reason for such termination provided, however, that this period shall be reduced to the greater of (i) nine (9) months or (ii) the total length of Employee's employment with the Company, including employment with any parent, subsidiary or affiliated entity, if such employment is less than eighteen (18) months;
 
 
(g)
"Directly or indirectly" shall be construed such that the foregoing restrictions shall apply equally to Employee whether performed individually or as a partner, shareholder, officer, director, manager, employee, salesman, independent contractor, broker, agent, or consultant for any other individual, partnership, firm, corporation, company, or other entity engaged in such conduct.
 
26.
Consent to Reasonableness .  In light of the above-referenced concerns, including Employee's knowledge of and access to the Companies' Confidential Information, Employee acknowledges that the terms of the foregoing restrictive covenants are reasonable and necessary to protect the Company's legitimate business interests and will not unreasonably interfere with Employee's ability to obtain alternate employment.  As such, Employee hereby agrees that such restrictions are valid and enforceable, and affirmatively waives any argument or defense to the contrary.  Employee acknowledges that this limited non-competition provision is not an attempt to prevent Employee from obtaining other employment in violation of IC §22-5-3-1 or any other similar statute.  Employee further acknowledges that the Company may need to take action, including litigation, to enforce this limited non-competition provision, which efforts the Parties stipulate shall not be deemed an attempt to prevent Employee from obtaining other employment.
 
27.
Survival of Restrictive Covenants .  Employee acknowledges that the above restrictive covenants shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the termination of Employee's employment for any reason. Employee further acknowledges that any alleged breach by the Company of any contractual, statutory or other obligation shall not excuse or terminate the obligations hereunder or otherwise preclude the Company from seeking injunctive or other relief.  Rather, Employee acknowledges that such obligations are independent and separate covenants undertaken by Employee for the benefit of the Company.
 
 
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28.
Effect of Transfer . Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 11 above, Employee agrees that this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any change in job duties, job titles or reporting responsibilities. Employee further acknowledges that the above restrictive covenants shall survive, and be extended to cover, the transfer of Employee from the Company to its parent, subsidiary, or any other affiliated entity (hereinafter collectively referred to as an "Affiliate") or any subsequent transfer(s) among them. Specifically, in the event of Employee's temporary or permanent transfer to an Affiliate, Employee agrees that the foregoing restrictive covenants shall remain in force so as to continue to protect such company for the duration of the non-compete period, measured from Employee's effective date of transfer to an Affiliate. Additionally, Employee acknowledges that this Agreement shall be deemed to have been automatically assigned to the Affiliate as of Employee's effective date of transfer such that the above-referenced restrictive covenants (as well as all other terms and conditions contained herein) shall be construed thereafter to protect the legitimate business interests and goodwill of the Affiliate as if Employee and the Affiliate had independently entered into this Agreement. Employee's acceptance of Employee's transfer to, and subsequent employment by, the Affiliate shall serve as consideration for (as well as be deemed as evidence of Employee's consent to) the assignment of this Agreement to the Affiliate as well as the extension of such restrictive covenants to the Affiliate. Employee agrees that this provision shall apply with equal force to any subsequent transfers of Employee from one Affiliate to another Affiliate.
 
29.
Post-Termination Notification .  For the duration of Employee's Relevant Non-compete Period or other restrictive covenant period, which ever is longer, Employee agrees to promptly notify the Company no later than five (5) business days of Employee's acceptance of any employment or consulting engagement.  Such notice shall include sufficient information to ensure Employee compliance with Employee's non-compete obligations and must include at a minimum the following information:  (i) the name of the employer or entity for which Employee is providing any consulting services; (ii) a description of Employee's intended duties as well as (iii) the anticipated start date.  Such information is required to ensure Employee's compliance with Employee's non-compete obligations as well as all other applicable restrictive covenants. Such notice shall be provided in writing to the Office of Vice President and General Counsel of the Company at 1069 State Road 46 E, Batesville, Indiana 47006.  Failure to timely provide such notice shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement and entitle the Company to return of any severance paid to Employee plus attorneys' fees.  Employee further consents to the Company's notification to any new employer of Employee's rights and obligations under this Agreement.
 
30.
Scope of Restrictions .  If the scope of any restriction contained in any preceding paragraphs of this Agreement is deemed too broad to permit enforcement of such restriction to its fullest extent, then such restriction shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and Employee hereby consents and agrees that such scope may be judicially modified accordingly in any proceeding brought to enforce such restriction.
 
31.
Specific Enforcement/Injunctive Relief .  Employee agrees that it would be difficult to measure any damages to the Company from a breach of the above-referenced restrictive covenants, but acknowledges that the potential for such damages would be great, incalculable and irremediable, and that monetary damages alone would be an inadequate remedy.  Accordingly, Employee agrees that the Company shall be entitled to immediate injunctive relief against such breach, or threatened breach, in any court having jurisdiction.  In addition, if Employee violates any such restrictive covenant, Employee agrees that the period of such violation shall be added to the term of the restriction.  In determining the period of any violation, the Parties stipulate that in any calendar month in which Employee engages in any activity in violation of such provisions, Employee shall be deemed to have violated such provision for the entire month, and that month shall be added to the duration of the non-competition provision.  Employee acknowledges that the remedies described above shall not be the exclusive remedies, and the Company may seek any other remedy available to it either in law or in equity, including, by way of example only, statutory remedies for misappropriation of trade secrets, and including the recovery of compensatory or punitive damages.  Employee further agrees that the Company shall be entitled to an award of all costs and attorneys' fees incurred by it in any attempt to enforce the terms of this Agreement.
 
 
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32.
Publicly Traded Stock .  The Parties agree that nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from investing Employee's personal assets in any stock or corporate security traded or quoted on a national securities exchange or national market system provided, however, such investments do not require any services on the part of Employee in the operation or the affairs of the business or otherwise violate the Company's Code of Ethics.
 
33.
Notice of Claim and Contractual Limitations Period .  Employee acknowledges the Company's need for prompt notice, investigation, and resolution of any claims that may be filed against it due to the number of relationships it has with employees and others (and due to the turnover among such individuals with knowledge relevant to any underlying claim).  Accordingly, Employee agrees prior to initiating any litigation of any type (including, but not limited to, employment discrimination litigation, wage litigation, defamation, or any other claim) to notify the Company, within One Hundred and Eighty (180) days after the claim accrued, by sending a certified letter addressed to the Company's General Counsel setting forth:  (i) claimant's name, address, and phone; (ii) the name of any attorney (if any) representing Employee; (iii) the nature of the claim; (iv) the date the claim arose; and (v) the relief requested.  This provision is in addition to any other notice and exhaustion requirements that might apply.  For any dispute or claim of any type against the Company (including but not limited to employment discrimination litigation, wage litigation, defamation, or any other claim), Employee must commence legal action within the shorter of one (1) year of accrual of the cause of action or such shorter period that may be specified by law.
 
34.
Non-Jury Trials .  Notwithstanding any right to a jury trial for any claims, Employee waives any such right to a jury trial, and agrees that any claim of any type (including but not limited to employment discrimination litigation, wage litigation, defamation, or any other claim) lodged in any court will be tried, if at all, without a jury.
 
35.
Choice of Forum .  Employee acknowledges that the Company is primarily based in Indiana, and Employee understands and acknowledges the Company's desire and need to defend any litigation against it in Indiana.  Accordingly, the Parties agree that any claim of any type brought by Employee against the Company or any of its employees or agents must be maintained only in a court sitting in Marion County, Indiana, or Ripley County, Indiana, or, if a federal court, the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.  Employee further understands and acknowledges that in the event the Company initiates litigation against Employee, the Company may need to prosecute such litigation in such state where the Employee is subject to personal jurisdiction.  Accordingly, for purposes of enforcement of this Agreement, Employee specifically consents to personal jurisdiction in the State of Indiana as well as any state in which resides a customer assigned to the Employee.  Furthermore, Employee consents to appear, upon Company's request and at Employee's own cost, for deposition, hearing, trial, or other court proceeding in Indiana or in any state in which resides a customer assigned to the Employee.
 
 
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36.
Choice of Law .  This Agreement shall be deemed to have been made within the County of Ripley, State of Indiana and shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana.  Any and all matters of dispute of any nature whatsoever arising out of, or in any way connected with the interpretation of this Agreement, any disputes arising out of the Agreement or the employment relationship between the Parties hereto, shall be governed by, construed by and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana without regard to any applicable state's choice of law provisions.
 
37.
Titles .  Titles are used for the purpose of convenience in this Agreement and shall be ignored in any construction of it.
 
38.
Severability .  The Parties agree that each and every paragraph, sentence, clause, term and provision of this Agreement is severable and that, in the event any portion of this Agreement is adjudged to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining portions thereof shall remain in effect and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.  Further, should any particular clause, covenant, or provision of this Agreement be held unreasonable or contrary to public policy for any reason, the Parties acknowledge and agree that such covenant, provision or clause shall automatically be deemed modified such that the contested covenant, provision or clause will have the closest effect permitted by applicable law to the original form and shall be given effect and enforced as so modified to whatever extent would be reasonable and enforceable under applicable law.
 
39.
Assignment-Notices .  The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to its benefit, as well as the benefit of its parent, subsidiary, successor and affiliated entities, and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company.  This Agreement, being personal to Employee, cannot be assigned by Employee, but Employee's personal representative shall be bound by all its terms and conditions. Any notice required hereunder shall be sufficient if in writing and mailed to the last known residence of Employee or to the Company at its principal office with a copy mailed to the Office of the General Counsel.
 
40.
Amendments and Modifications .  Except as specifically provided herein, no modification, amendment, extension or waiver of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be binding upon the Company or Employee unless in writing and signed by both Parties.  The waiver by the Company or Employee of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a limitation upon the Company's right to modify or amend any of its manuals or policies in its sole discretion and any such modification or amendment which pertains to matters addressed herein shall be deemed to be incorporated herein and made a part of this Agreement.
 
 
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41.
Outside Representations .  Employee represents and acknowledges that in signing this Agreement Employee does not rely, and has not relied, upon any representation or statement made by the Company or by any of the Company's employees, officers, agents, stockholders, directors or attorneys with regard to the subject matter, basis or effect of this Agreement other than those specifically contained herein.
 
42.
Voluntary and Knowing Execution .  Employee acknowledges that Employee has been offered a reasonable amount of time within which to consider and review this Agreement; that Employee has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement; and that Employee has entered into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily.
 
43.
Entire Agreement .  This Agreement constitutes the entire employment agreement between the Parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements between the Parties in connection with the subject matter of this Agreement.  Any pre-existing Employment Agreements shall be deemed null and void.  Nothing in this Agreement, however, shall affect any separately-executed written agreement addressing any other issues (e. g., the Inventions, Improvements, Copyrights and Trade Secrets Agreement, etc.).
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have signed this Agreement effective as of the day and year first above written.
 
"EMPLOYEE"
 
HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
 
           
           
Signed:
/s/ Alton Shader
 
By:
/s/ Michael Oliver
 
           
Printed:   
Alton Shader
 
Title:
Sr VP/Chief HR Officer
 
           
Dated:
June 13, 2011
 
Dated:
June 16, 2011
 

 
CAUTION: READ BEFORE SIGNING
 
 
 
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Exhibit A

SAMPLE SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENT


THIS SEPARATION and RELEASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into by and between Alton Shader ("Employee") and [Insert Company Name] (together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, the "Company").  To wit, the Parties agree as follows:
 
1.
Employee's active employment by the Company shall terminate effective [date of termination] (Employee's "Effective Termination Date").  Except as specifically provided by this Agreement, Employee's Employment Agreement, any Change in Control Agreement and any Indemnity Agreement that may exist between the Company and Employee, Employee agrees that the Company shall have no other obligations or liabilities to [him/her] following [his/her] Effective Termination Date and that [his/her] receipt of the Severance Benefits provided herein shall constitute a complete settlement, satisfaction and waiver of any and all claims [he/she] may have against the Company.
 
2.
Employee further submits, and the Company hereby accepts, his resignation as an employee, officer and director, as of his Effective Termination Date for any position he may hold.  The Parties agree that this resignation shall apply to all such positions Employee may hold with the Company or any parent, subsidiary or affiliated entity thereof.  Employee agrees to execute any documents needed to effectuate such resignation.  Employee further agrees to take whatever steps are necessary to facilitate and ensure the smooth transition of his duties and responsibilities to others.
 
3.
Employee acknowledges that he/she   has been advised of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, which added Section 409A ("Section 409A") to the Internal Revenue Code, and significantly changed the taxation of nonqualified deferred compensation plans and arrangements.  Under proposed and final regulations as of the date of this Agreement, Employee has been advised that his/her severance pay may be treated by the Internal Revenue Service as providing "nonqualified deferred compensation," and therefore subject to Section 409A.  In that event, several provisions in Section 409A may affect Employee's receipt of severance compensation.  These include, but are not limited to, a provision which requires that distributions to "specified employees" of public companies on account of separation from service may not be made earlier than six (6) months after the effective date of such separation.  If applicable, failure to comply with Section 409A can lead to immediate taxation of deferrals, with interest calculated at a penalty rate and a 20% penalty.  As a result of the requirements imposed by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Employee agrees if he/she   is a "specified employee" at the time of his/her termination of employment and if severance payments are covered as "non-qualified deferred compensation" or otherwise not exempt, the severance pay benefits shall not be paid until a date at least six (6) months after Employee's Effective Termination Date from Company, as more fully explained by Paragraph 4, below.  Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to Employee pursuant to this Agreement, which constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A.  To the extent required to avoid an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A, amounts reimbursed to Employee under this Agreement shall be paid to Employee on or before the last day of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (and in-kind benefits provided to Employee) during any one year may not affect amounts reimbursed or provided in any subsequent tax year, and the right to reimbursement (and in-kind benefits provided to Employee) under this Agreement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
 
 
 

 
 
4.
In consideration of the promises contained in this Agreement and contingent upon Employee's compliance with such promises, the Company agrees to provide Employee the following:
 
 
(a)
Severance pay, in lieu of, and not in addition to any other contractual, notice or statutory pay obligations (other than accrued wages and deferred compensation) in the maximum total amount of [Insert Amount] Dollars and [     ] Cents ($ __________ ), less applicable deductions or other set offs, payable as follows:
 
[For 409A Severance Pay for Specified Employees Only]
 
 
(i) A lump payment in the gross amount of [insert amount equal to 6 months' pay] Dollars and ___ Cents ($ _______ ) payable the day following the sixth (6 tth ) month anniversary of Employee's Effective Termination Date, with any remaining amount to  be paid in bi-weekly installments equivalent to Employee's base salary (i.e. ____________ Dollars and ____________ Cents ($_________), less applicable deductions or other setoffs, commencing upon the next regularly scheduled payroll date after the payment of the lump sum for a period of up to _______ weeks or until the Employee becomes reemployed, whichever comes first.
 
[For Non-409A Severance Pay or 409A Severance Pay for Non-Specified Employees Only]
 
 
(i) Commencing on the next regularly scheduled payroll immediately following the earlier to occur of fifteen (15) days from the Company's receipt of an executed Separation and Release Agreement or the expiration of sixty (60) days after Employee's Effective Termination Date, Employee shall be paid severance equivalent to [his/her] bi-weekly base salary (i.e. ___________ Dollars and __________ Cents ($ __________ ), less applicable deductions or other set-offs), for a period up to [insert weeks] ( __ ) weeks following Employee's Effective Termination Date or until Employee becomes reemployed, whichever occurs first;  provided, however, that if the before-stated sixty (60) day period ends in a calendar year following the calendar year in which the sixty (60) day period commenced, then this severance pay shall only begin on the next regularly scheduled payroll following the expiration of sixty (60) days after the Employee's Effective Termination Date.
 
 
(b)
Group Life Insurance coverage until the above-referenced Severance Pay terminates.
 
5.
Except as may be required by Section 409A, the above Severance Pay shall be paid in accordance with the Company's standard payroll practices (e.g. bi-weekly).  The Parties agree that the initial two (2) weeks of the foregoing Severance Pay shall be allocated as consideration provided to Employee in exchange for his/her execution of a release in compliance with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act.  The balance of the severance benefits and other obligations undertaken by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated as consideration for all other promises and obligations undertaken by Employee, including execution of a general release of claims.
 
 
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6.
The Company further agrees to provide Employee with limited out-placement counseling with a company of its choice provided that Employee participates in such counseling immediately following termination of employment.  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6 to the contrary, the out-placement counseling shall not be provided after the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which termination of employment occurs.
 
7.
As of [his/her] Effective Termination Date, Employee will become ineligible to participate in the Company's health insurance program and continuation of coverage requirements under COBRA (if any) will be triggered at that time.  However, as additional consideration for the promises and obligations contained herein (and except as may be prohibited by law), the Company agrees to continue to pay the employer's share of such coverage as provided under the health care program selected by Employee as of [his/her] Effective Termination Date, subject to any approved changes in coverage based on a qualified election, until the above-referenced Severance Pay terminates, Employee accepts other employment or Employee becomes eligible for alternative healthcare coverage, which ever comes first, provided Employee (i) timely completes the applicable election of coverage forms and (ii) continues to pay the employee portion of the applicable premium(s).  Thereafter, if applicable, coverage will be made available to Employee at [his/her] sole expense ( i.e. , Employee will be responsible for the full COBRA premium) for the remaining months of the COBRA coverage period made available pursuant to applicable law.  In the event Employee is deemed to be a highly compensated employee under applicable law, Employee acknowledges that the value of the benefits provided hereunder may be subject to taxation.   The medical insurance provided herein does not include any disability coverage.
 
8.
Should Employee become employed before the above-referenced Severance Benefits are exhausted or terminated, Employee agrees to so notify the Company in writing within five (5) business days of Employee's acceptance of such employment, providing the name of such employer (or entity to whom Employee may be providing consulting services), [his/her] intended duties as well as the anticipated start date.  Such information is required to ensure Employee's compliance with [his/her] non-compete obligations as well as all other applicable restrictive covenants.  This notice will also serve to trigger the Company's right to terminate the above-referenced severance pay benefits (specifically excluding any lump sum payment due as a result of the application of Section 409A) as well as all Company-paid or Company–provided benefits consistent with the above paragraphs. Failure to timely provide such notice shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement entitling the Company to recover as damages the value of all benefits provided to Employee hereunder plus attorneys fees.
 
9.
Employee agrees to fully indemnify and hold the Company harmless for any taxes, penalties, interest, cost or attorneys' fee assessed against or incurred by the Company on account of such benefits having been provided to   [him/her] or based on any alleged failure to withhold taxes or satisfy any claimed obligation.  Employee understands and acknowledges that neither the Company, nor any of its employees, attorneys, or other representatives has provided [him/her] with any legal or financial advice concerning taxes or any other matter, and that [he/she] has not relied on any such advice in deciding whether to enter into this Agreement.  To the extent applicable, Employee understands and agrees that [he/she] shall have the responsibility for, and [he/she] agrees to pay, any and all appropriate income tax or other tax obligations for which [he/she] is individually responsible and/or related to receipt of any benefits provided in this Agreement not subject to federal withholding obligations
 
 
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10.
In exchange for the foregoing Severance Benefits, ALTON SHADER on behalf of [himself/herself], [his/her] heirs, representatives, agents and assigns hereby RELEASES, INDEMNIFIES, HOLDS HARMLESS, and FOREVER DISCHARGES (i) [Company Legal Name], employees, shareholders, and agents, as well as, (iv) all predecessors, successors and assigns thereof from any and all actions, charges, claims, demands, damages or liabilities of any kind or character whatsoever, known or unknown, which Employee now has or may have had through the effective date of this Agreement.
 
11.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing release, it shall include:  (i) all claims or potential claims arising under any federal, state or local laws relating to the Parties' employment relationship, including any claims Employee may have under the Civil Rights Acts of 1866, 1964 and 1991, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 2000(e) et seq .; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 621 et seq .; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, 42 U.S.C §§ 12,101 et seq .; the Fair Labor Standards Act 29 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq .; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 2101, et seq .; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, specifically including the  Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act, 18 USC §1514A et seq .; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. §§ 1101 et seq .; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et seq .; and any other federal, state or local law governing the Parties' employment relationship; (ii) any claims on account of, arising out of or in any way connected with Employee's employment with the Company or leaving of that employment; (iii) any claims alleged or which could have been alleged in any charge or complaint against the Company; (iv) any claims relating to the conduct of any employee, officer, director, agent or other representative of the Company; (v) any claims of discrimination, harassment or retaliation on any basis; (vi) any claims arising from any legal restrictions on an employer's right to separate its employees; (vii) any claims for personal injury, compensatory or punitive damages or other forms of relief; and (viii) all other causes of action sounding in contract, tort or other common law basis, including (a) the breach of any alleged oral or written contract, (b) negligent or intentional misrepresentations, (c) wrongful discharge, (d) just cause dismissal, (e) defamation, (f) interference with contract or business relationship or (g) negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress.
 
12.
Employee further agrees and covenants not to sue the Company or any entity or individual subject to the foregoing General Release with respect to any claims, demands, liabilities or obligations release by this Agreement provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall:
 
 
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(a)
prevent Employee from filing an administrative charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state or local agency; or
 
 
(b)
prevent employee from challenging, under the Older Worker's Benefit Protection Act (29 U.S.C. § 626), the knowing and voluntary nature of his/her release of any age claims in this Agreement in court or before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.   [INCLUDE THIS SUBPARAGRAPH (b) IF EMPLOYEE IS AGE 40 OR OLDER]
 
13.
Notwithstanding his right to file an administrative charge with the EEOC or any other federal, state, or local agency, Employee agrees that with his release of claims in this Agreement, he has waived any right he may have to recover monetary or other personal relief in any proceeding based in whole or in part on claims released by him in this Agreement.  For example, Employee waives any right to monetary damages or reinstatement if an administrative charge is brought against the Company whether by Employee, the EEOC, or any other person or entity, including but not limited to any federal, state, or local agency.  Further, with his release of claims in this Agreement, Employee specifically assigns to the Company his right to any recovery arising from any such proceeding.
 
14.
[INCLUDE THIS LANGUAGE IF THE EMPLOYEE IS AGE 40 OR OLDER] The Parties acknowledge that it is their mutual and specific intent that the above waiver fully complies with the requirements of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (29 U.S.C. § 626) and any similar law governing release of claims.  Accordingly, Employee hereby acknowledges that:
 
 
(a)
[He/She] has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement and that [he/she] has entered into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily;
 
 
(b)
The Severance Benefits offered in exchange for Employee's release of claims exceed in kind and scope that to which [he/she] would have otherwise been legally entitled absent the execution of this Agreement;
 
 
(c)
Prior to signing this Agreement, Employee had been advised, and is being advised by this Agreement, to consult with an attorney of [his/her] choice concerning its terms and conditions; and
 
 
(d)
[He/She] has been offered at least [twenty-one (21)/forty-five (45)] days within which to review and consider this Agreement.
 
15.
[ADD THIS LANGUAGE IF THE EMPLOYEE IS AGE 40 OR OLDER] The Parties agree that this Agreement shall not become effective and enforceable until the date this Agreement is signed by both Parties or seven (7) calendar days after its execution by Employee, whichever is later.  Employee may revoke this Agreement for any reason by providing written notice of such intent to the Company within seven (7) days after [he/she] has signed this Agreement, thereby forfeiting Employee's right to receive any Severance Benefits provided hereunder and rendering this Agreement null and void in its entirety.  This revocation must be sent to the Employee's HR representative with a copy sent to the Company Office of General Counsel and must be received by the end of the seventh day after the Employee signs this Agreement to be effective.
 
 
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16.
[ADD THIS LANGUAGE IF THE EMPLOYEE IS IN MINNESOTA – DO NOT USE THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH IF THIS PARAGRAPH IS USED]  The Parties agree that this Agreement shall not become effective and enforceable until the date this Agreement is signed by both parties or fifteen (15) calendar days after its execution by Employee, whichever is later.  Employee may revoke this Agreement for any reason by providing written notice of such intent to the Company within fifteen (15) days after Employee has signed this Agreement, thereby forfeiting Employee’s right to receive any Severance Benefits provided hereunder not otherwise required by law and rendering this Agreement null and void in its entirety.  If the notice of revocation is mailed it must be postmarked within the fifteen (15) day period and sent certified mail, return receipt requested.  This revocation must be sent to the Employee’s HR Representative and to the Company Office of General Counsel.
 
17.
[ADD THIS LANGUAGE IF THE EMPLOYEE IS IN CALIFORNIA]  Employee specifically acknowledges that, as a condition of this Agreement, he/she expressly releases all rights and claims that he/she knows about as well as those he/she may not know about.  Employee expressly waives all rights under Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California, which reads as follows:
 
"A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his/her favor at the time of executing the release which if known, must have materially affected his/her settlement with the debtor."
 
Notwithstanding the provision by Section 1542, and for the purpose of implementing a full and complete release and discharge of the Company as set forth above, Employee expressly acknowledges that this Agreement is intended to include and does in its effect, without limitation, include all claims which Employee does not know or suspect to exist in his/her favor at the time of signing this Agreement and that this Agreement expressly contemplates the extinguishment of all such claims.
 
18.
The Parties agree that nothing contained herein shall purport to waive or otherwise affect any of Employee's rights or claims that may arise after [he/she] signs this Agreement.  It is further understood by the Parties that nothing in this Agreement shall affect any rights Employee may have under any Company sponsored Deferred Compensation Program, Executive Life Insurance Bonus Plan, Stock Grant Award, Stock Option Grant, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Pension Plan and/or Savings Plan ( i.e ., 401(k) plan) provided by the Company as of the date of [his/her] termination, such items to be governed exclusively by the terms of the applicable agreements or plan documents.
 
19.
Similarly, notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver or release or otherwise affect Employee's rights with respect to any vested benefits, any rights [he/she] has to benefits which can not be waived by law, any coverage provided under any Directors and Officers ("D&O") policy, any rights Employee may have under any indemnification agreement [he/she] has with the Company prior to the date hereof, any rights he/she has as a shareholder, or any claim for breach of this Agreement, including, but not limited to the benefits promised by the terms of this Agreement.
 
 
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20.
[ Optional Provision for Equity Eligible Employees:   Except as provided herein, Employee acknowledges that [he/she] will not be eligible to receive or vest in any additional stock options, stock awards or restricted stock units ("RSUs") as of [his/her] Effective Termination Date.  Failure to exercise any vested options within the applicable period as set for in the plan and/or grant will result in their forfeiture.  Employee acknowledges that any stock options, stock awards or RSUs held for less than the required period shall be deemed forfeited as of the effective date of this Agreement.  All terms and conditions of such stock options, stock awards or RSUs shall not be affected by this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, and shall govern the Parties' rights with respect to such equity based awards.]
 
21.
[Option A]   Employee acknowledges that [his/her] termination and the Severance Benefits offered hereunder were based on an individual determination and were not offered in conjunction with any group termination or group severance program and waives any claim to the contrary.
 
[Option B]   Employee represents and agrees that [he/she] has been provided relevant cohort information based on the information available to the Company as of the date this Agreement was tendered to Employee.  This information is attached hereto as Exhibit A.  The Parties acknowledge that simply providing such information does not mean and should not be interpreted to mean that the Company was obligated to comply with 29 C.F.R. § 1625.22(f).
 
22.
Employee hereby affirms and acknowledges [his/her] continued obligations to comply with the post-termination covenants contained in [his/her] Employment Agreement, including but not limited to, the non-compete, trade secret and confidentiality provisions.  Employee acknowledges that a copy of the Employment Agreement has been attached to this Agreement as Exhibit [A/B] or has otherwise been provided to [him/her] and, to the extent not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or applicable law, the terms thereof shall be incorporated herein by reference.  Employee acknowledges that the restrictions contained therein are valid and reasonable in every respect and are necessary to protect the Company's legitimate business interests.  Employee hereby affirmatively waives any claim or defense to the contrary.  Employee hereby acknowledges that the definition of Competitor, as provided in [his/her] Employment Agreement shall include but not be limited to those entities specifically identified in the updated Competitor List, attached hereto as Exhibit [B/C] .
 
23.
Employee acknowledges that the Company as well as its parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies ("Companies" herein) possess, and [he/she] has been granted access to, certain trade secrets as well as other confidential and proprietary information that they have acquired at great effort and expense.  Such information includes, without limitation, confidential information regarding products and services, marketing strategies, business plans, operations, costs, current or, prospective customer information (including customer contacts, requirements, creditworthiness and like matters), product concepts, designs, prototypes or specifications, regulatory compliance issues, research and development efforts, technical data and know-how, sales information, including pricing and other terms and conditions of sale, financial information, internal procedures, techniques, forecasts, methods, trade information, trade secrets, software programs, project requirements, inventions, trademarks, trade names, and similar information regarding the Companies' business (collectively referred to herein as "Confidential Information").
 
 
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24.
Employee agrees that all such Confidential Information is and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.  Except as may be expressly authorized by the Company in writing, or as may be required by law after providing due notice thereof to the Company, Employee agrees not to disclose, or cause any other person or entity to disclose, any Confidential Information to any third party for as long thereafter as such information remains confidential (or as limited by applicable law) and agrees not to make use of any such Confidential Information for Employee's own purposes or for the benefit of any other entity or person. The Parties acknowledge that Confidential Information shall not include any information that is otherwise made public through no fault of Employee or other wrong doing.
 
25.
On or before Employee's Effective Termination Date or per the Company's request, Employee agrees to return the original and all copies of all things in [his/her] possession or control relating to the Company or its business, including but not limited to any and all contracts, reports, memoranda, correspondence, manuals, forms, records, designs, budgets, contact information or lists (including customer, vendor or supplier lists), ledger sheets or other financial information, drawings, plans (including, but not limited to, business, marketing and strategic plans), personnel or other business files, computer hardware, software, or access codes, door and file keys, identification, credit cards, pager, phone, and any and all other physical, intellectual, or personal property of any nature that [he/she] received, prepared, helped prepare, or directed preparation of in connection with [his/her] employment with the Company. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to require the return of any non-confidential and de minimis items regarding Employee's pay, benefits or other rights of employment such as pay stubs, W-2 forms, 401(k) plan summaries, benefit statements, etc.
 
26.
Employee hereby consents and authorizes the Company to deduct as an offset from the above-referenced severance payments the value of any Company property not returned or returned in a damaged condition as well as any monies paid by the Company on Employee's behalf (e.g., payment of any outstanding American Express bill).
 
27.
Employee agrees to cooperate with the Company in connection with any pending or future litigation, proceeding or other matter which has been or may be brought against or by the Company before any agency, court, or other tribunal and concerning or relating in any way to any matter falling within Employee's knowledge or former area of responsibility. Employee agrees to immediately notify the Company, through the Office of the General Counsel, in the event [he/she] is contacted by any outside attorney (including paralegals or other affiliated parties) unless (i) the Company is represented by the attorney, (ii) Employee is represented by the attorney for the purpose of protecting [his/her] personal interests or (iii) the Company has been advised of and has approved such contact. Employee agrees to provide reasonable assistance and completely truthful testimony in such matters including, without limitation, facilitating and assisting in the preparation of any underlying defense, responding to discovery requests, preparing for and attending deposition(s) as well as appearing in court to provide truthful testimony. The Company agrees to reimburse Employee for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred at the request of the Company associated with such assistance and testimony.
 
 
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28.
Employee agrees not to make any written or oral statement that may defame, disparage or cast in a negative light so as to do harm to the personal or professional reputation of (a) the Company, (b) its employees, officers, directors or trustees or (c) the services and/or products provided by the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliate entities.  The Parties acknowledge that nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent or prohibit the Company or the Employee from providing truthful information in response to any court order, discovery request, subpoena or other lawful request.
 
29.
EMPLOYEE SPECIFICALLY AGREES AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THE EXISTENCE AND TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND THAT SUCH CONFIDENTIALITY IS A MATERIAL TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT.  Accordingly, except as required by law or unless authorized to do so by the Company in writing, Employee agrees that [he/she] shall not communicate, display or otherwise reveal any of the contents of this Agreement to anyone other than [his/her] spouse, legal counsel or financial advisor provided, however, that they are first advised of the confidential nature of this Agreement and Employee obtains their agreement to be bound by the same.  The Company agrees that Employee may respond to legitimate inquiries regarding the termination of [his/her] employment by stating that the Parties have terminated their relationship on an amicable basis and that the Parties have entered into a Confidential Separation and Release Agreement that prohibits [him/her] from further discussing the specifics of [his/her] separation.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent Employee from discussing or otherwise advising subsequent employers of the existence of any obligations as set forth in [his/her] Employment Agreement.  Further, nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit or otherwise restrict the Company's ability to disclose the terms and conditions of this Agreement as may be required by business necessity.
 
30.
In the event that Employee breaches or threatens to breach any provision of this Agreement, [he/she] agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek any and all equitable and legal relief provided by law, specifically including immediate and permanent injunctive relief.  Employee hereby waives any claim that the Company has an adequate remedy at law.  In addition, and to the extent not prohibited by law, Employee agrees that the Company shall be entitled to discontinue providing any additional Severance Benefits upon such breach or threatened breach as well as an award of all costs and attorneys' fees incurred by the Company in any successful effort to enforce the terms of this Agreement.  Employee agrees that the foregoing relief shall not be construed to limit or otherwise restrict the Company's ability to pursue any other remedy provided by law, including the recovery of any actual, compensatory or punitive damages.  Moreover, if Employee pursues any claims against the Company subject to the foregoing General Release, or breaches the above confidentiality provision, Employee agrees to immediately reimburse the Company for the value of all benefits received under this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by law.
 
 
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31.
Similarly, in the event that the Company breaches or threatens to breach any provision of this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to seek any and all equitable or other available relief provided by law, specifically including immediate and permanent injunctive relief.  In the event Employee is required to file suit to enforce the terms of this Agreement, the Company agrees that Employee shall be entitled to an award of all costs and attorneys' fees incurred by [him/her] in any wholly successful effort (i.e. entry of a judgment in [his/her] favor) to enforce the terms of this Agreement.  In the event Employee is wholly unsuccessful, the Company shall be entitled to an award of its costs and attorneys' fees.
 
32.
Both Parties acknowledge that this Agreement is entered into solely for the purpose of terminating Employee's employment relationship with the Company on an amicable basis and shall not be construed as an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the Company or Employee, both Parties having expressly denied any such liability or wrongdoing.
 
33.
Each of the promises and obligations shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators, assigns and successors in interest of each of the Parties.
 
34.
The Parties agree that each and every paragraph, sentence, clause, term and provision of this Agreement is severable and that, if any portion of this Agreement should be deemed not enforceable for any reason, such portion shall be stricken and the remaining portion or portions thereof should continue to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
 
35.
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana without regard to any applicable state's choice of law provisions.
 
36.
[USE THIS LANGUAGE IF OWBPA LANGUAGE (FOR EMPLOYEES AGE 40 OR OVER) IS NOT INCLUDED)  Employee acknowledges that he/she has been offered a period of twenty-one (21) days within which to consider and review this Agreement; that he/she has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement; and that he/she has entered into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily.
 
37.
Employee represents and acknowledges that in signing this Agreement [he/she] does not rely, and has not relied, upon any representation or statement made by the Company or by any of the Company's employees, officers, agents, stockholders, directors or attorneys with regard to the subject matter, basis or effect of this Agreement other than those specifically contained herein.
 
 
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
 
 
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38.
This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the Parties concerning the subject matter hereof, shall supersede any and all prior agreements which may otherwise exist between them concerning the subject matter hereof (specifically excluding, however, the post-termination obligations contained in an Employee's Employment Agreement,   or any obligation contained in any other legally-binding document), and shall not be altered, amended, modified or otherwise changed except by a writing executed by both Parties.
 
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.  THIS SEPARATION AND RELEASE
AGREEMENT INCLUDES A COMPLETE RELEASE OF ALL
KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have themselves signed, or caused a duly authorized agent thereof to sign, this Agreement on their behalf and thereby acknowledge their intent to be bound by its terms and conditions.
 
EMPLOYEE
 
[Company Legal Name]
 
           
           
Signed:
FOR ILLUSTRATION ONLY
       
 
DO NOT SIGN
 
By:
   
           
Printed:
   
Title:
   
           
Dated:
   
Dated:
   
 
 
 
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Exhibit B


ILLUSTRATIVE COMPETITOR LIST
 
The following is an illustrative, non-exhaustive list of Competitors with whom Employee may not, during Employee's relevant non-compete period, directly or indirectly engage in any of the competitive activities proscribed by the terms of Employee's Employment Agreement.
 
·       Amico Corporation
 
·       APEX Medical Corp.
 
·       Aramark Corporation
 
·       Barton Medical Corporation
 
·       CareMed Supply, Inc.
 
·       Corona Medical SAS
 
·       Dukane Communication Systems, a division of Edwards Systems Technology, Inc.
 
·       Fitzsimmons Home Medical Equipment, Inc.
 
·       Gaymar Holding Company, LLC (Gaymar Industries, Inc.)
 
·       Handicare AS (Romedic, Inc.)
 
·       Human Care HC AB
 
·      Intego Systems, Inc.  (formerly known as Wescom Products, Inc.)
 
·       Joerns Healthcare, Inc.
 
·      Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI)
 
·       Linet (Linet France, Linet Far East)
 
·      Medical Specialties Distributors, LLC
 
·       Merivaara Corporation
 
·       Modular Service Company
 
 
 
·       Anodyne Medical Device, Inc.
 
·       Apria Healthcare Inc.
 
·       Ascom (Ascom US, Inc.)
 
·      B.G. Industries, Inc.
 
·       Comfortex, Inc.
 
·       Custom Medical Solutions
 
·       Encompass Group, LLC
 
·       Freedom Medical, Inc.
 
·      GF Health Products, Inc. (Graham Field)
 
·       Getinge Group (Arjo; Getinge; Maquet; Pegasus; Huntleigh Technology Plc (Huntleigh Healthcare, LLC))
 
·       Horcher GmbH
 
·       Industrie Guido Malvestio S.P.A.
 
·       Invacare Corporation
 
·       Joh. Stiegelmeyer & Co., GmbH (Stiegelmeyer)
 
·      Linak Group
 
·      MedaSTAT, LLC
 
·       Medline Industries, Inc.
 
·      MIZUOSI
 
·       Molift
 
 
 

 
 
·       Nemschoff Chairs, Inc.
 
·      Paramount Bed Company, Ltd.
 
·       Pegasus Airwave, Inc.
 
·       Prism Medical Ltd (Waverly Glen)
 
·       Rauland-Borg Corporation
 
·       Sentech Medical Systems, Inc.
 
·       SIZEwise Rentals, LLC
 
·       Statcom (Jackson Healthcare Solutions)
 
·       Sunrise Medical (Ted Hoyer and Company)
 
·       Tempur-Pedic Medical, Inc.
 
·       V. Guldmann A/S
 
·       West-Com Nurse Call Systems, Inc.
·      Nurture by Steelcase, Inc.
 
·      Pardo
 
·      Premise Corporation
 
·      Radianse, Inc.
 
·      Recovercare, LLC (Stenbar, T.H.E. Medical)
 
·      SimplexGrinnell, LP
 
·      Span America Medical Systems, Inc.
 
·      Stryker Corporation
 
·      Tele-Tracking Technologies, Inc.
 
·      Universal Hospital Services, Inc.
 
·      Voelker AG
 
 
While the above list is intended to identify the Company's primary competitors, it should not be construed as all encompassing so as to exclude other potential competitors falling within the Non-Compete definitions of "Competitor."  The Company reserves the right to amend this list at any time in its sole discretion to identify other or additional Competitors based on changes in the products and services offered, changes in its business or industry as well as changes in the duties and responsibilities of the individual employee.  An updated list will be provided to Employee upon reasonable request.  Employees are encouraged to consult with the Company prior to accepting any position with any potential competitor.
(Revised list April 2010)

 
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EXHIBIT 10.3
Limited Recapture Agreement

This Limited Recapture Agreement (the "Agreement") by and between Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (" Company ") and  the undersigned Executive (" Executive ") is entered into effective as of July 11, 2011 (" Effective Date "), as a condition of the grant of a cash award by the Company to the Executive under the Company's Short-Term Incentive Compensation Program or any similar future plan(s) or program(s) (" STIC Program ") and/or the grant of any performance-based (but not time based) stock options, deferred stock shares or other awards under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan (as such plan may be amended) or any similar future plan(s) (“ Stock Plan ”) .  Any and all such cash or stock based awards under the STIC Program and/or Stock Plan are referred to herein as “ Performance Based Compensation .”

1 .             Introduction .   The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted and disclosed publicly an Executive Compensation Recoupment Policy (“ Policy ”). Under the Policy, all Performance-Based Compensation paid or awarded to, and trading profits on any Company securities trades ("Trading Profits") by, executive officers ( i.e. , officers subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) are subject to recoupment by the Company in the event there is a material restatement of the Company’s consolidated financial results (“ Material Restatement ”) due to misconduct of the individual executive officer(s) from whom recoupment is sought.  The Policy, which applies prospectively from its December 3, 2009 effective date, gives the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (“ Committee ”) discretion to determine whether and to what extent to seek recoupment under the Policy based on specific facts and circumstances.  The Policy applies to a ll Performance Based Compensation and Trading Profits on any Company securities trades received by the Executive during the twenty four months prior to the disclosure of a Material Restatement.

2 .             Agreement .

Triggering Event

A "Triggering Event" shall be deemed to occur when and if, (i) there is a Material Restatement and (ii) the Material Restatement was due, in whole or in part, to the Executive’s misconduct (including, without limitation, fraud, and violation of law or Company policy).

Covered Compensation

In the event that a Triggering Event is determined by the Committee to have occurred, the Committee may seek recoupment from the Executive of the following Performance Based Compensation paid to and Trading Profits received by the Executive ("Covered Compensation"):

(a)             Cash Awards Under STIC Program:  All cash awards under the STIC Program paid to Executive after the Effective Date and within the 24-month period preceding the first public announcement by the Company of the Material Restatement to the extent that such cash awards paid to Executive exceeded, in the determination of the Committee, the amounts that would have been paid had the Company’s consolidated financial results that are the subject of the Material Restatement initially been reported correctly.
 
 
 

 

(b)           Performance Based Stock Awards Under Stock Plan: All performance based stock options, performance based deferred stock shares or other performance based equity awards granted to Executive after the Effective Date and vested within the 24-month period preceding the first public announcement by the Company of the Material Restatement to the extent that such awards, in the determination of the Committee, would have not vested had the Company’s consolidated financial results that are the subject of the Material Restatement initially been reported correctly.

(c)           Trading Profits:  All Trading Profits received by Executive within the 24-month period preceding the first public announcement by the Company of the Material Restatement, regardless of whether such Trading Profits would have been received had the Company’s consolidated financial results that are the subject of the Material Restatement initially been reported correctly.

Repayment of Covered Compensation

In the event that a Triggering Event is determined by the Committee to have occurred and the Committee determines to recoup Covered Compensation from the Executive, the Executive agrees that he or she will promptly repay to the Company all Covered Compensation for which recoupment is sought in accordance with the following provisions:

(a)           Cash Awards Under STIC Program:  The Executive shall pay to the Company in cash the gross amount of cash awards under the STIC Program for which recoupment is sought.

(b)           Performance-Based Stock Options:  Vested and unexercised performance based stock options granted under the Stock Plan for which recoupment is sought shall automatically be forfeited and cancelled, and Executive thereafter shall not be entitled to exercise such stock options.

(c)           Shares of Company Stock:  Shares of stock of the Company received by Executive pursuant to performance based awards granted under the Stock Plan for which recoupment is sought, whether as an award of performance based deferred stock shares, upon the exercise of performance based stock options or otherwise, shall be transferred to the Company by the Executive; provided, however, that in the event the Executive no longer holds such shares, the Executive shall (i) transfer to the Company an equivalent number of other shares of Company stock held by Executive or (ii) if the Executive does not hold other shares of Company stock, pay to the Company an amount in cash equal to the greater of (A) the fair market value of the number of shares of Company stock for which recoupment is sought, as determined by the Committee, or (B) the proceeds received by the Executive upon the disposition of the shares for which recoupment is sought.
 
 
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(d)           Trading Profits:  The Executive shall pay to the Company in cash the amount of any Trading Profits for which recoupment is sought.

In addition to or in lieu of the Executive’s obligation to repay Covered Compensation in accordance with the foregoing, the Company may, in its discretion, temporarily or permanently cancel its obligation to make any further payments to the Executive under the STIC Program or to make any further awards to the Executive under the Stock Plan.

Inapplicability to Compensation Received Prior to Effective Date

The Company's right to recoupment hereunder is not retroactive to any payment made under the STIC Program prior to the Effective Date, any award granted under the Stock Plan prior to the Effective Date or any Trading Profits received prior to the Effective Date.

Committee Discretion

The Committee has sole discretion to determine whether a Triggering Event has occurred and the amount of Covered Compensation to be recouped, if any, in connection with such Triggering Event.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and the Executive has executed the Agreement as of the date first above written.

HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
   
EXECUTIVE
 
           
 
         
           
By:
/s/ Michael Oliver
 
By:
/s/ Alton Shader
 
           
Name:
Michael Oliver
 
Name:
Alton Shader
 
Title:
Sr. VP, Chief Human Resources Officer
       

 
 
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