AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 19, 2008 BETWEEN BRIAN REGAN AND TICKETMASTER L.L.C.
Exhibit 10.3
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MAY 19, 2008 BETWEEN XXXXX XXXXX AND
TICKETMASTER L.L.C.
This Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment”) is entered into as of December 31, 2008, with regard to that certain Employment Agreement dated as of May 19, 2008, between Xxxxx Xxxxx and Ticketmaster L.L.C. (the “Agreement”). All capitalized terms used herein without definition will have the meaning given them in the Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company and Employee desire to amend the terms of the Agreement as set forth herein in order to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “Code”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree that the following amendments to the Agreement are adopted, effective as of December 31, 2008:
1. The following new Section 7A is hereby added to the Agreement immediately following Section 6A thereof:
“7A. SECTION 409A COMPLIANCE.
(a) This Agreement is not intended to constitute a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations issued thereunder (“Section 409A”). It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement and the Company’s and Employee’s exercise of authority or discretion hereunder shall comply with and avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest under Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted consistent with that intent.
(b) With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A, all such payments shall be made on or before the last day of calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense occurred. Such reimbursement obligations pursuant to this Agreement are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit and the amount of such benefits that Employee receives in one taxable year shall not affect the amount of such benefits that Employee receives in any other taxable year.”
2. Section 1(d) of the Standard Terms and Conditions included as part of the Agreement is hereby superseded and replaced in its entirety with the following:
“(d) TERMINATION BY THE EMPLOYEE FOR GOOD REASON. The Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the expiration of the Term for Good Reason, which is defined as the occurrence of any of the following without Employee’s prior written consent: (i) the Company materially breaches any material term or condition of this Agreement; (ii) a material or significant decrease in the Employee’s duties, responsibilities and/or base compensation; provided that in no event shall Employee’s resignation be for “Good Reason” unless (x) an event or circumstance set forth in clauses (i) or (ii) shall have occurred that is an isolated and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and Employee provides the Company with written notice thereof within ninety (90) days after Employee has knowledge of the occurrence or existence of such event or circumstance, which notice specifically identifies the event or circumstance that Employee believes constitutes Good Reason, (y) if the circumstance or event is curable, the Company fails to correct the circumstance or event so identified within thirty (30) days after the receipt of such notice, and (z) Employee resigns within thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Company’s cure period referred to in clause (y) above.”
3. Section 2(d) of the Standard Terms and Conditions included as part of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety.
4. The last sentence of Section 1(e) of the Standard Terms and Conditions included as part of the Agreement is hereby superseded and replaced in its entirety with the following:
“The payment to Employee of the severance benefits described in this Section 1(e) shall be subject to Employee’s execution and non-revocation of a general release of the Company and its affiliates in a form substantially similar to that used for similarly situated executives of the Company and its affiliates, such general release to be executed and promptly delivered to the Company (and in no event later than 21 days following Employee’s termination of employment, or such longer period as may be required by applicable law). Any severance benefits due to Employee pursuant to Section 1(e)(i) shall be paid in equal biweekly installments (or, if different, in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice as in effect from time to time) over the course of the then remaining Term, beginning on or immediately following the date that is 30 days following the date on which Employee’s termination occurs.”
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5. The following new Section 10 is hereby added to the Agreement immediately following Section 9 of the Standard Terms and Conditions included as part of the Agreement:
“10. SECTION 409A COMPLIANCE.
(a) A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”
(b) If Employee is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then with regard to the payments described in clause (i) of Section 1(e) and any other payment or the provision of any other benefit that is considered deferred compensation under Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service” and that is not exempt from Section 409A as involuntary separation pay or a short-term deferral (or otherwise), such payment or benefit shall be made or provided at the date which is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of Employee or (ii) the date of Employee’s death (the “Delay Period”). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section 10(b) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to Employee in a lump sum without interest, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein. The provisions of this Section 10(b) shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Section 409A. In no event shall the Company be required to pay Employee any “gross-up” or other payment with respect to any taxes or penalties imposed under Section 409A with respect to any benefit paid to Employee hereunder.
(c) It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement and the Company’s and Employee’s exercise of authority or discretion hereunder shall comply with and avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest under Section 409A. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted consistent with that intent.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties above have executed this Amendment as of the first date written above:
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TICKETMASTER L.L.C. |
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By: |
/s/ XXXXX XXXXX |
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/s/ XXXXX XXXXX |
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Xxxxx Xxxxx |
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