CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is
made and entered into as of the effective date following execution by and
between Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx ("Employee") and HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION,
an Oregon corporation ("Hollywood").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. The parties agree that Employee's separation from Hollywood shall be
on the following terms and conditions:
(a) Employment: Effective February 14, 2003, Employee is no longer
an officer of Hollywood but will continue to be employed by
Hollywood through January 31, 2004, or until Employee obtains
New Employment or breaches this Agreement, whichever occurs
first. Employee shall be paid at Employee's rate of
compensation effective on the date of this Agreement.
Employee acknowledges he has received adequate consideration
for the release of claims set forth in the Agreement, even if
the amount of compensation is reduced because he obtains New
Employment before prior to January 31, 2004. State, federal,
social security, health insurance premiums and other required
deductions will be deducted from each paycheck during the
period covered by the Employee's employment.
(b) Termination of Employment: Unless earlier terminated under
paragraph 1(a) or by breach of this Agreement, effective June
1, 2004, Employee's employment with Hollywood is terminated.
(c) Bonus: Employee will be eligible to receive a bonus under the
terms of the 2002 Employee Bonus Plan at the level of
executive vice president if such bonus is paid to executive
vice presidents of Hollywood. Employee shall not be eligible
to receive a bonus under the 2003 or 2004 Employee bonus
plans, if any.
(d) Vacation Pay: Employee acknowledges that he has 80 hours
vacation through February 14, 2003, and Hollywood will include
the payment for such vacation in employee's next regular
paycheck on or about February 21, 2003. No additional
vacation will accrue after February 14, 2003.
(e) Expense Reimbursement: If Employee has incurred any company
expenses that have not been reimbursed, Hollywood will
reimburse Employee for such expenses in accordance with
Hollywood's policy upon Employee's submission of an expense
report on or before March 15, 2003. Any future expenses
chargeable to Hollywood must be approved in advance.
(f) Stock Options: Pursuant to the terms of Hollywood's stock
option plan, Employee shall have 90 days after the termination
of employment (if on June 1, 2004 until August 29, 2004)
within which to exercise any vested options. Employee as of
the date of this Agreement has 166,667 options that are
vested. Employee's final 133,333 options of his options
granted in 2001 shall vest on January 25, 2004. No additional
options will vest after January 25, 2004.
(g) Health Insurance and COBRA: The deductions made in connection
with Employee's paychecks made during his employment shall
include the Hollywood's standard health insurance premium.
The deductions made during the severance period will include
payment of Employee's COBRA premium through May 31, 2004 or
termination of employment, whichever comes first. Payment of
COBRA premiums will be accomplished provided that Employee
timely completes and submits the COBRA enrollment documents.
After the severance period or earlier termination of
employment, Employee may elect to continue COBRA at his own
expense pursuant to applicable law.
(h) New Employment: Employee agrees to notify Hollywood
immediately if he obtains New Employment. New Employment as
used in Section 1 shall include employment as an employee,
consultant or similar arrangement of any employer or business
for which Employee is compensated. If the compensation from
such New Employment is less than the amount Employee would
have received under the terms of this Agreement, Hollywood
shall pay the difference between the compensation paid by
Employee's New Employment and what Hollywood would have paid
during the remainder of this Agreement.
(i) Severance Payments: So long as employment has not been
terminated prior to February 1, 2004, Hollywood agrees to pay
Employee severance pay at the rate set forth below. Such
severance pay shall be at Employee's rate of compensation at
the time of separation on January 31, 2004. The severance
period shall run until May 31, 2004. The first severance
payment shall be payable on the next regular payday following
Employee's termination of employment. Subsequent severance
amounts shall be payable on each regular payday thereafter
until Employee has been paid through May 31, 2004 or until
Employee obtains New Employment, whichever occurs first.
State, federal, social security, COBRA insurance and other
required deductions will be deducted from each check during
the severance period. Employee acknowledges he has received
adequate consideration for the release of claims set forth in
the Agreement, even if the severance period is reduced because
he obtains New Employment before the expiration of the period.
(j) Out-placement Service: Hollywood agrees to pay the reasonable
cost directly to an out-placement service in the event
Employee elects to use such service. The amount paid by
Hollywood shall not exceed $ 7,000.00.
2. In consideration of the payments set forth in Paragraph 1, Employee
releases Hollywood, including its subsidiaries, affiliates, parent companies,
officers, directors, and employees, from all claims and liabilities which he has
or may have against it as of the date on which Employee signs this Agreement.
This includes, but is not limited to, claims arising under the federal, state,
or local laws prohibiting employment discrimination and claims growing out of
any legal restrictions on Hollywood's right to terminate its employees (for
example, claims that may arise under various contract, tort, public policy, or
wrongful discharge theories). Furthermore, Employee promises he will not file
a lawsuit against Hollywood in connection with any aspect of his employment or
termination. Employee also waives the right to all remedies in any such action
that may be brought on his behalf.
3. Employee agrees to refrain from any action which disrupts or damages
Hollywood's operations, personnel, or products or which is detrimental to the
image of Hollywood.
4. Employee agrees not to retain and to return any Hollywood property
that he has in his possession. Employee further acknowledges that he has worked
with proprietary and confidential information during his employment with
Hollywood, and nothing herein shall relieve him of his obligations to keep such
information confidential and not share or use any such information without the
express written consent of Hollywood. Employee agrees to abide by the terms and
conditions of his Employee Undertaking, including, but not limited to, the
noncompetition provisions. Specifically, Employee understands that he is
prohibited from engaging or preparing to engage in any activity that may
directly or indirectly compete with Hollywood; inducing or attempting to induce
any employee of Hollywood to leave the employ of Hollywood; or soliciting,
diverting or accepting orders for goods or services that are competitive with
goods or services sold by Hollywood for the period detailed in the Employee
Undertaking.
5. Employee shall not discuss Hollywood, his employment at Hollywood,
or any Hollywood personnel in a disparaging manner. Employee shall not discuss
any aspect of Hollywood's operations, business, or expansion plans with any
individual without the express written permission of Hollywood, unless legally
required to do so and then only after giving notice to Hollywood so that
Hollywood may contest any such legal requirement. Employee may generally
describe his job duties and responsibilities at Hollywood to a prospective
employer.
6. Employee agrees that in the event Employee breaches any of
Employee's obligations under this Agreement then, in addition to other
remedies available to Hollywood in law and in equity, the payments, severance,
and other benefits payable or otherwise accorded Employee under this Agreement
shall immediately terminate. Employee acknowledges that such termination
shall in no way relieve Employee of his continuing obligations and Employee's
release set forth in the Agreement.
7. In order to receive the payments and benefits described in paragraph
1(a) above, Employee must accept certain terms and conditions described in the
attached "Notice and General Release" and the "ADEA Waiver and Release".
Therefore, please read and review this Agreement and the attached ADEA Waiver
and Release very carefully.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee and Hollywood have executed this Agreement as
of the date below.
----------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Date
HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION,
an Oregon Corporation
By
---------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Executive Vice President of Legal
Affairs
Date
NOTICE
You should thoroughly review the foregoing Agreement and the following "ADEA
Waiver and Release" and understand the effect of accepting its terms before you
do so.
Before you sign this Agreement, you should consult with your attorney or other
advisor of your choice.
ADEA WAIVER AND RELEASE
In exchange for the payments and benefits described in paragraph 1(a), above, I,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, knowingly and voluntarily irrevocably discharge and release
Hollywood from any claim of employment discrimination arising under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA"), and covenant that I will not file any
administrative charge or lawsuit under the ADEA which seeks to recover monetary
damages or seeks reinstatement of my employment with Hollywood.
As to the full release of all claims under the ADEA, I, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, agree
that, by signing this agreement and delivering a signed copy of this Agreement
to Hollywood:
(a) This Release is written in language I understand, and I have
carefully read and fully understand all of the provisions of the
ADEA Waiver and Release; and
(b) I have been advised in writing to consult with an attorney before
signing the Release, and have had an opportunity to consult with my
attorney; and
(c) This Release specifically releases claims under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and
(d) This Release does not release claims under the ADEA which arise
after the date of this Release; and
(e) The consideration given by Hollywood in exchange for the release of
ADEA claims is in addition to that to which I am already entitled;
and
(f) I have been given a period of at least twenty-one (21) days within
which to consider the agreement; and
(g) I have a period of seven (7) days following the execution of this
Release to revoke this Release, and this Release is not effective or
enforceable until eight (8) days following the execution of this
Release.
Please review this entire Agreement very carefully.
After you have thoroughly considered this Agreement, please reflect your
decision below in the Acknowledgment and Election section.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ELECTION
I have carefully read and fully understand all the provisions of the
Agreement and the "ADEA Waiver and Release" in this Agreement. I understand
that if I accept them, they represent the entire agreement between Hollywood
and me, and I acknowledge that I have not relied upon any other representations
or statements (either written or oral). I have been advised that I have
twenty-one (21) days to consider this Release (but may sign it at any time
beforehand if I so desire), and that it is recommended that I consult with an
attorney in doing so. I also understand that I can revoke this Release within
seven (7) days of signing by sending a certified letter to that effect to:
Xxxx X. English, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
0000 XX Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Notwithstanding the foregoing, I understand and agree that the portion of
this Release that pertains to the release of claims under the ADEA shall not
become effective or enforceable and no funds shall be exchanged until the seven
(7) day revocation period has expired, but that all other provisions of this
Release will become effective upon its execution by the parties.
Please xxxx your choice:
[X] I wish to receive the payments and other benefits set forth in
Paragraphs 1(c), (f), (i) and (j) of the Agreement. In exchange, I
accept the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
[ ] I do not accept the terms and conditions of the Agreement. I
understand that I will receive only salary compensation and related
benefits through the date of termination of my employment with
Hollywood as set forth in Paragraph 1(a) of the Agreement.
--------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
ACCEPTED AND APPROVED:
HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION,
an Oregon corporation
By:
---------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs
Date:
