EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit
99.1
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(this
"Agreement")
is
entered into as of August 9, 2005 by and between CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
a
Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the
"Company"),
and
Xxxx Xxxx, an individual ("Executive").
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS:
(1) |
The
Company and Executive (each, a "Party")
desire for Executive to be employed by the Company as Chief Executive
Officer and President upon and subject to the terms and conditions
set
forth in this Agreement;
|
(2) |
Executive
is willing and desires to accept employment with the Company upon
and
subject to the terms of this Agreement;
and
|
(3) |
Executive’s
agreement to the terms and conditions of Sections 4 and 5 are a
material
condition of Executive’s employment with the Company under the terms of
this Agreement;
|
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the premises, and the promises and agreements set forth
below,
the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1.
Employment Terms and
Duties
1.1 Employment.
The
Company hereby agrees to employ Executive in an executive capacity as its
Chief
Executive Officer and President, and Executive hereby accepts such employment
upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
1.2 Term;
Option to Extend.
Executive’s employment under this Agreement (the "Term")
shall
commence as of a date, no later than August 31, 2005, mutually agreed to
by
Executive and the Company (the "Effective
Date")
and
shall terminate at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2008; provided,
however,
that
the
Company
shall have the option to extend the Term of this Agreement for an additional
two
years upon giving notice to Executive not less than six months prior to the
expiration of the original Term (and Executive shall have the right to reject
such extension by so notifying the Company no later than the later of (a)
six
months prior to the expiration of the original Term and (b) 30 days after
receiving such notice from the Company). If this option is so exercised and
is
not timely rejected by Executive,
the Term
shall be extended by
two
years, to
11:59
p.m. on December 31, 2010. If Executive continues in the Company’s employ after
the expiration of the Term (as extended pursuant to the immediately preceding
sentence, if applicable), Executive’s employment shall be on an at-will
basis.
1.3 Position
and Duties.
During
the Term, Executive shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer
of
the Company; shall have all authorities, duties and responsibilities customarily
exercised by an individual serving in those positions at an entity of the
size
and nature of the Company (including overseeing the day-to-day management
of the
Company, having full profit and loss responsibility, developing overall
strategy, and having all senior management of the Company report to him);
shall
be assigned no duties or responsibilities that are materially inconsistent
with,
or that materially impair his ability to discharge, the foregoing duties
and
responsibilities; shall have such additional duties and responsibilities
(including, subject to such reasonable conditions as he may reasonably
establish, service with affiliates of the Company), consistent with the
foregoing, as may from time to time reasonably be assigned to him by the
Board
of Directors of the Company (the "Board")
or the
Executive Committee of the Board (the "Executive
Committee");
shall, in his capacity as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
report solely and directly to the Board or the Executive Committee; and shall
serve as a member of the Board and the Executive Committee (if there is an
Executive Committee).
1.4 Outside
Activities.
During
the Term, Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and
efforts to the business and affairs of the Company. However, nothing in this
Agreement shall preclude Executive from: (a) serving on the boards of a
reasonable number of business entities, trade associations and charitable
organizations, (b) engaging in charitable activities and community affairs,
(c)
accepting and fulfilling a reasonable number of speaking engagements, and
(d)
managing his personal investments and affairs; provided
that
such activities do not either individually or in the aggregate: interfere
with
the proper performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder; create
a
conflict of interest; or violate any provision of this Agreement; and
provided further
that
service on the board of any business entity must be approved in advance by
the
Board.
1.5 Location.
During
the Term, Executive’s principal office and principal place of employment shall
be at the Company’s headquarters in the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan
area.
2.
Compensation and Benefits.
2.1 Salary.
Beginning as of the Effective Date, Executive will be paid a base salary
(the
"Salary")
in
respect of his services hereunder during the Term. The Salary shall be at
an
annual rate of $1,200,000 through the third anniversary of the Effective
Date,
and thereafter at an annual rate of $1,440,000 for the remainder of the Term.
The Salary will be paid in equal periodic installments according to the
Company’s customary payroll practices, but no less frequently than monthly.
During the Term, the Salary may be increased, but shall not be reduced below
the
applicable amount set forth in the preceding sentence at any time, or for
any
purpose (including for the purpose of determining benefits under Section
3
below), without Executive’s prior written consent.
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2.2 Performance
Bonus.
Executive shall be paid an annual cash performance bonus (an "Annual
Bonus")
in
respect of each calendar year that ends during the Term, to the extent earned
based on performance against objective performance criteria. The performance
criteria for any particular calendar year shall be established by the
Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation
Committee")
no
later than 90 days after the commencement of such calendar year. Executive’s
Annual Bonus for a calendar year shall equal 125% of his annualized year-end
Salary for that year if target levels of performance for that year (as
established by the Compensation Committee when the performance criteria for
that
year are established) are achieved, with greater or lesser amounts (including
zero) paid for performance above and below target (such greater and lesser
amounts to be determined by a formula established by the Compensation Committee
for that year when it established the targets and performance criteria for
that
year), and with a maximum bonus no greater than 200% of his annualized year-end
Salary. Performance criteria shall not include the Company’s stock trading
price, and may include revenue, ARPU, RGU, OCF, new product growth, operational
improvements, and/or such other metrics as the Compensation Committee shall
determine. Executive’s Annual Bonus for a calendar year shall be determined by
the Compensation Committee after the end of the calendar year and shall be
paid
to Executive when annual bonuses for that year are paid to other senior
executives of the Company generally, but
in no
event later than March 15 of the following calendar year.
In
carrying out its functions under this Section 2.2 and under Section 2.3(c),
the
Compensation Committee shall at all times act reasonably and in good faith,
and
shall consult with Executive to the extent appropriate. For purposes of the
2005
calendar year only, Executive shall be paid a minimum Annual Bonus of
$1,200,000, provided
only
that Executive is employed hereunder on December 31, 2005, and such Annual
Bonus
for 2005 shall not exceed 125% of his annualized year-end Salary for 2005
unless
the Compensation Committee determines otherwise in its sole and absolute
discretion.
2.3 Equity
Compensation.
(a) As
of the
Effective Date, Executive shall be granted an option to purchase 3,333,333
shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common
Stock")
(the
"Initial
Option").
The
Initial Option shall have a per share exercise price equal to the per share
fair
market value on the Effective Date as determined pursuant to the terms of
the
Company’s 2001 Stock Incentive Plan as amended (the "Plan");
shall
have a term of ten (10) years from the applicable date of grant; and shall
become vested and exercisable in three equal installments on each anniversary
of
the Effective Date, subject to Executive’s continued employment with the
Company. The Initial Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions
of this
Agreement and of a stock option agreement in substantially the form attached
hereto as Exhibit
A.
(b) As
of (i)
the Effective Date to the extent shares of Common Stock are available for
grant
to Executive under the Plan and (ii) the date that amendments to the Plan
are
approved by the Company’s shareholders to the extent shares are not so
available, Executive
3
shall
be
granted restricted stock awards as follows. The first restricted stock award
shall be for 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock and shall vest on the first
anniversary of the Effective Date (subject to Executive’s continued employment
with the Company and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or in
Exhibit B), and shall be governed by a restricted stock agreement in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(the
"First
Restricted Stock Award").
The
second restricted stock award shall be for 1,562,500 shares of Common Stock
and
shall vest in equal annual installments on each of the first three anniversaries
of the Effective Date (subject to Executive’s continued employment with the
Company and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or in Exhibit
C), and
shall be governed by a restricted stock agreement in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit C
(the
"Second
Restricted Stock Award").
The
Company shall use its best reasonable efforts to promptly adopt the Plan
amendments and promptly obtain the shareholder approval referred to in (ii)
of
the first sentence of this Section 2.3(b). To the extent that there are
insufficient shares available pursuant to (i) of the first sentence of this
Section 2.3(b) to make all of the restricted stock awards contemplated
hereunder, the First Restricted Stock Award shall be made in full before
any
portion of the Second Restricted Stock Award is made.
(c) As
of the
date that amendments to the Plan are approved by the Company’s shareholders with
respect to individual limitations on the grant of performance shares, Executive
shall be granted a performance share award for a target of 2,061,860, and
a
maximum of 4,123,720, shares of Common Stock (the "Performance Award").
The
Performance Award shall be earned during the three-year performance cycle
January 2006 - December 2008, based on performance against objective performance
criteria established by the Compensation Committee no later than March 31,
2006
in conjunction with Executive, which criteria shall be consistent with
corresponding criteria established for other senior executive officers of
the
Company. The number of shares earned by, and delivered to, Executive shall
be
the target number (appropriately adjusted for stock splits, recapitalizations,
mergers, etc.) if target levels of performance (as established by the
Compensation Committee, in conjunction with Executive, at the time the
performance criteria are established) are achieved, with greater or lesser
numbers of shares (including zero) earned and delivered for performance above
or
below target (such greater and lesser number to be determined by formula
established by the Compensation Committee in conjunction with Executive when
the
targets and performance criteria are established), and with maximum payout
no
greater than 200% of the (appropriately adjusted) target number. Executive’s
right to payout shares shall become fully vested no later than December 31,
2008, subject only to the degree to which performance targets are attained
(or
surpassed). The degree to which performance targets are attained (or surpassed)
shall be determined by the Compensation Committee, and freely tradable shares
shall (to the extent earned) be delivered to Executive no later than March
15,
2009. The Company shall use its best reasonable efforts to promptly adopt
the
Plan amendments and promptly obtain the shareholder approval referred to
in the
first sentence of this Section 2.3(c). The Performance Award shall be subject
to
the terms
4
and
conditions of this Agreement and of a performance share award
agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
D.
(d) If
the
Company fails to make in full each of the grants prescribed under paragraphs
(b)
and (c) by the 55th day after the Effective Date, unless the Company pays
Executive no later than such day an amount in cash equal to the value (as
determined for purposes of calculating the size of the awards to be granted
hereunder) of the grants that it failed to make (e.g.,
if
one-half of the Second Restricted Stock Award is not granted, the cash payment
is $1 million), a Good Reason Termination event shall be deemed to have occurred
without timely cure by the Company, and Executive may effect a Good Reason
Termination pursuant to Section 3.3(b) and obtain the benefits under Section
3.3(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such failure is due to delay as
a
result of inquiries or similar actions by the SEC, "90th day" shall be
substituted for "55th day." In the event of any stock split, recapitalization,
merger, etc., between the date as of which this Agreement is entered into
and
the date any grant is made pursuant to this Section 2.3, appropriate adjustments
shall be made in the number of shares and/or other terms of such grant so
as to
neither diminish nor enlarge the value represented by the award.
2.4 Other
Incentives.
Executive shall be eligible for other or additional long-term incentives
in the
sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee and/or the Board,
including additional stock option grants and restricted stock awards beginning
as of calendar year 2006 and performance share awards beginning in 2007.
Such
incentive awards (if any) shall be at a level, and on terms and conditions,
that
are commensurate with Executive’s positions and responsibilities at the Company
and appropriate in light of corresponding awards to other senior executives
of
the Company (but without regard to any special or one-time grants to other
senior executives, including any sign-on or special retention grants). Except
as
otherwise provided herein, Executive shall not be entitled to participate
in any
other compensation, bonus, retention or incentive program, or in the Charter
Communications, Inc. 2005 Cash Award Plan, except as may be explicitly
determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee in its sole and absolute
discretion.
2.5 Employee
Benefits. During
the Term, Executive will be entitled to participate in all pension, retirement,
profit sharing, savings, 401(k), income deferral, life insurance, disability
insurance, accidental death and dismemberment protection, travel accident
insurance, hospitalization, medical, dental, vision and other employee benefit
plans, programs and arrangements that may from time to time be made available
generally to other senior executives of the Company, all to the extent Executive
is eligible under the terms of such plans, programs and arrangements.
Executive’s participation in all such plans, programs and arrangements shall be
at a level, and on terms and conditions, that are commensurate with his
positions and responsibilities at the Company and that are no less favorable
to
him than to other senior executives of the Company generally. Executive shall
also be entitled to post-retirement welfare and other benefits on no less
favorable a basis than that then applying generally to other senior executives
of the Company with the same age and years of service with the Company. In
addition, the Company shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable and with
Executive’s full cooperation, purchase on behalf of Executive a policy that
provides long-term disability coverage that, when combined with other long-term
disability coverage provided by the Company, provides (i) coverage to age
65 of
50% of Executive’s Salary, or (ii) if such coverage referred to in (i) would
cost more than $20,000 per year, the amount of coverage that can be provided
for
$20,000 per year. Except for the immediately preceding sentence, nothing
in this
Section 2.5 shall be construed to require the Company to establish or maintain
any particular employee benefit plan, program or arrangement.
5
2.6 Expenses
and Perquisites.
(a) Expenses.
The
Company shall promptly reimburse Executive for all expenses reasonably incurred
by him in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder (including
appropriate business entertainment activities, expenses appropriately incurred
by Executive in attending conventions, seminars, and other business meetings,
and promotional activities), subject to Executive’s furnishing the Company
documentation substantiating the expenses in accordance with any reasonable
policies concerning substantiation previously communicated to him in writing.
When traveling on Company business on commercial airlines, Executive shall
be
entitled to fly first class when available.
(b) Relocation
and Transition Expenses.
Promptly upon presentation of appropriate substantiation, the Company shall
pay,
or reimburse Executive for, the following relocation expenses:
(i) reasonable
packing, moving, storage and travel expenses associated with moving Executive,
Executive’s immediate family, and their possessions from Virginia to the St.
Louis area;
(ii) reasonable
home sale and purchase closing costs, including loan origination fees, brokers’
fees and commissions, home appraisal and inspection fees, title costs, attorney
and escrow office fees, recording fees, and state and local recording, transfer
and real property gains taxes, etc., associated with Executive and his family
moving from their residence in Virginia to the St. Louis area; and
(iii) until
the
earlier of the first anniversary of the Effective Date and the date on which
Executive and his immediate family have fully relocated to the St. Louis
area:
(A) | temporary housing costs and living expenses reasonably incurred by Executive and his immediate family in the St. Louis area; |
6
(B) | expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in commuting not more than once a week between Virginia and the St. Louis area; | ||
(C) | reasonable costs of a suitable rental automobile, including maintenance, fuel and insurance costs, unless a suitable automobile is provided by the Company; and | ||
(D) | reasonable commercial air fare, hotel and travel related expenses for up to four (4) round-trips for Executive, his spouse and their children between Virginia and the St. Louis area to search for a new home, etc. |
In
the
event that any federal, state, local or other tax is due from Executive in
connection with any benefit provided to him under this Section 2.6(b) (including
tax reimbursement payments pursuant to this sentence), the Company shall
pay to
Executive, prior to the time such tax is due through withholding or otherwise,
an additional amount equal to the amount of such tax.
(c) Legal
Representation.
Executive acknowledges that he has been advised to consult with independent
legal counsel before signing this Agreement and has had the opportunity to
do
so. The Company shall pay, or reimburse Executive for, all fees and expenses
of
counsel, and other professional advisors, incurred by him in the negotiation,
drafting and implementation of this Agreement, up to a maximum of $110,000
unless otherwise later agreed.
(d) Financial
Counseling and Tax Preparation.
Executive specifically understands that the Company has not made, nor does
it
make, any representation pertaining to financial obligations or tax consequences
to Executive that may or may not arise out of this Agreement or Executive’s
acceptance of funds or benefits under this Agreement. In addition to the
reimbursement provided under Section 2.6(c), the Company agrees to promptly
pay,
or reimburse Executive for, professional fees he incurs in connection with
financial counseling, estate planning, tax preparation and the like, up to
a
maximum of $15,000 for each calendar year that begins, or ends, during the
Term.
(e) Additional
Fringe Benefits and Perquisites.
During
the Term, Executive shall, in addition to the foregoing, also be entitled
to (i)
to participate in all fringe benefits and perquisites made available generally
to senior executives of the Company, such participation to be at levels,
and on
terms and conditions, that are commensurate with his positions and
responsibilities at the Company and no less favorable to him than those applying
generally to other senior executives of the Company, and (ii) to receive
such
additional fringe benefits and perquisites as the Company may, in its sole
and
absolute discretion, from time to time provide.
2.7 Facilities
and Expenses. During
the Term, the Company will furnish Executive office space, equipment, supplies,
and such other facilities and personnel as are reasonably
7
necessary
or appropriate for the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement,
and will pay Executive’s dues in professional organizations as reasonably
appropriate.
2.8 Vacations
and Holidays. Executive
will be entitled to paid vacation of at least twenty (20) days per calendar
year
(or such greater number of vacation days, per calendar year, as may then
be
permitted for senior executives of the Company generally) during the Term,
which
vacation days may be carried over from year to year if not used. Executive
will
also be entitled to paid holidays as and to the extent set forth in the
Company’s policies as the same may change from time to time for senior
executives of the Company generally.
2.9 Effect
of a "Going Private Event" on Equity Awards. At
such
time, if ever, as the Common Stock shall no longer be traded on any national
securities exchange or national securities market (a "Going
Private Event"),
then
the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall either:
(a) (i)
accelerate the vesting of, and remove all transfer restrictions on, all of
Executive’s outstanding Restricted Stock; (ii) accelerate the vesting and
exercisability of all of Executive’s outstanding Stock Options; and (iii)
deliver unrestricted, publicly tradeable, securities in respect of each of
Executive’s outstanding Performance Share awards in an amount equal to the then
target payout for that award times
a
fraction, of which the numerator is the number of days in the pertinent
performance period that shall have elapsed through the occurrence of the
Going
Private Event and the denominator of which is the number of days in the
pertinent performance period; with vesting/removal/exercisability/ delivery
in
each case afforded at a time, and in a fashion, that enables Executive to
participate, with respect to the securities subject to the awards in clauses
(i)-(iii), on no less favorable a basis than other public shareholders holding
such securities, in the transactions that give rise to the Going Private
Event;
or
(b) with
respect to each of Executive’s outstanding Stock Options, Restricted Stock
awards, and Performance Share awards, make appropriate adjustments (x) in
the
amount and/or kinds of securities subject to such award (including, as
appropriate, substituting securities of any successor entity) and/or (y)
in the
other terms and conditions of such award, in each case so as to avoid (A)
dilution or enlargement, as a result of the Going Private Event, of the rights
and value represented by such award and (B) any incremental current tax to
Executives; or
(c) accelerate
the vesting/removal/exercisability/delivery with respect to some of Executive’s
outstanding Stock Options, Restricted Stock awards and/or Performance Share
awards in accordance with Section 2.9(a), and treat the remaining awards
in
accordance with Section 2.9(b).
8
To
the
extent that Executive’s Stock Options, Restricted Stock and/or Performance Share
awards continue to be outstanding in accordance with Section 2.9(b) following
a
Going Private Event, then (i) Executive shall have the right, during the
period
of 180 days following (w) the vesting or removal of transfer restrictions
from
any Restricted Stock, (x) the delivery of any securities in respect of any
Performance Share award, (y) the acquisition of securities upon the exercise
of
any Stock Option, and/or (z) the termination of his employment with the Company,
for any reason, subsequent to or coincident with such
vesting/removal/delivery/acquisition, to "put" any or all of such securities
to
the Company for a prompt cash payment equal to their Fair Market Value, and
(ii)
the Company shall have the right, during the same period, to "call" any or
all
of such securities for a prompt cash payment equal to their Fair Market Value.
For purposes of this Agreement, the "Fair
Market Value"
of a
security, as of a specified date, shall mean the fair market value of such
security, as of such date, determined without discount for lack of liquidity,
lack of control, minority status, restrictions on transferability, and the
like,
and assuming an amply-funded strategic buyer for all such securities then
outstanding.
3.
Termination of Employment.
3.1 Termination
Due to Death or Disability.
(a) In
the
event that Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated during the Term due to
his death or "Disability" (as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) below),
the
Term shall expire and he or his estate or beneficiaries (as the case may
be)
shall be entitled to the following:
(i) a
"Pro-Rata Bonus" (as defined in Section 3.1(c) below);
(ii) full
nonforfeitability and exercisability, as of the Termination Date, for any
outstanding "Stock Option" (as defined in Section 3.1(c) below), with each
such
Stock Option to remain exercisable for the lesser of two years following
the
Termination Date and the remainder of its maximum stated term;
(iii) full
vesting, as of the Termination Date, for any outstanding "Restricted Stock"
(as
defined in Section 3.1(c) below), with all restrictions on such Restricted
Stock
lapsing as of the Termination Date;
(iv) full
nonforfeitability, as of the Termination Date, of any right to receive
"Performance Shares" (as defined in Section 3.1(c) below), with the number
(if
any), and the timing of the delivery, of shares determined as if Executive’s
employment hereunder had continued indefinitely; and
(v) the
benefits described in Section 3.5.
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(b) For
purposes of this Agreement, Executive will be deemed to have a "Disability"
if, due
to illness, injury or a physical or medically recognized mental condition,
he is
unable to perform his duties under this Agreement with reasonable accommodation
for one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days, or one hundred eighty (180)
days
during any twelve (12) month period, as determined in accordance with this
Section 3.1(b). Whether a Disability exists will be determined by
a medical
doctor selected by agreement of the Parties upon the request of either Party
by
notice to the other. If the Parties cannot agree on the selection of a medical
doctor, each of them shall select a medical doctor and the two medical doctors
will select a third medical doctor who shall determine whether a Disability
exists. The determination of the medical doctor selected under this
Section 3.1(b) will be binding on both Parties. Executive must submit
to a
reasonable number of examinations by the medical doctor making the determination
of Disability under this Section 3.1(b), and to other specialists
designated by such medical doctor, and Executive hereby authorizes the
disclosure and release to the Company, in confidence, of such determination
and
all supporting medical records. No termination for Disability shall be effective
until fifteen days after either Party gives written notice of such termination
to the other Party.
(c) For
purposes of this Agreement:
(i) the
term
"Pro-Rata
Bonus"
shall
mean an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying
(x) 125%
of Executive’s annualized Salary as of the Termination Date times
(y) a
fraction, the numerator of which is 365 minus the number of days remaining
(as
of the Termination Date) in the calendar year of termination and the denominator
of which is 365, such amount to be paid to Executive promptly following the
Termination Date;
(ii) the
term
"Stock
Option"
shall
mean any compensatory option or warrant to acquire securities of the Company
or
any of its affiliates (including the Initial Option); any compensatory stock
appreciation right, phantom stock option or analogous right granted by or
on
behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates; and any securities or rights
received in respect of any of the foregoing securities or rights;
(iii) the
term
"Restricted
Stock"
shall
mean any compensatory restricted stock of the Company or any of its affiliates
(including the First Restricted Stock Award and the Second Restricted Stock
Award); any compensatory phantom shares or analogous rights granted by or
on
behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates; and any securities or rights
received in respect of any of the foregoing securities or rights;
(iv) the
term
"Performance
Shares"
shall
mean any compensatory performance shares and compensatory performance units
of
the Company (including the Performance Award);
10
(v) the
term
"Termination
Date"
shall
mean the effective date of the termination of Executive’s employment under this
Agreement.
(vi) the
term
"Person"
shall
mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
joint
venture, trust, estate, board, committee, agency, body, employee benefit
plan,
or other person or entity.
3.2 Termination
for Cause; Voluntary Quit.
(a) For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "Cause"
shall
mean:
(i) Executive’s
willful material breach of an obligation or representation under this Agreement
or of any material fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates,
or
any willful act of fraud or willful misrepresentation or willful concealment
to
the Company, the Board or any affiliate, in each case that results or should
reasonably be expected to result in material harm to the Company, the Board
or
any affiliate of the Company;
(ii) Executive’s
willful and material failure to adhere to (A) any Code of Conduct in effect
from
time to time and applicable to officers and/or employees generally or (B)
any
written policy, in each case that results or should reasonably be expected
to
result in material harm to the Company, the Board or any affiliate of the
Company;
(iii) Executive
is convicted of, or pleads guilty or nolo
contendere
to, any
felony or to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; or
(iv) conduct
by Executive in connection with his employment hereunder that constitutes
willful misconduct or willful neglect, in each case that results or should
reasonably be expected to result in material harm to the Company or any
affiliate.
(b) No
termination of Executive’s employment shall be effective as a termination for
Cause for purposes of this Agreement or any other "Company Arrangement" (as
defined in Section 3.5(d) below) unless the provisions of this
Section 3.2(b) shall first have been complied with. Executive shall
be
given written notice by the Board of its intention to terminate his employment
for Cause, such notice (the "Cause
Notice")
to state in detail the particular circumstances that constitute the
grounds on which the proposed termination for Cause is based. Executive shall
have ten (10) days after receiving such Cause Notice in which to cure such
grounds to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board. If he fails to timely
cure
such grounds, Executive shall then be entitled to a hearing before such Board.
Such hearing shall be held within fifteen (15) days of his receiving such
Cause
Notice, provided
that he
requests such hearing within ten (10) days after receiving such Cause Notice.
If, within ten (10) days following such hearing (if timely requested), and
otherwise within twenty (20) days after such Cause Notice is given to Executive,
the Board gives written notice to Executive confirming that, in the judgment
of
at least a majority of the members of the Board, Cause for terminating
his
11
employment
on the basis set forth in the original Cause Notice exists, his employment
hereunder shall thereupon be terminated for Cause, subject to de
novo
review,
at Executive’s election, through arbitration in accordance with Section
9.5.
(c) In
the
event that Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for
Cause in accordance with Section 3.2(b), the Term shall expire and
he shall
be entitled to (x) the right to exercise any Stock Option, to the extent
that
such Stock Option is nonforfeitable as of the Termination Date, for at least
the
lesser of 30 days following the Termination Date and the remainder of its
maximum stated term and (y) the benefits described in Section 3.5.
(d) In
the
event that Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by Executive on his
own initiative, other than by death, for Disability, in a Good Reason
Termination, or by expiration of the Term in accordance with Section 1.2
at
11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2008 or December 31, 2010, the Term shall expire
and
he shall have the same entitlements as provided in Section 3.2(c) in the
case of
a termination for Cause. A voluntary termination under this Section 3.2(d)
shall
not be deemed a breach of this Agreement.
3.3 Termination
Without Cause or With Good Reason.
(a) In
the
event that Executive’s employment hereunder terminates during the Term in a Good
Reason Termination, or is terminated by the Company (other than
(x) for
Disability in accordance with Section 3.1; (y) for Cause in accordance
with
Section 3.2, or (z) upon expiration of the Term at 11:59 p.m. on December
31, 2008 or December 31, 2010 in accordance with Section 1.2) the Term shall
expire and Executive shall be entitled to:
(i) a
Pro
Rata Bonus;
(ii) the
greater of (i) two times the Salary as of the Termination Date and (ii) the
Salary for the remainder of the Term through 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2008,
payable in a prompt lump sum;
(iii) a
prompt
lump-sum payment equal to twelve (12) times the monthly after-tax cost to
Executive, as of the Termination Date, for Executive to receive under COBRA
paid
coverage for the health, dental and vision benefits then being
provided;
(iv) full
nonforfeitability and exercisability, as of the Termination Date, for any
outstanding Stock Option, with each such Stock Option to remain exercisable
for
the lesser of two years following the Termination Date and the remainder
of its
maximum stated term;
12
(v) full
vesting, as of the Termination Date, for any outstanding Restricted Stock,
with
all restrictions on such Restricted Stock lapsing as of the Termination
Date;
(vi) full
nonforfeitability, as of the Termination Date, of any right to receive
Performance Shares, with the number (if any), and the timing of the delivery,
of
such shares determined as if Executive’s employment hereunder had continued
indefinitely; and
(vii) the
benefits described in Section 3.5.
(b) For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "Good
Reason Termination"
shall
mean a termination by Executive of his employment hereunder following the
occurrence of any of the following events without his express written
consent:
(i) any
failure to continue Executive as President, Chief Executive Officer and a
member
of the Board, but only if Executive objects in writing within 10 days of
learning of such event and the Company fails to cure within 30 days of receipt
of such written notice;
(ii) any
adverse change in Executive’s reporting relationship, but only with respect to
facts of which Executive became aware no more than six months prior to the
date
Executive gives written notice to the Company thereof and only if the Company
fails to cure within 30 days of receipt of such written notice;
(iii) any
material diminution in Executive’s responsibilities or authorities, but only
with respect to facts of which Executive became aware no more than six months
prior to the date Executive gives written notice to the Company thereof and
only
if the Company fails to cure within 30 days of receipt of such written
notice;
(iv) any
relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more than
fifty (50) miles from the Company’s headquarters as of the Effective Date, but
only if Executive objects in writing within 10 days of learning of such event
and the Company fails to cure within 30 days of receipt of such written
notice;
(v) any
reduction in Executive’s Salary (except as permitted under Section 2.1) or the
Company’s failure to pay any material amount or provide any material benefit due
under the Agreement or otherwise, but only if Executive objects in writing
within 10 days of learning of such event and the Company fails to cure within
30
days of receipt of such written notice; or
(vi) any
failure of the Company to timely obtain the assumption in writing of its
obligations under this Agreement by any successor to all or substantially
all of
its business or assets upon any reconstruction, amalgamation, combination,
merger,
13
consolidation,
sale, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction, but only if Executive
objects in writing within 10 days of learning of such event and the Company
fails to cure within 30 days of receipt of such written notice;
No
Good
Reason Termination shall be effective until at least 90 days after Executive
gives notice to the Company specifying the date on which the termination
of his
employment hereunder shall occur. Any Good Reason Termination shall be subject
to de
novo
review,
at the Company’s election, through arbitration in accordance with Section 9.5.
In addition, any termination by Executive of his employment hereunder during
the
60-day period that commences 180 days after the occurrence of any Change
in
Control shall be deemed to be a Good Reason Termination.
(c) For
purposes of this Agreement, "Change
in Control"
shall
mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) any
"person,"
as
such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
or
group of persons, excluding Vulcan, Inc. and its affiliates, becomes (directly
or indirectly) a "beneficial
owner",
as
such term is used as of the Effective Date in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under
that
Act, of a percentage of the voting securities of the Company (measured either
by
number of voting securities or by voting power) that is larger than the
percentage (if any) of the voting securities of the Company (measured in
the
same fashion) that Vulcan, Inc. and its affiliates beneficially own (directly
or
indirectly) at such time;
(ii) a
majority of the Board consists of individuals other than "Incumbent
Directors,"
which
term means the members of the Board on the Effective Date; provided
that any
individual becoming a director subsequent to such date whose election or
nomination for election was supported (other than in connection with any
actual
or threatened proxy contest) by two-thirds of the directors who then comprised
the Incumbent Directors shall be considered to be an Incumbent Director;
or
(iii) (x)
the
Company combines with another entity and is the surviving entity, or (y)
all or
substantially all of the assets or business of the Company is disposed of
pursuant to a sale, merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or other
transaction or series of transactions (collectively, a "Triggering
Event"),
unless
Vulcan,
Inc. and its affiliates own, directly or indirectly, by reason of their
ownership of voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such
Triggering Event, more of the voting securities than any other shareholder
(measured both by number of voting securities and by voting power) of (q)
in the
case of a combination in which the Company is the surviving entity, the
surviving entity and (r) in any other case, the entity (if any) that succeeds
to
all or substantially all of the Company’s business and assets.
14
(d) Prior
to
receiving the payment described in Section 3.3(a)(ii), Executive must first
execute and deliver to the Company a mutual release in substantially the
form
attached to this Agreement as Exhibit E,
which
shall not have been revoked by Executive by the close of business on the
seventh
day following its execution. Such mutual release shall be null and void unless
it is returned to Executive, duly executed by the Company, within ten (10)
business days following receipt by the Company.
3.4 Expiration
of the Term.
In the
event that Executive’s employment hereunder terminates upon expiration of the
Term at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2008 or December 31, 2010 in accordance
with
Section 1.2, Executive shall be entitled:
(a) to
have
any Stock Option that is nonforfeitable or exercisable as of the Termination
Date or that becomes exercisable pursuant to Section 3.4(b) below be exercisable
for the lesser of one year following the Termination Date and the remainder
of
its maximum stated term;
(b) to
(x)
nonforfeitability, as of the Termination Date, and exercisability, as of
the
date(s) Stock Options would otherwise have become nonforfeitable or exercisable
had Executive remained employed by the Company indefinitely, and (y)
nonforfeitability, as of the Termination Date, for any outstanding Restricted
Stock, in each case to the extent that such Stock Option or Restricted Stock
is
then scheduled to become vested/nonforfeitable (or, with respect to Stock
Options, exercisable) on or before the first anniversary of the Termination
Date;
(c) to
the
benefits described in Section 3.5.
3.5 Benefits
On Any Termination.
On any
termination of Executive’s employment, he shall be entitled to:
(a)
Salary through the Termination Date;
(b)
the balance of any annual, long-term, or other incentive award earned in
respect
to any period ending on or prior to the Termination Date, but not yet
paid;
(c) a
lump-sum payment in respect of accrued but unused vacation days at his
per-business-day Salary in effect as of the date his employment
terminates;
(d) other
or
additional benefits in accordance with the terms of applicable plans, programs,
corporate governance documents, agreements and arrangements of the Company
and
its affiliates (including Sections 2, 6, 7, and 9.5 of this Agreement)
(collectively, "Company Arrangements");
and
(e) payment,
promptly when due, of all amounts due in connection with the
termination.
15
3.6 No
Duplicative Severance. Notwithstanding anything elsewhere to the
contrary, to the extent that the employment of Executive with the Company
is
terminated during the Term or upon expiration of the Term, Executive shall
not
be entitled to, and waives any rights under or with respect to, severance
or
other benefits under any existing or future severance plans, policies,
programs
or guidelines established or published by the Company, including that certain
November 22, 2004 memorandum regarding severance guidelines for
executives.
3.7 No
Mitigation/No Offset.
Executive shall be under no obligation to seek other employment or otherwise
mitigate the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, and there
shall be
no offset against amounts or benefits due Executive under this Agreement
or
otherwise on account of any claim (other than any preexisting debts then
due in
accordance with their terms) the Company or its affiliates may have against
him
or any remuneration or other benefit earned or received by Executive
after such
termination.
4.
Confidential Information.
4.1 Acknowledgements
by Executive. Executive
acknowledges that (a) during the Term and as a part of Executive’s
employment, Executive will be afforded access to Confidential Information
(as
defined below); (b) public disclosure of such Confidential Information
could have an adverse effect on the Company and its business; (c) because
Executive possesses substantial technical expertise and skill with respect
to
the Company’s business, the Company desires to obtain exclusive ownership of
each invention by Executive, and the Company will be at a substantial
competitive disadvantage if it fails to acquire exclusive ownership of each
invention by Executive; and (d) the provisions of this Section 4 are
reasonable and necessary to prevent the improper use or disclosure of
Confidential Information and to provide the Company with exclusive ownership
of
all inventions and works made or created by Executive.
4.2 Confidential
Information.
Executive acknowledges that during the Term Executive will have access to
and
may obtain, develop, or learn of "Confidential Information" (as defined below
in
this Section 4.2) under and pursuant to a relationship of trust and
confidence.
Executive shall hold such Confidential Information in strictest confidence
and
never at any time, during or after the termination of Executive’s employment,
directly or indirectly use for Executive’s own benefit or otherwise (except in
connection with the performance of duties for the Company or any of its
affiliates) any Confidential Information, or divulge, reveal, disclose or
communicate any Confidential Information to any unauthorized Person in any
manner whatsoever
except
(v) to
the Company and its affiliates, or to any authorized (or apparently authorized)
agent or representative of any of them, (w) in connection with performing
services for the Company and its affiliates, (x) when required to do so by
law
or by a court, governmental agency, legislative body, arbitrator or other
Person
with apparent jurisdiction to order him to divulge, disclose or make accessible
such information, (y) in the course of any proceeding under Section 5.7 or
9.5
or (z) in confidence to an attorney or other professional advisor for the
purpose of securing professional advice. In the event that Executive intends
to
disclose any Confidential
16
Information
pursuant to clause (x) or (y) of the immediately preceding sentence, he shall
(A) first promptly give the Company notice
that such disclosure is or may be made and (B) cooperate with the Company,
at
its reasonable request and subject to such reasonable conditions as he may
reasonably establish, in seeking to protect the confidentiality of the
Confidential Information.
As
used
in
this
Agreement, the term "Confidential
Information"
shall
include, but shall not be limited to, any of the following information relating
to the Company learned by Executive during the Term or as a result of
Executive’s employment with the Company:
(a) information
regarding the Company’s business proposals, manner of the Company’s operations,
and methods of selling or pricing any products or services;
(b) the
identity of persons or entities actually conducting or considering conducting
business with the Company, and any information in any form relating to such
persons or entities and their relationship or dealings with the Company or
its
affiliates;
(c) any
trade
secret or confidential information of or concerning any business operation
or
business relationship;
(d) computer
databases, software programs and information relating to the nature of the
hardware or software and how said hardware or software are used in combination
or alone;
(e) information
concerning Company personnel, confidential financial information, customer
or
customer prospect information, information concerning subscribers, subscriber
and customer lists and data, methods and formulas for estimating costs and
setting prices, engineering design standards, testing procedures, research
results (such as marketing surveys, programming trials or product trials),
cost
data (such as billing, equipment and programming cost projection models),
compensation information and models, business or marketing plans or strategies,
deal or business terms, budgets, vendor names, programming operations, product
names, information on proposed acquisitions or dispositions, actual performance
compared to budgeted performance, long-range plans, internal financial
information (including but not limited to financial and operating results
for
certain offices, divisions, departments, and key market areas that are not
disclosed to the public in such form), results of internal analyses, computer
programs and programming information, techniques and designs, and trade
secrets;
(f)
information concerning the Company’s employees, officers, directors and
shareholders; and
(g)
any
other trade secret or information of a confidential or proprietary
nature.
17
Executive
shall not make or use any notes or memoranda relating to any Confidential
Information except for the benefit of the Company, and will, at the Company’s
request, return each original and every copy of any and all notes, memoranda,
correspondence, diagrams or other records, in written or other form, that
Executive may then or later have within his possession or control that contain
any Confidential Information.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Confidential Information shall not include information which
has
come within the public domain through no fault of or action by Executive
or
which has become rightfully available to Executive on a non-confidential
basis
from any third party, the disclosure of which to Executive does not violate
any
contractual or legal obligation such third party has to the Company or its
affiliates with respect to such Confidential Information. None of the foregoing
obligations and restrictions applies to any part of the Confidential Information
that Executive demonstrates was or became generally available to the public
other than as a result of a disclosure by Executive or by any other Person
bound
by a confidentiality obligation to the Company in respect of such Confidential
Information.
Executive
will not remove from the Company’s premises (except to the extent such removal
is for purposes of performing his duties, or except as otherwise specifically
authorized by the Company) any Company document, record, notebook, plan,
model,
component, device, or computer software or code, whether embodied in a disk
or
in any other form (collectively, the "Proprietary
Items").
Executive recognizes that, as between the Company and Executive, all of the
Proprietary Items, whether or not developed by Executive, are the exclusive
property of the Company.
On
or
promptly following the Termination Date, Executive shall promptly return
to the
Company (or destroy) all documents, and other data repositories, containing
Confidential Information that are then in his possession or control;
provided
that
nothing in this Agreement or elsewhere shall prevent Executive from retaining
and utilizing copies of benefits plans and programs in which he retains an
interest or other documents relating to his personal entitlements and
obligations, his desk calendars, his rolodex, and the like, or such other
records and documents as may reasonably be approved by the Company.
4.3 Proprietary
Developments.
Executive shall, promptly upon reasonable request, disclose to Company all
inventions (whether patentable or not), trade secrets, trademark concepts,
and
advertising and marketing concepts (collectively, hereinafter referred to
as
"Developments"),
that
he makes, alone or with others, during his employment with Company relating
to
its business. "Developments" do not include anything possessed or created
by
Executive before the Term. Company will exclusively own all Developments.
Executive hereby assigns to the Company all rights that he has or acquires
in
any Developments, and he will execute any documents and take any actions
as
reasonably requested by the Company necessary to effect that assignment.
Executive need not incur any cost related to that assignment or the
18
creation
of any related intellectual property rights. The Parties agree that Developments
are Confidential Information.
4.4 Cooperation.
Both
during the Term and thereafter, Executive shall fully cooperate with the
Company’s reasonable requests in the protection and enforcement of any
intellectual property rights that relate to services performed by Executive
for
Company, whether under the terms of this Agreement or otherwise. This shall
include, upon reasonable request by the Company, executing, acknowledging,
and
delivering to Company all documents or papers that may be necessary to enable
Company to publish or protect such intellectual property rights. The Company
shall bear all costs in connection with Executive’s compliance with the terms of
this Section 4.4.
4.5 No
Announcement. Neither
Party shall, prior to the Effective Date and without the prior consent of
the
other Party: make (or cause to be made) any public announcement concerning
Executive’s agreement to become employed with the Company or (b) in the case of
the Company only, communicate with Executive’s current employer concerning
Executive.
5.
Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.
5.1 Acknowledgments
by Executive.
Executive acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the services to be performed
by
Executive under this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary,
and intellectual character; (b) the Company competes with other businesses
that
are or could be located in any part of the United States; and (c) the provisions
of this Section 5 are reasonable and necessary to protect the Company’s
business and lawful protectable interests, and do not impair Executive’s ability
to earn a living.
5.2 Covenants
of Executive.
For
purposes of this Section 5.2, the term "Restricted Period"
shall
mean the period commencing on the Effective Date and terminating (i) June
30,
2009 if the Term ends at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2008 in accordance with
Section 1.2, (ii) June 30, 2011 if the Term ends at 11:59 p.m. on December
31,
2010 in accordance with Section 1.2, (iii) 12 months after the Termination
Date
if Executive is not entitled to payments pursuant to Section 3.3(a) and clauses
(i) and (ii) do not apply, or (iv) 24 months after the Termination Date if
Executive is entitled to payments pursuant to Section 3.3(a) or be would
be so
entitled if he were to deliver an executed Release. In consideration of the
compensation and benefits to be paid or provided to Executive by the Company,
Executive covenants and agrees that during the Restricted Period Executive
will
not, directly or indirectly, for Executive’s own benefit or for the benefit of
any other person or entity other than the Company, other than in connection
with
his services for the Company and its affiliates:
(a) perform
material services for, or otherwise have material involvement with (whether
as
an officer, director, partner, consultant, security holder, owner, employee,
independent contractor or otherwise), any Person that competes materially
(whether
19
directly
or indirectly) with the Company and its affiliates in the "Business" (as
such
term is defined below in this Section 5.2) in the United States or elsewhere;
provided that
Executive may in any event (x)
own up
to a 1% passive ownership interest in any public or private entity, (y) be
employed by, or otherwise have an association with, any business that competes
with the Company or its affiliates in the Business if his employment or
association is with a separately managed and operated division or affiliate
of
such business that does not compete with the Company or its affiliates in
the
Business and he has no business communication relating to the Business with
employees of any division or affiliate of such business that does compete
with
the Company or its affiliates in the Business, and (z) serve on the board
of any
business entity that participates in the Business as an immaterial part of
its
overall business, provided
that he
recuses himself fully and completely from all matters relating to the Business;
or
(b) personally
solicit, or personally aid in the solicitation of, (whether directly or
indirectly) any individual who is, at the time of such solicitation, employed
as
an employee of the Company (or who was so employed at any time within a period
of six (6) months immediately prior to the date on which Executive solicited
or
aided in the solicitation of such individual) to cease such employment
(provided,
however, that this paragraph (b) shall not apply to Executive’s secretary);
or
(c) personally
solicit, or personally aid in the solicitation of, (whether directly or
indirectly) any Person that Executive knows was (or has been informed by
the
Company that such person was) a customer or a prospective customer (a
prospective customer being one to whom the Company had made a business proposal
within twelve (12) months prior to the time Executive’s employment terminated)
of the Company at any time during the Term for the purpose of (a) selling
services or products to such Person in competition with the Company (and
its
affiliates) in the Business or (b) inducing such Person to cancel, transfer
or
cease doing Business in whole or in part with the Company or any of its
affiliates;
provided
that the
restrictions set forth in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 5.2 shall
immediately expire in the event that the Company, or any of its affiliates,
shall have materially breached, on or after the Termination Date, any of
its
material obligations to Executive under this Agreement or otherwise, which
breach shall have continued uncured for twenty (20) days after Executive
has
given written notice to the Company identifying the breach and requesting
cure.
For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "Business"
means:
the ownership or operation of cable television systems; the provision of
direct
television or of satellite-based, telephone-based, internet-based, or wireless
systems for delivering television, music or other entertainment programming;
the
provisions of telephony services using cable connection; and the provision
of
data or internet service, and any other business of the Company and its
subsidiaries and affiliates that, as of the time of Executive’s termination of
employment, generates annual revenues in excess of $100 million.
20
If
Executive violates any covenant contained in this Section 5.2, then the term
of
such covenant shall be extended by the period of time Executive was in violation
of the same.
5.3 Provisions
Pertaining to the Covenants.
Executive recognizes that the existing business of the Company extends
throughout the United States and may extend hereafter to other countries
and
territories and agrees that the scope of Section 5.2 shall extend to the
entire
United States and any other country or territory where the Company hereafter
operates or conducts business. It is agreed that Executive’s services hereunder
are special, unique, unusual and extraordinary giving them peculiar value,
the
loss of which cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated for by damages,
and
in the event of Executive’s breach of this Section, the Company shall be
entitled to seek equitable relief by way of temporary or permanent injunction,
temporary restraining order or similar relief.
5.4 Mutual
Non-Disparagement. Executive
agrees not to intentionally make, or intentionally cause any other Person
to
make, any public statement that is intended to criticize or disparage the
Company, its affiliates, or any of their respective senior executive officers
or
directors. The Company agrees to use it best reasonable efforts to cause
its
senior executive officers and directors not to intentionally make, or
intentionally cause any other Person to make, any public statement that is
intended to criticize or disparage Executive. This Section 5.4 shall not
be
construed to prohibit any Person from responding publicly to incorrect public
statements or from making truthful statements when required by law, subpoena,
court order, or the like.
5.5 Severability;
Waiver.
If any
provision of Section 4 or 5 of this Agreement is deemed to be unenforceable
by a
court or arbitrator (whether because of the subject matter of the provision,
the
duration of a restriction, the geographic or other scope of a restriction
or
otherwise), that provision shall not be rendered void but the Parties instead
agree that the court or arbitrator shall amend and alter such provision to
such
lesser degree, time, scope, extent and/or territory as will grant the Company
the maximum restriction on Executive’s activities permitted by applicable law in
such circumstances. The Company’s failure to exercise its rights to enforce the
provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by the existence or
non-existence of any other similar agreement for anyone else employed by
the
Company or by the Company’s failure to exercise any of its rights under any such
agreement.
5.6 Notices.
In
order to preserve the Company’s rights under Sections 4 and 5, the Company and
Executive are each authorized to advise any potential or future employer,
any
third party with whom Executive may become employed or enter into any business
or contractual relationship with, and any third party whom Executive may
contact
for any such purpose, of the existence of this Agreement and the terms of
Sections 4 and 5, and the Company shall not be liable if it does
so.
5.7 Injunctive
Relief and Additional Remedies.
The
Parties acknowledges that any injury that would be suffered as a result of
a
material breach of the provisions of Sections 4 and 5
21
of
this Agreement could be irreparable and that an award of monetary damages
for
such a material breach could be an inadequate remedy. Therefore, in the
event of
any actual or threatened breach by a Party of any of the provisions of
Section 4
or 5 above, the other Party shall be entitled to seek, through arbitration
in
accordance with Section 9.5 or from any court with jurisdiction over the
matter
and the defendant(s), temporary, preliminary and permanent equitable/injunctive
relief restraining the defendant(s) from violating such provision and to
seek,
in addition, but solely through arbitration in accordance with Section
9.5,
money damages, together with any and all other remedies available under
applicable law.
5.8 No
Other Post-Employment Restrictions.
There
shall be no contractual, or similar, restrictions on Executive’s post-employment
activities other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement unless otherwise
agreed in writing by the Parties in accordance with Section 9.3(b).
6.
"Golden Parachute" Taxation. In the event that any payment or benefit
made or provided to or for the benefit of Executive in connection with this
Agreement or his employment with the Company or the termination thereof (a
"Payment") is determined to be subject to any excise tax ("Excise
Tax") imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (or any
successor to such Section), the Company shall pay to Executive, prior to
the
time any Excise Tax is payable with respect to such Payment (through withholding
or otherwise), an additional amount which, after the imposition of all income,
employment, excise and other taxes, penalties and interest thereon, is equal
to
the sum of (i) the Excise Tax on such Payment plus (ii) any
penalty
and interest assessments associated with such Excise Tax. The amount and
timing
of any payment required by this Section 6 shall be determined in the
first
instance by a nationally-recognized independent auditor (the "Auditor")
selected and paid by the Company (who may be the Company’s usual auditor). The
Parties shall cooperate with each other in connection with any "Proceeding"
or
"Claim" (each as defined in Section 7.1 below) relating to the existence
or
amount of any liability for Excise Tax. All expenses relating to any such
Proceeding or Claim (including attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by
Executive in connection therewith) shall be paid by the Company promptly
upon
demand by Executive, and (for avoidance of doubt) any such payment shall
be
subject to gross-up under this Section 6 in the event that Executive
is
subject to Excise Tax on it.
7.
Indemnification.
7.1 If
Executive is made a party, is threatened to be made a party, or reasonably
anticipates being made a party, to any actual, threatened or reasonably
anticipated action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative, appellate, formal, informal, or other (a "Proceeding")
by
reason of the fact that he has agreed to become employed under this Agreement,
or of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, member, employee, agent,
manager, trustee, consultant or representative of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates, or is or was serving at the request of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or in connection with his service
hereunder, as a director, officer, member, employee, agent,
22
manager,
trustee, fiduciary, consultant or representative of another Person, or
if any
claim, demand, request, investigation, dispute, controversy, threat,
discovery
request, or request for testimony or information (a "Claim")
is
made, is threatened to be made, or is reasonably anticipated to be made,
that
arises out of or relates to Executive’s service in any of the foregoing
capacities or his agreeing to become employed hereunder, then Executive
shall
promptly be indemnified and held harmless to the fullest extent permitted
or
authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company,
or if
greater, by applicable law, against any and all costs, expenses, liabilities
and
losses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ and other professional fees
and charges, judgments, interest, expenses of investigation, penalties,
fines,
ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement)
incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith or in connection
with
seeking to enforce his rights under this Section 7.1, and such indemnification
shall continue as to Executive even if he has ceased to be a director,
officer,
member, employee, agent, manager, trustee, fiduciary, consultant or
representative of the Company or other applicable entity and shall inure
to the
benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators. To the extent permitted
by
applicable law, Executive shall be entitled to prompt advancement of
any and all
costs and expenses (including attorneys’ and other professional fees and
charges) incurred by him in connection with any such Proceeding or Claim,
or in
connection with seeking to enforce his rights under this Section 7.1,
any such
advancement to be made within fifteen (15) days after Executive gives
written
notice, supported by reasonable documentation, requesting such advancement.
Such
notice shall include an undertaking by Executive to repay the amount
advanced if
he is ultimately determined not to be entitled to indemnification against
such
costs and expenses. Nothing in this Agreement shall operate to limit
or
extinguish any right to indemnification, advancement of expenses, or
contribution that Executive would otherwise have (including by agreement
or
under applicable law).
7.2 Neither
the failure of the Company (including its Board, independent legal counsel
or
stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any
Proceeding concerning payment of amounts claimed by Executive under Section
7.1
that indemnification of Executive is proper because he has met the applicable
standard of conduct, nor a determination by the Company (including its Board,
independent legal counsel or stockholders) that Executive has not met such
applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that Executive
has
not met the applicable standard of conduct.
7.3 A
directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy (or policies) shall be kept
in place, during the Term and thereafter until the sixth anniversary of the
Termination Date, providing coverage to Executive that is no less favorable
to
him in any respect (including with respect to scope, exclusions, amounts,
and
deductibles) than the coverage then being provided to any other present or
former senior executive or director of the Company.
23
8. |
Representations
And Further Agreements.
|
8.1 Executive
represents, warrants and covenants to the Company that:
(a) on
or
prior to the date hereof, Executive has informed the Company of any judgment,
order, agreement or arrangement of which he is currently aware and which
may
affect his right to enter into this Agreement and to fully perform his duties
hereunder;
(b) Executive
is knowledgeable and sophisticated as to business matters, and that prior
to
assenting to the terms of this Agreement, or giving the representations and
warranties herein, he has been given a reasonable time to review it and has
consulted with counsel of his choice;
(c) in
entering into this Agreement, Executive is not knowingly breaching or violating
any provision of any law or regulation; and
(d) Executive
has not knowingly provided to the Company, nor been requested by the Company
to
provide, any confidential or non-public document or information of a former
employer that constitutes or contains any protected trade secret, and will
not
knowingly use any protected trade secrets of any former employer in the course
of his employment hereunder.
8.2 The
Company represents and warrants that (a) it is fully authorized by action
of the
Board (and of any other Person or body whose action is required) to enter
into
this Agreement and to perform its obligations under it, (b) the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by it does not violate any applicable
law, regulation, order, judgment or decree or any agreement, arrangement,
plan
or corporate governance document to which it is a party or by which it is
bound
and (c) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Parties,
this
Agreement shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.
8.3 During
the Term and thereafter Executive will,
upon reasonable request and subject to such reasonable condition as Executive
may reasonably establish: (a) cooperate with the Company in connection with
any
matter that arose during Executive’s employment and that relates to the business
or operations of the Company or any of its parent or subsidiary corporations
or
affiliates, or of which Executive may have any knowledge or involvement;
and (b)
consult with and provide information to the Company and its representatives
concerning such matters. Such cooperation shall be rendered at reasonable
times
and places and in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with any
other
employment in which Executive may then be engaged. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed or interpreted as requiring Executive to provide any
testimony or affidavit that is not truthful.
24
9.
General Provisions.
9.1 Binding
Effect; Delegation of Duties Prohibited.
No
rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be assigned
or
transferred by the Company except that such rights and obligations may be
assigned or transferred pursuant to a merger or consolidation, or the sale
or
liquidation of all or substantially all of the business and assets of the
Company, provided
that the
assignee or transferee is the successor to all or substantially all of the
business and assets of the Company and such assignee or transferee assumes
the
liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company, as contained in this
Agreement, either contractually or as a matter of law. In the event of any
merger, consolidation, other combination, sale of business and assets, or
liquidation as described in the preceding sentence, the Company shall use
its
best reasonable efforts to cause such assignee or transferee to promptly
and
expressly assume the liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company
hereunder. The duties and covenants of Executive under this Agreement, being
personal, may not be assigned or delegated.
9.2 Notices.
Any
notice, consent, demand, request, or other communication given to a Person
in
connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have
been duly given to such Person (x) when delivered personally to such Person
or
(y), provided that a written acknowledgment of receipt is obtained, five
days
after being sent by prepaid certified or registered mail, or two days after
being sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier, to the address (if
any)
specified below for such Person (or to such other address as such Person
shall
have specified by ten days’ advance notice given in accordance with this Section
9.2) or (z), in the case of the Company only, on the first business day after
it
is sent by facsimile to the facsimile number set forth below (or to such
other
facsimile number as shall have specified by ten days’ advance notice given in
accordance with this Section 9.2), with a confirmatory copy sent by certified
or
registered mail or by overnight courier in accordance with this Section
9.2.
If
to the
Company:
Charter
Communications, Inc.
Charter
Plaza
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xx.
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Chairman of the Board; General Counsel
If
to
Executive:
The
address of his principal residence as it appears in the Company’s records, with
a copy to him (during the Term) at his principal office and with a copy
to:
25
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
If
to a
successor or beneficiary of Executive:
The
address most recently specified by Executive or his successor or
beneficiary.
9.3 Miscellaneous.
(a) This
Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect
to its
specific subject matter and supersedes all prior oral and written
communications, agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect
to the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment.
(b) No
provision in this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is set forth
in
a writing that expressly refers to the provision of this Agreement that is
being
amended and that is signed by Executive and by an authorized (or apparently
authorized) officer of the Company. No waiver by any Person of any breach
of any
condition or provision contained in this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver
of
any similar or dissimilar condition or provision at the same or any prior
or
subsequent time. To be effective, any waiver must be set forth in a writing
signed by the waiving Person and must specifically refer to the condition(s)
or
provision(s) of this Agreement being waived.
(c) In
the
event of any inconsistency between any provision of this Agreement and any
provision of any employee handbook, personnel manual, or other Company
Arrangement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control to the extent
more
favorable to Executive, unless Executive otherwise agrees in a writing that
expressly refers to the provision of this Agreement whose control he is waiving.
For avoidance of doubt, Section 12.2 of the Plan (relating to Section 280G
of
the Internal Revenue Code) shall not apply to Executive, and Section 6 of
this
Agreement shall instead apply.
(d) The
headings of the Sections and sub-sections contained in this Agreement are
for
convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning
or
construction of any provision of this Agreement. When used in this Agreement,
the word "including" shall not be construed as limiting any preceding words
or
terms.
26
(e) Except
as
otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the respective rights and obligations
of
the Parties hereunder shall survive any termination of Executive’s
employment.
(f) To
the
extent that any provision or portion of this Agreement shall be determined
to be
invalid or unenforceable for any reason, in whole or in part, the remaining
provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect so as
to
achieve the intentions of the Parties, as set forth in this Agreement, to
the
maximum extent possible.
(g) This
Agreement is deemed to be accepted and entered into in the State of Missouri
and
shall be governed by and construed and interpreted according to the internal
laws of the State of Missouri without reference to conflicts of law principles
(provided
that, in
the event of arbitration pursuant to Section 9.5, the arbitrators shall enforce
this Agreement in accordance with its express terms). With respect to orders
in
aid or enforcement of arbitration awards and injunctive relief, venue and
jurisdiction is proper in the St. Louis County Circuit Court and (if federal
jurisdiction exists) the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
Missouri, and Executive and the Company waive all objections to jurisdiction
in
any such forum and any defense or claim that either such forum is not a proper
forum, is not the most convenient forum, or is an inconvenient
forum.
(h) To
the
extent that any "additional tax" under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code
on any amount payable under this Agreement or any other Company Arrangement
would be avoided by delaying payment for six (6) months after the termination
of
Executive’s employment with the Company, such payment shall be so delayed. In
the event that Executive otherwise becomes subject to any tax, interest,
or
penalty under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code or any successor
to such
Section (collectively, a "409A
Excise Tax")
in
connection with any payment or benefit under this Agreement or any other
Company
Arrangement (a "Deferred
Compensation Payment"),
then
Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a "409A
Gross-Up Payment")
prior
to the date on which such 409A Excise Tax is due to be paid (through withholding
or otherwise) in an amount such that after payment by Executive of all income,
excise, employment and other taxes incurred in connection with such Deferred
Compensation Payment (and any interest or penalties imposed with respect
to such
taxes), Executive retains an amount of the 409A Gross-Up Payment equal to
the
409A Excise Tax incurred in connection with such Deferred Compensation Payment.
If requested by Executive, all relevant determinations shall be made in the
first instance by a nationally-recognized independent accounting firm retained
by the Company, with all fees and expenses to be paid by the
Company.
9.4 Beneficiaries/References.
Executive shall be entitled, to the extent permitted under applicable law
and
applicable Company Arrangements, to select and change a beneficiary or
beneficiaries to receive any compensation or benefit hereunder following
Executive’s death by giving written notice thereof. In the event of Executive’s
death or a judicial determination of his
27
incompetence, references in this Agreement to Executive shall be
deemed,
where appropriate, to refer to his beneficiary, estate or other legal
representative.
9.5 Arbitration.
Any
Claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any other agreement between
the Parties, Executive’s employment with the Company, or any termination thereof
(collectively, "Covered
Claims")
shall
(except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 5.7 with respect to certain
requests for injunctive relief) be resolved by binding confidential arbitration,
to be held in St. Louis, Missouri, before a panel or three arbitrators in
accordance with the National Rules for Resolution of Employment Disputes
of the
American Arbitration Association and this Section 9.5. Judgment upon the
award
rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof. Pending the resolution of any Covered Claim, Executive (and his
beneficiaries) shall continue to receive all payments and benefits due under
this Agreement or otherwise, except to the extent that the arbitrators otherwise
provide. In the event of any such proceeding, the losing party (as determined
by
the arbitrators) shall reimburse the prevailing party upon entry of a final
award resolving the subject of the dispute for all reasonable legal expenses
incurred.
9.6 Withholding
Taxes.
The
Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement (or
otherwise) any Federal, state, local or other taxes that it is required to
withhold pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
9.7 Counterparts;
Facsimile Signatures.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will
be
deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken
together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement. This
Agreement may be executed by facsimile signatures.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date above first
written above.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
/s/ W. Xxxxx Xxxx
Name:
W.
Xxxxx Xxxx
Title:
Director
Executive
/s/
Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx
28
EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF
NONQUALIFIED
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS
AGREEMENT, entered into as of August __, 2005 between Charter Communications,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the
"Company"),
and
Xxxx Xxxx (the "Optionee").
In
accordance with the Employment Agreement entered into as of August 9, 2005
between the Company and the Optionee (as from time to time amended in accordance
with its terms, the "Employment Agreement"),
the
undersigned Optionee has been granted an Option to purchase shares of Class
A
Common Stock of the Company (each, a "Share"),
subject to the terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement and this
Agreement, as follows:
Vesting
Schedule:
|
Vesting
in 3 equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries
of the
Effective Date
|
Exercise
Price per Share:
Total
Number of Shares under Option:
Total
Exercise Price:
Exercise
Expiration Date:
|
$[Per
Section 2.3(a) of the Employment Agreement]
3,333,333
$_________________________________
The
10th
anniversary of the Effective Date (i.e.,
August __, 2015)
|
Charter
Communications, Inc.
_______________________________________
By:
Title:
|
I,
the
undersigned, agree to this grant of an Option to purchase Shares of the Company,
acknowledge that this grant is subject to the terms and conditions of the
Employment Agreement, this Agreement and the Charter Communications, Inc.
2001
Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan")
and
have read and understand the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 1
through 13 below.
Optionee
______________________________
Xxxx
Xxxx
29
1.
Grant of Option.
1.1 The
Company hereby grants to the Optionee as of the Effective Date the right
and
option (the "Option")
to
purchase all or any part of the Total Number of Shares under Option set forth
above, subject to, and in accordance with, the terms and conditions set forth
in
the Employment Agreement, this Agreement and the Plan.
1.2 The
Option is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock Option within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.
2.
Purchase Price.
The
price
at which the Optionee shall be entitled to purchase Shares upon the exercise
of
the Option shall be the Exercise Price per Share set forth above.
3.
Duration of Option.
The
Option shall be exercisable to the extent and in the manner provided herein
for
a period of ten years from the Effective Date (the "Exercise
Term")
and
shall expire as of the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date
("Exercise
Expiration Date");
provided,
however, that the Option may be earlier terminated as provided under the
terms
of this Agreement.
4.
Exercisability of Option.
4.1 Except
as
otherwise provided in this Section 4, the Option shall be vested, and
exercisable, with respect to one-third of the Shares that are subject to
the
Option as of 12:01 a.m. on each of the first three anniversaries of the
Effective Date, and thus shall become fully exercisable as to all such Shares
no
later than August ___, 2008.
4.2 In
the
event that the Optionee’s employment with the Company is terminated (x) by
the Company for Cause, or (y) by the Optionee in a termination to which neither
Section 4.3 (below) nor Section 4.4 (below) applies, then the Option, to
the
extent that it is or becomes exercisable as of the Termination Date, shall
remain fully exercisable until 11:59 p.m. on the 30th day following such
date,
at which time it shall expire to the extent that it has not yet been
exercised.
4.3 In
the
event of any termination of the Optionee’s employment with the Company
(w) by the Company in a termination to which neither Section 4.2 (above)
nor Section 4.4 (below) applies, (x) by the Optionee in a Good Reason
Termination, (y) by the Optionee during the 60-day period that commence 180
days
after the occurrence of any Change in Control, or (z) due to the Optionee’s
death or Disability, then the Option (A) shall become fully vested and
exercisable as of the Termination Date for all Shares that are then subject
to
it and (B) shall
30
remain fully exercisable until 11:59 p.m. on the second anniversary
of such
date, at which time the Option shall expire to the extent that it has
not yet
been exercised.
4.4 In
the
event that a termination of Optionee’s employment governed by Section 3.4 of the
Employment Agreement occurs, the Option shall be treated in accordance with
clauses (a) and (b) of such Section 3.4.
4.5 Anything
elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, this Option shall, to the extent
that
it has not then yet been exercised, expire at 11:59 p.m. on the Exercise
Expiration Date.
5.
Manner of Exercise and Payment.
5.1 The
Option may be exercised by delivery of written notice in person, electronically
or by mail to the Company, with a copy to the Plan Administrator (as defined
in
the Plan, or his or her designee). Such notice (x) shall state that the Optionee
is electing to exercise the Option and the number of Shares in respect of
which
the Option is being exercised, (y) shall be signed by the person or persons
exercising the Option and (z) shall be accompanied by payment in full (or
an
arrangement for the payment in full) of the purchase price, in accordance
with
Section 5.2 below, for the Shares in respect of which the Option is being
exercised.
5.2 Payment
of the purchase price for Shares purchased upon an exercise of this Option
may
be made (i)
by
delivery to the Company of cash, a wire transfer of available funds, or a
check
payable to the order of the Company in an amount equal to the purchase price
of
such Shares; (ii)
by
delivery to the Company of Shares then owned by the Optionee for at least
six
months having an aggregate Fair Market Value as of the date of delivery equal
to
the purchase price of such Shares; (iii)
through
reasonable cashless exercise procedures (including through E-Trade or its
successor) that are from time to time established by the Company and that
afford
the Optionee the opportunity to sell immediately some or all of the Shares
underlying the exercised portion of this Option in order to generate sufficient
cash to pay the Option purchase price; or (iv)
by any
combination of (i), (ii) or (iii). Payment by delivery of Shares may be effected
by delivering one or more stock certificates or by otherwise delivering Shares
to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction (including through an "attestation"
procedure that is reasonably acceptable to the Company), in each case
accompanied by such endorsements, stock powers, signature guarantees or other
documents or assurances as may reasonably be required by the Company. If
certificate(s) or other documentation representing Shares in excess of the
amount required to be delivered are delivered by the Optionee, a certificate
(or
other satisfactory evidence of ownership) representing such excess shall
promptly be returned to the Company. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Fair
Market Value",
when
used in respect of a Share as of a specified date, shall be determined in
accordance with the Plan if such Share is listed or traded, as of such date,
on
any national securities exchange or national market system, and otherwise
31
shall
mean fair market value as of the date in question determined without
discount
for lack of liquidity, lack of control, minority status, contractual
restrictions, and similar factors, assuming an amply-funded strategic
buyer for
all Shares than outstanding.
5.3 The
Company shall, upon payment in accordance with Section 5.2 above of the
aggregate purchase price for the number of Shares purchased, treat the Optionee
as the shareholder of record for such Shares and make prompt delivery of
the
Shares to the Optionee and pay all original issue and transfer taxes and
all
other fees and expenses incident to such delivery. All Shares delivered upon
any
exercise of this Option shall, when delivered, (i)
be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (ii)
be
registered for sale, and for resale, under U.S. state and federal securities
laws to the extent that other Shares of the same class are then so registered
or
qualified and (iii)
be
listed, or otherwise qualified, for trading on any securities exchange or
securities market on which Shares of the same class are then listed or
qualified. The Company shall deliver cash in lieu of any fractional
Share.
6.
Nontransferability.
The
Option shall be transferable only by will, by the laws of descent and
distribution, or to any Person to which transfers are permitted to be
authorized, as of the Effective Date, under Section 6.1(a) of the Plan. The
terms of an Option shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the
beneficiaries, executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the Optionee.
If the Option has been transferred in accordance with this Section, the Option
shall be exercisable solely by the transferee. The Option shall remain subject
to the provisions of the Employment Agreement and this Agreement, including
that
it shall be exercisable only to the extent that the Optionee or Optionee’s
estate would have been entitled to exercise it if the Optionee had not
transferred the Option.
7.
No Right to Continued Employment.
Nothing
in this Agreement or the Employment Agreement shall be interpreted or construed
to confer upon the Optionee any right with respect to continued employment
by
the Company or any of its affiliates, nor shall this Agreement or the Employment
Agreement interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate
the
Optionee’s employment at any time in accordance with the Employment Agreement
and this Agreement.
8.
Adjustments.
Upon
the
occurrence of any merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization,
spin-off, split-up, combination, modification of securities, exchange of
securities, liquidation, dissolution, share split, share dividend, other
distribution of securities or other property in respect of shares or other
securities (other than ordinary recurring cash dividends), or other change
in
corporate structure or capitalization affecting the rights or value of
securities of any class then subject to this Option, appropriate adjustment(s)
shall promptly be made by the Board or the Compensation
32
9.
Roll-Over Options Pursuant to Employment Agreement.
Without
limiting Section 8, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other
transaction (x) in which the Company is not the surviving entity or the Company
becomes a Subsidiary of another entity and (y) following which the surviving
entity or any Person of which it is a Subsidiary, or, if the Company survives
as
a Subsidiary of another entity, then such other entity or any Person of which
such other entity is a Subsidiary, has publicly traded equity securities
issued
and outstanding, the Company shall take such steps as are reasonably necessary
to assure that the Optionee shall be provided a replacement Option that (x)
is
exercisable for publicly-traded equity securities of the surviving entity,
or of
a Person of which the Company or the surviving entity is a Subsidiary, as
the
case may be, and (y) provides terms, conditions and an after-tax economic
opportunity (including an aggregate spread value) no less favorable to the
Optionee than did this Option immediately prior to such transaction. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Subsidiary",
when
used in respect of any Person, shall mean any entity 50% or more of whose
equity
interests (measured either by Fair Market Value or by voting power) are owned,
directly or indirectly through one or more Subsidiaries or affiliates, by
such
Person.
10.
Withholding of Taxes.
At
such
times as the Optionee recognizes taxable income in connection with the
receipt
of Shares hereunder (a “Taxable
Event”),
the
Optionee shall pay to the Company an amount equal to the federal, state
and
local taxes it is required to withhold in connection with the Taxable Event
(the
“Withholding
Taxes”)
prior
to the delivery of such Shares. The Optionee may satisfy any such tax obligation
in any of the manners provided in Section 5 above for payment of the purchase
price to the extent reasonably acceptable to the Company.
33
11.
Miscellaneous.
11.1 As
used
in this Agreement, the terms "Cause,"
"Change
in Control,"
"Disability,"
"Effective
Date,"
"Good
Reason Termination,"
"Board,"
"Compensation
Committee,"
and
"Person"
shall
have the meaning ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.
11.2 The
provisions of Sections 8.1(b), 8.1(c), 8.2, 9.1 (first two sentences only),
9.2,
9.3(b), 9.3(d), 9.3(e), 9.3(f), 9.4, 9.5 and 9.7 of the Employment Agreement
(relating, respectively, to representations, assignability, notices, amendment
and waiver, captions, survival, severability, beneficiaries and references,
arbitration of disputes, and counterparts) shall be deemed incorporated herein
in full, with the references to the "Agreement" in such Sections being treated
as references to this Agreement, and the references to "Executive" in such
Sections being treated as references to the Optionee. For avoidance of doubt,
this Section 11.2 has been included in this Agreement solely for the purpose
of
avoiding the need to repeat herein the full text of the referenced provisions
of
the Employment Agreement.
11.3 In
the
event of any inconsistency among the provisions of the Employment Agreement,
this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions most favorable to the Optionee
shall
govern.
34
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF
RESTRICTED
STOCK AGREEMENT
THIS
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT (the "Agreement")
is
made and entered into as of _____, 2005 (the "Grant
Date")
by and
between Charter Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with
its
successors and assigns, the "Company"),
and
Xxxx Xxxx (the "Grantee"
and,
together with the Company, a "Party").
A. The
Company and the Grantee have entered into an employment agreement entered
into
as of August 9, 2005 (the ("Employment
Agreement").
Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement
shall
have the meanings set forth in the Employment Agreement.
B. In
order
to give the Grantee an opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the Company,
and an incentive to provide services to the Company, the Company has agreed
to
grant the Grantee shares of the Class A Common Stock of the Company under
the
Charter Communications, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan as amended (the
"Plan").
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein, the
Grantee and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1.
Grant and Terms of Shares.
1.1 Grant
of Shares.
As of
the Grant Date, the Company grants to the Grantee ______ shares of the Common
Stock ("Shares").
The
Grantee shall be the record and beneficial owner of all of such Shares from
and
following the Grant Date, subject only to the provisions of this
Agreement.
1.2 Vesting
of Restricted Stock.
As of
the Grant Date, the Shares shall be unvested. The Shares shall become vested,
and all restrictions thereon shall lapse, in full on the first anniversary
of
the Effective Date, and thus shall become fully vested, without restrictions,
no
later than August __, 2006. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Shares shall
become vested, and all restrictions thereon shall lapse (i) on the Termination
Date in the event of any termination of Grantee’s employment (x) by the Company
without Cause, (y) by the Grantee in a Good Reason Termination or (z) due
to the
Grantee’s death or Disability, or (ii) on such earlier date as the Plan or the
Company may then provide. Shares that do not vest in accordance with the
foregoing provisions shall be canceled without payment of consideration to
the
Grantee.
35
1.3 Forfeiture
of Unvested Shares Upon Certain Terminations of Employment.
Notwithstanding Section 1.2, upon the occurrence of (i) any termination of
the
Grantee’s employment for Cause or (ii) any termination of his employment by the
Grantee (other than in a Good Reason Termination or for Disability), then
any
Shares that have not vested on or before the Termination Date shall be forfeited
by the Grantee.
2. General
Restrictions on Transfer of Shares.
In no event shall the Grantee transfer, pledge or encumber any Shares
that are
not vested (or any right or interest therein) as of the date of transfer,
pledge
or encumbrance, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or otherwise,
other
than transfer by will, by the laws of descent and distribution, or to
designated
beneficiaries upon the Grantee’s death. Any purported transfer of unvested
Shares made in violation of this Section 2 shall be null and void and
without
force or effect.
3.
Release of Shares.
3.1 Certificates.
Certificates representing the Shares shall be held by the Company, along
with
one or more stock powers executed by the Grantee in blank (which stock powers
shall be used by the Company solely to effect the forfeiture provisions of
Section 1.3), until such time (if ever) as such Shares have become vested
pursuant to Section 1.2 or otherwise. To the extent that any Shares become
vested (and subject to the provisions of Section 4), one or more certificates
representing the securities that then constitute such vested Shares (less
any
securities that then constitute such Shares that are used to satisfy Tax
Obligations pursuant to Section 4), together with any securities or property
received in respect of such Shares as provided in Section 3.2, and any
associated stock powers, shall promptly be delivered to the Grantee. All
securities delivered by the Company upon any vesting of Shares shall be (i)
duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) registered
and
qualified for sale, and for resale, under all applicable state and Federal
securities laws (e.g., on SEC Form S-8) to the extent that other securities
of
the same class are then so registered and qualified and (iii) listed or
otherwise qualified for trading on any national securities exchange or national
securities market on which securities of the same class issued by the Company
are then listed or qualified.
3.2 Rights
as a Shareholder
Beginning as of the Grant Date, the Grantee shall have all the rights of
a
stockholder of the Company with respect to all of the Shares, including the
right to vote all such Shares and to receive dividends and other distributions
thereon (including any securities, cash or other property issued or delivered
in
respect of, in exchange for, or on conversion of, any such Shares in connection
with any merger, consolidation, combination, reorganization, recapitalization,
spin-off, split-up, exchange of securities, liquidation, dissolution, share
split, share dividend, cash dividend, or other transaction or event),
provided,
however,
that
(except as provided in the following sentence) any dividend or other
distribution made in respect of such Shares (x) shall be deemed to be Shares
received in substitution for, or in addition to and as part of, the Shares
in
respect of which such dividend or other distribution is made and (y) shall
accordingly be subject to the same restrictions hereunder with respect
to
36
vesting, transfer, forfeiture, and delivery upon vesting to which
such
Shares are subject. Notwithstanding anything elsewhere to the contrary,
the
Grantee shall be treated no less favorably with respect to immediate
receipt of
dividends and distributions (whether pursuant to Section 9.2 of the Plan
or
otherwise) than any other senior executive of the Company who receives
a grant
of Restricted Stock in calendar year 2005.
4. Tax
Withholding.
4.1 The
Company’s obligation to deliver vested Shares to the Grantee shall be subject to
the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, State and local income, excise
and
employment tax withholding requirements (the "Tax
Obligations").
To
the extent reasonably acceptable to the Company, the Grantee may satisfy,
at his
election, any Tax Obligation (i) by delivering to the Company a wire transfer
of
funds, or a check payable to the order of the Company, in an amount equal
to the
Tax Obligations, (ii) by delivering to the Company securities issued by the
Company and then owned by the Grantee for at least six months having an
aggregate "Fair Market Value" (as defined in Section 4.3 below) as of the
date
such securities are tendered to the Company equal to the Tax Obligations,
(iii)
by authorizing the Company to withhold Shares with a Fair Market Value as
of the
date of vesting equal to the Tax Obligations, (iv) in any other fashion that
is
then generally available or is reasonably acceptable to the Company (including
any share sale program through E-Trade or its successor), or (v) by any
combination of (i) through (iv).
4.2 Payment
of any Tax Obligation by delivery of securities issued by the Company may
be
effected by delivering one or more stock certificates or by otherwise delivering
securities to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction (including through an
"attestation" procedure that is reasonably acceptable to the Company), in
each
case accompanied by such endorsements, stock powers, signature guarantees
or
other documents or assurances as may reasonably be required by the Company.
If a
certificate or other documentation representing securities in excess of the
amount required are delivered, a certificate (or other satisfactory evidence
of
ownership) representing the excess number of securities shall be returned
to the
Grantee by the Company.
4.3 For
purposes of this Agreement, "Fair
Market Value"
shall
have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Plan, provided
that if
such security is not then listed or traded on any national securities exchange
or national market system, the Fair Market Value of such security shall mean
the
fair market value as of the date in question determined without discount
for
lack of liquidity, lack of control, minority status, contractual restrictions,
and similar factors, and assuming an amply-funded strategic buyer for all
such
securities then outstanding.
37
5.
Miscellaneous.
5.1 The
provisions of Sections 8.1(b), 8.1(c), 8.2, 9.1 (first two sentences only),
9.2,
9.3(b), 9.3(d), 9.3(e), 9.3(f), 9.4, 9.5 and 9.7 of the Employment Agreement
(relating, respectively, to representations, successors, notices, amendment
and
waiver, captions, survival, severability, beneficiaries/references, arbitration
of disputes, and counterparts) shall be deemed incorporated herein in full,
with
the references to the "Agreement" in such Sections being treated as references
to this Agreement and the references to "Executive" in such Sections being
treated as references to the Grantee. For avoidance of doubt, this Section
5.1
has been included in this Agreement solely for the purpose of avoiding the
need
to repeat herein the full text of the referenced provisions of the Employment
Agreement.
5.2 In
the
event of any inconsistency among the provisions of the Employment Agreement,
this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions that are most favorable to Grantee
shall govern.
5.3 Each
Party agrees, upon reasonable request of the other Party and subject to such
reasonable conditions as it may reasonably establish, to promptly prepare
and/or
execute any document that is reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes
of
this Agreement.
38
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Agreement
as of
the date first written above.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
______________________________
Name:
Title:
THE
GRANTEE
________________________________
Xxxx
Xxxx
39
EXHIBIT
C
FORM
OF
RESTRICTED
STOCK AGREEMENT
THIS
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT (the "Agreement")
is
made and entered into as of _____, 2005 (the "Grant
Date")
by and
between Charter Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with
its
successors and assigns, the "Company"),
and
Xxxx Xxxx (the "Grantee"
and,
together with the Company, a "Party").
A. The
Company and the Grantee have entered into an employment agreement entered
into
as of August 9, 2005 (the ("Employment
Agreement").
Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement
shall
have the meanings set forth in the Employment Agreement.
B. In
order
to give the Grantee an opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the Company,
and an incentive to provide services to the Company, the Company has agreed
to
grant the Grantee shares of the Class A Common Stock of the Company under
the
Charter Communications, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan as amended (the
"Plan").
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein, the
Grantee and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. Grant
and Terms of Shares.
1.1 Grant
of Shares.
As of
the Grant Date, the Company grants to the Grantee ______ shares of the Common
Stock ("Shares").
The
Grantee shall be the record and beneficial owner of all of such Shares from
and
following the Grant Date, subject only to the provisions of this
Agreement.
1.2 Vesting
of Restricted Stock.
As of
the Grant Date, the Shares shall be unvested. The Shares shall become vested,
and all restrictions thereon shall lapse, in three equal installments on
each of
the first three anniversaries of the Effective Date, and thus shall become
fully
vested, without restrictions, no later than August __, 2008. Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, all Shares shall become vested, and all restrictions thereon shall
lapse (i) on the Termination Date in the event of any termination of the
Grantee’s employment (x) by the Company without Cause, (y) by the Grantee in a
Good Reason Termination or (z) due to the Grantee’s death or Disability, or (ii)
on such earlier date as the Plan or the Company may then provide. Shares
that do
not vest in accordance with the foregoing provisions shall be canceled without
payment of consideration to the Grantee.
40
1.3 Forfeiture
of Unvested Shares Upon Certain Terminations of Employment.
Notwithstanding Section 1.2, upon the occurrence of (i) any termination of
the
Grantee’s employment under the Employment Agreement for Cause or (ii) any
termination of his employment by the Grantee (other than in a Good Reason
Termination or for Disability), then any Shares that have not vested on or
before the Termination Date shall be forfeited by the Grantee.
2. |
General
Restrictions on Transfer of Shares.
In no event shall the Grantee transfer, pledge or encumber any
Shares that
are not vested (or any right or interest therein) as of the date
of
transfer, pledge or encumbrances, whether voluntarily or by operation
of
law or otherwise, other than transfer by will, by the laws of descent
and
distribution, or to designated beneficiaries upon the Grantee’s death. Any
purported transfer of unvested Shares made in violation of this
Section 2
shall be null and void and without force or
effect.
|
3. Release
of Shares.
3.1 Certificates.
Certificates representing the Shares shall be held by the Company, along
with
one or more stock powers executed by the Grantee in blank (which stock powers
shall be used by the Company solely to effect the forfeiture provisions of
Section 1.3), until such time (if ever) as such Shares have become vested
pursuant to Section 1.2 or otherwise. To the extent that any Shares become
vested (and subject to the provisions of Section 4), one or more certificates
representing the securities that then constitute such vested Shares (less
any
securities that then constitute such Shares that are used to satisfy Tax
Obligations pursuant to Section 4), together with any securities or property
received in respect of such Shares as provided in Section 3.2, and any
associated stock powers, shall promptly be delivered to the Grantee. All
securities delivered by the Company upon any vesting of Shares shall be (i)
duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) registered
and
qualified for sale, and for resale, under all applicable state and Federal
securities laws (e.g., on SEC Form S-8) to the extent that other securities
of
the same class are then so registered and qualified and (iii) listed or
otherwise qualified for trading on any national securities exchange or national
securities market on which securities of the same class issued by the Company
are then listed or qualified.
3.2 Rights
as a Shareholder
Beginning as of the Grant Date, the Grantee shall have all the rights of
a
stockholder of the Company with respect to all of the Shares, including the
right to vote all such Shares and to receive dividends and other distributions
thereon (including any securities, cash or other property issued or delivered
in
respect of, in exchange for, or on conversion of, any such Shares in connection
with any merger, consolidation, combination, reorganization, recapitalization,
spin-off, split-up, exchange of securities, liquidation, dissolution, share
split, share dividend, cash dividend, or other transaction or event),
provided,
however,
that
(except as provided in the following sentence) any dividend or other
distribution made in respect of such Shares (x) shall be deemed to be Shares
received in substitution for, or in addition to and as part of, the Shares
in
respect of which such dividend or other distribution is
41
made and (y) shall accordingly be subject to the same restrictions
hereunder with respect to vesting, transfer, forfeiture, and delivery
upon
vesting to which such Shares are subject. Notwithstanding anything elsewhere
to
the contrary, the Grantee shall be treated no less favorably with respect
to
immediate receipt of dividends and distributions (whether pursuant to
Section
9.2 of the Plan or otherwise) than any other senior executive of the
Company who
receives a grant of Restricted Stock in calendar year 2005.
4.
Tax Withholding.
4.1 The
Company’s obligation to deliver vested Shares to the Grantee shall be subject to
the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, State and local income, excise
and
employment tax withholding requirements (the "Tax
Obligations").
To
the extent reasonably acceptable to the Company, the Grantee may satisfy,
at his
election, any Tax Obligation (i) by delivering to the Company a wire transfer
of
funds, or a check payable to the order of the Company, in an amount equal
to the
Tax Obligations, (ii) by delivering to the Company securities issued by the
Company and then owned by the Grantee for at least six months having an
aggregate "Fair Market Value" (as defined in Section 4.3 below) as of the
date
such securities are tendered to the Company equal to the Tax Obligations,
(iii)
by authorizing the Company to withhold Shares with a Fair Market Value as
of the
date of vesting equal to the Tax Obligations, (iv) in any other fashion that
is
then generally available or is reasonably acceptable to the Company (including
any share sale program through E-Trade or its successor), or (v) by any
combination of (i) through (iv).
4.2 Payment
of any Tax Obligation by delivery of securities issued by the Company may
be
effected by delivering one or more stock certificates or by otherwise delivering
securities to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction (including through an
"attestation" procedure that is reasonably acceptable to the Company), in
each
case accompanied by such endorsements, stock powers, signature guarantees
or
other documents or assurances as may reasonably be required by the Company.
If a
certificate or other documentation representing securities in excess of the
amount required are delivered, a certificate (or other satisfactory evidence
of
ownership) representing the excess number of securities shall be returned
to the
Grantee by the Company.
4.3 For
purposes of this Agreement, "Fair
Market Value"
shall
have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Plan, provided
that if
such security is not then listed or traded on any national securities exchange
or national market system, the Fair Market Value of such security shall mean
the
fair market value as of the date in question determined without discount
for
lack of liquidity, lack of control, minority status, contractual restrictions,
and similar factors, and assuming an amply-funded strategic buyer for all
such
securities then outstanding.
42
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 The
provisions of Sections 8.1(b), 8.1(c), 8.2, 9.1 (first two sentences only),
9.2,
9.3(b), 9.3(d), 9.3(e), 9.3(f), 9.4, 9.5 and 9.7 of the Employment Agreement
(relating, respectively, to representations, successors, notices, amendment
and
waiver, captions, survival, severability, beneficiaries/references, arbitration
of disputes, and counterparts) shall be deemed incorporated herein in full,
with
the references to the "Agreement" in such Sections being treated as references
to this Agreement and the references to "Executive" in such Sections being
treated as references to the Grantee. For avoidance of doubt, this Section
5.1
has been included in this Agreement solely for the purpose of avoiding the
need
to repeat herein the full text of the referenced provisions of the Employment
Agreement.
5.2 In
the
event of any inconsistency among the provisions of the Employment Agreement,
this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions that are most favorable to Grantee
shall govern.
5.3 Each
Party agrees, upon reasonable request of the other Party and subject to such
reasonable conditions as it may reasonably establish, to promptly prepare
and/or
execute any document that is reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes
of
this Agreement.
43
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Agreement
as of
the date first written above.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
______________________________
Name:
Title:
THE
GRANTEE
________________________________
Xxxx
Xxxx
44
EXHIBIT
D
FORM
OF PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT
[To
be inserted]
45
EXHIBIT
E
MUTUAL
RELEASE
This
Mutual Release of Claims (this "Release")
is
made as of the "Termination Date" (as defined in that certain Employment
Agreement, dated August 9, 2005, to which Executive and the Company are parties,
as such agreement is from time to time amended in accordance with its terms
(the
"Employment
Agreement")),
by
and between CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
a
Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the
"Company"),
and
Xxxx Xxxx, an individual ("Executive").
1. Release of Claims by
Executive.
(a) Pursuant
to Section 3.3(d) of the Employment Agreement, Executive, with the intention
of
binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns
(collectively, and together with Executive, the "Executive
Releasors"),
hereby releases, remises, acquits and forever discharges the Company and
each of
its subsidiaries and affiliates (the "Company
Affiliated Group"),
and
their past and present directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants,
representatives, plan fiduciaries, and the successors, predecessors and assigns
of each of the foregoing (collectively, and together with the members of
the
Company Affiliated Group, the "Company
Released Parties"),
of
and from (and agrees to promptly and fully indemnify each Company Released
Party
against) any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges,
demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations,
suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in
law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated
or
otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that
arise
out of, or relate in any way to, Executive’s employment with the Company or the
termination thereof (collectively, "Released
Claims")
and
that Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or
holds,
or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, against any Company Released
Party in any capacity, including any and all Released Claims (i) arising
out of or in any way connected with Executive’s service to any member of the
Company Affiliated Group (or the predecessors thereof) in any capacity
(including as an employee, officer or director), or the termination of such
service in any such capacity, (ii) for severance or vacation benefits,
unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (iii) for breach of contract,
wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional
infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iv) for any violation
of
applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including all laws
concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (v) for
employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute,
provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim
under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title
VII"),
the
Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA")
and
any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only that no claim in respect
of any of the following rights shall constitute a Released Claim:
46
(1) any
right
arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.3
or 9
of the Employment Agreement;
(2) for
avoidance of doubt, any right to indemnification under (i) applicable
corporate law, (ii) the Employment Agreement, (iii) the by-laws or
certificate of incorporation of any Company Released Party, (iv) any
other
agreement between Executive and a Company Released Party or (v) as
an
insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or
previously in force;
(3) for
avoidance of doubt, any claim for benefits under any health, disability,
retirement, life insurance or similar employee benefit plan of the Company
Affiliated Group (the "Company
Benefit Plans");
or
(4) any
right
arising by reason of any Company Released Party having committed a crime
or an
act or omission to act which constitutes fraud, willful misconduct or gross
negligence.
(b) No
Executive Releasor shall file or cause to be filed any action, suit, claim,
charge or proceeding with any governmental agency, court or tribunal relating
to
any Released Claim within the scope of this Section 1.
(c) In
the
event any action, suit, claim, charge or proceeding within the scope of this
Section 1 is brought by any government agency, putative class
representative or other third party to vindicate any alleged rights of
Executive, (i) Executive shall, except to the extent required or compelled
by law, legal process or subpoena, refrain from participating, testifying
or
producing documents therein, and (ii) all damages, inclusive of attorneys’
fees, if any, required to be paid to Executive by the Company as a consequence
of such action, suit, claim, charge or proceeding shall be repaid to the
Company
by Executive within ten (10) days of his receipt thereof.
(d) Certain
amounts and other benefits set forth in Section 3.3 of the Employment Agreement,
to which Executive would not otherwise be entitled, are being paid to Executive
in return for this Release and Executive’s agreements and covenants contained in
the Employment Agreement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the release
of
claims set forth in this Section 1 is not to be construed in any way
as an
admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party, any
such
liability being expressly denied.
(e) The
release of claims set forth in this Section 1 applies to any relief
in
respect of any Released Claim of any kind, no matter how called, including
wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive
damages, damages for pain or suffering, costs, and attorney’s fees and expenses.
Executive specifically acknowledges that his acceptance of the terms of the
release of claims set forth in this Section 1 is, among other things,
a
specific waiver of his rights, claims and causes of action under Title VII,
ADEA
and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of
any
kind; provided, however, that nothing herein
47
shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be
a waiver
of any right or claim or cause of action which by law Executive is not
permitted
to waive.
2. Voluntary Execution of
Agreement.
BY
HIS
SIGNATURE BELOW, EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT:
(a) HE
HAS
RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS RELEASE AND WAS OFFERED A PERIOD OF TWENTY-ONE (21)
DAYS
TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER IT;
(b) IF
HE
SIGNS THIS RELEASE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS, HE KNOWINGLY
AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES AND GIVES UP THIS RIGHT OF REVIEW;
(c) HE
HAS
THE RIGHT TO REVOKE THIS RELEASE FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN DAYS AFTER HE SIGNS
IT BY
MAILING OR DELIVERING A WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION TO THE COMPANY NO LATER
THAN THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE SEVENTH DAY AFTER THE DAY ON WHICH HE SIGNED
THIS RELEASE;
(d) THIS
RELEASE SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE UNTIL THE FOREGOING SEVEN-DAY
REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED WITHOUT THE RELEASE HAVING BEEN
REVOKED;
(e) THIS
RELEASE WILL, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN 3.3(d) OF THE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT, BE FINAL AND BINDING AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE FOREGOING REVOCATION
PERIOD REFERRED TO IN SECTION 2(c), AND FOLLOWING SUCH REVOCATION PERIOD
EXECUTIVE AGREES NOT TO CHALLENGE ITS ENFORCEABILITY;
(f) HE
IS
AWARE OF HIS RIGHT TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY, HAS BEEN ADVISED IN WRITING TO
CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY, AND HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH AN
ATTORNEY, IF DESIRED, PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS RELEASE;
(g) NO
PROMISE OR INDUCEMENT FOR THIS RELEASE HAS BEEN MADE EXCEPT AS SET FORTH
IN THE
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND THIS RELEASE;
(h) HE
HAS
CAREFULLY READ THIS RELEASE, ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS NOT RELIED ON ANY
REPRESENTATION OR STATEMENT, WRITTEN OR ORAL, NOT SET FORTH IN THIS DOCUMENT
OR
THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, AND WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT HE IS SIGNING
THIS
RELEASE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY.
3. Release
of Claims by the Company.
48
(a) Pursuant
to Section 3.3(d) of the Employment Agreement, the Company, with the intention
of binding itself and each of the other Company Released Parties, hereby
releases, remises, acquits and forever discharges each Executive Releasor
of and
from (and agrees to promptly and fully indemnify each Executive Releasor
against) any and all Released Claims which any Company Released Party,
individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at
any
time heretofore had, owned or held, against any Executive Releasor, excepting
only that no claim in respect of any of the following rights shall constitute
a
Released Claim:
(1) any
right
of any Company Released Party arising under, in or preserved by, this Release,
Section 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.3 or 9 of the Employment Agreement, or any Company
Benefit Plan; and
(2) any
right
of any Company Released Party arising by reason of Executive having committed
a
crime or an act or omission to act which constitutes fraud, willful misconduct
or gross negligence.
(b) No
Company Released Party shall file or cause to be filed any action, suit,
claim,
charge or proceeding with any governmental agency, court or tribunal relating
to
any Released Claim within the scope of this Section 3.
(c) The
Company acknowledges and agrees that the release of claims set forth in this
Section 3 is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any
liability whatsoever by any Executive Releasor, any such liability being
expressly denied.
(d) The
release of claims set forth in this Section 3 applies to any relief
with
respect to any Released Claim no matter how called, including compensatory
damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, damages for pain or suffering,
costs, and attorney’s fees and expenses.
(e) Nothing
herein shall be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport, to be
a
waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law any Company
Released Party is not permitted to waive.
4. Miscellaneous.
The
provisions of Sections 8.1(b), 8.1(c), 8.2, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3(b), 9.3(d), 9.3(f),
9.3(g), 9.4 (second sentence only), 9.5 and 9.7 of the Employment Agreement
(relating, respectively, to representations, successors, notices,
amendments/waivers, headings, severability, choice of law, references,
arbitration and counterparts/faxed signatures), shall apply to this Release
as
if set fully forth in full herein, with references in such Sections to "this
Agreement" being deemed, as appropriate, to be references to this Release.
For
avoidance of doubt, this Section 4 has been
49
included in this Release solely for the purpose of avoiding the need
to
repeat herein the full text of the referenced provisions of the Employment
Agreement.
[signature
page follows]
50
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Company and Executive have acknowledged, executed and delivered this Release
as
of the Termination Date.
Executive
___________________________
Xxxx
Xxxx
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
________________________
Name:
Title:
51