As of April 1, 2006 Mr. Wayne Levin Via Personal Delivery Re.: Employment Agreement Dear Wayne:
Exhibit
10.12
As of April 1, 2006
Mr. Xxxxx Xxxxx
Via Personal Delivery
Via Personal Delivery
Re.: Employment Agreement
Dear Xxxxx:
On behalf of Lions Gate Films Inc. (“Company”), this is to confirm the terms of your
employment by the Company. We refer to you herein as “Employee”. The terms of Employee’s
employment from this date forward are as follows:
1. The term of this agreement (“Agreement”) will begin April 1, 2006 and end March 31, 2009
(“Term”). During the Term of this Agreement, Employee will serve as General Counsel and Executive
Vice President, Corporate Operations. Employee shall report to the CEO in his capacity as General
Counsel and to the COO, or person performing substantially such role in his capacity as Executive
Vice President, Corporate Operations. For the purpose hereof, Employee agrees that Xxxxx Xxxxx
performs such function. Employee shall render such services as are customarily rendered by persons
in Employee’s capacity in the motion picture industry and as may be reasonably requested by
Company.
The Company may, at its sole discretion, extend the Term of this Agreement for an additional
year, commencing April 1, 2009 and ending March 31, 2010 (“Option Year”) by giving notice to
Employee of its election to extend this Agreement at least 180 days before that date.
So long as this Agreement shall continue in effect, Employee shall devote Employee’s full
business time, energy and ability exclusively to the business, affairs and interests of the Company
and matters related thereto, shall use Employee’s best efforts and abilities to promote the
Company’s interests and shall perform the services contemplated by this Agreement in accordance
with policies established by the Company.
2. (a) The following compensation will be paid to Employee during the Term of this Agreement:
Base Salary. During the Term of this Agreement, the Company agrees to
pay Employee a base salary as follows:
For first year of the Term, the rate of $400,000 per year, payable in accordance
with the Company’s normal payroll practices in effect.
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For the remainder Term, the rate of $500,000 per year, payable in accordance with
the Company’s normal payroll practices in effect.
During the Option year, the rate of $600,000 per year, payable in accordance with
the Company’s normal payroll practices in effect.
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit the Company’s right to modify its
payroll practices, as it deems necessary.
(b) Bonuses:
(i) An annual bonus at the full discretion of the CEO;
(ii) An annual bonus of 25% of Base Salary based upon Established Goals. The
Established Goals shall be set forth in writing at the beginning of each fiscal, and shall
be discussed in good faith between Company and Employee;
(iii) An annual bonus of 25% of Base Salary based upon the EBITDA of the Company on a
most favored nation basis with any person receiving an EBITDA based bonus. For the sake of
clarity, the MFN basis applies to the definition of EBITDA, the EBITDA target, and the
percentages of Base Salary payable at various levels if the EBITDA target; and
(iv) Change of Control of Bonus: For the purposes of this Agreement, Change of Control
shall have the same meaning as set forth in the employment agreement of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx,
dated as of September 1, 2003. Company shall pay Employee a Bonus of $1,000,000 upon a
Change of Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Change of Control Bonus
shall vest 100% if discussions relating and leading to the Change of Control commence
during the Term hereof whether are not the Change of Control is actually consummated after
the Term or the termination hereof. However, this bonus shall unvest and not be payable if
the principal agreement giving rise to the Change of Control is not signed within one year
of Employee’s termination of employment.
(iv) Two Past Services Bonuses: The first in the amount of $100,000, which shall be
paid April 3, 2006; and the Second in the amount of $125,000 which shall be paid April 3,
2007. These Bonuses shall not be applicable against any other Bonus and shall not be
counted as any portion of Employee’s bonus for the fiscal year 2006.
3. As an employee of the Company, Employee will continue to be eligible to participate in all
benefit plans, including Senior Management Plans, to the same extent as other employees, subject to
the terms of such plans.
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4. Employee shall be entitled to take paid time off without a reduction in salary, subject to
(i) the approval of Employee’s supervisor, and (ii) the demands and requirements of Employee’s
duties and responsibilities under the Agreement. There are no paid vacation days. Finally,
Employee will be eligible to be reimbursed for any business expenses in accordance with the
Company’s current Travel and Entertainment policy. The forgoing notwithstanding, Employee’s travel
and entertainment shall be on a most favored nations basis with all other Presidents of Divisions.
5. Company shall request that the Compensation Committee of Lions Gate (“CCLG”) authorize and
grant Employee 100,000 common share units (“Grants”) of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the existing and/or future Employee Stock Plan
(“Plan”). Employee acknowledges that this Grant of stock is subject to the approval of the CCLG.
The award date (“Award Date”) shall be the date of the board meeting when the Grant is approved.
The Grant shall vest as follows:
50% on March 31, 2008 and 50% on March 31, 2009
When the Company obtains an additional allotment of shares under the Plan, Company shall grant
Employee 25,000 common share units (“ Further Grants”) of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the existing and/or future Employee Stock Plan
(“Plan”). The Grant shall vest as follows:
50% on March 31, 2008 and 50% on March 31, 2009
If the Company does not obtain an addition allotment of shares, then it shall pay Employee in
cash the value of such Further Grants on the date such Further Grants were to have vested.
If any employee’s stock options or shares that are issued under the Employee Stock Option Plan
accelerate in vesting schedule as a result of a change of control, Employee’s previously stock
options, Further Grants, and shares issued hereunder shall likewise accelerate in vesting schedule
For the sake of clarity, all options granted under Employee’s prior employment agreement shall
continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such prior agreement.
Employee represents and warrants that during the Term hereof, Employee shall hold at least
5000 shares of common shares of the Company.
6. Employee agrees that the Company Employee Handbook outlines other policies, which will
apply to Employee’s employment, and Employee acknowledges receipt of such handbook. Please note,
however, that the Company retains the right to revise, modify or delete any policy or benefit plan
it deems appropriate.
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7. This Agreement shall terminate upon the happening of any one or more of the following
events:
(a) The mutual written agreement between Company and Employee; or
(b) The death of Employee. However, in the event of the death of Employee, all granted shares
and stock options shall immediately vest; or
(c) Employee’s having become so physically or mentally disabled as to be incapable, even with
a reasonable accommodation, of satisfactorily performing his duties hereunder for a period of
ninety (90) days or more, provided that Employee has not cured disability within ten days of
written notice; or
(d) The determination on the part of Company that “cause”
exists for termination of this Agreement; “cause” being defined as any of the following: 1)
Employee’s conviction of a felony or plea of nolo contendere to a felony except in connection with
a traffic violation; 2) commission, by act or omission, of any material act of dishonesty in the
performance of Employee’s duties hereunder; 3) material breach of this Agreement by Employee
causing material to the Company; or 4) any act of misconduct by Employee having a substantial
adverse effect on the business or reputation of Company.
(e) Without Cause. In such case, Employee shall be entitled to receive the Base Salary and
Bonuses set forth in Section 2 through the conclusion of the Term subject to Employee’s obligation
to mitigate in accordance with California Law. In the alternative, at Company’s discretion, if
Employee is terminated by Company for any reason other than as set forth in sub-paragraphs
7(a)-(d), a severance amount equal to 50% of the balance of the compensation still owing to
Employee under Section 2(a) hereof at the time of termination shall be paid to Employee by Company
(the “Pay-Out”), which payment shall relieve Company of any and all base salary obligations to
Employee. Other than the Bonus set forth in paragraph 2(b)(iv) (the Change of Control Bonus – which
shall vest and be payable as set forth in paragraph 2(b)(iv)), in the event that Company elects the
Pay-Out, all bonuses shall be paid on a prorated basis in the year of termination in proportion to
the amount of such year worked by Employee and shall not be payable in subsequent years. In the
final year of the Term, the Company may not elect the Pay-Out alternative.
The forgoing notwithstanding, if Employee is not terminated contemporaneous with a Change of
Control, but is terminated subsequent thereto Without Cause or by any diminution in responsibility
as measured against Employee’s responsibilities prior to the Change of Control (in which case
Employee shall be entitled to terminate for Good Cause), then Company shall pay Employee in one
lump sum, all compensation owing under paragraph 2 and 5 hereof. If the Company is purchased by
larger entity, it shall not be considered a diminution in responsibility if Employee is made either
(i) General Counsel or (ii) EVP, Operations of that larger entity. However, it shall be considered
a diminution in responsibility if Employee is required to report to another person
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performing a legal role in such larger entity, General Counsel or otherwise unless Employee
consents.
In the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to sub-paragraphs (a)-(d) above
neither Company nor Employee shall have any remaining duties or obligations hereunder, except that
Company shall pay to Employee, only such compensation as is earned under Section 2 as of the date
of termination.
8. Employee’s services shall be exclusive to Company during the Term. Employee shall render
such services as are customarily rendered by persons in Employee’s capacity in the motion picture industry and as may be reasonably requested by Company.
Employee hereby agrees to comply with all reasonable requirements, directions and requests, and
with all reasonable rules and regulations made by Company
in connection with the regular conduct of its business; to render services during Employee’s
employment hereunder whenever and wherever and as often as Company may reasonably require in a
competent, conscientious and professional manner, and as instructed by Company in all matters,
including those involving artistic taste and judgment, but there shall be no obligation on Company
to cause or allow Employee to
render any services, or to include all or any of Employee’s work or services in any motion picture
or other property or production.
9. Employee agrees that Company shall own all rights of every kind and character throughout
the universe, in perpetuity to any material and/or idea suggested or submitted by Employee or
suggested or submitted to Employee by a third party that occurs during the Term or any other period
of employment with the Company, its parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries that are within the scope
of Employee’s employment and responsibilities hereunder. Employee agrees that during the Term and
any other period of employment with the Company, its parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries, Company
shall own all other results and proceeds of Employee’s services that are related to Employee’s
employment and responsibilities. Employee shall promptly and fully disclose all intellectual
property generated by the Employee during the Term and any other period of employment with the
Company, its parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries in connection with his employment hereunder. All
copyrightable works that Employee creates in connection with his obligations under this Agreement
and any other period of employment with the Company, its parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries shall
be considered “work made for hire” and therefore the property of the Company. To the extent any
work so produced or other intellectual property so generated by Employee is not deemed to be a
“work made for hire,” Employee hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company (or as otherwise
directed by the Company) Employee’s full right, title and interest in and to all such works and
other intellectual property. Employee agrees to execute any and all applications for domestic and
foreign copyrights or other proprietary rights and to do such other acts (including without
limitation the execution and delivery of instruments of further assurance or confirmation)
requested by the Company to assign the intellectual property to the Company and to permit the
Company to enforce any copyrights or other proprietary rights to the intellectual property.
Employee will not charge the Company for time spent in complying with these obligations. This
Section 9 shall apply only to that
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intellectual property which related at the time of conception to the Company’s then current or
anticipated business or resulted from work performed by Employee for the Company. Employee hereby
acknowledges receipt of written notice from the Company pursuant to California Labor Code Section
2872 that this Agreement (to the extent it requires an assignment or offer to assign rights to any
invention of Executive) does not apply fully to an invention which qualifies fully under California
Labor Code Section 2870.
10. Employee shall not assign any of his rights or delegate any of his duties under this
Agreement.
11. The parties acknowledge and agree that during the Term of this Agreement and in the
course of the discharge of his duties hereunder and at any other period of employment with the
Company, its parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries, Employee shall have and has had access to
information concerning the operation of Company and its affiliated entities, including without
limitation, financial, personnel, sales, planning and other information that is owned by Company
and regularly used in the operation of Company’s business and (to the extent that such confidential
information is not subsequently disclosed) that this information constitutes Company’s trade
secrets. Employee agrees that he shall not disclose any such trade secrets, directly or indirectly, to any
other person or use them in any way, either during the Term of this Agreement or at any other time
thereafter, except as is required in the course of his employment for Company. Employee shall not
use any such trade secrets in connection with any other employment and/or business opportunities
following the Term. In addition, Employee hereby expressly agrees that Employee will not disclose
any confidential matters of Company that are not trade secrets prior to, during or after Employee’s
employment including the specifics of this Agreement. . Employee shall not use any such
confidential information in connection with any other employment and/or business opportunities
following the Term. In addition, in order to protect the Confidential Information, Employee agrees
that during the Term and for a period of two (2) years thereafter, Employee will not, directly or
indirectly, induce or entice any other executive of the Company to leave such employment or cause
anyone else to leave such employment.
12. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in respect to this Agreement (or its
validity, interpretation or enforcement), the employment relationship or the subject matter hereof
shall at the request of either party be submitted to and settled by binding arbitration conducted
before a single arbitrator in Los Angeles in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act, to the
extent that such rules do not conflict with any provisions of this Agreement. Said arbitration
shall be under the jurisdiction of Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“JAMS”) in
Los Angeles, California. All such actions must be instituted within one year after the controversy
or claim arose or forever be waived. Failure to institute an arbitration proceeding within such
period shall constitute an absolute bar to the institution of any proceedings respecting such
controversy or claim, and a waiver thereof. The arbitrator shall have the authority to award
damages and remedies in accordance with applicable law. Any award, order of judgment pursuant to
such arbitration shall be deemed final and binding and may be
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entered and enforced in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction. Each party
agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of any such court for purposes of the enforcement of any such
award, order of judgment. Company shall pay for the administrative costs of such hearing and
proceeding.
13. This Agreement expresses the binding and entire Agreement between Employee and the
Company and shall replace and supersede all prior arrangements and representations, either oral or
written, as to the subject matter hereof. All modifications or amendments to the Agreement must be
in writing, signed by both parties.
Please acknowledge your confirmation of the above terms by signing below where indicated and
returning this letter to me.
Xxxxx, please call Xxxxx Xxxxxxx at (000) 000-0000 if you have any questions.
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Very truly yours,
LIONS GATE FILMS INC.
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx
President, Lions Gate Entertainment
President, Lions Gate Entertainment
AGREED AND ACCEPTED
This 9th day of May, 2006
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Xxxxx Xxxxx |