EX-10.2 3 dex102.htm EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN VIACOM INC. AND PHILIPPE P. DAUMAN April 14, 2010 Philippe P. Dauman c/o Viacom Inc.
Exhibit 10.2
April 14, 2010
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
c/o Viacom Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Dear Xx. Xxxxxx:
Viacom Inc. (“Employer” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”), having an address at 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, agrees to amend and restate your employment agreement, originally dated September 5, 2006 (the “Original Employment Agreement”) and subsequently amended on March 21, 2007, April 24, 2007 and August 28, 2008 and to continue to employ you and you agree to continue such employment upon the terms and conditions of this amended and restated agreement (this “Agreement”). This Agreement is effective as of April 14, 2010 (the “Amendment Date”).
sentence, you shall have the authority to cause any business unit or operating division head, and any executive officer of the Company, to report directly to another executive officer of the Company.
(c) Service on the Board and with Subsidiaries. You currently serve as a member of the Board and will continue that service following the Amendment Date. The Board will nominate you for reelection to the Board at the expiration of each term of office, and you agree to serve as a member of the Board for each period for which you are so elected. You shall, subject to your election as such from time to time and without additional compensation, serve during the Employment Term in such additional offices of comparable or greater stature and responsibility in the subsidiaries of Employer and as member of any committee of the Board or of the board of directors of any of Employer’s subsidiaries, to which you may be appointed or elected from time to time.
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decisions relating to such business or transaction (whether on behalf of the Company or such other entity).
(e) Location. You shall render your services under this Agreement from Employer’s executive offices in the New York metropolitan area (except for services rendered during business trips as may be reasonably necessary), and you shall not be required to relocate outside of the New York metropolitan area.
(i) Your Bonus for each whole year during the Employment Term will be based upon achievement of one or more performance goals established by the Compensation Committee, which may include individualized performance goals applicable uniquely to you, and shall be determined in accordance with the Employer’s Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time (together with any successor plan, the “Senior Executive STIP”). Any company-wide financial performance goal(s) applicable to you will, under the Senior Executive STIP, be the same as the performance goal(s) used to determine the amount of bonus payable to any other executive of Employer who participates in the Senior Executive STIP and who has corporate-wide responsibilities; provided, however, that, for each shortened performance period described in paragraph 3(b)(iii) below, the applicable performance goal shall be adjusted to reflect budgeted Company performance for such shortened performance period. You shall have the opportunity to make suggestions to the Compensation Committee prior to the determination of the performance goal(s) for the Senior Executive STIP for each performance period, but the Compensation Committee will have final power and authority concerning the establishment of such goal(s).
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(ii) Your target bonus for each whole year during the Employment Term starting in 2010 shall be Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000); provided that the Compensation Committee will review your target bonus at least annually and may increase (but not decrease, including as it may be increased from time to time) the same. The result of each such annual review shall be reported to you by the Compensation Committee promptly after it occurs. Your target bonus, as it may be so increased from time to time, is referred to herein as the “Target Bonus”. As the actual amount payable to you as Bonus will be dependent upon the achievement of performance goal(s) referred to in paragraph 3(b)(i), your actual Bonus may be less than, greater than or equal to the Target Bonus. In no event, however, will your Bonus for any full fiscal year be greater than two (2) times the Target Bonus.
(iii) The Company has changed its fiscal period from the calendar year to a fiscal year ending each September 30, with the transition period to be the short year January 1 – September 30, 2010. As a result of this change, the Employment Term after the Amendment Date may include two shortened performance periods: (x) a short fiscal year January 1 – September 30, 2010 and (y) a partial Company fiscal year October 1 – December 31, 2016. Your annual Target Bonus for these periods will be pro rated to reflect the shorter performance periods.
(iv) Your Bonus for any year shall be payable by the last day of the second month of the following fiscal year. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that you will receive the Bonus to which you are entitled for each whole and partial fiscal year in which you were employed, even if you are not employed on the payment date described in the preceding sentence or on the actual date on which bonuses are paid for such year.
(v) In the event that the current Senior Executive STIP is amended or terminated, you will be given an opportunity under the amended or successor plan to earn bonus compensation equivalent to the amount that you could have earned under this paragraph 3(b) but subject to the same limitations.
(i) In periods prior to the Amendment Date, you received awards in respect of Employer’s Class B Common Stock (the “Shares”).
(ii) For periods after 2009 and continuing for so long as you remain employed pursuant to this Agreement, you will receive an annual award of stock options with a value, determined under the Financial Accounting Standards
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Codification (FASB ASC) Topic 718, employing the same assumptions and methodologies as used for Employer’s financial statements, of Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000). Each award of stock options will have a per share exercise price equal to the per share closing price of the Shares on the date of grant, a term of eight years and will vest in four equal annual installments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date (or, if earlier, on the last day of the Employment Term) assuming that your employment with Employer continues through the relevant vesting date (but subject to accelerated vesting as provided in this Agreement). Each annual award of stock options pursuant to this paragraph 4(a)(ii) will be made to you at the same time that Employer awards stock options to its other senior executives, but no later than June 30 of each calendar year.
(iii) In addition to the annual stock option awards described in paragraph 4(a)(ii), on the third business day following the date (the “Announcement Date”) on which the Company publicly announces the extension of the Employment Term pursuant to this Agreement, you will receive an award of stock options under the LTMIP to purchase an aggregate of two million (2,000,000) Shares with a per share exercise price equal to the per share closing price of the Shares on such date. The stock options awarded to you on the Announcement Date shall have a term of eight years and shall vest in four equal annual installments on the first four anniversaries of the Announcement Date assuming that your employment with Employer continues through the relevant vesting date (but subject to accelerated vesting as provided in this Agreement).
(iv) Except as otherwise provided herein, your stock options will have exercisability, expiration and other terms and conditions that conform to Employer’s standard practices for stock options awarded to senior executives and that are no less favorable to you than the terms applicable to any other senior executive of the Company awarded stock options at the same time. Any Shares delivered upon exercise of any stock options granted pursuant to this Agreement will be fully vested and nonforfeitable and registered on Form S-8 or a different registration statement of similar import.
(v) Following the termination of your employment with Employer for any reason other than a termination of your employment pursuant to paragraph 10(a), any stock options granted to you by the Employer either before, on or after the Amendment Date shall remain outstanding and exercisable until the end of the three (3) year period from the Termination Date (as defined in Section 10(d)(i)) or, if earlier, the stock option’s normal expiration date; provided that, if the applicable option award specifically provides for a longer post-employment period to exercise such option, such longer period shall apply. By executing this Agreement, the parties agree that any stock options granted to you prior to the Amendment Date shall be deemed amended to reflect the provisions of this paragraph 4(a)(v).
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receive an annual award of performance share units (“PSUs”) under the LTMIP. PSUs are notional units of measurement and represent the right to receive a number of Shares determined on the basis of the performance of the Shares in comparison to the performance of the common stock of companies comprising the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index (the “S&P 500”) (as adjusted as described below), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
(i) Grants of PSUs. Awards of PSUs will be made to you as of January 1 of each year during the Employment Term (each a “Grant Date”), with the first award having been made as of January 1, 2007. The target amount of Shares for each annual award of PSUs (the “Target Award”) is determined by dividing Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000) by the average per share closing price of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (or other principal stock exchange on which the Shares are then listed) for the 10 trading days prior to the Grant Date, rounded up to the nearest whole Share. The date as of which the number of Shares to be received under each award shall be computed (that award’s “Determination Date”) will be the December 31 immediately preceding the third anniversary of the Grant Date (including for awards the third anniversary of whose Grant Date will occur after the end of the Employment Term), provided, however, that in the event your employment with Employer terminates in a Qualifying Termination (as defined below) prior to the third anniversary of the Grant Date of an award of PSUs, the Determination Date for such award will be the effective date of your termination of employment. (By way of illustration, except in the case of a Qualifying Termination the Determination Date for your award of PSUs for 2007 was December 31, 2009.) Each award of PSUs will be forfeited in full, and no Shares will be delivered to you in connection therewith, if your employment with Employer terminates before the Determination Date for the award for any reason other than a Qualifying Termination.
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Schedule
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• If Employer achieves less than the 25th percentile TSR, the award of PSUs will be forfeited
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• If Employer achieves the 25th percentile TSR, the number of Shares to be delivered under the award will be 25% of the Target Award
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• If Employer achieves the 50th percentile TSR, the number of Shares to be delivered under the award will be 100% of the Target Award
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• If Employer achieves the 100th percentile TSR (that is, if it is the first ranked company in the Reference Group for TSR), the number of Shares to be delivered under the award will be 300% of the Target Award
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For Employer achievement at any intermediate points between the 25th and 50th percentile, or between the 50th percentile and the 100th percentile, the number of Shares to be delivered will be interpolated between the respective Shares delivered at such percentiles. For example, if Employer were to achieve the 70th percentile TSR, the number of Shares to be delivered would be 180% of the Target Award.
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a. | If Employer achieves at least the 50th percentile TSR, Shares will be delivered no later than four (4) weeks following the Determination Date for such award; and |
b. | If employer does not achieve at least the 50th percentile TSR, (I) a number of shares determined pursuant to the Schedule will be delivered no later than four (4) weeks following the Determination Date and (II) any incremental Shares to which you are entitled by virtue of paragraph 4(b)(iii) will be delivered on the second business day following the delivery of Employer’s audited financial statements in respect of the last year of the applicable Measurement Period (so that it can be determined whether or not Employer attained the EPS hurdle in respect of such award). |
All Shares delivered in settlement of PSUs shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable and registered on Form S-8 or a different registration statement of similar import. You may elect to satisfy required tax withholding in respect of the delivery of such Shares by having Employer withhold from such delivery Shares having a fair market value equal to the amount of such required withholding.
(v) Definitions. For purposes of this paragraph 4(b), the following definitions shall apply:
a. | The “Measurement Period” for your awards of PSUs will be determined as follows: (I) the Measurement Period for your award of PSUs for 2007 began on September 9, 2006 and ended on December 31, 2009; (II) the Measurement Period for your award of PSUs for 2008 began on September 9, 2006 and will end on December 31, 2010; and (III) the Measurement Period for your award of PSUs for 2009 and subsequent years will begin on the Grant Date for the Award (which shall always be January 1) and end on the December 31 immediately prior to the third anniversary of the Grant Date; provided, however, that if your employment with Employer terminates in a Qualifying Termination, the Measurement Period for any outstanding PSU award whose Determination Date has not yet occurred shall be as follows: (X) for your 2007 and 2008 PSU awards, the period beginning on September 9, 2006 and ending on the effective date of your Qualifying Termination and (Y) for each of your other PSU awards, the period beginning on the date that is three years before |
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the effective date of your Qualifying Termination and ending on the effective date of your Qualifying Termination.
b. | Your employment with Employer will be considered to have terminated in a “Qualifying Termination” if (I) your employment is terminated by Employer without Cause (as defined in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, paragraph 10(a)); (II) you resign from employment for Good Reason (as defined in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, paragraph 10(b)); (III) your employment terminates by reason of your death or your incapacity as provided in paragraph 9; or (IV) your employment terminates for any reason on the last day of the Employment Term. |
c. | “Reference Group” means, with respect to any award of PSUs, all companies whose common stock is included in the S&P 500 at the start of the Measurement Period for that award (other than (I) companies that cease to be included in the S&P 500 during the Measurement Period solely due to merger, acquisition, liquidation or similar events changing the identity and nature of the company and (II) companies that cease to be included in the S&P 500 other than on account of events described in the preceding clause (I) and which also cease to have common stock publicly traded on an exchange or on a recognized market system or the over-the-counter market). |
d. | “TSR” means for the Shares and for the common stock of each company in the Reference Group, the percentage change in value (positive or negative) over the relevant Measurement Period as measured by dividing (i) the sum of (A) each company’s cumulative value of dividends and other distributions in respect of its common stock for the Measurement Period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and (B) the difference (positive or negative) between each company’s common stock price on the first and last day of the Measurement Period (calculated on the basis of the |
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average closing prices over the 20-day trading period immediately prior to the first day of the Measurement Period (except that in the case of the PSU awards for 2007 and 2008, the closing price on September 9, 2006, rather than a 20-day average, will be used) and the average closing prices over the 20-day trading period immediately prior to the relevant Determination Date, in each case, as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or such other reporting service that the Compensation Committee may designate from time to time)); by (ii) the common stock price on the first day of the Measurement Period, calculated on the basis described above. Appropriate and equitable adjustments will be made to account for stock splits and reverse stock splits. TSR will be determined by the Compensation Committee in a manner consistent with this definition. For purposes of computing TSR, if a company has more than one class of common stock outstanding then only the class that is included in the S&P 500 shall be taken into account, and if there is more than one such class the company’s TSR shall be computed using the aggregate values of and distributions on all such classes.
(c) Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units.
(i) On the Announcement Date, you shall receive an award of restricted stock units subject to special vesting conditions (the “PRSUs”) under the LTMIP, provided that you are employed by Employer on the Announcement Date. The PRSUs represent a right to receive a number of Shares over four performance periods (the “Performance Periods”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, with a target number of 250,000 Shares to be delivered in respect of each Performance Period (the “Target PRSU Award”).
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The Performance Periods shall be each of the first four full fiscal years starting after the Announcement Date.
(ii) For each Performance Period, a single “Current Achievement Percentage” shall be calculated as follows: (x) 75% of the Current Achievement Percentage shall be calculated by comparing the achievement of Operating Income (as defined in the Senior Executive STIP) for the current Performance Period to the Operating Income goals established for the current Performance Period under the Senior Executive STIP; (y) 25% of the Current Achievement Percentage shall be calculated by comparing the achievement of Free Cash Flow (as defined in the Senior Executive STIP) for the current Performance Period to the Free Cash Flow goals for the current Performance Period under the Senior Executive STIP; and (z) the method of determining this single percentage shall correspond to the method used under the Senior Executive STIP as of the Amendment Date to determine STIP payout percentages.
(iii) For each Performance Period, a single “Cumulative Achievement Percentage” shall be calculated and shall be the average of the Current Achievement Percentage for the current and any prior Performance Periods. The Cumulative Achievement Percentage shall be used to calculate the number of Shares that you will receive, in accordance with the following schedule:
Schedule
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• If the Cumulative Achievement Percentage is 75%, the number of Shares to be delivered under the award will be 75% of the Target PRSU Award
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• If the Cumulative Achievement Percentage is 100%, the number of Shares to be delivered under the award will be 100% of the Target PRSU Award
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• If the Cumulative Achievement Percentage is 125% or more, the number of Shares to be delivered under the award will be 125% of the Target PRSU Award
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For achievement at an intermediate point between 75% and 100%, and between 100% and 125%, the number of Shares to be delivered will be interpolated on a straight-line basis between the respective numbers of shares to be delivered at such percentages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the minimum number of Shares that shall be delivered to you in respect of any Performance Period shall be 75% of the Target PRSU Award, and the maximum number of Shares that may be
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delivered to you in respect of any Performance Period shall be 125% of the Target PRSU Awards.
(iv) Provided that you are employed on the last day of the applicable Performance Period, the Compensation Committee shall certify and deliver to you the number of Shares determined pursuant to paragraph 3(c)(iii) of this Agreement promptly after the end of the Performance Period but in no event later than the last day of the second month following the end of such Performance Period. The PRSUs may be subject to accelerated vesting and delivery pursuant to Sections 9, 10 and 11 of this Agreement without regard to the foregoing.
(v) Shares received upon settlement of the PRSUs shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable and registered on Form S-8 or a different registration statement of similar import. You may elect to satisfy required tax withholding in respect of the delivery of such Shares by having Employer withhold from such delivery Shares having a fair market value equal to the amount of such required withholding. An amount equal to any dividends or other distributions paid in respect of Shares while you hold unvested PRSUs shall be credited to an account on Employer’s books as if each PRSU were a Share. Such dividend or distribution equivalents will be paid to you when and if the PRSUs to which they relate vest.
5. Sign-On Consideration: Matching RSUs. You invested at least Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) to purchase Shares within the three month period following the Start Date. For each Share that you purchased within the time period described in the preceding sentence (the “Purchased Shares”), up to a maximum investment by you of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), Employer awarded you two matching stock units (the “Matching RSUs”) under the LTMIP. Each Matching RSU corresponds to one Share. Matching RSUs vest in four equal annual installments on the first four anniversaries of September 11, 2006 (each such anniversary being a “Matching RSU Vesting Date”) and will be settled by delivery of Shares on or as soon as administratively practicable following the applicable Matching RSU Vesting Date. Such delivered Shares shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable and registered on Form S-8 or a different registration statement of similar import. You may elect to satisfy required tax withholding in respect of the delivery of such Shares by having Employer withhold from such delivery Shares having a fair market value equal to the amount of such required withholding. Subject to accelerated vesting as provided in paragraphs 9, 10(d) and 11, vesting of Matching RSUs is contingent on (i) your remaining in employment through the applicable Matching RSU Vesting Date and (ii) your having retained ownership of the corresponding Purchased Shares from the date of purchase through the applicable Matching RSU Vesting Date. If prior to any Matching RSU Vesting Date (subject to
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accelerated vesting as provided in paragraphs 9, 10(d) and 11) you sell any Purchased Shares, two unvested Matching RSUs will be forfeited for each Purchased Share sold, with Matching RSUs with the latest Matching RSU Vesting Date being forfeited first. An amount equal to any dividends or other distributions paid in respect of Shares while you hold unvested Matching RSUs shall be credited to an account on Employer’s books as if each Matching RSU were a Share. Such dividend or distribution equivalents will be paid to you when and if the Matching RSUs to which they relate vest.
(a) You shall be entitled to participate in such life and medical insurance, pension and other employee benefit plans as the Company may have or establish from time to time and in which other Company executives with corporate-wide responsibilities are eligible to participate. The foregoing, however, shall not be construed to require Employer or any of its subsidiaries to establish any such plans or to prevent the modification or termination of such plans once established, and no such action or failure thereof shall affect this Agreement; provided that no such modification or termination shall be applicable to you unless also equally applicable to all other Company executives with corporate-wide responsibilities. All benefits you may be entitled to as an employee of Employer shall be based upon your Salary and not upon any bonus compensation due, payable or paid to you hereunder, except where the benefit plan expressly provides otherwise. You shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid vacation during each calendar year during the Employment Term.
(b) Employer shall provide you with no less than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) of life insurance during the Employment Term at Employer’s cost, the beneficiary or beneficiaries of which shall be designated by you or the assignee of such policy in accordance with the following sentence. You shall have the right to assign the policy for such life insurance to your spouse and/or issue or to a trust or trusts primarily for the benefit of your spouse or issue.
(c) Unless your employment is terminated pursuant to paragraph 10(a) of this Agreement, Employer shall provide you the following benefits following any termination of employment:
(i) Employer shall provide you and your spouse, at the Company’s sole cost, all medical, dental and hospitalization benefit plans or programs that are from time to time made available to the highest paid group of senior executives of the Company other than to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx as Employer’s Executive Chairman and Founder for two (2) years following the Termination Date; provided that, if your continued participation in any employee plan or program as provided in this paragraph 6(c) would conflict with any law or regulation, or would result in any adverse tax consequences for you, your spouse, the Company or other participants in such plan or program, you and/or your spouse shall be provided with the economic equivalent of the benefits provided under the plan or program in which you are, and/or your spouse is, unable to participate. In the case of any welfare benefit plan, the economic equivalent of any benefit foregone
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(x) shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that you and/or your spouse would incur in obtaining such benefit yourself and/or herself on an individual basis (but including dependent coverage, as applicable) and (y) shall be provided on a “tax grossed-up basis” to the extent the economic equivalent is taxable to you and/or your spouse but the provision of the benefit to you while an employee was not taxable; and
(ii) for the longer of thirty-six (36) months following the Termination Date or until the end of the Employment Term, (a) at your request, suitable and appropriate office facilities in a building selected by Employer on Employer’s property, which is located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City and (b) a personal secretary (who may be your choice of your personal secretary who provided services to you during the Employment Term or a replacement designated by you and whose principal place of employment will be determined by you), to be compensated at the same compensation and benefits cost to Employer in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date, subject to increase at the same rate and with the same frequency as given to similarly situated secretaries at Employer.
7. Business Expenses, Perquisites. During the Employment Term, you shall be reimbursed for such reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of your duties hereunder on a basis no less favorable than that provided by Employer to any of its senior executives other than to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx as Employer’s Executive Chairman and Founder. Employer shall pay the fees and expenses of your counsel and other fees and expenses which you incurred in negotiating the terms of this amendment and restatement of the Original Employment Agreement. While you are actively employed during the Employment Term, you shall be entitled to the use of the Company’s private plane (or equivalent charter aircraft) to travel on Company business (accompanied by your spouse, at your option and, unless your spouse’s presence is required by the Company, at your cost, provided that such cost shall be on a basis consistent with that presently in effect on the Amendment Date or as otherwise required by law). You also shall be entitled to other perquisites (the “Perquisites”) (including use of a car service, office and secretarial services) in accordance with Employer policy on a basis no less favorable than that provided by Employer to any of its senior executives other than to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx as Employer’s Executive Chairman and Founder.
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partner, holder or beneficiary of stock, stock options or other equity interest, officer, employee, director, manager, partner or agent of, or consultant for, any company or business competing with the Company; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent you from participating in any investment activities specifically allowed under paragraph 2(d); further provided, however, that following termination of your employment with Employer you may be actively involved in the management of any company listed on Schedule A.
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progress resulting from such services, shall be works-made-for-hire and Employer shall be deemed the sole owner throughout the universe of any and all rights of every nature in such works, with the right to use, license or dispose of the works in perpetuity in any manner Employer determines in its sole discretion without any further payment to you, whether such rights and means of use are now known or hereafter defined or discovered. If, for any reason, any of the results and proceeds of your services to the Company are not legally deemed a work-made-for-hire and/or there are any rights in such results and proceeds which do not accrue to Employer under this paragraph 8(d) then you hereby irrevocably assign any and all of your right, title and interest thereto, including, without limitation, any and all copyrights, patents, trade secrets, trademarks and/or other rights of every nature in the work, and Employer shall have the sole right to use, license or dispose of the work in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner Employer determines in its sole discretion without any further payment to you, whether such rights and means of use are now known or hereafter defined or discovered. Upon request by Employer, whether or not during the Employment Term, you shall do any and all things which Employer may deem useful or desirable to establish or document Employer’s rights in the results and proceeds of your services to the Company, including, without limitation, the execution of appropriate copyright, trademark and/or patent applications, assignments or similar documents. You hereby irrevocably designate the General Counsel, Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of Employer as your attorney-in-fact with the power to take such action and execute such documents on your behalf. To the extent you have any rights in such results and proceeds that cannot be assigned as described above, you unconditionally and irrevocably waive the enforcement of such rights. This paragraph 8(d) is subject to, and does not limit, restrict, or constitute any waiver by Employer of any rights of ownership to which Employer may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of Employer or any of its affiliates or predecessors being your employer.
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the Company’s expense) and to the extent such cooperation does not unreasonably interfere with your personal or professional schedule.
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(i) Injunctive Relief, Etc. Employer has entered into this Agreement in order to obtain the benefit of your unique skills, talent and experience. You acknowledge and agree that any violation of paragraphs 8(a) through 8(h) will result in irreparable damage to Employer, and, accordingly, Employer may obtain injunctive and other equitable relief for any breach or threatened breach of such paragraphs, in addition to any other remedies available to Employer. Employer acknowledges and agrees that any violation of paragraph 8(h) will result in irreparable damage to you, and, accordingly, you may obtain injunctive and other equitable relief for any breach or threatened breach of such paragraph, in addition to any other remedies available to you. You and Employer agree that the restrictions and remedies contained in paragraphs 8(a) through 8(h) are reasonable and that it is your intention and the intention of Employer that such restrictions and remedies shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permissible by law. If it shall be found by a court of competent jurisdiction that any such restriction or remedy is unenforceable but would be enforceable if some part thereof were deleted or the period or area of application reduced, then such restriction or remedy shall apply with such modification as shall be necessary to make it enforceable.
(j) Survival. Your obligations under paragraphs 8(a) through 8(h) and Employer’s obligations under paragraph 8(h) shall remain in full force and effect for the entire period provided therein (and only for such period) notwithstanding the termination of your employment pursuant to paragraph 10 hereof or otherwise or the expiration of the Employment Term.
(i) Employer will pay your Accrued Compensation and Benefits (as defined below in paragraph 10(d)(i));
(ii) Employer will pay you a prorated Bonus for the year of your termination of employment based on your Target Bonus and the number of calendar days of such year elapsed through the date of your termination of employment;
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(iii) all of your outstanding unvested Employer stock options will vest, and all such options and all of your outstanding options that have previously vested will remain exercisable until the applicable date set forth in paragraph 4(a)(v);
(iv) the number of Shares to which you are entitled in respect of your outstanding awards of PSUs will be determined as provided in paragraph 4(b) for Qualifying Terminations, and all Shares delivered upon settlement of PSUs will be considered vested;
(v) all of your unvested Target PRSU Awards and Matching RSUs will vest and be settled as promptly as administratively practicable after your termination date; and
(vi) Employer will continue to provide you with life insurance coverage as set forth in paragraph 6(b) until the end of the Employment Term or, if earlier, the date on which you become eligible for at least as much insurance coverage from a third party employer at the employer’s expense; provided, however, that Employer may decrease the amount of life insurance coverage it provides you so along as the amount of such coverage that it continues to provide, and the amount of such coverage provided to you from a third party employer at the employer’s expense, aggregates at least the amount set forth in paragraph 6(b).
(i) your engaging or participating in intentional acts of material fraud against the Company;
(ii) your willful misfeasance having a material adverse effect on the Company (except in the event of your incapacity as set forth in paragraph 9);
(iii) your substantial and continual refusal to perform your duties, responsibilities or obligations provided for in this Agreement (provided that such duties, responsibilities or obligations are not inconsistent with your position as President and Chief Executive Officer and are otherwise lawful);
(iv) your conviction of a felony or entering a plea of nolo contendere to a felony charge;
(v) your willful violation of any policy of the Company that is generally applicable to all employees or all officers of the Company including, but not limited to, policies concerning xxxxxxx xxxxxxx or sexual harassment, or the
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Company’s code of conduct, that you knew or reasonably should have known could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the Company;
(vi) your willful unauthorized disclosure of a trade secret or other confidential material information of the Company, that you knew or reasonably should have known could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the Company;
(vii) your willful failure to cooperate fully with a bona fide Company internal investigation or an investigation of the Company by regulatory or law enforcement authorities whether or not related to your employment with the Company (an “Investigation”), after being instructed by the Board to cooperate;
(viii) your willful destruction of or knowing and intentional failure to preserve documents or other material known by you to be relevant to any Investigation; or
(ix) your willful inducement of others to fail to cooperate in any Investigation or to produce documents or other material.
For purposes of the foregoing definition, an act or omission shall be considered “willful” if it done, or omitted to be done, by you with knowledge and intent. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board will give you written notice (a “Cause Notice”), not more than thirty (30) calendar days after the occurrence of the event constituting Cause comes to the attention of an “executive officer” of Employer (as defined by the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission for purposes of the Exchange Act), prior to terminating your employment for Cause. A Cause Notice will set forth in reasonable detail the circumstances constituting Cause and, if applicable, the conduct required to cure the same. Except for actions, malfeasance or circumstances which by their nature cannot be cured, you shall have thirty (30) calendar days from your receipt of such notice within which to cure. Without prejudice to whether any other action, malfeasance or circumstance is capable of cure, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that any purported refusal to perform your duties, responsibilities or obligations as described in clause (iii) above, and any failure to cooperate with an Investigation as described in clause (vii) above, is capable of cure. Notwithstanding the above, any violation of Company policy or failure to cooperate with an Investigation which is in connection with the exercise of your constitutional right against self-incrimination shall not be considered an event described in clause (v) or (vii) above. For purposes of this Agreement, no termination of your employment purportedly for Cause shall be treated as a termination for Cause without your receipt of a Cause Notice, nor shall any termination of your employment during the 30-day cure period provided for in the preceding sentence, if applicable, or after your satisfactory cure of the breach, malfeasance or circumstances that the Company asserted as constituting Cause, be considered a termination for Cause for such stated reasons. The date of a termination of your employment for Cause shall be the date after the cure period provided for above, if any, expires without your having cured the actions, malfeasance or circumstances
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constituting Cause to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board (or, if no cure period is applicable, the date of termination specified in the written notice given to you by the Board).
(i) (A) the assignment to you of duties substantially inconsistent with your positions, duties or responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer or any change in reporting such that you do not report solely and directly to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx in his capacity as Employer’s Executive Chairman and Founder and the Board (or, if Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx ceases to hold such position of Employer’s Executive Chairman and Founder, solely to the Board) or, (B) after the appointment of a non-executive Chairman of Employer other than Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx or yourself, the occurrence of conduct by such non-executive Chairman which materially interferes with your ability to perform your CEO duties effectively and which is inconsistent with the role of a member of the Board; provided, however, that you shall provide written notice to the Chair of the Compensation Committee not later than the date you provide written notice of termination, explaining the rationale for why such conduct adversely affects your ability to perform your CEO duties effectively; and, provided, further, that Employer shall be deemed to have satisfactorily cured such event if (i) the Board takes reasonable steps to cause the cessation of the interfering conduct and takes reasonable steps to prevent the further occurrence thereof, including by directing the non-executive Chairman to cease and desist from such interfering conduct, and, (ii) if such direction by the Board does not in fact cause such conduct to cease, subject to written notice of the re-occurrence of such conduct in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph 10(b), the Board removes the director from the non-executive Chairman position within sixty (60) calendar days from the giving of such notice;
(ii) your removal from or any failure to re-elect you as Chief Executive Officer of Employer;
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(iii) your removal from or failure to be elected or reelected to the Board at any annual meeting of shareholders of the Company at which your term as director is scheduled to expire;
(iv) a reduction in your Salary, Target Bonus or other compensation levels as the same may be increased from time to time during the Employment Term;
(v) Employer’s requiring you to be based anywhere other than the New York metropolitan area, except for required travel on the Company’s business; or
(vi) any other breach by Employer of its obligations hereunder.
(d) Termination Payments, Etc.
a. | Employer will pay and provide your Accrued Compensation and Benefits; |
b. | Employer will pay you a pro rated Bonus for the fiscal year of your termination of employment based on your Target Bonus and the number of calendar days of such year elapsed through the Termination Date, such amount, before |
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the daily pro ration, to be multiplied by the performance multiplier approved by the Compensation Committee in respect of Company financial and quantitative goals for such year under the Senior Executive STIP (with the method for determining such performance multiplier to correspond to the method used under the Senior Executive STIP as of the Amendment Date to adjust target STIP payout amounts based on Company performance), with such pro rated Bonus to be paid in accordance with paragraph 3(b)(iv) of this Agreement;
c. | Employer will pay you a severance payment (the “Severance Payment”) equal in amount to the sum of: |
i | three (3) times your Salary in effect at the time of termination (or, if your Salary has been reduced in violation of this Agreement, your highest Salary during the Employment Term); and |
ii | three (3) times the higher of (X) the average of the annual cash Bonuses payable to you (whether or not actually paid) with respect to the last three completed fiscal years prior to the Termination Date (with any Bonus payable to you in respect of the shortened fiscal year January 1 – September 30, 2010, once completed, to be included in such average only on an annualized basis) and (Y) the Target Bonus at the Termination Date (or, if your Target Bonus has been reduced in violation of this Agreement, your highest Target Bonus during the Employment Term) (the “Applicable Bonus Amount”) |
(such sum being the “Severance Amount”); provided, however, that if fewer than 36 months remain in the Employment Term at the Termination Date, the amount of the Severance Payment will equal the Severance Amount multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of months (including partial months) remaining in the Employment Term (but in no event will the numerator be less than 12) and the denominator of which is 36.
d. | all of your outstanding unvested Employer stock options will vest, and all such options and all of your outstanding Employer stock options that have previously vested will remain exercisable until the applicable date set forth in paragraph 4(a)(v); |
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e. | the number of Shares to which you are entitled in respect of your outstanding awards of PSUs will be determined as provided in paragraph 4(b) for Qualifying Terminations, and all Shares delivered upon settlement of PSUs will be considered vested; |
f. | all of your unvested Target PRSU Awards and Matching RSUs will vest and be settled as promptly as administratively practicable after your Termination Date; and |
g. | Employer will continue to provide you with life insurance coverage as set forth in paragraph 6(b) until the end of the Employment Term or, if earlier, the date on which you become eligible for at least as much insurance coverage from a third party employer at the employer’s expense; provided, however, that Employer may decrease the amount of life insurance coverage it provides you so along as the amount of such coverage that it continues to provide, and the amount of such coverage provided to you from a third party employer at the employer’s expense, aggregates at least the amount set forth in paragraph 6(b). |
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investment will not breach the Non-Compete Covenant, but such failure shall create an irrebuttable presumption that any breach arising from such activity or investment is capable of cure.
(iv) Full Discharge of Company Obligations; Release. The payments and other benefits provided for in paragraph 10(d)(ii) are in lieu of any severance or income continuation or protection under any plan Employer or any of its subsidiaries that may now or hereafter exist. The payments and benefits to be provided pursuant to paragraph 10(d)(ii) shall constitute liquidated damages, and shall be deemed to satisfy and be in full and final settlement of all obligations of Employer to you under this Agreement. You acknowledge and agree that such amounts are fair and reasonable, and your sole and exclusive remedy, in lieu of all other remedies at law or in equity, with respect to the termination of your employment hereunder. Employer’s obligation to make the Severance Payment and provide the other benefits provided for in paragraph 10(d)(ii) other than the Accrued Compensation and Benefits shall be conditioned on your execution and non-revocation of a release in form and substance substantially identical to that set forth in Schedule B.
(e) Excise Taxes. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to you hereunder, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any interest or penalties thereon, is herein referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then Employer shall pay (either directly to the IRS as tax withholdings or to you as a reimbursement of any amount of taxes, interest and penalties paid by you to the IRS) both the Excise Tax and an additional cash payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount that will place you in the same after-tax economic position that you would have enjoyed if the payment or benefit had not been subject to the Excise Tax. The determination of whether a Gross-Up Payment is due pursuant to the preceding sentence, and if so the amount thereof, shall be made by Employer; provided, however, that if you disagree with Employer’s determination, you shall have the right to require Employer to arrange for a second determination to be made by a nationally recognized law or accounting firm mutually agreeable to you and Employer (the “Tax Expert”), in which case the determination made by the Tax Expert, rather than by Employer, shall control. The Company will pay the fees and expenses of the Tax Expert in making the foregoing determinations, unless the calculation of the Gross-Up Payment made by the Tax Expert differs by less than 10% (plus or minus) from the calculation made by Employer, in which case you will pay such fees and expenses. Employer may, at its expense, consult with its outside tax counsel and its independent auditors, to the extent it deems appropriate, in making determinations pursuant to this paragraph 10(e). If, upon audit or other examination by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) of your or the Company’s federal income tax return (an “Audit”), the amount of the Excise Tax determined by the IRS is greater than an amount previously determined by Employer or the Tax Expert, as applicable, then Employer or the Tax Expert, as applicable, shall recalculate the amount of the Gross-Up Payment and shall be instructed to provide you with detailed support for its calculations. You shall promptly notify Employer of any IRS assertion during an
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Audit of your federal income tax return that an Excise Tax is due with respect to any payment or benefit, but you shall be under no obligation to defend against such claim by the IRS unless Employer requests, in writing, that you undertake the defense of such IRS claim at Employer’s sole expense. In such event, Employer may elect to control the conduct to a final determination through counsel of its own choosing and at its sole expense, of any audit, administrative or judicial proceeding involving an asserted liability relating to the Excise Tax, and you shall not settle, compromise or concede such asserted Excise Tax and shall cooperate with Employer in each phase of any contest. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph 10(e), if it shall be determined by Employer or the Tax Expert, as applicable, that you are entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the aggregate value for purposes of determining if an Excise Tax is due and, if so, the amount thereof, of all payments and benefits to be provided to you under this Agreement do not exceed 110% of the greatest amount (the “Reduced Amount”) that could be paid to you such that your receipt of such payments and benefits would not give rise to any Excise Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to you, and the payments and benefits to be provided to you, in the aggregate, shall be reduced, in a manner to be determined solely by you, to the Reduced Amount. This paragraph 10(e) shall not apply with respect to a change in control or other event described in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if such event occurs after 2013, unless either (i) a contract or predecessor contract to effect such event was executed prior to 2014 and/or (ii) your employment is terminated pursuant to paragraph 10(b) or paragraph 10(c) of this Agreement prior to 2014 in anticipation of such an event.
(i) Employer will pay your Accrued Compensation and Benefits up to the date on which the death occurs;
(ii) Employer will pay a prorated Bonus for the year of your death based on your Target Bonus and the number of calendar days elapsed during the year through the date of your death;
(iii) all of your outstanding unvested Employer stock options will vest, and all such options and all of your outstanding options that have previously vested will remain exercisable until the applicable date set forth in paragraph 4(a)(v);
(iv) the number of Shares to which you are entitled in respect of your outstanding awards of PSUs will be determined as provided in paragraph 4(b) for Qualifying Terminations, and all Shares delivered upon settlement of PSUs will be considered vested; and
(v) all of your unvested Target PRSU Awards and Matching RSUs will vest and be settled as promptly as administratively practicable after your Termination Date.
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14. Section 317 and 507 of the Federal Communications Act. You represent that you have not accepted or given nor will you accept or give, directly or indirectly, any money, services or other valuable consideration from or to anyone other than Employer for the inclusion of any matter as part of any film, television program or other production produced, distributed and/or developed by Employer and/or any of Employer’s affiliates.
(a) If you are made a party, are threatened to be made a party to, or otherwise receive any other legal process in, any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason (in whole or in part) of the fact that you are or were a director, officer or employee of Employer or are or were serving at the request of Employer as a director, officer, member, employee or agent
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of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is your alleged action in an official capacity while serving as director, officer, member, employee or agent, Employer shall indemnify you and hold you harmless to the fullest extent permitted or authorized by Employer’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws or, if greater, by the laws of the State of Delaware, against all cost, expense, liability and loss (including without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and any cost and fees incurred in enforcing your rights to indemnification or contribution) reasonably incurred or suffered by you in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue even though you have ceased to be a director, member, employee or agent of Employer or other entity and shall inure to the benefit of your heirs, executors and administrators. Employer shall advance to you all reasonable costs and expenses that you incur in connection with a Proceeding within 20 days after its receipt of a written request for such advance. Such request shall include an undertaking by you to repay the amount of such advance if it shall ultimately be determined that you are not entitled to be indemnified against such costs and expenses.
(b) Neither the failure of Employer (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination that indemnification of you is proper because you have met the applicable standard of conduct, nor a determination by Employer (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel or stockholders) that you have not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption or inference that you have not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(c) To the extent that Employer maintains officers’ and directors’ liability insurance, you will be covered under such policy subject to the exclusions and limitations set forth therein.
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taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Employer” shall mean Employer as defined above and any successor to its business and/or assets which by reason hereof assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
19. New York Law. This Agreement and all matters or issues collateral thereto shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof or to those of any other jurisdiction which, in either case, could cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
20. Disputes. Any disputes between the parties to this Agreement shall be settled by arbitration in New York, New York under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association, before a panel of three (3) arbitrators, in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes promulgated by the Association. Each party shall select an arbitrator and the two (2) arbitrators shall select a third and these three arbitrators shall form the panel. The decision in such arbitration shall be final and conclusive on the parties and judgment upon such decision may be entered into in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Costs of the arbitration or litigation, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of both parties, shall be borne by Employer if you prevail on at least one of the issues that is the subject of the arbitration. If you do not so prevail, you and Employer shall equally share costs of the arbitration or litigation other than attorneys’ fees, and each of you and Employer shall bear its own attorneys’ fees and expenses. Pending the resolution of any arbitration or court proceeding, Employer shall continue payment of all amounts due you under this Agreement and all benefits to which you are entitled at the time the dispute arises. Nothing herein shall prevent Employer or you from seeking equitable relief in court as provided for in paragraph 8(i) or shall prevent either party from seeking equitable relief in court in aid of arbitration under applicable law.
22. Entire Understanding; Amendments. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter herein contained, and can be amended only by a writing signed by both parties hereto. This Agreement supersedes the terms of the Original Employment Agreement and all prior amendments to the Original Employment Agreement other than the “Section 409A Amendment” (as defined in paragraph 26). For purposes of clarity, the Section 409A Amendment remains in full force and effect following the execution of this Agreement and is incorporated by reference herein pursuant to paragraph 26 of this Agreement.
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waiver of any other breach or default, whether similar to or different from the breach or default waived. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be implied from any course of dealing between the parties hereto or from any failure by either party hereto to assert its or his rights hereunder on any occasion or series of occasions.
26. Section 409A. On August 28, 2008, you executed a Form Employment Agreement Amendment, attached hereto as Schedule C, to amend your Original Employment Agreement to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the rules, regulations and guidance thereunder (such section, “Section 409A”) (such amendment, the “Section 409A Amendment”). The Section 409A Amendment shall continue in full force and effect following the Amendment Date and is hereby incorporated by reference into and made part of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the first sentence of paragraph 10(d)(iii) of this Agreement, in the event that you become entitled to the Severance Payment pursuant to paragraph 10(d) of this Agreement as a result of a termination of your employment before 2012, then, if and to the extent that a portion of such payment scheduled to be paid in a lump sum would represent an impermissible acceleration of “deferred compensation” under the Original Employment Agreement as determined under Section 409A, such portion shall not be paid in a lump sum but shall instead be paid in such form and at such time(s) as it would have been paid pursuant to the Original Employment Agreement. Following any delay of payments or benefits pursuant to the Section 409A Amendment: (i) all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the date permitted under paragraph 10 of the Section 409A Amendment (the “Permissible Payment Date”) plus accrued interest on such delayed payments during the period of such delay at the Company’s highest borrowing rate in effect on the Termination Date, and (ii) Employer shall reimburse you for the reasonable after-tax cost of any benefits, contemplated by paragraphs 9 and 10 hereof incurred by you in independently obtaining any benefits delayed pursuant to the Section 409A Amendment during the period in which such benefits are delayed, with such reimbursement to be paid to you by Employer on the Permissible Payment Date.
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please sign, date and return all four (4) copies of this Agreement and return it to the undersigned for execution on behalf of Employer; after this Agreement has been executed by Employer and a fully executed copy returned to you, it shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours, |
VIACOM INC. |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Title: Executive Chairman and Founder |
ACCEPTED AND AGREED: |
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Dated: |
SCHEDULE A
Investments
As of the Amendment Date, you have investments in the following private media or entertainment businesses:
DND Capital Partners LLC, including its investments in:
The Tennis Channel, Inc.
Si TV
This Schedule A shall also be deemed to include any successor by merger, assets sale or similar transaction to any of the businesses listed above.
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SCHEDULE B
Form of Release
GENERAL RELEASE
1. Excluding enforcement of the covenants, promises and/or rights reserved herein, the Executive hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases, acquits and forever discharges Employer and each of Employer’s owners, stockholders, predecessors, successors, assigns, directors, officers, employees, divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates (and directors, officers and employees of such companies, divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates) and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with any of them (collectively “Releasees”), or any of them, from any and all charges, complaints, claims, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, controversies, damages, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, demands, costs, losses, debts and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs actually incurred) of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, including, but not limited to, rights arising out of alleged violations of any contracts, express or implied, any covenant of good faith and fair dealing, express or implied, or any tort or any legal restrictions on Employer’s right to terminate employees, or any Federal, state or other governmental statute, regulation or ordinance, including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Federal Age Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”), as amended, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”), as amended, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act (“WARN”), as amended, the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (“OSHA”), the New York State Human Rights Law, as amended, the New York Labor Act, as amended, the New York Equal Pay Law, as amended, the New York Civil Rights Law, as amended,
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the New York Rights of Persons With Disabilities Law, as amended, and the New York Equal Rights Law, as amended, that the Executive now has, or has ever had, or ever will have, against each or any of the Releasees, by reason of any and all acts, omissions, events, circumstances or facts existing or occurring up through the date of the Executive’s execution hereof that directly or indirectly arise out of, relate to, or are connected with, the Executive’s services to, or employment by Employer (any of the foregoing being a “Claim” or, collectively, the “Claims”); provided, however, that this release shall not apply to any of the obligations of Employer or any other Releasee under the Employment Agreement, or under any agreements, plans, contracts, documents or programs described or referenced in the Employment Agreement; and provided, further, that this release shall not apply to any rights the Executive may have to obtain contribution or indemnity against Employer or any other Releasee pursuant to contract, Employer’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws or otherwise.
2. The Executive expressly waives and relinquishes all rights and benefits afforded by California Civil Code Section 1542 and does so understanding and acknowledging the significance of such specific waiver of Section 1542. Section 1542 states as follows:
“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”
Thus, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1542, and for the purpose of implementing a full and complete release and discharge of the Releasees, the Executive expressly acknowledges that this Agreement is intended to include in its effect, without limitation, all Claims that the Executive does not know or suspect to exist in the Executive’s favor at the time of execution hereof, and that this Agreement contemplates the extinguishment of any such Claim or Claims.
3. The Executive understands that he has been given a period of 21 days to review and consider this General Release before signing it pursuant to the Age Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967, as amended. The Executive further understands that he may use as much of this 21-day period as the Executive wishes prior to signing.
4. The Executive acknowledges and represents that he understands that he may revoke the waiver of his rights under the Age Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967, as amended, effectuated in this Agreement within 7 days of signing this Agreement. Revocation can be made by delivering a written notice of revocation to General Counsel, Employer Inc., 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000. For this revocation to be effective, written notice must be received by the General Counsel no later than the close of business on the seventh day after the Executive signs this Agreement. If the Executive revokes the waiver of his rights under the Age
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Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967, as amended, Employer shall have no obligations to the Executive under paragraph 10(d) of the Employment Agreement.
5. The Executive and Employer respectively represent and acknowledge that in executing this Agreement neither of them is relying upon, and has not relied upon, any representation or statement not set forth herein made by any of the agents, representatives or attorneys of the Releasees with regard to the subject matter, basis or effect of this Agreement or otherwise.
6. This Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission by any of the Releasees that any Releasee has acted wrongfully or that the Executive has any rights whatsoever against any of the Releasees except as specifically set forth herein, and each of the Releasees specifically disclaims any liability to any party for any wrongful acts.
7. It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under law. Should there be any conflict between any provision hereof and any present or future law, such law will prevail, but the provisions affected thereby will be curtailed and limited only to the extent necessary to bring them within the requirements of law, and the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and be fully valid and enforceable.
8. The Executive represents and agrees (a) that the Executive has to the extent he desires discussed all aspects of this Agreement with his attorney, (b) that the Executive has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement, and (c) that the Executive is voluntarily entering into this Agreement.
9. This General Release shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof or to those of any other jurisdiction which, in either case, could cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. This General Release is binding on the successors and assigns of, and sets forth the entire agreement between, the parties hereto; fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof; and may not be changed except by explicit written agreement to that effect subscribed by the parties hereto.
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS GENERAL RELEASE INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.
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This General Release is executed by the Executive and Employer as of the day of , 20 .
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
VIACOM INC. | ||
By: | ||
Title: | ||
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SCHEDULE C
The Section 409A Amendment
FORM EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AMENDMENT
(I.R.C. §409A)
This Amendment Agreement modifies certain terms and conditions of your employment agreement with Viacom Inc. or one of its subsidiaries (your “Employment Agreement”). In this Amendment Agreement, we refer to the corporation or other entity that employs you as the “Company”, and we refer to Viacom Inc. and its subsidiaries, collectively, as “Viacom”.
1. Timing of Payments. If your Employment Agreement does not already provide a schedule for the payment of your salary that is in compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the rules, regulations and guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”), your Employment Agreement is modified to provide that payments of salary, less deductions and income and payroll tax withholding as may be required or authorized under applicable law, shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures for employees generally, but no less frequently than monthly. If your Employment Agreement provides for a payment to be made promptly or as soon as administratively practicable after or following the occurrence of a date or an event specified in the Employment Agreement, then the payment will be made not later than 90 days following the occurrence of the date or event.
2. Performance Shares Units. Shares delivered in settlement of the PSUs awarded to you pursuant to your Employment Agreement will be delivered not later than March 15 following the last year of the Measurement Period for the relevant PSU. No new terms and conditions that are approved by the Compensation Committee, in addition to those set forth in your Employment Agreement, will apply to PSUs awarded to you pursuant to your Employment Agreement to the extent they would affect the time or form of payment in respect of your PSUs in violation of any requirements of Section 409A that may be applicable thereto.
3. “Termination of Employment”. To the extent that your Employment Agreement provides for any severance or other termination payment or any other benefits to be made or provided to you or your beneficiaries upon or as a result of your termination of employment, you will be considered to have experienced a termination of employment as of the date that the level of bona fide services that you are expected to perform permanently decreases to no more than 20% of the average level of bona fide services that you performed over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period of services if you have been providing services less than 36 months).
For these purposes, your “services” include services that you provide as an employee or as an independent contractor. In addition, in determining whether you have experienced a termination of employment, the Company is obligated to take into account services you provide both for it and for any other corporation that is a member of the same “controlled group” of corporations as the Company under Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or any other trade or business (such as a partnership) which is under common control with the Company as determined under Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, in each case as modified by Section 409A. In general, this means that the Company will consider services you provide to any corporation or other entity in which Viacom Inc., directly or indirectly, possesses at least 50% of the total voting power or at least 50% of the total value of the equity interests.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing provided in this paragraph 3 shall supercede or otherwise modify the definition of “good reason” contained in your Employment Agreement.
4. Timing of post-termination payments and benefits. Unless otherwise specified herein, to the extent that your Employment Agreement does not already provide a schedule for the payments that is in compliance with Section 409A, any payments that are required to be made under your Employment Agreement following your termination of employment will be made at the same time and in the same manner as if you had not terminated employment. For example, any salary continuation will be paid on the schedule described in paragraph 1 of this Amendment Agreement, and any annual bonus or pro-rated annual bonus to which you are entitled under your Employment Agreement (whether for the year in which your termination of employment occurs or any subsequent year) will be paid in the year following the year in which the bonus is earned prior to March 15 or, if different, at the same time, or pursuant to the same schedule, as annual bonuses that the Company pays to continuing employees under the applicable annual bonus program. Please note that these timing rules apply following any termination of employment, including termination of employment incident to non-renewal of the Employment Agreement.
5. Release. This paragraph 5 applies if your Employment Agreement conditions payment of severance or any other payments, or provision of any benefits, following your termination of employment on your execution of a Release. For purposes of this paragraph 5, the “Release” refers to a release in a form attached to your Employment Agreement, or if no such release is so attached, to any other form of release in use by the Company at the time of your termination of employment. If your Employment Agreement contains such terms, then the Company shall not be required to continue making severance or other payments or providing benefits, unless, (i) if your Employment Agreement does not specify a deadline by which you must have executed the Release and it must have become irrevocable, by 60 days following your termination of employment or (ii) if your Employment Agreement specifies a deadline by which you must have executed the Release and it must have become irrevocable, by such deadline, you have executed the Release and delivered it to the Company, and the Release has become effective and irrevocable in its entirety. If the Company has ceased making severance or other payments or providing benefits pursuant to the preceding sentence and you subsequently execute the Release, and it becomes effective and irrevocable in its entirety, the Company may resume
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making or providing such payments or benefits, but it will have no obligation to do so.
6. Good Reason. This paragraph 6 applies if your Employment Agreement contains a definition of “good reason,” and is intended to ensure that “good reason” is triggered only upon a material negative change in your employment relationship with the Company. Accordingly, in order to terminate your employment with “good reason,” you must provide the Company with a notice of termination specifying (x) the effective date of your termination and (y) the particular condition(s) that constitute “good reason” for such termination. The notice must be provided within thirty (30) calendar days of the initial existence of the condition(s) that are purported to constitute “good reason,” or, if later, within thirty (30) calendar days after you become aware, or with reasonable diligence should have become aware, of the condition(s) that are purported to constitute “good reason,” and must give the Company at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of your intent to terminate with “good reason,” during which time the Company shall be given the opportunity to cure any basis for such “good reason”; provided, however, that there shall be no cure period with respect to events which by their nature cannot be cured. If no cure is timely effected (or if there is no cure period due to the nature of the event), then your termination with “good reason” shall be effective as of the date of termination you specified in the notice of termination. If a cure is timely effected, your resignation for “good reason” shall not be effective at that time. The foregoing notice and cure provision shall supersede the notice and cure provision in your Employment Agreement, if any.
7. Death. To the extent that your Employment Agreement provides for a lump-sum severance payment or other lump-sum payment to be made as a result of your death, such lump sum payment will be made no later than the 60th day following your death. This provision applies only to amounts which, under your Employment Agreement, are to be paid in a lump sum. Any payment or benefit which, under the terms of your Employment Agreement, is to be made following your death as a continuing stream of payments (such as salary continuation), and any payments of annual bonus or other incentive compensation to which your estate or beneficiary is entitled following your death and which are not included in any lump sum payment, shall be made to your estate or beneficiary at the same time and in the same manner as if you were still actively employed with the Company.
8. Severance Plan Adjustment. In the event that you are entitled to any election between severance options (e.g., a choice between amounts available under a severance plan and your severance entitlement under the Employment Agreement), then the amounts, but not the time or form of payment, of your severance entitlement under the Employment Agreement shall automatically be adjusted to equal whichever is the greater amount in the aggregate of such severance options, The time and form of payment shall continue as specified in the terms of your Employment Agreement. In no event, however, will any such adjustment alter the time or form of the payments to which you are entitled.
9. No Offsets. If your Employment Agreement gives the Company the right to reduce or otherwise offset against amounts owed to you in order to satisfy any obligations you owe the Company, such provision is modified to provide that the Company shall not make any deductions for money or property that you owe to the Company from amounts that constitute deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A, except for applicable withholding taxes on such amounts and otherwise only to the extent that such deduction would not cause any person to incur any tax, interest or penalties under Section 409A.
10. Required Delay in Payment for Viacom’s “Specified Employees”. In the event that, at the time of your termination of employment, you are a “specified employee,” as determined by Viacom Inc., then to the extent that any amount or benefit owed to you under your Employment Agreement (x) constitutes an amount of deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A and (y) is considered for purposes of Section 409A to be owed to you by virtue of your termination of employment, then such amount or benefit shall not be paid or provided during the six-month period following the date of your termination of employment and instead shall be paid or provided on the first day of the seventh month following your date of termination of employment, except to the extent that, in Viacom’s reasonable judgment, payment during such six-month period would not cause any person to incur additional tax, interest or penalties under Section 409A. Delay in payment or provision of benefits during the six months following your termination of employment is referred to as the “Six-Month Delay”.
It is noted that to the extent that your Employment Agreement provides for payments or benefits to be provided solely upon your “involuntary” termination of employment (as determined under Section 409A), the Six-Month Delay will not apply to the extent that such payments and benefits, in the aggregate, do not exceed an amount equal to the lesser of:
(x) two times your “annualized compensation” as determined in accordance with Section 409A (in general, this amount is your annual rate of pay for the year preceding the year in which your employment terminates, adjusted for any increases during the year your employment terminates that were expected to continue indefinitely); and
(y) two times the applicable annual compensation limit under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code for the year in which your termination occurs (for 2008, this amount is two times $230,000, or $460,000).
To minimize the risk that the Six-Month Delay will disrupt your coverage under any medical, dental and life insurance coverage to which you are entitled following your termination of employment, payments described in the preceding sentence that are made during the six months following your termination of employment shall first be applied to cover any costs relating to such continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage that otherwise would constitute deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A, and thereafter shall be made in respect of other amounts or benefits owed to you.
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Except as otherwise provided herein, your Employment Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.
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