Exhibit Description: Consulting Agreement between CAK Entertainment Inc. and
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Living Omnimedia, Inc. dated October 21,
2005
EXHIBIT 10.1
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into as of October 21, 2005 (the
"Effective Date"), between CAK Entertainment Inc., a New York corporation (the
"Consultant") and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Living Omnimedia, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") (each, a "Party").
WHEREAS, the Consultant is engaged in the music and entertainment business;
WHEREAS, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
the Consultant, currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Company and performs consulting services for the Company, which services shall
cease upon the Effective Date;
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to engage the Consultant as a consultant to the
Company in order to assist the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company in addressing strategic opportunities for the Company including, without
limitation, helping to identify, develop, design, structure and negotiate
merchandising through catalogs, direct marketing, internet commerce, retail
stores, book publishing, magazine, radio and television opportunities, as well
as other product categories now or hereafter developed by the Company
("Opportunities"); and
WHEREAS, the Consultant wishes to accept such engagement on the terms and
conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set
forth herein, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Retention as Consultant. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Company
shall retain the Consultant, and the Consultant shall serve the Company as a
consultant and shall make available to the Company the services of its employee,
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx ("Xxxxxxxxx"), on the terms and conditions set forth
herein.
2. Term.
(a) The Consultant shall provide Consulting Services (as defined in
Section 3) hereunder for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending
on the second anniversary of the Effective Date, unless the period ends earlier
as provided in Section 2(b) (the "Consulting Term"). The Consulting Term shall
automatically be extended for one year unless either Party provides notice to
the other of its intention not to extend the Consulting Term, not less than
ninety (90) day preceding the expiration of the Consulting Term.
(b) The Consulting Term shall immediately terminate upon the
dissolution or bankruptcy of Consultant, or upon the death or Disability of
Xxxxxxxxx. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall have the meaning
set forth in the Company's Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Plan").
3. Non-Exclusive Consulting Services. During the Consulting Term, the
Consultant agrees to render consulting services to the Company by making
Xxxxxxxxx available to assist the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company in identifying and addressing strategic opportunities for the Company
including, without limitation, helping to identify, develop, design, structure
and negotiate Opportunities (the
"Consulting Services"). The Consultant shall report and be accountable to the
President and Chief Executive Officer orally or in writing, as the President and
Chief Executive Officer may reasonably direct. The Consultant and Xxxxxxxxx are
entitled to engage in any other business and may enter into other consulting
agreements and provide consulting services to other entities during the
Consulting Term so long as the conduct of such other business or such other
consulting services do not impair the Consulting Services and do not violate
this Agreement. The previous sentence notwithstanding, it is anticipated that
the Consulting Services will require a substantial time commitment on behalf of
the Consultant and Xxxxxxxxx. Neither Consultant nor Xxxxxxxxx shall have the
right to execute or enter into agreements or commitments on behalf of the
Company or otherwise exercise any powers of an officer of the Company; provided
that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to affect, limit or restrict
Xxxxxxxxx'x rights, obligations, duties and responsibilities as Chairman of the
Board of the Company.
4. Place of Performance. During the Consulting Term, the Consultant shall
perform its duties hereunder at such locations as it shall deem appropriate and
helpful to the performance of the Consulting Services. The Company shall make
available to the Consultant, during the Consulting Term, an office and the
services of an administrative assistant at the Company's headquarters.
5. Compensation. In consideration of the Consulting Services to be
performed during the Consulting Term and the non-competition and confidentiality
covenants set forth herein, the Company shall provide the Consultant with the
following:
(a) Annual Fee. The Company shall pay to the Consultant an annual fee of
$725,000 (the "Fee"). The Fee shall be paid on a monthly basis in equal
installments.
(b) Stock Options. The Company shall grant to Xxxxxxxxx as of the Effective
Date options to purchase 200,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01
per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") pursuant to a stock option
agreement in a form substantially similar to previous such agreements between
Xxxxxxxxx and the Company (the "Stock Option Agreement"). Such options shall
have an exercise price equal to the Common Stock's fair market value on the date
of grant and the option term set forth in the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock
Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), and shall be subject to the vesting conditions set
forth in Section 5(e) hereof.
(c) Restricted Stock. The Company shall grant to Xxxxxxxxx as of the
Effective Date 75,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to a restricted stock
agreement in a form substantially similar to previous such agreements between
Xxxxxxxxx and the Company (the "Restricted Stock Agreement"), subject to the
vesting conditions set forth in Section 5(e) hereof and the terms of the Plan.
(d) Performance Fee. The Consultant shall be eligible to receive a
performance fee of (i) $2,400,000 at target, plus (ii) an additional payment of
$600,000 upon the achievement of certain special milestones described in Exhibit
A, for a maximum payout of $3,000,000, subject to the earnout conditions set
forth in Section 5(e) hereof.
(e) Vesting and Earnout Conditions. Vesting of the stock options and
restricted stock described in Sections 5(b) and (c) and earnout of the
performance fee described in Section 5(d) hereof shall be based upon the
Consultant rendering the Consulting Services during the Consulting Term and any
extension thereof, and the level of performance in accordance with the
earnout/vesting schedule in Exhibit A. If (i)
Consultant either declines to extend the Consulting Term for one year as
contemplated by Section 2(a), or ceases to make Xxxxxxxxx'x services available
to the Company during the Consulting Term including any extension thereof
through the third anniversary of the Effective Date, or (ii) Xxxxxxxxx ceases to
perform services hereunder during the Consulting Term including any extension
thereof through the third anniversary of the Effective Date (either, a
"Cessation Event"), then vesting and earnout shall cease as of the date of such
Cessation Event, and the Company shall, as soon thereafter as practicable,
undertake a final reconciliation of performance as of the date of such Cessation
Event.
6. Confidential Information. Except as may be required or appropriate in
connection with carrying out the Consultant's duties under this Agreement,
neither the Consultant nor Xxxxxxxxx shall, without the prior written consent of
the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal process, or as
it is necessary in connection with any adversarial proceeding against the
Company (in which case the Consultant and Xxxxxxxxx shall cooperate with the
Company in obtaining a protective order at the Company's expense against
disclosure by a court of competent jurisdiction), communicate, to anyone other
than the Company and those designated by the Company or on behalf of the Company
in the furtherance of its business or to perform the Consultant's duties
hereunder, any trade secrets, confidential information, knowledge or data
relating to the Company, its affiliates or any businesses or investments of the
Company or its affiliates, obtained by the Consultant during the Consultant's
services to the Company that is not generally available public knowledge (other
than by acts by the Consultant or Xxxxxxxxx in violation of this Agreement).
7. Non-Competition. During the Consulting Term (including any extension
thereof) and for six months thereafter, neither the Consultant nor Xxxxxxxxx
shall engage in or become associated with any Competitive Activity, unless the
Company terminates this Agreement without Cause or elects not to extend the
Consulting Term for one year, in which case the period of non-competition shall
end upon the effective date of such termination or failure to extend.
"Competitive Activity" shall mean any business or other endeavor (conducted in
any country in which the Company has significant business operations) that
engages to a significant degree in a business that directly competes with any
substantial part of any of the Company's businesses of (i) producing television
and other video programs, (ii) designing, developing, licensing, promoting and
selling merchandise through catalogs, direct marketing, internet commerce and/or
retail stores of the product categories in which the Company so participates
during the Consulting Term, (iii) the creation, publication or distribution of
regular or special issues of magazines, and (iv) any other business in which the
Company is engaged during the Consulting Term (the "Company Business").
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Consultant and Xxxxxxxxx shall be
permitted to engage in any business or other endeavor pertaining directly to the
music industry; moreover, Xxxxxxxxx shall be free to make personal appearances,
and otherwise trade on his name and reputation, so long as doing so does not
involve direct competition with the Company Business. The Consultant and/or
Xxxxxxxxx shall be considered to have become "associated with a Competitive
Activity" if it or he becomes involved as an owner, employee, officer, director,
independent contractor, agent, partner, advisor, or in any other capacity
calling for the rendition of the Consultant's or Xxxxxxxxx'x personal services,
with any individual, partnership,
corporation or other organization that is engaged in a Competitive Activity and
its or his involvement materially relates to the Competitive Activity of such
entity; provided, however, that the Consultant and/or Xxxxxxxxx shall not be
prohibited from (a) owning less than two percent of the equity of any publicly
traded corporation, whether or not such corporation is in competition with the
Company or (b) serving as a director of a corporation or other entity the
primary business of which is not a Competitive Activity. If, at any time, the
provisions of this Section 7 shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable,
by reason of being vague or unreasonable as to area, duration or scope of
activity, this Section 7 shall be considered divisible and shall become and be
immediately amended to only such area, duration and scope of activity as shall
be determined to be reasonable and enforceable by the court or other body having
jurisdiction over the matter; and the Consultant and Xxxxxxxxx agree that this
Section 7 as so amended shall be valid and binding as though any invalid or
unenforceable provision had not been included herein.
8. Independent Contractor Relationship; Taxes. The relationship of the
Consultant to the Company created by this Agreement is that of an independent
contractor, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to create an
employer-employee relationship or principal-agent relationship between either
the Consultant or Xxxxxxxxx and the Company or give the Company the right to
control or interfere in any manner in the day-to-day business affairs of the
Consultant or Xxxxxxxxx. The Consultant shall have the sole responsibility of
and control over the manner and means of providing the services required
hereunder. Neither the Consultant nor Xxxxxxxxx shall be entitled to any
benefit, right or privilege provided or made
available by the Company to its employees under any Company pension, welfare or
other benefit plan. The Consultant and Xxxxxxxxx shall be directly responsible
for payments to satisfy the Consultant's and Xxxxxxxxx'x obligations under all
federal, state and local tax laws of every kind, workers' compensation laws,
disability and unemployment insurance laws and the Social Security Act with
respect to its compensation received from the Company and any payments it may
make to Xxxxxxxxx. The Company shall not withhold taxes or any other payroll
deductions from payments made to the Consultant or on the vesting of restricted
stock held or the exercise of stock options by Xxxxxxxxx. Because the Consultant
is not an employee of the Company, but rather an independent contractor, the
Company shall report payments made to the Consultant on IRS Form 1099. The
Consultant agrees to report all compensation received under this Agreement, the
Stock Option Agreement and the Restricted Stock Agreement to the appropriate
federal, state or local taxing authorities. The Consultant further agrees to
pay, when and as due, any and all taxes incurred or owed by the Consultant as a
result of (i) the compensation hereunder or thereunder, including estimated
taxes if applicable, and (ii) any compensation it may pay to Xxxxxxxxx, and
shall provide the Company with proof of said payments upon request. The
Consultant hereby agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company
from and against any and all claims, losses, costs, fines, assessments, fees,
liabilities, damage or injuries suffered by the Company arising out of any
breach by the Consultant of this Section 8, and the Consultant further agrees to
indemnify the Company and hold it harmless to the extent of any obligation of
the Company (a) to pay withholding taxes or similar items, or (b) resulting from
any legal
determination that the Consultant or Xxxxxxxxx is not an independent contractor
with respect to the Company.
9. Entire Agreement. No agreement or representation, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof has been made by
either party which is not expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Stock
Option Agreement and the Restricted Stock Agreement. This Agreement, the Stock
Option Agreement and the Restricted Stock Agreement contain the complete
agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersede any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or
between the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject
matter hereof in any way.
10. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the Company and its affiliates, successors and assigns and
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Consultant and its
affiliates, successors and assigns; provided that in no event shall the
Consultant's obligations hereunder be delegated or assigned by the Consultant,
nor may the Consultant substitute another person for Xxxxxxxxx as the person
whose services shall be made available to the Company. The Company may assign or
transfer its rights hereunder to any of its affiliates or to a successor
corporation in the event of merger, consolidation or transfer or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company.
11. Amendment and Waiver. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended,
waived or terminated only in a writing signed by the Company and the Consultant.
No waiver of any provision hereunder or any breach or default thereof shall
extend to or affect in any way any other provision or prior or subsequent breach
or
default. No course of dealing between the parties shall be deemed to affect or
to modify, amend or discharge any provision or term of this Agreement. No delay
on the part of the Company or the Consultant in the exercise of any of their
respective rights or remedies shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single
or partial exercise by the Company or the Consultant of any such right or remedy
shall preclude other or further exercises thereof. A waiver of right or remedy
on any one occasion, or with regard to one provision, shall not be construed as
a bar to, or waiver of, any such right or remedy on any other occasion or with
regard to any other provision.
12. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement, and any disputes or controversies arising with
respect to the transactions contemplated herein, shall be governed by the laws
of the State of New York, irrespective of New York's choice-of-law principles
that would apply the law of any other jurisdiction.
13. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall
be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law,
but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid
under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of
such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such
provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
14. Consultant's and Xxxxxxxxx'x Representations. The Consultant and
Xxxxxxxxx represent and warrant to the Company that (i) the Consultant's
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and its making the
services of Xxxxxxxxx available to the Company do not and shall not conflict
with, or result in the breach of or
violation of, any other agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to
which the Consultant or Xxxxxxxxx is a party or by which it or he is bound, and
(ii) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this
Agreement shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Consultant, enforceable
in accordance with its terms.
15. Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery, overnight courier, or
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
Notices to the Company:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Living Omnimedia, Inc.
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Notices to the Consultant:
CAK Entertainment Inc.
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
With a copy to:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Rosenman LLP
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
16. Legal Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay all reasonable fees and
expenses of legal counsel incurred by Consultant in the negotiation and drafting
of this Agreement, up to a maximum of $30,000.00. The Company shall also pay or
reimburse Consultant for all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by it in
performing its obligations under this Agreement, in accordance with past
practice and the Company's expense reimbursement practices.
17. Captions. The headings and captions used in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts,
any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but all
such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
* * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.
COMPANY:
XXXXXX XXXXXXX LIVING OMNIMEDIA, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
--------------------------------
Its: President & CEO
CONSULTANT:
CAK ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Its: President
Agreed to as to Sections 6, 7 and 14 hereof.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Exhibit A
PERFORMANCE VESTING SCHEDULE
1. Definition of "Deal Cash Flow" - For purposes of performance vesting, Deal
Cash Flow will be defined as the sum of (i) the amount of gross revenue
(not including any amounts counted pursuant to subsection (ii) of this
paragraph), including the fair market value of any non-cash item, the
Company receives directly from deals, licenses, agreements, business
ventures, etc. that are primarily attributable to the proposals, efforts,
introductions or orchestration of the Consultant or in which it has had
significant involvement ("Vesting Opportunities"), in each case as
determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole and absolute
discretion, and (ii) the gross revenues deemed received by the Company from
the transactions listed on the confidential schedule to be maintained by
the Compensation Committee, which transactions the Compensation Committee
has determined to be Vesting Opportunities by reason of Consultant's
significant involvement, including its proposals, introductions, advice,
negotiating efforts, and other contributions. The Parties agree that the
Sirius Radio transaction shall not be included in determining Deal Cash
Flow. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Company to enter into any
transaction with any other entity, even if such transaction would have
resulted in Deal Cash Flow.
2. Payment of Performance Compensation - In addition to the Special
Accelerated Vesting Arrangements described below, promptly (but in any
event, within 10 business days) after each quarterly determination of the
vesting and earnout as described in the immediately succeeding paragraph
(each, a "Determination"), the Company shall pay Consultant a portion of
the performance fees as provided in Section 5(d)(i) (up to $2.4 million),
and Xxxxxxxxx shall vest in a portion of each of the stock options and
restricted stock as provided in Sections 5(b) and 5(c), each said portion
equal to a fraction the denominator of which is 70 and the numerator of
which is the amount of Deal Cash Flow for which Consultant is credited
pursuant to such Determination. By way of example, and for illustrative
purposes only, if Consultant is credited in a Determination with Deal Cash
Flow equal to $14 million: (A) Consultant shall be entitled to receive a
portion of the total performance fees payable under this Agreement under
Section 5(d)(ii) equal to 14/70 X $2.4 million, which amount equals
$480,000; (B) Xxxxxxxxx shall be entitled to vest in a portion of the stock
options described in Section 5(b) equal to 14/70 X 200,000, which amount
equals 40,000 and (C) Xxxxxxxxx shall be entitled to vest in a portion of
the restricted stock described in Section 5(c) equal to 14/70 X 75,000,
which amount equals 15,000.
In addition to the compensation described above, if Consultant is credited
under this Agreement with $85 million or greater of cumulative Deal Cash
Flow during the Consulting Term and any and all Tail Periods (described
below), the Company shall pay Consultant the additional performance fees
described in Section 5(d)(ii) in the amount of $600,000. Such payment shall
be made promptly after the Determination (but in any event within 10
business days thereof) at which such cumulative Deal Cash Flow reaches or
exceeds $85 million. Provided that Consultant is credited with not less
than $70 million of cumulative Deal Cash Flow during the Consulting Term
and any and all Tail Periods (as described below), solely for purposes of
satisfying the $85 million Deal Cash Flow performance requirement, and
earning the $600,000 amount described in the foregoing sentence, each time
Consultant is credited with 5% special accelerated vesting pursuant to the
section entitled "'The Apprentice: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx' Show Appearance" below,
Consultant shall be credited with $5 million of deemed Deal Cash Flow, and
each time the Consultant is credited with a 5% special accelerated vesting
pursuant to the section entitled "Special Assignments and Tasks" below,
Consultant shall be credited with $10 million of deemed Deal Cash Flow
3. Approval Process and Performance Review - Within a reasonable period
following the completion of every calendar quarter, the Compensation
Committee will review, calculate, certify and approve the Vesting
Opportunities, level of performance and corresponding vesting or earnout
achievement. Deals may be subject to a minimum profit margin requirement to
qualify for credit for Deal Cash Flow purposes. The Compensation Committee
also has discretion to provide credit for deals where Consultant is
"finder", i.e., discussions commence during the Consulting Term including
any extension, but deal closes after Consulting Term has terminated.
4. Special Accelerated Vesting Arrangements - In addition to the
Determinations of Deal Cash Flow and Vesting Opportunities referenced
above:
(a) "The Apprentice: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx" Show Appearances - Consultant will
vest in 5% of each of the stock options, the restricted stock and the
performance fee on each anniversary of the Effective Date for each
television cycle of "The Apprentice: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx" television show
during the 12-month period ending on each such anniversary in which
Xxxxxxxxx appears at least once.
(b) Special Assignments and Tasks - In January 2006 and on or around each
of the second and third anniversaries of the Effective Date (each a
"Special Vesting Date"), the Consultant will vest in
5% of the performance fee and Xxxxxxxxx will vest in 5% each of the
restricted stock and stock options, but only if the Compensation
Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines that the
Consultant has materially facilitated or accomplished any special
arrangements or tasks or undertakes extraordinary strategic projects
(or has previously during the Consulting Term facilitated or
accomplished any special arrangements or tasks or undertaken
extraordinary strategic projects) on behalf of the Company that result
in substantial value to the Company during the 12-month period ending
on each such Special Vesting Date. By way of example, and for
illustrative purposes only, if the Compensation Committee determines
in January 2006 that Consultant has materially facilitated an
extraordinary strategic project that resulted in substantial value to
the Company during 2005, then Consultant will vest in 5% of the
performance fee and Xxxxxxxxx will vest in 5% each of the restricted
stock and stock options in January 2006; if that extraordinary
strategic project also results in substantial value to the Company in
the 12-month period immediately preceding the second Special Vesting
Date, then Consultant will vest in 5% of the performance fee and
Xxxxxxxxx will vest in 5% each of the restricted stock and stock
options on that date; but if that extraordinary strategic project
thereafter ceases to result in substantial value to the Company, then
there will be no additional vesting in connection therewith.
5. Maximum Vesting - The maximum aggregate vesting/earnout under the
Performance Vesting Schedule and the Special Accelerated Vesting
Arrangements cannot exceed 100% of the compensation described in Sections
5(b), 5(c) and 5(d). The additional $600,000 performance fee described in
Section 5(d)(ii) can be earned only if the conditions described above under
the paragraph entitled "Payment of Performance Compensation" are satisfied
prior to expiration of the Tail Period (as defined below).
6. Tail Period - In the event (i) the Company terminates this Agreement during
the Consulting Term other than for Cause (as defined below), (ii) the
Consulting Term expires on the second or third anniversary of the Effective
Date, or (iii) a Change in Control (as defined below) of the Company
occurs, the Consultant will continue to vest pursuant to the Performance
Vesting Schedule during the twenty-four (24) months following the
termination, the expiration of the Consulting Term or the effective date of
the Change in Control, as the case may be (the "Tail Period") for all
Vesting Opportunities already subject to the Agreement as of such date.
7. Cause - The Company will have Cause to terminate this Agreement if the
Consultant and/or Xxxxxxxxx materially breach the Agreement and fails to
cure such breach within fifteen (15) business days after a written notice
of non-compliance has been given by the Company, or otherwise intentionally
or recklessly engages in conduct that materially injures the business,
reputation, or prospects of the Company.
8. Change in Control - For purposes of this Agreement, the term Change in
Control means a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company or a transaction, or series of related transactions, as a result of
which any person, as such term is defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, other than Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
or any affiliate of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, possesses the power, by ownership of
voting securities or otherwise, to elect a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors of the Company.
