EXHIBIT 10.7
AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") is
entered into as of August __, 1997 among Metro-Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx Studios Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("MGM Studios"), Metro-Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx Inc., a Delaware
corporation and the corporate parent of MGM Studios (the "Company"), and Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx ("Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, MGM Studios and the Company currently employ Executive as their
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and wish to be assured of Executive's
continued services and loyalty as such on the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth;
WHEREAS, the parties hereto are parties to an Employment Agreement (the
"Original Agreement") dated as of October 10, 1996 (the "Original Effective
Date"), and wish to amend and restate such employment agreement as herein set
forth;
WHEREAS, the Company plans to effect an initial public offering of its
stock (the "Offering");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein as well as the parties' rights pursuant to those documents
referred to in Section 11, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:
1. Employment and Title. Each of the Company and MGM Studios will
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continue to employ Executive as, and Executive agrees to continue to serve as,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, MGM Studios, and each
Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) thereof, all upon the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement. In such capacities, Executive shall devote his
full and undivided business time and attention to his responsibilities as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, MGM Studios and such Subsidiaries. During his
employment hereunder, Executive shall not engage in any other business activity;
provided, however, that so long as such activities do not interfere in any
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material respect with the performance of Executive's duties hereunder, nothing
in this
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Section 1 shall prevent Executive from engaging in civic and charitable
activities, serving on the board directors of a non-profit organization or
managing his personal investments (except that in managing his personal
investments Executive may not (x) invest in securities of any entity that
Executive knows or has reason to know competes with the Company, MGM Studios or
any subsidiary of either or (y) acquire in excess of one percent of the
outstanding voting stock of any company the securities of which are publicly
traded; provided, however, that nothing contained in this parenthetical shall
(i) require Executive to dispose of any securities beneficially owned by him on
the Original Effective Date, and Executive's continued holding of such
securities shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or (ii) prevent
Executive from investing in or holding securities of an entity in which the
business competing with the Company, MGM Studios or any subsidiary of either of
them, as applicable, constitutes less than 5% of such entity's assets). With
the consent and approval of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"),
Executive may serve on the board of directors of (but in no other capacity with)
other corporations or business entities conducting businesses that do not
compete with the businesses conducted by the Company, MGM Studios or any of
their subsidiaries.
2. Term. The term of Executive's employment hereunder (the "Term") shall
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be for a period of five years commencing on the Original Effective Date and
ending, unless sooner terminated as provided herein below, on the fifth
anniversary of the Original Effective Date (the "Employment Period. ") Any
employment agreement, severance agreement or similar agreement or arrangement
(collectively, the "Existing Agreements") between MGM Studios and Executive in
effect on the Original Effective Date was terminated and is no longer in effect.
Shares of Company capital stock purchased by Executive pursuant to this
Agreement and/or the Original Agreement shall be issued promptly upon receipt by
the Company of payment therefor and shall be subject to the Amended and Restated
Investors Shareholder Agreement, dated as of August 4, 1997 between the parties
hereto and certain other parties, as amended from time to time (the "Investors
Shareholder Agreement") and the Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement,
dated as of August 4, 1997, between the parties hereto and certain other
parties, as amended from time to time (the "Shareholders Agreement").
3. Powers and Authority.
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(a) Subject to the policies and directives of the Board (to the extent
consistent with the terms of this Agreement and applicable law) and except for
those actions requiring the approval of the Board and/or the MGM Studios Board
(as hereinafter defined) and except as required by law, during the Term,
Executive shall have full power and authority to operate the business, affairs
and
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operations of MGM Studios, the Company, and their respective Subsidiaries,
including, without limitation, the power to:
(1) hire and enter into employment contracts on behalf of MGM Studios,
the Company and their respective Subsidiaries with officers and employees of MGM
Studios, the Company, and their respective Subsidiaries, provided, however, that
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(x) with respect to employees or executives with a staff position of Executive
Vice President or any similar position or position with comparable
responsibilities or (y) employees or officers having an annual salary of
$500,000 or more, the hiring of such employees and/or the terms of any such
employment contracts, including, without limitation, the amount of compensation,
will require Board approval.
(2) discharge any officer or employee of MGM Studios, the Company or
any of their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that discharging any
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employee or officer which would result in such employee or officer receiving an
aggregate severance package, taking into account all benefits due upon, or as a
result of, such termination, including, without limitation, the vesting of
options, with a value of $500,000 or more, or any settlement with respect
therewith, shall require Board approval;
(3) greenlight any single film or other single production with
aggregate budgeted direct negative costs not greater than $85,000,000;
(4) incur Indebtedness (as hereinafter defined) not requiring Board
approval as specified herein; and
(5) acquire, sell, transfer, license or otherwise dispose of any
assets not requiring Board approval as specified herein.
(b) All employees of the Company MGM Studios and their Subsidiaries shall
report to, and only to, Executive (directly or through such channels as
Executive may designate) (except that this sentence shall not be construed as
limiting access by the Board to any officer or employee of the Company, MGM
Studios or their Subsidiaries; provided, however, that Executive shall be
notified of contact between the Board and any officer or employee except in
cases where such contact relates to or involves acts of dishonesty or disloyalty
by Executive). Executive shall report directly to, and only to, the Board and
the Board of Directors of MGM Studios (the "MGM Studios Board") and neither MGM
Studios nor the Company shall interpose any person between either such Board and
Executive nor shall any individual or individuals be given power and authority
in derogation of that given to Executive hereunder; provided, however,
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that in the event Executive is incapacitated or otherwise unavailable to act
(after reasonable attempts to contact Executive in such regard have been made),
the Executive Committee of the Board and the MGM Studios Board, as applicable,
may act on Executive's behalf.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the
following actions shall require Board approval and, Executive shall not cause,
authorize or fail to take reasonable steps to prevent the Company, MGM Studios
or any of their respective Subsidiaries to take any of the following actions, or
engage in any of the following transactions, without Board approval:
(1) incur any Indebtedness (other than (a) Film Financing Indebtedness
(as hereinafter defined) or (b) Indebtedness which is (x) incurred under or
permitted by the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined) and (y) is within the
limitations on Indebtedness set forth in a business plan approved by the Board)
if the amount of such Indebtedness is in an amount of $5,000,000 or more or, if
the amount of such Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness excluded by reason of
the immediately preceding parenthetical phrase), in the aggregate, incurred by
the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period from the Original Effective Date
until the fifth anniversary of the Original Effective Date exceeds $25,000,000;
(2) incur any film financing indebtedness ("Film Financing
Indebtedness") as described in Section 5.10(h) of the Credit Agreement (as
hereinafter defined), as such provisions and the related definitions were in
effect on the Original Effective Date, in excess of $25 million at any one time
outstanding;
(3) issue or sell any capital stock or equity securities, or
securities convertible into capital stock or equity securities, or options,
warrants or stock appreciation rights or similar interests with respect to
capital stock or other equity securities, or other rights to acquire capital
stock or other equity securities, in each case, with respect to, or of, the
Company, MGM Studios or any of their respective Subsidiaries, other than (t) in
connection with the Offering, (u) the issuance of Common Stock upon the
conversion of the Preferred Stock (as defined in the Investors Shareholder
Agreement), (v) the issuance of shares upon exercise of options granted to
employees of the Company, MGM Studios and their subsidiaries pursuant to, the
Metro-Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx Inc. and Metro-Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx Studios Inc. Amended and
Restated 1996 Stock Option, Restricted Stock and Stock Appreciation Rights Plan,
as amended from time to time (the "Management Incentive Plan"), (w) the issuance
of shares to Executive pursuant to this Agreement or (x) the granting of options
pursuant to those certain stock option
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agreements dated as of October 10, 1996 relating to the purchase of up to 7,500
shares of Common Stock and the exercise of such options;
(4) repurchase or redeem any of the capital stock of the Company,
except pursuant to the terms of the Management Incentive Plan and the option
agreements executed pursuant thereto or the Shareholders Agreement;
(5) Subject to the provisions of the Investors Shareholder Agreement,
enter into any transaction or take any action which would result in the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries conducting or engaging in any business that is
material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is other
than (x) the business being conducted by MGM Studios and its Subsidiaries as of
the Original Effective Date or (y) as provided in a business plan approved by
the Board;
(6) approve an annual business plan and budget or such other business
plan or budget as the Board shall wish to adopt from time to time, or any other
business plan and budget approved by the Board and then in effect or approve any
material amendment or material change to such annual business plan and budget,
or approve any material variances from such annual business plan and budget or
any other business plan and budget approved by the Board and then in effect;
(7) enter into any agreement or transaction, other than an agreement
or transaction entered into pursuant to the First Right of Negotiation Agreement
dated as of October 10, 1996, between MGM Studios and Amalgamated Television
Services Pty Limited, with any person known by Executive to be an Affiliate (as
defined in the Investors Shareholder Agreement) of MGM Studios or the Company;
(8) enter into or extend any film library licensing arrangement not
contemplated by a business plan approved by the Board if such arrangement
together with related arrangements (x) in the case of a new licensing
arrangement, provides for payments to or by the Company, MGM Studios and their
respective Subsidiaries reasonably forecast by Executive to be more than $25
million or (y) in the case of an extension of an existing licensing arrangement,
provides for payments in respect of such extension to or by the Company, MGM
Studios and their respective Subsidiaries reasonably forecast by Executive to be
more than $25 million;
(9) amend, supplement, modify or waive (x) the provisions or terms of
any employment or other agreement between the Company and/or
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MGM Studios, on the one hand, and Executive, on the other hand, including, this
Agreement or (y) the provisions or terms of any employment agreement with the
chief financial officer of the Company and/or MGM Studios;
(10) make any decisions required to be made by the boards of directors
of the Company and/or MGM Studios pursuant to the terms of the 1996 Management
Incentive Plan or the Metro-Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx Inc. and Metro-Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx Studios
Inc. Senior Management Bonus Plan, as amended from time to time (the "Bonus
Plan"), including any decision relating to any amendment to the Management
Incentive Plan or the Bonus Plan or the waiver of any provision of the
Management Incentive Plan, or the Bonus Plan;
(11) greenlight any single film or other single production with
aggregate budgeted direct negative costs greater than $85,000,000;
(12) enter into any agreement or transaction relating to the
acquisition or disposition or the purchase or sale of any asset having a value
reasonably forecast by Executive to be in excess of $25 million or involving a
purchase price reasonably forecast by Executive to be in excess of $25 million;
(13) enter into any agreement or transaction outside the ordinary
course of business relating to any joint venture or licensing agreement not
contemplated by a business plan approved by the Board if such joint venture or
licensing agreement provides for payments to or by the Company, MGM Studios and
their respective Subsidiaries reasonably forecast by Executive to be more than
$25 million; or
(14) establish committees of the Board of Directors of the
Company or MGM Studios.
(d) If, during the Term, (x) MGM Studios fails to satisfy any of the
covenants set forth in Sections 5.11, 5.12, 5.13, 5.15 and 5.25 of the Credit
Agreement dated as of October 10, 1996, among MGM Studios, the Lenders listed
therein and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Agent (the "Credit
Agreement") or comparable provisions in any replacement or amended credit
related agreement or (y) the Company and/or MGM Studios fails to satisfy (and
does not cure such failure within the grace period provided) any other covenant
set forth in the Credit Agreement or comparable provisions in any replacement or
amended credit related agreement, then Executive shall promptly prepare and
deliver to the Board a revised budget which takes into account the then
financial condition of the Company and MGM Studios and the applicable default.
Such business plan and budget, when approved by the Board, with such variations
as the
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Board shall determine, shall then become the business plan and budget of
the Company and MGM Studios.
(e) No less than 60 days prior to the commencement of each fiscal
year, Executive shall cause to be submitted to the respective boards of
directors of the Company and MGM Studios a proposed business plan and annual
budget for the ensuing calendar year for the Company and MGM, as applicable, and
their respective Subsidiaries. Each such business plan and annual budget shall
be subject to approval by the applicable board of directors. Such business plan
and budget, when approved by the Board and/or the MGM Studios Board, as
applicable, with such variations as the Board and the MGM Studios Board, as
applicable, shall approve, shall be the business plan and budget of the Company
and MGM Studios, as applicable.
(f) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
"Guarantee": shall mean any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
any Person (the "guarantor") guaranteeing or having the economic effect of
guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the
"primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including,
without limitation, any obligation of such guarantor, direct or indirect, (i) to
purchase or pay for (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of)
such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply
funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness or
other obligation, (ii) to purchase property, securities, or services for the
purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the
payment of such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iii) to maintain working
capital, equity capital or other financial statement condition or liquidity of
the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness
or other obligation; provided that the term Guarantee shall not include
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endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of
business.
"Indebtedness": with respect to any Person, without duplication, (i)
all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, or with respect to deposits
or advances of any kind (including repurchase obligations), (ii) all obligations
of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments,
(iii) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charge are customarily
paid, (iv) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement relating to property purchased by such Person, (v) all
obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property or services (other than accounts payable to suppliers incurred in the
ordinary course
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of business and paid when due), (vi) all capitalized lease obligations (as
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States) of such person, (vii) all obligations of others secured by any
lien on property or assets owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the
obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (viii) all Guarantees of such
Person, (ix) all obligations of such Person as a counterparty to any rate swap,
currency hedge or other similar type agreement and (x) all obligations of such
Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and in respect of
bankers' acceptances.
"Person": shall mean any natural person, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, limited liability partnership, firm, association,
trust, government, governmental agency or other entity, whether acting in an
individual, fiduciary or other capacity.
"Subsidiary": of any Person shall mean any corporation or other legal
entity of which such Person (either alone or through or together with any other
Subsidiary) owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the stock or other
equity interests, the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for the
election of the board of directors or other governing body of such corporation
or other legal entity.
4. Location. The location of Executive's principal place of employment
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and his office shall be in the greater Los Angeles, California area, provided,
however, that Executive shall perform such services outside of Los Angeles as
are, in his reasonable determination, reasonably required for the proper
performance of his duties under this Agreement.
5. Authority. Each party represents and warrants to the other that it has
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the full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under
this Agreement and that the execution of and performance of such party's
obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a default under or breach
of the terms of any other agreement or order of any court or governmental
authority to which it is a party or under which it is bound. Each party shall
defend and hold harmless the other from and against any and all claims, demands,
losses or damages (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from any action
against such other party based on facts that are inconsistent with the
representation and warranty contained in this Section or based upon any
allegations of interference with contractual obligations or the like relating to
the negotiation or execution of this Agreement.
6. Compensation.
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(a) Salary. In full consideration for the services to be rendered by
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Executive, and in full discharge of the salary obligations of the Company, MGM
Studios and their subsidiaries, MGM Studios shall pay to Executive and Executive
shall accept:
(1) An annual base salary of $2 million during each year of the
Term, payable monthly in equal installments of $166,667 each (reduced by the
amount of any federal, state and local income tax withholding contemplated by
Section 6(f) and other appropriate deductions) in arrears on the first day of
each month of the Term commencing with the second month of the Term (amounts
payable for less than a full month to be prorated based on the number of days in
such month included in the Term as a percentage of the total number of days in
such month).
(2) A stock purchase payment in the amount of $3 million for each
Contract Year (as hereinafter defined) of the Term, payable in advance on the
IPO Closing Date (as defined in the Investors Shareholder Agreement) and each
annual anniversary thereof to occur during the Term (each a "Payment Date")
(reduced by the amount of any federal, state and local income tax withholding
contemplated by Section 6(f) and other appropriate deductions); provided,
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however, that the stock purchase payment payable for the last Contract Year of
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the Term shall be reduced on a pro-rata basis to reflect the fact that the last
Contract Year of the Term is less than 365 days. As used herein, the term
"Contract Year" shall mean the period from the IPO Closing Date through the
close of business on the day immediately succeeding the first annual anniversary
of the IPO Closing Date and, thereafter, each period commencing with the annual
anniversary of the IPO Closing Date and ending with the close of business on the
day which is the last day prior to the next annual anniversary of the IPO
Closing Date, provided, that the last Contract Year of the Term shall commence
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with the last annual anniversary of the IPO Closing Date to occur during the
Term and end on the last day of the Term.
(3) During the Term, Executive shall apply on each Payment Date
the amount of the net stock purchase payments to be paid to him pursuant to
Clause (2) above (less the additional amount, if any, by which $3 million
multiplied by Executive's estimated marginal federal and state income tax rate
for the year in question (based on a certificate (including calculations)
prepared in good faith by Executive's tax advisor) exceeds the amount withheld
from clause (2) payments pursuant to Section 6(f)) to the purchase of Company
Common Stock, which the Company shall deliver on each such date to Executive
free and clear of all liens, other then the liens and restrictions specified in
the Shareholders Agreement and the Investor Shareholder Agreement (to which such
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shares shall be subject). The purchase price for Company Common Stock purchased
by Executive pursuant to this Clause (3) shall be $1,000 per share of Common
Stock so purchased on the IPO Closing Date, and thereafter, the Fair Market
Value of a share of Common Stock determined as of the appropriate
Determination Date as specified below. The $1,000.00 purchase price specified
in the immediately preceding sentence shall be adjusted to reflect any stock
split since the Original Effective Date. As used in this Agreement "Fair Market
Value" of the Company Common Stock on any Determination Date shall be equal to
(i) if the Company Common Stock is then traded on a national security exchange,
the average of the closing prices per share of Company Common Stock on such
national security exchange(s) on the twenty (20) business days immediately
preceding the Determination Date, as reported in the Wall Street Journal,
Western Edition, (ii) if the Company Common Stock is not then traded on a
national security exchange but the Company Common Stock is then quoted in the
over-the-counter market, the average of the average high bid and low asked
prices per share of Company Common Stock for the twenty (20) business days
immediately preceding the Determination Date in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotations System or such other system then in use or (iii) if the Company
Common Stock is then neither traded on a national securities exchange or quoted
in the over-the-counter market, as determined pursuant to Section [1.4(a)(iii)]
of the Executive's stock option agreement entered into pursuant to the
Management Incentive Plan. If Fair Market Value is determined pursuant to
clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Determination Date shall
be December 31 of the calendar year preceding the applicable Payment Date, and
if Fair Market Value is determined pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of the
immediately preceding sentence, the Determination Date shall be the applicable
Payment Date. If Fair Market Value is determined pursuant to clause (iii) of
the next preceding sentence, Executive shall have the independent right to
arbitrate the Fair Market Value determination in accordance with [Section 18] of
Executive's stock option agreement entered into pursuant to the Management
Incentive Plan if he disagrees with the appraised value set thereunder but only
if a Majority in Interest (as defined therein) does not seek such an arbitration
for purposes of the Management Incentive Plan.
(b) Management Incentive Plan. Executive shall be entitled to
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participate in the Management Incentive Plan and the Bonus Plan.
(c) Other Benefits. The Company and/or MGM Studios will provide, or
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pay or reimburse Executive for the reasonable costs of operating and
maintaining, an office, an executive assistant and the existing screening room
in Executive's residence, and will reimburse the reasonable travel expenses
incurred by Executive's spouse when accompanying Executive on travel to the
extent, in
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Executive's reasonable judgment, her presence is required or advisable in the
Company's and/or MGM Studios' interest in the discharge of Executive's duties.
Additionally, Executive shall be entitled to vacations, sick leave and other
benefits customarily afforded to executives of similar stature in the motion
picture industry.
(d) Business Expenses. During the Term, the Company and/or MGM
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Studios shall pay or reimburse Executive promptly for all reasonable and
documented business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of his
duties under this Agreement.
(e) Insurance.
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(1) During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to and shall be
accorded all rights and benefits under any disability insurance, health and
major medical insurance policy or policies, which the Company and/or MGM Studios
provides for its senior officers. Nothing in this paragraph shall require the
Company and/or MGM Studios to retain any particular policy or plan, but some
reasonable policy or plan shall be maintained.
(2) MGM Studios has purchased and, provided that Executive
continues to be medically and otherwise insurable at standard rates, shall
maintain until the end of the Term, a five year, reducing-term life insurance
policy on Executive's life in the initial face amount of $25 million, the
proceeds of which shall be payable to Executive's estate or such other person or
persons as Executive shall designate. In the event Executive becomes no longer
medically or otherwise insurable at standard rates, at Executive's election,
Executive may cause the Company and/or MGM Studios to obtain such insurance, in
which event Executive shall pay, at his sole cost and expense, the excess of the
rates being charged over standard rates, with MGM Studios and/or the Company
paying toward such insurance the standard rates therefor. The face amount of the
policy shall reduce from time to time while this Agreement is in effect by an
amount equal to the gross salary paid to Executive under Section 6(a)(1) above
(including any amounts withheld from such payments pursuant to Section 6(f)
hereof). The Company and/or MGM Studios shall not be required to maintain such
insurance after termination of Executive's employment.
(f) Tax Withholding. The Company and/or MGM Studios shall be
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authorized to withhold from any payments made to Executive hereunder (including
by reason of the purchase of Company Common Stock) amounts the Company and/or
MGM Studios is required to withhold under any federal, state or local tax
statute, rule or regulation with respect to any compensation paid to Executive.
Executive agrees that the withholding and payment of any such
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amounts by the Company and/or MGM Studios to the relevant taxing authority shall
constitute full satisfaction of the Company and/or MGM Studios' obligation to
pay such compensation or other amounts to Executive. Executive shall indemnify
MGM Studios and the Company and hold them harmless from and against any federal,
state or local withholding tax liability (including interest and penalties) that
results from any compensation paid to Executive, including the purchase of
Company Common Stock, except to the extent that (i) any such penalties result
from the failure of the Company and/or MGM Studios to make a good faith
determination of the amounts to withhold from Executive or (ii) any such
liabilities, interest or penalties result from the failure of the Company and/or
MGM Studios to pay over to the relevant taxing authorities any sums withheld
from, or paid to the Company and/or MGM Studios by, Executive to satisfy any
withholding liability.
7. Expiration/Termination of Employment.
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(a) Expiration at End of Term. Unless the Term is extended by a
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written instrument executed by both parties, Executive's employment and the
Employment Period shall expire at the end of the Term.
(b) Termination at Will. The parties acknowledge and agree that
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Executive's employment hereunder is an employment at will. Notwithstanding any
other provision contained in this Agreement, either Executive, the Company or
MGM Studios may terminate Executive's employment hereunder at any time with or
without Cause (as defined in Section 7(c)) or Good Reason (as defined in Section
7(c)) at his or its election upon not less than thirty (30) days prior written
notice (a "Termination Notice") to the other. A Termination Notice shall be
effective upon delivery to the other party and the termination shall be
effective as of the date set forth in such Termination Notice.
(c) Effect of Expiration or Termination. Upon the expiration or
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termination of this Agreement pursuant to subsection 7(a) or 7(b) hereof or
otherwise, Executive shall be entitled to payment of: (i) the base salary set
forth in Section 6(a)(1) through such termination date and (ii) amounts accrued
under benefit plans in which Executive is participant as of such termination
date. In addition, to the extent provided in the Management Incentive Plan
and/or the Bonus Plan, Executive shall be entitled to his vested interest in
such plans at the date of termination, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in such plans. Executive's right and obligation to
purchase Company Common Stock pursuant to Section 6(a)(3) shall terminate
immediately prior to the termination of Executive's employment hereunder. Upon
the expiration or termination of this Agreement pursuant to subsection 7(a) or
7(b) hereof or otherwise (other than a
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termination of this Agreement by Executive for Good Reason or by the Company or
MGM Studios without Cause or the expiration of this Agreement at the end of the
Term), Executive shall be required to promptly repay MGM Studios a pro-rata
portion (or in the case of death or disability 50% of a pro-rata portion) of the
gross stock purchase payment paid to Executive on the Payment Date immediately
preceding such date of termination, to reflect the period from the date of
termination through the end of the then applicable Contract Year during which
Executive will not be employed pursuant to this Agreement.
If Executive's employment hereunder is terminated by the Company and/or MGM
Studios without Cause or if Executive terminates his employment hereunder for
Good Reason (which termination by Executive for Good Reason must occur within 90
days after he knows or should have known that Good Reason for termination
exists), the Company and/or MGM Studios shall in addition to the sums specified
in the preceding paragraph pay to Executive a lump sum amount equal to the
present value of the sum of (i) Executive's base salary specified in Section
6(a)(1) and (ii) the stock purchase payment amount specified in Section 6(a)(2)
for the entire remaining Term, discounted at a rate per annum equal to the Prime
Rate (as hereinafter defined) as then in effect. In addition, as provided in
the Management Incentive Plan and the Bonus Plan, Executive's account under such
plans shall vest immediately with the effect therein provided.
If Executive's employment is terminated as the result of his death or
disability (as hereinafter defined), in addition to the amounts specified in the
first paragraph of this Section 7(c), as provided in the Management Incentive
Plan and the Bonus Plan, Executive's account under such plans shall vest
immediately with the effect provided in such plans, and, in the case of
disability, Executive shall continue to receive 50% of the sum of (i) his base
salary specified in Section 6(a)(1) and (ii) the stock purchase payment amount
specified in section 6(a)(2) for the remainder of the Term. Disability shall
mean Executive's inability, due to a physical, mental or emotional illness or
injury, to substantially perform his duties hereunder for 90 consecutive days or
for 120 days in any 12 month period, whether or not consecutive.
If Executive's employment is terminated as a result of disability, by the
Company or MGM Studios without Cause or by Executive with Good Reason, the
Company and/or MGM Studios shall, during the remaining Term, continue to pay
premiums for health and disability insurance as was provided to Executive
immediately prior to such termination.
"Prime Rate" means the rate published from time to time by Xxxxxx Guaranty
Trust Company of New York as its prime commercial lending rate.
-13-
As used in this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean (i) the failure of Executive
to substantially perform his duties with MGM Studios, the Company or any
Subsidiary of either of them (other than any such failure resulting from
illness, temporary absence, vacation, legal incapacity or disability), which
failure continues 30 days after a demand for substantial performance is
delivered in writing to Executive by the Board, which specifically identities
the manner in which Executive has not substantially performed his duties; (ii)
Executive's failure to follow reasonable and lawful directives (consistent with
the terms of this Agreement and the Investors Shareholder Agreement) of the
Board, which failure continues 30 days after a demand for Executive to follow
directives is delivered in writing to Executive by the Board, which specifically
identifies the manner in which Executive has not followed such directives, (iii)
the engaging by Executive in willful, reckless or grossly negligent misconduct
in connection with his employment, unless Executive ceases such misconduct
within 10 days, and remedies the adverse effect of such misconduct within 30
days, after a demand to cease engaging in such misconduct is delivered in
writing to Executive by the Board, which specifically identifies such
misconduct, (iv) Executive's conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude
or a felony or (v) material breach by Executive of this Agreement, and failure
to cure such breach within 30 days of delivery of a written notice to Executive
by the Board, which notice specifically identifies the breach. If Executive's
failure under (i) or (ii) above or his failure to cease misconduct under clause
(iii) above would, if continued unabated for the respective periods specified
therein, be reasonably expected to cause the Company and/or MGM Studios severe
and irreparable harm, and if the Company's said notice so specifies, the Company
may shorten the period within which such failure must cease to a reasonable
period specified in its notice, but not, in any event, less than 10 days in the
case of clauses (i) and (ii) or 5 days in the case of clause (iii). Except in
the circumstances described in the preceding sentence, if the remedy, cure or
cessation of an act or omission which is the subject of a notice under this
paragraph would reasonably require more than 30 days to complete and Executive
commences such remedy, cure or cessation within 30 days after receipt of such
notice and diligently pursues the same to completion, said act or omission shall
not constitute "Cause," unless said remedy, cure or cessation is not completed
within 60 days from the Company's notice. If any event, action or failure to act
specified in clauses (i) through (v) above shall occur, the Company's right to
terminate Executive for "Cause" as the result of such occurrence shall continue
for a period of 90 days after the date of such occurrence (or, if notice thereof
is required and is given within such 90-day period, 60 days after the expiration
of the cure period specified).
As used in this Agreement "Good Reason" shall mean
-14-
(i) a substantial and adverse change in Executive's status or position as
the Chief Executive Officer and a key employee of MGM Studios or the Company, or
a substantial reduction in the duties and responsibilities as contemplated by
this Agreement;
(ii) a reduction (other than for Cause) by the Company and/or MGM Studios
in Executive's compensation as provided in Section 6(a)(1) of this Agreement, or
any other material breach by MGM Studios or the Company of this Agreement that
is not cured within 30 days of written notice thereof to the Company from
Executive; or
(iii) the occurrence of a Designated Change of Control (as hereinafter
defined);
If any event, action or failure to act specified in clauses (i) through
(iii) above shall occur, Executive's right to terminate his employment hereunder
for "Good Reason" as the result of such occurrence shall continue for a period
of 90 days after the date of such occurrence (or, if notice thereof is required
and is given within such 90-day period, 60 days after the expiration of the cure
period specified).
Except as provided in this Section 7(c) and in Section 13, neither MGM
Studios, the Company nor any Subsidiary of either shall have any further
liability under this Agreement to Executive upon the expiration or termination
of Executive's employment, and no further payments shall be made to or for the
benefit of Executive under this Agreement.
As used in this Agreement, "designated Change of Control" shall mean if
there shall occur or there shall be consummated (i) any merger or consolidation
of the Company with or into any other person, as the result of which Tracinda
Corporation, a Nevada corporation ("Tracinda"), and Seven Network Limited, a
--------
corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia ("Seven")
beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 50.1% of the combined voting power
of the then outstanding voting securities of the surviving corporation entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation
immediately upon completion of the transaction and any other person beneficially
owns 30.0% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of the surviving corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors, (ii) any sale, transfer or other conveyance whether
direct or indirect, of all or substantially all of the property and assets of
the Company, on a consolidated basis, in one transaction or a series of related
transactions; provided, however, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to any
sale, transfer or any other conveyance to the
-15-
Company, by any wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company, by
any wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company to any other such
wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company or by the Company to
one or more wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company; or
(iii) any transaction or event that results in Tracinda and Seven ceasing, in
the aggregate, to beneficially own 50.1% or more of the combined voting power of
the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally
in the election of directors and any other person beneficially owns 30.0% or
more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. As used
herein the terms "beneficial owner" and "beneficially owned" shall have the
meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, whether or not applicable to the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a Designated Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred
under clauses (i) or (iii) if the acquirer, purchaser or 50.1% owner is an
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any corporation controlled by the Company.
8. Delegation of Duties and Assignment of Rights.
---------------------------------------------
(a) Executive may not delegate the performance of any of his duties or
obligations as Chief Executive Officer hereunder, or assign any rights
hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Board. Any such purported
delegation or assignment in the absence of such written consent shall be null
and void with no force or effect.
(b) Neither the Company nor MGM Studios may assign this Agreement
except with the prior written consent of Executive, except that the Company and
MGM Studios, without such consent, may assign this Agreement to any person or
entity that acquires a majority of the capital stock or assets of MGM Studios or
the Company (by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise). In the event of
such an assignment by MGM Studios or the Company, each reference in this
Agreement to MGM Studios or the Company shall include the assignee from and
after the date of such assignment.
(c) In the event of a valid assignment pursuant to this Section 8,
this Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective heirs, representatives, successors and permitted
assigns and any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the
creditors of each such person.
-16-
9. Survival of Covenants. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
---------------------
Agreement, upon the expiration of the Term or in the event Executive's
employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever, the covenants and agreements
of Executive contained in Section 12 and the covenants of the Company and/or MGM
Studios contained in Sections 7(c), 13 and 14(e) hereof shall survive any such
expiration or termination and shall not lapse.
10. Warranty. Executive hereby represents and warrants that he has not
--------
taken any action, and covenants that during the Term of this Agreement he shall
take no such action, that constitutes or will constitute a breach of any
agreement concerning confidential information and trade secrets,
confidentiality, solicitation or non-competition to which he is bound as a party
where such action would have a material adverse effect on the Company, MGM
Studios or any Subsidiary of either of them. Executive hereby agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless MGM Studios and the Company from and against any
claim, loss, cost or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by
MGM Studios and/or the Company as a result of actions by Executive in violation
of the immediately preceding sentence.
11. Entire Agreement/amendment. This Agreement, the Investors Shareholder
--------------------------
Agreement, the Non-Competition Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, the
agreements entered into pursuant to the Management Incentive Plan and/or the
Bonus Plan, the Indemnity Agreement among Executive, the Company and MGM Studios
referred to in Section 14(e) hereof, the Management Incentive Plan and the Bonus
Plan contain the entire understanding and agreement between the parties relating
to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any provisions hereof
may be waived, modified, amended, changed, discharged or terminated, except by
an agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any
waiver, modification, change, amendment, discharge or termination is sought;
provided, however, any such writing shall not be enforceable against MGM Studios
unless also signed by the Company.
12. No Mitigation. Without limiting any other provision hereof, any
-------------
income and any other employment benefits received by Executive from any and all
sources other than MGM Studios or the Company before or after the expiration or
termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever shall in no way reduce
or otherwise affect MGM Studios' or the Company's obligation to make payments
and afford benefits hereunder.
13. Insurance. To the extent available at a reasonable cost, the Company
---------
and/or MGM Studios shall procure and maintain a policy of officers' and
directors' insurance in a mutually acceptable amount with Executive as a named
-17-
insured thereunder. Such policy shall cover Executive during the Term and for
so long thereafter as he shall have liability for his actions or omissions
during the Term in his capacity as a director or officer of the Company and/or
MGM Studios, and their subsidiaries, but not longer than six years after the end
of the Term. Further, the Company and/or MGM Studios shall cause Executive to
be added as a named insured under any and all of their other liability policies,
to the extent such addition is customary in respect of such policies.
14. Miscellaneous.
-------------
(a) Certain Fees and Costs. The Company and/or MGM Studios shall
----------------------
reimburse Executive for the reasonable and documented fees and costs of his
legal counsel and tax accountants utilized in connection with the negotiation
and preparation of this Agreement.
(b) Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating
-----------
to this Agreement or any breach of this Agreement shall be settled by
arbitration. Any such arbitration shall be held in Los Angeles, California and
shall be conducted in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration rules of the
American Arbitration Association. The Special New Procedures for Large, Complex
Issues shall apply. The arbitration panel shall consist of three (3)
arbitrators to be selected pursuant to such Commercial Arbitration Rules.
(c) Applicable Law and Venue. This Agreement and any disputes or
------------------------
claims arising hereunder shall be construed in accordance with, governed by and
enforced under the laws of the State of California without regard to any rules
of conflicts of law (except as to the corporate governance matters set forth in
Sections 3(a) and 3(c) and the indemnities provided Executive in Section 14(e),
which shall be subject to the laws of Delaware applicable to companies
incorporated therein). Except with respect to matters governed by Delaware law,
the state and federal courts (or arbitrators appointed as described herein)
located in Los Angeles, California shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any
action for relief arising out of or pursuant to, or to enforce or interpret,
this Agreement; provided, however, that actions in such state or federal courts
shall be limited to actions or petitions to confirm or set aside an arbitration
award. Each party to this Agreement consents to the personal jurisdiction and
arbitration in any such forum and each party hereto covenants not to, and waives
any right to, seek a transfer of venue from such jurisdiction on any grounds.
(d) Interpretation. The provisions of this Agreement were negotiated
--------------
by each of the parties hereto and this Agreement shall not be deemed to have
been drafted by either party.
-18-
(e) Indemnification. The Company and/or MGM Studios shall indemnify
---------------
Executive through their respective Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws, the
Indemnification Agreement entered into pursuant to Section 14(e) of the Original
Agreement or otherwise to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General
Corporation Law (including the reimbursement of defense costs as incurred), as
such law exists and may hereafter be amended. Such indemnification shall apply,
but not be limited to, any actions taken or omissions by Executive, including,
without limitation, furnishing information, during the period from and after
January 1, 1996 until the Original Effective Date in connection with the
potential sale of MGM Studios and Executive's efforts to assemble a bid group to
purchase MGM Studios. Such indemnification shall not apply to any matters
arising under (x) the Amended Agreement as of July 25, 1993 between Executive
and Credit Lyonnaise, S.A., (y) the Senior Executive Incentive Plan of MGM
Holdings Corporation adopted as of 16 December 1994 and (z) the Senior Executive
Pool Plan of MGM Holdings Corporation adopted as of 15 December 1995.
(f) Representations of MGM Studios and the Company. Each of the
----------------------------------------------
Company and MGM Studios represents and warrants that (1) this Agreement has been
approved by the Board and MGM Studios Board, as applicable and is binding on MGM
Studios and the Company, as applicable and (2) this Agreement will not violate
the corporate charter or bylaws of MGM Studios and/or the Company, as
applicable.
(g) No Waivers. The failure of either party to enforce any provision
----------
of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any such provision, nor
prevent such party thereafter from enforcing such provision or any other
provision of this Agreement. Rights granted the parties hereto herein are
cumulative and the election of one shall not constitute a waiver of such party's
right to assert all other legal remedies available under the circumstances.
(h) Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement
-------
shall be in writing and may be delivered personally, by telecopy, telex or other
form of written electronic transmission, by overnight courier or by registered
or certified mail, postage prepaid, and shall be addressed as follows:
TO THE COMPANY OR MGM STUDIOS:
Board of Directors
c/o Xxxxxx Xxxx
Tracinda Corporation
0000 Xxxxx Xxxx
-00-
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
WITH A COPY TO:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Tracinda Corporation
0000 Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
and
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Culmen Group, L.P.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
-20-
TO THE EXECUTIVE:
Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
0000 Xxx Xxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
WITH COPIES TO:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP
1900 Avenue of the Stars
Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Either party may hereafter notify the other in writing of any change in address.
Any notice hereunder shall be deemed duly given when received by the person to
whom it was sent.
(i) Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and
------------
if any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or otherwise
unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remainder of the provisions, or
enforceable parts thereof, shall not be affected thereby unless as a result of
such severing the remaining provisions or enforceable parts do not substantially
reflect the intention of the parties in entering into this Agreement.
(j) Confidentiality and Publicity. This Agreement shall remain
-----------------------------
confidential and the terms shall not be divulged to any person except to the
extent required by law or legal process. Any press release or announcement of
or relating to this Agreement and the timing of any such announcement shall only
be made with the agreement of Executive and the Company.
(k) Attorneys' Fees and Costs. If any arbitration proceeding or any
-------------------------
action at law or in equity is commenced to enforce this Agreement, the
prevailing party shall receive its attorneys' fees, costs and disbursements in
addition to any other relief granted.
(l) Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the IPO
--------------
Closing Date.
-21-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.
METRO-XXXXXXX-XXXXX INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
METRO-XXXXXXX-XXXXX
STUDIOS INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
--------------------------------
XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
-22-
