Exhibit 10.2
Execution
Copy
AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of
, 2008 (the “ Effective Date
”), by and between Priceline.com Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation, with its principal office at 800 Connecticut Avenue,
Norwalk, Connecticut 06854 (the “ Company ”),
and Jeffery H. Boyd (“ Executive ”).
W I T N E S S E T
H :
WHEREAS , the Company and Executive entered into an
employment arrangement, dated February 7, 2005 (the “
Prior Employment Agreement ”);
WHEREAS , the Company desires that Executive continue to
be employed as President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, and the Company and Executive desire to amend the Prior
Employment Agreement to account for the effect of Section 409A
of the Internal Revenue Code (“ Section 409A of the
Code ”) on the agreement; and
WHEREAS , the Company and Executive desire to replace
and supersede the Prior Employment Agreement in its entirety and
enter into this Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the
“ Agreement ”) providing for the terms of
Executive’s employment by the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the premises
and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and
valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:
1.
Term of Employment
. Except for earlier
termination as provided in Section 8 hereof, Executive’s
employment under this Agreement shall continue on the same basis as
set forth in the Prior Employment Agreement and, as a result, shall
end on February 7, 2009 (the “ Initial Employment
Term ”), provided that the Initial Employment Term shall
be automatically extended for additional terms of successive one
(1) year periods (each, an “ Additional Employment
Term ”) unless the Company or Executive gives written
notice to the other at least ninety (90) days prior to the
expiration of the Initial Employment Term or then-current
Additional Employment Term that Executive’s employment shall
not be so extended. The Initial Employment Term and each
Additional Employment Term shall be referred to herein as the
“ Employment Term .”
2.
Positions . (a)
Executive shall serve as President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Executive shall
also serve, if requested by the Board of Directors of the Company
(the “ Board ”), as an executive officer and
director of subsidiaries and a director of Affiliates of the
Company and shall comply with the policy of the Compensation
Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee
”) with regard to retention or forfeiture of director’s
fees. Executive shall serve during the Employment Term as a
member of the Board. Upon termination of Executive’s
employment with the Company, Executive shall resign from the Board
and any committees thereof (and, if applicable, from the board of
directors (and any committees thereof) of any subsidiary or
Affiliate of the Company) to the extent Executive is then serving
thereon.
(b)
Executive shall report directly to
the Board and shall have such duties and authority, consistent with
his then position, as shall be assigned to him from time to time by
the Board.
(c)
During the Employment Term,
Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and
efforts to the performance of his duties hereunder; provided,
however , that Executive shall be allowed, to the extent that
such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of
his duties and responsibilities hereunder, to manage his personal
financial and legal affairs and to serve on
corporate, civic, charitable and industry boards
or committees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall
only serve on corporate boards of directors if approved in advance
by the Board.
3.
Base Salary
. During the Employment Term, the
Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the annual rate of not
less than $550,000. Base salary shall be payable in
accordance with the usual payroll practices of the Company.
Executive’s base salary shall be subject to annual review by
the Board or the Compensation Committee during the Employment Term
and may be increased, but not decreased, from time to time by the
Board or the Compensation Committee. The base salary as
determined as aforesaid from time to time shall constitute “
Base Salary ” for purposes of this
Agreement.
4.
Incentive Compensation
. (a) Bonus
. Executive shall be eligible to participate in any annual
bonus plan the Company may implement at any time during
Executive’s Employment Term for senior executives at a level
commensurate with his position.
(b)
Long Term Compensation
. For each fiscal year or
portion thereof during the Employment Term, Executive shall be
eligible to participate in any long-term incentive compensation
plan generally made available to senior executives of the Company
at a level commensurate with his position in accordance with and
subject to the terms of such plan.
(c)
May 25, 2001 Stock Option
Grant . On
May 25, 2001, Executive was granted by the Company, pursuant
to the Company’s 1999 Omnibus Plan, as amended (the “
1999 Plan ”) stock options to purchase 266,666 (after
giving effect to the Company’s June 2003 one-for-six
reverse stock split) shares of the Company’s issued and
outstanding common stock (the “ Common Stock ”),
at an exercise price per share of $30.66 (the “
May 2001 Stock Options ”). As of the date
hereof, the May 2001 Stock Options are fully vested and
exercisable. The May 2001 Stock Options shall expire on
the earlier of (i) May, 25, 2011 or (ii)(A) eighteen (18)
months after any termination of employment if such termination is
as of the result of Executive’s death, Termination for
Disability, Termination without Cause, Termination for Good Reason
or non-extension of the Employment Term in accordance with
Section 1 hereof as a result of notice from the Company, and
(B) ninety (90) days after such termination if such
termination is a result of Executive’s Termination for Cause,
voluntary Termination by Executive without Good Reason, or
non-extension of the Employment Term in accordance with
Section 1 hereof as a result of notice by
Executive.
(d)
Other Compensation
. The Company may, upon
recommendation of the Compensation Committee, award to Executive
such other bonuses and compensation as it deems appropriate and
reasonable.
5.
[Intentionally Deleted.]
6.
Employee Benefits and
Vacation .
(a) During the Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled
to participate in all benefit plans and arrangements and fringe
benefits and perquisite programs generally provided to comparable
senior executives of the Company.
(b)
During the Employment Term,
Executive shall be entitled to vacation each year in accordance
with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time, but
in no event less than five (5) weeks paid vacation per
calendar year. Executive shall also be entitled to such
periods of sick leave as is customarily provided by the Company for
its senior executive employees.
7.
Business Expenses
. The Company shall reimburse
Executive for the travel, entertainment and other business expenses
incurred by Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder,
in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from
time to time; provided , however , that such expenses
must be paid no later than the last day of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which such expenses were incurred
and further provided that in no event will the amount of
expenses so reimbursed in one taxable year affect the amount of
expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable
year.
2
8.
Termination
. (a) The employment of
Executive under this Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to
occur of any of the following events:
(i)
the death of Executive;
(ii)
the termination of Executive’s
employment by the Company due to Executive’s Disability
pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof;
(iii)
the termination of Executive’s
employment by Executive for Good Reason pursuant to
Section 8(c) hereof;
(iv)
the termination of Executive’s
employment by the Company without Cause;
(v)
the termination of employment by
Executive without Good Reason upon sixty (60) days prior written
notice; or
(vi)
the termination of Executive’s
employment by the Company for Cause pursuant to
Section 8(e).
(b)
Disability
. If by reason of the same or
related physical or mental illness or incapacity, Executive is
unable to carry out his material duties pursuant to this Agreement
for more than six (6) consecutive months, the Company may
terminate Executive’s employment for disability (“
Disability ”). Such termination shall be upon
thirty (30) days written notice by a Notice of Disability
Termination, at any time thereafter while Executive consecutively
continues to be unable to carry out his duties as a result of the
same or related physical or mental illness or incapacity. A
Termination for Disability hereunder shall not be effective if
Executive returns to the full-time performance of his material
duties within such thirty (30) day period.
(c)
Termination for Good
Reason . A
Termination for Good Reason means a termination by Executive by
written notice given within ninety (90) days after the occurrence
of the Good Reason event, unless such circumstances are fully
corrected prior to the date of termination specified in the Notice
of Termination for Good Reason (as defined in
Section 8(d) hereof). For purposes of this
Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean the
occurrence or failure to cause the occurrence, as the case may be,
without Executive’s express written consent, of any of the
following circumstances: (i) any material diminution of
Executive’s positions, duties or responsibilities hereunder
(except in each case in connection with the termination of
Executive’s employment for Cause or Disability or as a result
of Executive’s death, or temporarily as a result of
Executive’s illness or other absence), or, the assignment to
Executive of duties or responsibilities that are inconsistent with
Executive’s then position; (ii) removal of, or the
non-reelection of, Executive from officer positions with the
Company specified herein without election to a higher position or
removal of Executive from any of his then officer positions;
(iii) a relocation of the Company’s executive office in
Connecticut to a location more than thirty-five (35) miles
from its current location or more than thirty-five (35) miles
further from Executive’s residence at the time of relocation;
(iv) a failure by the Company (A) to continue any bonus
plan, program or arrangement in which Executive is entitled to
participate (the “ Bonus Plans ”), provided that
any such Bonus Plans may be modified at the Company’s
discretion from time to time but shall be deemed terminated if
(x) any such plan does not remain substantially in the form in
effect prior to such modification and (y) if plans providing
Executive with substantially similar benefits are not substituted
therefor (“ Substitute Plans ”), or (B) to
continue Executive as a participant in the Bonus Plans and
Substitute Plans on at least the same basis as to potential amount
of the bonus as Executive participated in prior to any change in
such plans or awards, in accordance with the Bonus Plans and the
Substitute Plans; (v) any material breach by the Company of
any provision of this Agreement, including, without limitation,
Section 13 hereof; or (vi) failure of any successor to
the Company (whether direct or indirect and whether by merger,
acquisition, consolidation or otherwise) to assume in a writing
delivered to Executive upon the assignee becoming such, the
obligations of the Company hereunder.
3
(d)
Notice of Termination for Good
Reason . A Notice
of Termination for Good Reason shall mean a notice that shall
indicate the specific termination provision in
Section 8(c) relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for Termination for Good Reason. The failure by
Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination for Good Reason
any facts or circumstances which contribute to the showing of Good
Reason shall not waive any right of Executive hereunder or preclude
Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing his
rights hereunder. The Notice of Termination for Good Reason
shall provide for a date of termination not less than ten
(10) nor more than sixty (60) days after the date such Notice
of Termination for Good Reason is given, provided that in the case
of the events set forth in Sections 8(c)(i) or (ii), the date
may be five (5) days after the giving of such
notice.
(e)
Cause . Subject to the notification provisions
of Section 8(f) below, Executive’s employment
hereunder may be terminated by the Company for Cause. For
purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall be
limited to (i) willful misconduct by Executive with regard to
the Company which has a material adverse effect on the Company;
(ii) the willful refusal of Executive to attempt to follow the
proper written direction of the Board, provided that the foregoing
refusal shall not be “Cause” if Executive in good faith
believes that such direction is illegal, unethical or immoral and
promptly so notifies the Board; (iii) substantial and
continuing willful refusal by Executive to attempt to perform the
duties required of him hereunder (other than any such failure
resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after
a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to
Executive by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in
which it is believed that Executive has substantially and
continually refused to attempt to perform his duties hereunder; or
(iv) Executive being convicted of a felony (other than a
felony involving a traffic violation or as a result of vicarious
liability). For purposes of this paragraph, no act, or
failure to act, on Executive’s part shall be considered
“willful” unless done or omitted to be done, by him not
in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or
omission was in the best interests of the Company. A notice
by the Company of a non-renewal of the Employment Term pursuant to
Section 1 hereof shall be deemed an involuntary termination of
Executive by the Company without Cause as of the end of the then
Employment Term, but Executive may terminate at any time after the
receipt of such notice and shall be treated as if he was terminated
without Cause as of such date.
(f)
Notice of Termination for
Cause . A Notice of
Termination for Cause shall mean a notice that shall indicate the
specific termination provision in Section 8(e) relied
upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances which provide for a basis for Termination for
Cause. Further, a Notification for Cause shall be required to
include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the
Board which was called for the purpose of considering such
termination and which Executive and his representative had the
right to attend and address the Board, finding that, in the good
faith of the Board, Executive engaged in conduct set forth in the
definition of Cause herein and specifying the particulars thereof
in reasonable detail. The date of termination for a
Termination for Cause shall be the date indicated in the Notice of
Termination. Any purported Termination for Cause which is
held by a court not to have been based on the grounds set forth in
this Agreement or not to have followed the procedures set forth in
this Agreement shall be deemed a Termination by the Company without
Cause.
9.
Consequences of Termination of
Employment .
(a)
Death . If, Executive’s employment is
terminated by reason of Executive’s death, the employment
period under this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to Executive’s legal representatives under this
Agreement except for: (i) any compensation earned but
not yet paid, including and without limitation, any bonus if
declared or earned but not yet paid for a completed fiscal year,
any amount of Base Salary earned but unpaid, any accrued vacation
pay payable pursuant to the Company’s policies, and any
unreimbursed business expenses payable pursuant to Section 7
(collectively
4
“ Accrued Amounts ”), which
amounts shall be promptly paid in a lump sum to Executive’s
estate; (ii) any other amounts or benefits owing to Executive under
the then applicable employee benefit plans, long term incentive
plans or equity plans and programs of the Company which shall be
paid or treated in accordance with Section 4(c) hereof with regard
to the May 2001 Stock Options and otherwise in accordance with the
terms of such plans and programs; (iii) continuation, for twelve
(12) months following the date of death, of Executive’s
health benefits for Executive’s dependents at the same level
and cost as if Executive was an employee of the Company; and (iv)
if a bonus plan is in place, the product of (x) the target annual
bonus for the fiscal year of Executive’s death, multiplied by
(y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days of the
current fiscal year during which Executive was employed by the
Company, and the denominator of which is 365, which bonus shall be
paid in a lump sum when bonuses for such period are paid to the
Company’s other executives, but, in any event, in the fiscal
year following the fiscal year in which such bonus is
earned.
(b)
Disability
. Subject to
Section 9(f), if Executive’s employment is terminated by
reason of Executive’s Disability, Executive shall be entitled
to receive the payments and benefits to which his representatives
would be entitled in the event of a termination of employment by
reason of his death plus Executive shall be entitled to
continuation, for twelve (12) months following such termination of
employment, of group life and disability insurance benefits as if
Executive was an active employee of the Company.
(c)
Termination by Executive for Good
Reason or Termination by the Company without Cause
. Subject to Sections
9(f) and 9(g), if Executive terminates his employment
hereunder for Good Reason during the Employment Term or
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the
Company without Cause, then:
(i)
if such termination does not occur
during the Protection Period (as defined in
Section 9(c)(ii) below), Executive shall be entitled to
receive, (A) in equal installments paid in accordance with the
Company’s normal payroll practices commencing with the first
pay period after such termination over a period of twenty-four (24)
months after such termination (except as provided below), an amount
equal to two (2) times the sum of his Base Salary and target
bonus, if any, for the year in which such termination occurs (
provided , however , in the event that the Base
Salary or target bonus, if any, has been decreased in the twelve
(12) months prior to the termination, the amount to be used shall
be the highest Base Salary and target bonus, if any, during such
twelve (12) month period) (the “ Non-Protection Period
Severance Amount ”); (B) any Accrued Amounts at the
date of termination; (C) any other amounts or benefits owing
to Executive under the then applicable employee benefit, long term
incentive or equity plans and programs of the Company, which shall
be paid or treated in accordance with Section 4(c) hereof
with regard to the May 2001 Stock Options and otherwise in
accordance with the terms of such plans and programs, except that
(1) the portion of each outstanding option to acquire shares
of Common Stock held by Executive that would have otherwise vested
with the passage of time during the one-year period immediately
following Executive’s termination of employment had Executive
remained employed with the Company during such one-year period
shall be treated as immediately vested as of the date of such
termination, (2) each outstanding vested option to acquire
shares of Common Stock held by Executive as of the date of such
termination (taking into account the additional vesting described
in the preceding clause (1)) shall remain exercisable until the
earlier of (x) the expiration of such option’s original
term or (y) 18 months following the date of termination and
(3) with respect to each outstanding grant of shares of
restricted Common Stock (which, for purposes of clarity, are
considered to include restricted stock units, performance share
units, and other similar equity grants) held by Executive, such
grant shall be deemed to be vested with respect to a number of
shares determined as the product of (I) the total number of
shares subject to such grant and (II) the quotient obtained by
dividing (aa) the number of days in the relevant restricted period
that Executive was employed with the Company (assuming for such
purpose that Executive remained employed with the Company for the
one-year period immediately following Executive’s termination
of employment) by (bb) the number of days in the relevant
restricted
5
period, but only to the extent that the
application of this clause (3) would result in more shares being
vested than would otherwise be vested under the terms of such plans
and programs and applicable award agreements; (D) continuation, for
two years following such termination of employment, of group
health, life and disability insurance benefits as if Executive were
an employee of the Company, subject to the terms set forth in
Section 9(c)(iii); and (E) if a bonus plan is in place, the product
of (x) the target annual bonus for the fiscal year of
Executive’s termination, multiplied by (y) a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of days of the current fiscal year
during which Executive was employed by the Company, and the
denominator of which is 365, which bonus shall be paid in a lump
sum when bonuses for such period are paid to the Company’s
other executives, but, in any event, in the fiscal year following
the fiscal year in which such bonus is earned;
(ii)
if such termination occurs during
the period commencing on the date of a Change in Control (as
defined in Section 11(a)) and ending on the third anniversary
of such Change in Control (the “ Protection Period
”), Executive shall be entitled to receive, (A) a lump
sum cash payment to be paid on the fifth day after such termination
in an amount equal to three (3) times the sum of his Base
Salary and target bonus, if any, for the year in which such
termination occurs ( provided , however , in the
event that the Base Salary or target bonus, if any, has been
decreased in the twelve (12) months prior to the termination, the
amount to be used shall be the highest Base Salary and target
bonus, if any, during such twelve (12) month period) (the “
Protection Period Severance Amount ”); (B) any
Accrued Amounts at the date of termination; (C) any other
amounts or benefits owing to Executive under the then applicable
employee benefit, long term incentive or equity plans and programs
of the Company, which shall be paid or treated in accordance with
the terms of such plans and programs, except that (1) each
outstanding option to acquire shares of Common Stock held by
Executive as of the date of such termination shall become
immediately fully vested and remain exercisable until the earlier
of (x) the expiration of such option’s original term or
(y) 36 months following the date of termination and
(2) each outstanding share of restricted Common Stock (which,
for purposes of clarity, are considered to include restricted stock
units, performance share units, and other similar equity grants)
held by Executive shall be immediately fully vested as of the date
of such termination; (D) continuation, for three years
following such termination of employment, of group health, life and
disability insurance benefits as if Executive were an employee of
the Company, subject to the terms set forth in
Section 9(c)(iii); and (E) if a bonus plan is in place,
the product of (x) the target annual bonus for the fiscal year
of Executive’s termination, multiplied by (y) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days of the
current fiscal year during which Executive was employed by the
Company, and the denominator of which is 365, which bonus shall be
paid in a lump sum when bonuses for such period are paid to the
Company’s other executives, but, in any event, in the fiscal
year following the fiscal year in which such bonus is earned;
and
(iii)
with respect to the continuation of
group health benefits to Executive pursuant to
Section 9(c)(i)(D) or Section 9(c)(ii)(D), Executive
shall pay the full cost for such group health coverage on an
after-tax basis for each month that Executive elects to retain such
coverage by payment of the monthly cost of such coverage as
determined for purposes of health care continuation under
Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “ COBRA Premium ”). Within five
(5) business days of the date of Executive’s termination
of employment, the Company shall make a payment to Executive equal
to the number of full and partial months remaining in the calendar
year in which Executive’s employment is terminated,
multiplied by the difference between the COBRA Premium for such
year and the monthly amount that Executive was required to pay for
group health coverage immediately prior to his termination of
employment. On each January 2 thereafter until the end
of the applicable period under Section 9(c)(i)(D) or
Section 9(c)(ii)(D), if Executive has maintained group health
coverage through the last day of the preceding calendar year, the
Company shall make a payment to Executive equal to the difference
between the COBRA Premium and the monthly amount that Executive was
required to pay for group health coverage immediately prior to his
termination of employment, multiplied by 12, or, if the period of
coverage is for less than a year, by the number of full
6
and partial months remaining in the year until
the end of the applicable period under
Section 9(c)(i)(D) or Section 9(c)(ii)(D).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the first 18 months following
the date of Executive’s termination of employment shall be
considered to be the period during which Executive shall be
eligible for continuation coverage under Section 4980B of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code
”).
(d)
Termination with Cause or
Voluntary Resignation without Good Reason . If, Executive’s employment
hereunder is terminated (i) by the Company for Cause or
(ii) by Executive without Good Reason, Executive shall be
entitled to receive only his Base Salary through the date of
termination, and any unreimbursed business expenses payable
pursuant to Section 7 and, if such termination is by Executive
without Good Reason, any bonus that has been declared or earned but
not yet paid for a completed fiscal year. Executive’s
rights under all benefits plans and equity grants shall be
determined in accordance with the Company’s plans, programs
and grants, except as provided in Section 4(c) hereof
with respect to the May 2001 Stock Options.
(e)
Determination of Earned
Bonus. For
purposes of this Agreement, a bonus in respect of services
performed in a fiscal year shall not be considered to be earned
until after the Committee and/or the Board, as applicable, has
reviewed the Company’s performance and Executive’s
performance in respect of such year and has determined the
amount of the bonus, if any, to be payable to Executive in respect
of such year’s performance; provided , however
, that if Executive is still employed by the Company as of
December 31 of any year, Executive shall be considered to have
earned the bonus in respect of services performed in such year (to
the extent that the Committee and/or the Board determine that such
bonus would otherwise have been payable to Executive had Executive
remained employed through the relevant payment date for such bonus)
unless Executive’s employment is subsequently terminated by
the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good
Reason.
(f)
Separation from
Service .
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
if Executive is a “specified employee” (within the
meaning of Section 409A of the Code) and any payment made
pursuant to this Section 9 is considered to be a
“deferral of compen