Exhibit 10.3
Amended and Restated Employment
Agreement
Between The Walt Disney Company
And Dennis Shuler
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”), dated as of
December 22, 2008, by and between Dennis Shuler (“
Executive ”) and The Walt Disney Company, a
Delaware corporation (“ Company ”),
amending and restating in its entirety Executive’s Employment
Agreement with Company dated as of March 19, 2008 (the “
March 19 Agreement ”).
W I T N E S
S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Company employs
Executive as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources
Officer of the Company pursuant to the March 19 Agreement;
and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive
desire to amend and restate the March 19 Agreement for the
purpose of making certain changes intended to ensure compliance
with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and to make
certain additional minor corrections in the March 19
Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and Executive
hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment . Upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Company
hereby employs Executive and Executive hereby accepts employment by
the Company for the period commencing on April 1, 2008 and
ending on March 31, 2011 (or such earlier date as shall be
determined pursuant to Paragraph 5). The period during which
Executive is employed pursuant to this Agreement shall be referred
to as the “ Employment Period
.”
2. Position and Duties .
During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as Executive
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Company and
in such other position or positions with the Company and its
subsidiaries, consistent with his position as Executive Vice
President and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Company, as the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “ Board ”) shall
reasonably assign Executive from time to time. Executive shall
report to the Chief Executive Officer or to the Chief Operating
Officer, President or such other senior officer of Company as
determined from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer. During
the Employment Period, Executive shall devote substantially all his
business time to the services required of him hereunder, and shall
perform such services in a manner consonant with the duties of his
position. Executive shall be subject to the terms and conditions of
any applicable policy of the Company
regarding service (including as a director) on
behalf of the Company or any other affiliated organization,
provided that, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 8(a), nothing
herein shall preclude Executive from ( i ) engaging in
charitable activities and community affairs, and ( ii
) managing his personal investments and affairs, so long as
the activities listed in subclauses (i)-(ii) do not materially
interfere, individually or in the aggregate, with the proper
performance of his duties and responsibilities as Executive Vice
President and Chief Human Resources Officer of the
Company.
3. Compensation .
(a) Base Salary . During the
Employment Period, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary at
the annual rate of no less than the amount determined in accordance
with the following schedule:
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Date Rate of Salary Effective
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Annual Rate
of Base Salary
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April 1, 2008
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$
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650,000
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April 1, 2009
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$
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675,000
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April 1, 2010
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$
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700,000
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The amount of annual base salary
payable under this Paragraph 3(a) shall be reduced, however, to the
extent Executive elects in accordance with Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “
Code ”) and the regulations and interpretations
thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), to defer
such salary under the terms of any deferred compensation or savings
plan or arrangement maintained or established by the Company or any
of its subsidiaries. Executive’s annual base salary payable
hereunder, without reduction for any amounts deferred as described
above, is referred to herein as the “ Base
Salary .” The Company shall pay Executive the portion
of his Base Salary not deferred at the election of Executive in
accordance with its generally applicable policies for senior
executives, but not less frequently than in equal monthly
installments.
(b) Incentive Compensation .
Executive shall be given the opportunity to earn an annual
incentive bonus in accordance with the annual bonus plan generally
applicable to the Company’s executive officers, as the same
may be in effect from time to time (the “ Annual
Plan ”). Executive’s target annual incentive
bonus opportunity under the Annual Plan during each fiscal year
during the term hereof shall be no less than 100% of
Executive’s Base Salary as expected to be in effect at the
end of such fiscal year, as determined in accordance with the
schedule established under Paragraph 3(a), it being
understood, however, that the target bonus opportunity for fiscal
2008 (i.e., the fiscal year commencing
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October 1, 2007) is pro rated
to reflect commencement of Executive’s employment at the
beginning of the seventh month of such fiscal year, thus resulting
in a target bonus opportunity of 50% of Executive’s Base
Salary for such year. The actual amount payable to Executive as an
annual bonus under the Annual Plan shall be dependent upon the
achievement of performance objectives established in accordance
with the Annual Plan by the Board or the committee of the Board
responsible for administering such Annual Plan (the “
Compensation Committee ”), which shall be
substantially the same as the objectives established under the
Annual Plan for other senior executive officers of the Company. The
preceding sentence shall not limit any power or discretion of the
Board or the Committee in the administration of the Annual Plan.
Accordingly, depending on performance, the actual amount payable as
an annual bonus to Executive under the Annual Plan may be less
than, greater than or equal to the target bonus specified above.
Any bonus payable pursuant to this Paragraph 3(b) shall be paid at
the same time as annual bonuses are payable to other officers of
the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Annual Plan,
subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company
through the date on which such bonuses are paid.
(c) Eligibility for Equity
Awards; Award Grant . Subject to the terms of this Agreement,
Executive shall be entitled to participate in any stock option,
performance share, performance unit or other equity based long-term
incentive compensation plan, program or arrangement generally made
available to senior executive officers of the Company, on
substantially the same terms and conditions as generally apply to
such other officers, except that the size of the awards made to
Executive shall reflect Executive’s position with the Company
and the Compensation Committee’s evaluation of
Executive’s performance and competitive compensation
practices.
In connection with the execution of
this Agreement, the Company shall recommend to the Compensation
Committee (“Committee”) of the Board that Executive be
granted:
(i) non-qualified stock options
pursuant to a stock incentive plan of the Company to purchase
150,000 shares of common stock of the Company, it being understood
that such options shall have an exercise price of 100% of fair
market value of the common stock of the Company at the date of
grant by the Committee (the “ Grant Date ”) and
that such options shall vest at the rate of 50% on the second
anniversary of the Grant Date and 25% on each of the third and
fourth anniversaries of the Grant Date (subject to
Executive’s continued employment by the Company and to the
other provisions of the applicable stock incentive plan);
and
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(ii) 40,000 restricted stock units
pursuant to a stock incentive plan of the Company, it being
understood that such restricted stock units shall be scheduled to
vest at the rate of 50% on the second anniversary of the Grant Date
and 50% on the fourth anniversary of the Grant Date (subject to
Executive’s continued employment by the Company and to the
other provisions of the applicable Company stock incentive plan and
of the restricted stock unit award, including without limitation
certain performance-based conditions to vesting and certain
conditions designed to ensure compliance and conditions designed to
comply with Section 162(m) by the Company with
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“
Section 162(m) ”)
(d) Signing Bonus. Executive
shall receive a special one-time signing bonus in the amount of
$300,000 (less statutory withholdings) payable within ten business
days following the later of (i) the Company’s receipt of
this Agreement signed by Executive or (ii) Executive’s
commencement of employment hereunder.
4. Benefits, Perquisites and
Expenses .
(a) Benefits . During the
Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible to participate in (
i ) each welfare benefit plan sponsored or maintained
by the Company and made available generally to its senior officers,
including, without limitation, each group life, hospitalization,
medical, dental, health, accident or disability insurance or
similar plan or program of the Company, and ( ii ) each
pension, profit sharing, retirement, deferred compensation or
savings plan sponsored or maintained by the Company for its senior
officers, in each case, whether now existing or established
hereafter, in accordance with the generally applicable provisions
thereof (excluding, however, the Company’s Family Income
Assurance Plan). In addition, in connection with Executive’s
current relocation to the Los Angeles area, he shall be entitled to
relocation assistance in accordance with, and subject to, the
Company’s policies and practices.
(b) Perquisites . During the
Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to receive such
perquisites as are generally provided to other senior officers of
the Company in accordance with the then current policies and
practices of the Company.
(c) Business Expenses . The
Company shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable
expenses incurred or paid by Executive during the Employment Period
in the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, upon
presentation of expense statements or vouchers and such other
information as the Company may require and in accordance with the
generally applicable policies and procedures of the
Company.
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(d) Indemnification . The
Company shall provide Executive with an indemnification agreement
substantially equivalent to its form for such agreement as
currently provided to its senior officers generally, which shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with its
terms.
5. Termination of Employment
.
(a) Early Termination of the
Employment Period . Notwithstanding Paragraph 1, the Employment
Period shall end upon the earliest to occur of ( i
) Executive’s death, ( ii ) a Termination
due to Disability, ( iii ) a Termination for Cause, (
iv ) the Termination Date specified in connection with
any exercise by the Company of its Termination Right or ( v
) a Termination for Good Reason. If the Employment Period
terminates as of a date specified under this Paragraph 5, Executive
agrees that, upon written request from the Company, he shall resign
from any and all positions he holds with the Company and any of its
subsidiaries and affiliates, effective immediately following
receipt of such request from the Company (or at such later date as
the Company may specify).
(b) Benefits Payable Upon
Termination .
(i) In the event of
Executive’s death during the Employment Period or a
Termination due to Disability, Executive or his beneficiaries or
legal representatives shall be provided the Unconditional
Entitlements, including, but not limited to, any such Unconditional
Entitlements that are or become payable under any Company plan,
policy, practice or program or any contract or agreement with the
Company by reason of Executive’s death or Termination due to
Disability.
(ii) In the event of
Executive’s Termination for Cause, Executive shall be
provided the Unconditional Entitlements.
(iii) In the event of a Termination
for Good Reason or the exercise by the Company of its Termination
Right, Executive shall be provided the Unconditional Entitlements
and the Company shall provide Executive the Conditional Benefits,
subject to ( A ) Executive’s execution of the
Release, ( B ) Executive having not revoked such
Release within the seven-day revocation period permitted following
delivery of such Release and ( C ) Executive’s
execution of the Consulting Agreement. For Executive to become
entitled to the Conditional Benefits, Executive must deliver both
the executed Release and the executed Consulting Agreement to the
Company by no later than twenty-two (22) days following the
Termination Date.
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(c) Unconditional
Entitlements . For purposes of this Agreement, the “
Unconditional Entitlements ” to which Executive
may become entitled under Paragraph 5(b) are as follows:
(i) Earned Amounts . The
Earned Compensation shall be paid within 30 days following the
termination of Executive’s employment hereunder, or if any
part thereof constitutes a bonus which is subject to or conditioned
upon any performance conditions, within thirty (30) days
following the determination that such conditions have been met,
provided that in no event shall the bonus be paid later than
90 days following his termination of employment.
(ii) Benefits . All benefits
payable to Executive under any employee benefit plans (including,
without limitation any pension plans or 401(k) plans) of the
Company or any of its affiliates applicable to Executive at the
time of termination of Executive’s employment with the
Company and all amounts and benefits (other than the Conditional
Benefits) which are vested or which Executive is otherwise entitled
to receive under the terms of or in accordance with any plan,
policy, practice or program of, or any contract or agreement with,
the Company, at or subsequent to the date of his termination
without regard to the performance by Executive of further services
or the resolution of a contingency, shall be paid or provided in
accordance with and subject to the terms and provisions of such
plans, it being understood that all such benefits shall be
determined on the basis of the actual date of termination of
Executive’s employment with the Company. Notwithstanding the
immediately preceding sentence, Executive shall not be entitled to
any benefits under any severance plan or policy of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries.
(iii) Indemnities . Any right
which Executive may have to claim a defense and/or indemnity for
liabilities to or claims asserted by third parties in connection
with Executive’s activities as an officer, director or
employee of the Company or any of its affiliates pursuant to the
terms of the Indemnification Agreement referenced in Paragraph 4(d)
shall be unaffected by Executive’s termination of employment
and shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms.
(iv) Medical Coverage .
Executive shall be entitled to such continuation of health care
coverage as is required under, and in accordance with, applicable
law or otherwise provided in accordance with the Company’s
policies. Executive shall be notified in writing of his rights to
continue such coverage after the termination of his employment
pursuant to this Paragraph 5(c)(iv), provided that Executive
timely
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complies with the conditions to
continue such coverage. Executive understands and acknowledges that
Executive is responsible to make for all payments required for any
such continued health care coverage that Executive may choose to
receive.
(v) Business Expenses .
Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement, in accordance with
the Company’s policies regarding expense reimbursement as in
effect from time to time, for all business expenses incurred by him
prior to the termination of his employment.
(vi) Stock Options/RSUs .
Except to the extent additional rights are provided upon
Executive’s qualifying to receive the Conditional Benefits,
Executive’s rights with respect to any stock options and/or
restricted stock units granted to him by the Company shall be
governed by the terms and provisions of the plans (including plan
rules) and award agreements pursuant to which such stock options
and restricted stock units were awarded, as in effect at the date
Executive’s employment terminates.
(d) Conditional Benefits .
For purposes of this Agreement, the “ Conditional
Benefits ” to which Executive may become entitled,
provided he complies with the terms and conditions thereof, are as
follows:
(i) Remaining Salary . As
specified in further detail in paragraph 2 of the Consulting
Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive a lump sum amount equal
to the Consulting Amount as compensation for his consulting
services under the Consulting Agreement. If the Scheduled
Expiration Date is later than the end of the Consulting Agreement
Period, the Company shall also pay Executive the Severance Amount.
The Consulting Amount and the Severance Amount shall be paid on the
date that is six months and one day after the Termination Date (or
upon Executive’s death, if earlier).
(ii) Stock Options . All of
Executive’s Continuing Unvested Options shall become
exercisable in accordance with the applicable Original Stock Option
Award Documents, on the same basis as such options would have
become vested and exercisable if Executive had remained employed
under this Agreement through the Scheduled Expiration Date. Once
exercisable, all Continuing Unvested Options shall remain
exercisable until the Stock Option Termination Date. All of
Executive’s Remaining Stock Options that were vested and
exercisable at the Termination Date shall remain exercisable until
the Stock Option Termination Date. Notwithstanding any other term
or provision hereof, any of Executive’s stock options which
are not vested at the Termination Date, and which are not
Continuing Unvested Options, shall automatically terminate upon the
Termination Date. Except as otherwise expressly
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provided herein, all of the
Remaining Stock Options shall continue to be subject to the
Original Stock Option Award Documents. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event of Executive’s death prior to the
Stock Option Termination Date, all Continuing Unvested Options
shall vest on the date of Executive’s death and all Remaining
Stock Options shall be exercisable for the period following
Executive’s death determined under such Original Stock Option
Award Documents on the same basis as though Executive was employed
on the date of his death and regardless of when the Stock Option
Termination Date would otherwise have occurred. However, any
provisions in the Original Stock Option Award Documents relating to
disability or change in control of the Company shall not be
operative after the Termination Date with respect to any Remaining
Stock Options.
(iii) RSUs . The Remaining
Stock Units shall continue to vest in accordance with the terms of
the Original RSU Award Documents, regardless of Executive’s
termination of employment. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, all such Remaining Stock Units shall be subject to, and
administered in accordance with, the Original RSU Award Documents.
Any of Executive’s restricted stock unit awards that have not
become vested on or before the Termination Date, and that are
outstanding at the Termination Date, but which are not Remaining
Stock Units, shall automatically terminate on the Termination Date.
Notwithstanding any term or provision of the Original RSU Award
Documents:
(A) any provisions in such Original
RSU Award Documents relating to disability shall not be applicable
to any such Remaining Stock Units after the Termination
Date;
(B) for so long as this Agreement
shall be in effect (that is, regardless of whether the Termination
Right has been exercised or a Termination for Good Reason shall
have occurred), any terms in any of the Original RSU Award
Documents relating to a change in control of the Company shall not
be operative unless the event that constitutes a change in control
of the Company also constitutes a “change in control
event” with respect to the Company within the meaning of
Section 409A;
(C) in the event of
Executive’s death after the Termination Date but prior to the
Scheduled Expiration Date, the terms and provisions of the Original
RSU Award Documents shall be interpreted and applied in the same
manner with respect to such Remaining Stock Units as if Executive
were an active employee on the date of his death; and
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(D) to the extent that, under the
Company’s compensation practices and policies, any tranche of
Remaining Stock Units is subject to the achievement of performance
conditions which were imposed solely because Executive was an
executive officer of the Company who could have been a covered
employee within the meaning of Section 162(m) at the time
payment in respect of such award was expected to be made (the
“ Applicable 162(m) Criteria ”) and such
Applicable 162(m) Criteria relate, in whole or in part, to any
performance period continuing after the end of the Company’s
fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs, such Applicable
162(m) Criteria shall be waived as of the Termination Date with
respect to such tranche of the Remaining Stock Units; provided,
however, that this Paragraph 5(d)(iii)(D) shall not be applicable
if and to the extent, in the reasonable opinion of tax counsel to
the Company, the presence of such provision would cause any stock
units intended to be qualified as other performance based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code
to fail to be so qualified at any time prior to Executive’s
Termination Date.
(iv) Pro-Rated Current Year
Bonus . A pro rata annual bonus for the year in which the
Termination Date occurs, determined on the basis of an assumed
full-year target bonus determined pursuant to Section 3(b) and
the number of days in the applicable fiscal year occurring on or
before the Termination Date. Such pro-rata current year bonus shall
be paid no later than the later of ( i ) two and a half
months after the end of Executive’s tax year in which the
Termination Date occurs and ( ii ) two and a half
months after the end of the Company’s tax year in which the
Termination Date occurs.
(v) Additional Distribution Rules
in Respect of Conditional Benefits . The following additional
rules shall apply with respect to distribution of the payments and
benefits, if any, to be provided to Executive under Paragraph
5(d)(i), (iii) and (iv):
(A) It is intended that each
installment of the payments and benefits provided under Paragraphs
5(d)(i), (iii) and (iv) shall be treated as a separate
“payment” for purposes of Section 409A. Neither
the Company nor Executive shall have the right to accelerate or
defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the
extent specifically permitted or required by
Section 409A;
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(B) Distribution in respect of any
tranche of Remaining Stock Units to which Paragraph 5(b)(iii)(D)
applies shall be made within 90 days following the later of the
date that ( i ) the service conditions that had
originally been specified for such tranche of Remaining Stock Units
under the applicable Original RSU Award Documents would otherwise
have been satisfied (had Executive continued to be employed) and (
ii ) the last performance measurement period applicable
in respect of such tranche of Remaining Stock Units under the
applicable Original RSU Award Documents would otherwise have
expired;
(C) Each installment of the payments
and benefits due under Paragraph 5(d)(i) and (iii) that would,
absent this subsection, be paid within the six-month period
following Executive’s “separation from service”
(within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and as
provided in Paragraph 5(g) hereof) from the Company shall not be
paid until the date that is six months and one day after such
separation from service (or, if earlier, Executive’s death),
with any such installments that are required to be delayed being
accumulated during the six-month period and paid in a lump sum on
the date that is six months and one day following Executive’s
separation from service; provided, however, that the preceding
provisions of this sentence shall not apply to any installment of
payments and benefits if and to the maximum extent that that such
installment is deemed to be paid under a separation pay plan that
does not provide for a deferral of compensation by reason of the
application of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)
(relating to separation pay upon an involuntary separation from
service). (Any installments that qualify for the exception under
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) must be paid
no later than the last day of Executive’s second taxable year
following the taxable year of Executive’s in which the
separation from service occurs.) Any subsequent installments that
would be payable more than six months following Executive’s
separation from service shall be paid in accordance with the dates
and terms set forth herein.
(e) Definitions . For
purposes of this Paragraph 5, the following terms shall have the
meanings ascribed to them below:
“ Consulting
Agreement ” means the consulting agreement in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
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“ Consulting Agreement
Period” means the period established under the
Consulting Agreement during which Executive shall be required to
provide consulting services to the Company.
“Consulting
Amount” means a
lump sum amount equal to the aggregate Base Salary which would have
been earned by Executive had his employment under this Agreement
continued after the Termination Date and through the earlier to
occur of ( i ) the end of the Consulting Agreement
Period or ( ii ) any earlier date that the Consulting
Agreement terminates for any reason whatsoever.
“ Continuing Unvested
Options ” means
any of Executive’s stock options that were not vested and
exercisable at the Termination Date, but that would have become
vested and exercisable on or prior to the Latest Stock Option
Vesting Date had Executive continued to be employed by the Company
through the Scheduled Expiration Date.
“ Earned
Compensation ” means the sum of ( a ) any
Base Salary earned, but unpaid, for services rendered to the
Company on or prior to the date on which the Employment Period ends
pursuant to Paragraph 5(a) (but excluding any salary and interest
accrued thereon payment of which has been deferred) and ( b
) if Executive’s employment terminates due to
Executive’s death or in a Termination due to Disability or a
Termination for Good Reason or due to the Company’s exercise
of its Termination Right, in any case, after the end of a fiscal
year, but before the annual incentive compensation payable for
services rendered in that fiscal year has been paid, the annual
incentive compensation that would have been payable to Executive
for such completed fiscal year in accordance with Paragraph
3(b).
“ Latest Stock Option
Vesting Date ” means the date which is three months after the
Scheduled Expiration Date.
“ Original Stock Option
Award Documents ” means, with respect to any Remaining
Stock Option, the terms and provisions of the award agreement and
plan pursuant to which such Remaining Stock Option was granted,
each as in effect on the Termination Date.
“ Original RSU Award
Documents ” means, with respect to any tranche of Remaining
Stock Units, the terms and provisions of the award agreement
related to and the plan governing, such tranche of Remaining Stock
Units, each as in effect on the Termination Date.
“ Release
” means the General
Release in the form set forth in Exhibit B attached
hereto.
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“ Remaining Stock
Options ” means any of Executive’s stock
options which are ( i ) vested at the Termination Date
or ( ii ) Continuing Unvested Options.
“ Remaining Stock
Units ” means any of Executive’s restricted
stock units (whether or not subject to performance conditions)
that, subject to the satisfaction of any applicable performance
conditions, would have become vested on or prior to the Scheduled
Expiration Date had Executive continued to be employed by the
Company through the Scheduled Expiration Date.
“ Scheduled Expiration
Date ” means March 31, 2011.
“ Severance
Amount ” means an amount equal to the aggregate Base
Salary which would have been earned by Executive under this
Agreement (including any scheduled increase therein) for the period
commencing on the day after termination of the Consulting Agreement
Period and ending on the Scheduled Expiration Date; provided
that if the Company terminates the Consulting Agreement due
to Executive’s material breach of the terms thereof, the
Severance Amount shall be reduced to zero.
“ Stock Option
Termination Date ” means with respect to any
Remaining Stock Option the earlier to occur of ( i
) the date which is three months after the Scheduled
Expiration Date and ( ii ) the expiration of the stated
term of such award.
“ Termination for
Cause ” means a termination of Executive’s
employment by the Company due to ( i ) gross
negligence, ( ii ) gross misconduct, ( iii
) willful nonfeasance or ( iv ) willful material
breach of this Agreement, which termination may be effected
(A) immediately upon notice from the Company if the Company
shall reasonably and in good faith determine that the conduct or
cause specified in such notice is not curable (it being understood
that such notice shall describe in reasonable detail the conduct or
cause giving rise to such notice and shall state the reason(s) why
the Company has determined that such conduct or cause is not
curable); or (B) upon twenty business days notice from the
Company, if the Company shall reasonably and in good faith
determine that the conduct or cause specified in such notice is
curable (it being understood that such notice shall describe in
reasonable detail the conduct or cause giving rise to such notice
and shall state the reason(s) why the Company has determined that
such conduct or cause is curable and what steps the Company
believes should or could be taken to cure such conduct or cause);
provided that the Company shall not be entitled to terminate
Executive’s employment for Cause, if Executive has, within
five business days after the date notice in accordance with
subclause (B) has been given personally to Executive or
otherwise has been received by Executive, commenced in good faith
to
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cure the conduct or cause specified
in such notice and completes such cure within 20 business days
following the date such notice was received.
“ Termination
Date ” means the earlier to occur of ( i
) the date the Company specifies in writing to Executive in
connection with the exercise of its Termination Right or (
ii ) the date Executive specifies in writing to the
Company in connection with any notice to effect a Termination for
Good Reason.
“ Termination due to
Disability ” means a termination of Executive’s
employment by the Company because Executive has been incapable,
after reasonable accommodation, of substantially fulfilling the
positions, duties, responsibilities and obligations set forth in
this Agreement because of physical, mental or emotional incapacity
resulting from injury, sickness or disease for a period of (
i ) six consecutive months or ( ii ) an
aggregate of nine months (whether or not consecutive) in any twelve
month period. Any question as to the existence, extent or
potentiality of Executive’s disability shall be determined by
a qualified physician selected by the Company with the consent of
Executive, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Executive or his legal representatives or any adult member of his
immediate family shall have the right to present to such physician
such information and arguments as to Executive’s disability
as he, she or they deem appropriate, including the opinion of
Executive’s personal physician.
“ Termination for Good
Reason ” means a termination of Executive’s
employment by Executive within 30 days of the Company’s
failure to cure, in accordance with the procedures set forth below,
any of the following events: ( i ) a reduction in any
of Executive’s compensation rights hereunder (that is, Base
Salary and target bonus opportunity specified in Paragraph 3(b)),
it being understood that the failure of Executive to receive an
actual bonus for any fiscal year equal to or greater than the
target bonus opportunity is not a reduction in such compensation
rights, but a failure to effect a scheduled increase in the Base
Salary would be a reduction in such compensation rights; (
ii ) the removal of him by the Company from the
position of Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources
Officer; ( iii ) a material reduction in
Executive’s duties and responsibilities as in effect
immediately prior to such reduction; ( v ) the
assignment to Executive of duties that are materially inconsistent
with his position or duties or that materially impair
Executive’s ability to function as Executive Vice President
and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Company and any other
position in which he is then serving; ( vi ) the
relocation of Executive’s principal office to a location that
is more than 50 miles outside of the greater Los Angeles area; or (
vii ) a material breach of
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any material provision of this
Agreement by the Company. In addition, following the occurrence of
a Change in Control (as defined in the Amended and Restated 2005
Stock Incentive Plan (the “ 2005 Stock Plan
”)) and the Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Incentive Plan
(the “ 1995 Stock Plan ”), any occurrence
that would constitute a Triggering Event for purposes of
Section 11 of the 2005 Stock Plan and the 1995 Stock Plan (the
“ Plans ”), as such Plans may be amended
from time to time, shall also constitute an event upon which
Executive may effect a Termination for Good Reason in accordance
with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a termination
shall not be treated as a Termination for Good Reason ( A
) if Executive shall have consented in writing to the
occurrence of the event giving rise to the claim of Termination for
Good Reason, or ( B ) unless Executive shall have
delivered a written notice to the Company within three months of
his having actual knowledge of the occurrence of one of such events
stating that he intends to terminate his employment for Good Reason
and specifying the factual basis for such termination, and such
event, if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within
30 days of the receipt of such notice.
“ Termination
Right ” means the right of the Company, in its sole,
absolute and unfettered discretion, to terminate Executive’s
employment under this Agreement for any reason or no reason
whatsoever. For the avoidance of doubt, any Termination for Cause
effected by the Company shall not constitute the exercise of the
its Termination Right.
(f) Conflict With Plans. As
permitted under the terms of the applicable Plans, the Company and
Executive agree that the definitions of Termination for Cause or
Termination for Good Reason set forth in this Paragraph 5 shall
apply in place of any similar definition or comparable concept
applicable under either of the Plans (or any similar definition in
any successor plan), except that, in connection with a
“Triggering Event” as defined in the Plans, as such
Plans may be amended from time to time, the terms of the applicable
plan (and not the definitions of Termination for Cause or
Termination for Good Reason set forth in this Paragraph 5) shall
apply to determine Executive’s rights and entitlements in
respect of the awards made under any such plan (and only in respect
of such awards).
(g) Section 409A . To
the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement comply
with the requirements of Section 409A, and this Agreement
shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent.
Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, any
payment required to be made to Executive hereunder upon his
termination of employment (including any payment pursuant to this
Paragraph 5) shall be made promptly after the six month
14
anniversary of Executive’s
date of termination to the extent necessary to avoid imposition on
Executive of any tax penalty imposed under Section 409A of the
Code. Solely for purposes of determining the time and form of
payments due Executive under this Agreement (including any payments
due under Paragraph 3(a)) or otherwise in connection with his
termination of employment with the Company, Executive shall not be
deemed to have incurred a termination of employment unless and
until he shall incur a “separation from service” within
the meaning of Section 409A of the Co