Exhibit 10.7
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(“Agreement”) is entered into by and between Bret A.
Violette (“Executive”) and IAC/InterActiveCorp, a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and is effective
April 11, 2007 (the “Effective Date”).
LendingTree, LLC is party hereto for purposes of Sections 1A and
4A(e)(2) only.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to
establish its right to the services of Executive, in the capacity
described below, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
and Executive is willing to accept such employment on such terms
and conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, Executive and the
Company have agreed and do hereby agree as follows:
1A.
PRIOR AGREEMENT
. Executive and LendingTree,
LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, are currently party to that
certain Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of
April 28, 2006, as supplemented by that certain Addendum dated
as of January 8, 2007 (as supplemented, the “Prior
Agreement”). This Agreement shall replace and supersede
the Prior Agreement, and as of the date hereof, the Prior Agreement
shall no longer be of any force or effect.
2A.
EMPLOYMENT
. During the Term (as defined
below), the Company shall employ Executive, and Executive shall be
employed, as President of RealEstate.com. During
Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall do
and perform all services and acts necessary or advisable to fulfill
the duties and responsibilities as are commensurate and consistent
with Executive’s position and shall render such services on
the terms set forth herein. During Executive’s
employment with the Company, Executive shall report directly to the
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company or such
person(s) as from time to time may be designated by the
Company (hereinafter referred to as the “Reporting
Officer”). Executive shall have such powers and duties
with respect to RealEstate.com (and its subsidiaries, divisions,
and businesses) (collectively, the “RealEstate.com
Businesses”) as may reasonably be assigned to Executive by
the Reporting Officer, to the extent consistent with
Executive’s position. Executive agrees to devote all of
Executive’s working time, attention and efforts to the
RealEstate.com Businesses and to perform the duties of
Executive’s position in accordance with the Company’s
policies as in effect from time to time. Executive’s
principal place of employment shall be the offices of the
Company’s subsidiary, LendingTree, LLC, located in Charlotte,
North Carolina.
3A.
TERM . The term of this Agreement shall begin
on the date hereof and shall expire on the third anniversary hereof
(the “Term”), provided that certain terms and
conditions herein may specify a greater period of
effectiveness.
4A.
COMPENSATION
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(a)
BASE
SALARY . During the period
that Executive is employed with the Company hereunder, the Company
shall pay Executive an annual base salary of $400,000
(the
“Base Salary”),
payable in equal biweekly installments (or, if different, in
accordance with the Company’s payroll practice as in effect
from time to time). For all purposes under this Agreement,
the term “Base Salary” shall refer to the Base Salary
as in effect from time to time.
(b)
BONUS . During the period
that Executive is employed with the Company hereunder, Executive
shall be eligible to receive a guaranteed annual bonus in the
amount of $500,000 in each of 2007, 2008 and 2009 each year (each,
a “Guaranteed Annual Bonus Payment”), payable not later
than July 15 of each such year provided that Executive remains
employed with the Company on such payment dates. In addition,
during the period that Executive is employed with the Company
hereunder, Executive shall be eligible to receive discretionary
annual bonuses following the end of the Company’s fiscal year
paid at times consistent with other similarly situated executives
of the Company.
(c)
GROWTH SHARES . Subject to approval of the
Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company, Executive shall be granted 10,000 Growth
Shares at “target” performance, pursuant to an award
letter and standard terms and conditions substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A. In addition, the Company
acknowledges that Executive has previously been granted IAC
Restricted Stock Units, which Units remain outstanding and continue
to be subject to their terms and conditions, except as specifically
provided herein.
(d)
LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE
BONUS . (i)
Subject to the limitations set forth herein, the Company shall pay
Executive (A) a one-time bonus amount equal to $1,000,000 in
the event that the Real Estate Revenues (as defined below) equal or
exceed $130,000,000 in the 2009 fiscal year and Real Estate OIBA
(as defined below) in the 2009 fiscal year equals or exceeds $10
million; and (B) an additional one-time bonus amount equal to
$1,000,000 in the event that the Real Estate Revenues equal or
exceed $130,000,000 in the 2009 fiscal year and Real Estate OIBA in
the 2009 fiscal year equals or exceeds $20 million (together, the
“LTP Bonuses”); provided that in each case Executive
remains employed with the Company through the date of payment of
such bonus as described below. In no event will the Company
be required to pay the LTP Bonuses unless the Company, acting in
its good faith discretion, determines that the RealEstate.com
Businesses are in good condition and that operating decisions made
to achieve the Real Estate Revenues and Real Estate OIBA targets
set forth in this section (the “LTP Targets”) were
accomplished in the ordinary course of business and did not
jeopardize the long-term health of the business. “Real
Estate Revenues” means the revenues of the RealEstate.com
Businesses as calculated by the Company in accordance with its
ordinary business practices. “ Real Estate OIBA
” means Operating Income Before Amortization (as defined in
the Company’s public earnings releases from time to time and
as calculated by the Company in accordance with its ordinary
business practices) of the RealEstate.com Businesses. Within
60 days following the end of the 2009 fiscal year, the Company
shall prepare and deliver to Executive a statement of Real Estate
Revenues and Real Estate OIBA for such year.
Executive shall have ten days after delivery of such schedule to
review and comment on such schedule, after which the Company shall
have ten days to finalize such schedule, which final schedule shall
be prepared in the reasonable discretion of the Company acting in
good faith. The Company shall pay the amount of the bonus
reflected in such schedule within 75 days after the end of the 2009
fiscal year. The Company shall afford the Executive
reasonable access to the
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books and records of the Real Estate Business to
the extent that such books and records reasonably relate to the
computation of the Real Estate Revenue and Real Estate OIBA for
fiscal year 2009; provided, however, that the Executive
acknowledges and agrees that all such books and records are
confidential information of the Company and are delivered to the
Executive subject to his obligation to maintain the confidentiality
of such materials provided in Section 2 of the Standard Terms
and Conditions attached to this Agreement.
(ii) In the event of any
specific action within the control of the Company which is
reasonably likely to materially increase or decrease the likelihood
that an LTP Bonus will be paid which, in the Company’s good
faith judgment, would unduly benefit or prejudice Executive, the
Company may, after good faith discussions with Executive, adjust
the LTP Targets with the good faith intent of maintaining
equivalent likelihoods of Executive receiving the relevant LTP
Bonuses as had existed prior to the Company taking such action, it
being understood that such equivalence will be approximate and a
good faith estimate only. For example, and without
limitation, in the event of (A) any material addition to the
RealEstate.com Businesses, whether by acquisition or otherwise, the
Company could increase the LTP Targets, (B) any material
deletion from the RealEstate.com Businesses, the Company could
decrease the LTP Targets (though such a decrease would be likely in
a sale or other disposition for value, but not likely in the event
such deletion resulted from a shutdown for poor performance), or
(C) an adjustment to the manner in which the Real Estate OIBA
were calculated such that the net result was likely to be a
material increase in the Real Estate OIBA, the LTP Targets could be
appropriately adjusted by the Company.
(e)
BENEFITS . From the Effective Date through the date
of termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for
any reason, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any
welfare, health and life insurance and pension benefit programs as
may be adopted from time to time by the Company on the same basis
as that provided to similarly situated employees of the
Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits:
(i)
Reimbursement
for Business Expenses . During the period
that Executive is employed with the Company hereunder, the Company
shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, necessary and
documented expenses incurred by Executive in performing
Executive’s duties for the Company, on the same basis as
similarly situated employees and in accordance with the
Company’s policies as in effect from time to
time.
(ii)
Vacation
. During
the period that Executive is employed with the Company hereunder,
Executive shall be entitled to four weeks of paid vacation and such
other paid time off each year, in accordance with the plans,
policies, programs and practices of LendingTree, LLC applicable to
similarly situated employees of LendingTree, LLC
generally.
5A.
NOTICES . All notices and other communications
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by
first-class mail, certified or registered with return receipt
requested, or by hand delivery, or by overnight delivery by a
nationally recognized carrier, in each case to the
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applicable address set forth below, and any such
notice is deemed effectively given when received by the recipient
(of if receipt is refused by the recipient, when so
refused):
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If to the Company:
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IAC/InterActiveCorp
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555 West 18 th Street, 6
th Floor
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New York, NY 10011
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Attention: President and Chief Operating
Officer
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With a copy to:
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IAC/InterActiveCorp
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555 West 18 th Street, 6
th Floor
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New York, NY 10011
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Attention: General Counsel
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If to Executive:
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Bret A. Violette
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11103 McClure Manor Drive
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Charlotte, NC 28277
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Either party may change such party’s
address for notices by notice duly given pursuant
hereto.
6A.
GOVERNING LAW;
JURISDICTION . This
Agreement and the legal relations thus created between the parties
hereto (including, without limitation, any dispute arising out of
or related to this Agreement) shall be governed by and construed
under and in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New
York without reference to its principles of conflicts of
laws. Any such dispute will be heard exclusively and
determined before an appropriate federal court located in the State
of New York in New York County, or, if not maintainable therein,
then in an appropriate New York state court located in New York
County, and each party hereto submits itself and its property to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the foregoing courts with respect to
such disputes. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that
this Agreement was executed and delivered in the State of New York,
that IAC is headquartered in New York City and that, in the course
of performing duties hereunder for the Company, Executive shall
have multiple contacts with the business and operations of IAC and
the Reporting Officer, as well as other businesses and operations
in the State of New York, and that for those and other reasons
this Agreement and the undertakings of the parties hereunder bear a
reasonable relation to the State of New York. If an
appropriate court determines, in connection with a dispute between
the parties hereto arising out of or related to this Agreement,
that the internal laws of the State of New York do not govern this
Agreement and the legal relations thus created between the parties
hereto, then this Agreement and such legal relations shall be
governed by and construed under and in accordance with the internal
laws of the State of Delaware without reference to its principles
of conflicts of laws. In such a case, if the dispute is not,
for any reason, maintainable in an appropriate federal court
located in the State of New York in New York County or an
appropriate New York state court located in New York County, such
dispute will be heard exclusively and determined before an
appropriate Delaware state court located in New Castle County, or,
if not maintainable therein, then in an appropriate federal court
located in the State of Delaware in New Castle County, and, in such
case, each party hereto submits itself and its property to the
exclusive
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jurisdiction of the foregoing courts with
respect to such disputes. Each party hereto (i) agrees
that service of process may be made by mailing a copy of any
relevant document to the address of the party set forth above,
(ii) waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any
objection which it may now or hereafter have to the courts referred
to above on the grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise as
regards any dispute between the parties hereto arising out of or
related to this Agreement, (iii) waives to the fullest extent
permitted by law any objection which it may now or hereafter have
to the laying of venue in the courts referred to above as regards
any dispute between the parties hereto arising out of or related to
this Agreement and (iv) agrees that a judgment or order of any
court referred to above in connection with any dispute between the
parties hereto arising out of or related to this Agreement is
conclusive and binding on it and may be enforced against it in the
courts of any other jurisdiction.
7A.
COUNTERPARTS
. This Agreement may be
executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to
be an original but all of which together will constitute one and
the same instrument.
8A.
STANDARD TERMS AND
CONDITIONS .
Executive expressly understands and acknowledges that the Standard
Terms and Conditions attached hereto are incorporated herein by
reference, deemed a part of this Agreement and are binding and
enforceable provisions of this Agreement. References to
“this Agreement” or the use of the term
“hereof” shall refer to this Agreement and the Standard
Terms and Conditions attached hereto, taken as a whole.
9A.
SECTION 409A OF THE INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE . This
Agreement is not intended to constitute a “nonqualified
deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and the rules and regulations issued thereunder
(“Section 409A”). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if this Agreement or any benefit paid to Executive
hereunder is subject to Section 409A and if the Executive is a
“Specified Employee” (as defined under
Section 409A) as of the date of Executive’s termination
of employment hereunder, then the payment of benefits, if any,
scheduled to be paid by the Company to Executive hereunder during
the first six (6) month period beginning on the date of a
termination of employment hereunder shall be delayed during such
six (6) month period and shall commence immediately following
the end of such six (6) month period (and, if applicable, the
period in which such payments were scheduled to be made if not for
such delay shall be extended accordingly). In no event shall
the Company be required to pay Executive any “gross-up”
or other payment with respect to any taxes or penalties imposed
under Section 409A with respect to any benefit paid to
Executive hereunder.
[The Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has
caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly
authorized officer and Executive has executed and delivered this
Agreement on May 16, 2007.
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IAC/InterActiveCorp
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By: /s/ Greg Blatt
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Name: Greg Blatt
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Title: Executive Vice President and General
Counsel
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By: /s/ Bret A. Violette
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Bret A. Violette
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For purposes of Sections 1A and
4A(e)(2) hereof
only:
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LendingTree, LLC
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By: /s/ Keith Hall
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Name: Keith Hall
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Title: SVP and CFO
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STANDARD TERMS AND
CONDITIONS
1.
TERMINATION OF
EXECUTIVE’S EMPLOYMENT .
(a)
DEATH . In the event
Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by reason of
Executive’s death, the Company shall pay Executive’s
designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, within thirty (30) days of
Executive’s death in a lump sum in cash,
(i) Executive’s Base Salary through the end of the month
in which death occurs and (ii) any Accrued Obligations (as
defined in paragraph 1(f) below).
(b)
DISABILITY
. If, as a
result of Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental
illness (“Disability”), Executive shall have been
absent from the full-time performance of Executive’s duties
with the Company for a period of four (4) consecutive months
and, within thirty (30) days after written notice is provided to
Executive by the Company (in accordance with Section 5A
hereof), Executive shall not have returned to the full-time
performance of Executive’s duties, Executive’s
employment under