EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the
“ Agreement ”) is dated and effective as of
September 14, 2008, by and between Napster, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, (“ Employer ”) and [_________], an
individual resident of the State of California (“
Employee ”).
RECITALS:
A. Best Buy Co., Inc., a Minnesota corporation
(“ Best Buy ”), Puma Cat Acquisition Corp., a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Best Buy
(“ Merger Sub ”) and Employer have entered into
an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of even date herewith
(the “ Merger Agreement ”), pursuant to which
Best Buy will acquire Employer by merging Merger Sub with and into
Employer, with Employer continuing as the surviving corporation and
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Best Buy (the “ Merger
”).
B. Following the closing of the Merger, Best Buy
and Employer desire to continue to employ Employee, and Employee
desires to continue his employment with Employer, all in accordance
with the terms hereof.
C. Employer and Employee are entering into this
Agreement, which provides for the terms and conditions of
Employee’s employment and replaces and supersedes in all
respects Employee’s Existing Agreement (as defined below),
expressly subject to, and effective solely upon, the closing of the
Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual agreements herein contained, Employer and Employee agree as
follows:
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“
Affiliate ” means any present or future entity that
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with
Employer as of the applicable time. For purposes of this Agreement,
Affiliate includes Best Buy, and any action that can or may be
taken by Employer or Employer’s Board of Directors may also
be taken by Best Buy, whether or not so expressly stated, and Best
Buy is an intended third party beneficiary of, and will be entitled
to enforce the provisions of, this Agreement.
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“
Cause ” for termination of Employee’s employment
with Employer means the occurrence of one or more of the following
events:
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Dishonesty in
the performance of Employee’s duties for Employer or its
Affiliates;
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Knowing and
material violation of Employer’s policies and procedures in
effect from time to time which results in a material adverse effect
on Employer and which, to the extent a cure is reasonably possible,
remains uncured ten (10) days after written notice of such
violation is given to Employee;
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Willful and
continued failure to satisfactorily perform, or gross negligence in
the performance of, Employee’s duties after receipt of
written notice that specifically identifies the areas in which
Employee’s performance is deficient and which remains uncured
thirty (30) days after such written notice is given to
Employee;
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Willful actions
(or willful failures to act) in bad faith by Employee with respect
to Employer that materially impair Employer’s business,
goodwill or reputation;
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Employee’s conviction of a felony or any
crime involving an act of dishonesty, moral turpitude, deceit or
fraud, or the commission of acts that would reasonably be expected
to result in such conviction;
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Employee’s current use of illegal
substances; or
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any material
violation by Employee of any agreement to which Employee and
Employer or any Affiliate of Employer are parties which remains
uncured ten (10) days after written notice of such violation is
given to Employee.
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In the event
that there exists Cause (as defined above) for termination of
Employee’s employment, Employer may terminate
Employee’s employment and this Agreement immediately, upon
written notification of such termination for Cause, given to
Employee by Employer or by any individual or individuals Employer
authorizes to act on its behalf.
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“
Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended.
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“
Disability ” shall have the same meaning as ascribed
to such term in Employer’s disability income insurance
program, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time.
The determination of whether a Disability exists shall be made by
the same entity as has been designated in said program to make such
determinations for purposes of said program.
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“
Effective Date ” means the date of the closing of the
Merger.
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“
Existing Agreement ” means that certain Employment
Agreement, dated as of [__________], by and between Employer and
Employee, including all exhibits, agreements and plans referred to
therein.
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“ Good
Reason ” for Employee’s resignation from employment
with Employer means:
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a forced
relocation of the place for Employee’s performance of duties
reasonably requiring a move in Employee’s
residence;
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a material
breach by Employer or its Affiliates of this Agreement or any other
agreement under which Employee provides services to Employer or its
Affiliates;
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conduct by
Employer that could reasonably be expected to expose Employee to
material personal liability or other material adverse legal
consequences; or
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a material
diminution of Employee’s base compensation or of the nature
or scope of Employee’s duties or responsibilities in effect
immediately after the Effective Date with respect to the business
conducted by Employer, whether Employer remains a separate
corporation, is combined with Best Buy or one of its Affiliates, or
becomes an operating division of Best Buy or one of its
Affiliates.
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, however, any condition or conditions otherwise set
forth in this Section 1.7 shall not constitute Good Reason
for termination unless both (a) Employee provides written
notice to Employer of the condition claimed to constitute grounds
for Good Reason within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of
such condition, and (b) the condition is not remedied within
thirty (30) days of such notice. In addition, in all events the
termination of Employee’s employment shall not constitute a
termination for Good Reason unless such termination occurs less
than one (1) year following the initial existence of the condition
claimed to constitute grounds for Good Reason.
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“
Invention ” means any invention, discovery,
improvement, concept or idea, whether or not patentable or
copyrightable, including but not limited to computer software and
hardware, technology, machines, devices, processes, methods,
techniques and formulae, generated, conceived or reduced to
practice by Employee alone or in conjunction with others, relating
to the business of Employer or its Affiliates, during or after
working hours, while employed by Employer.
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“
Willful ” means all dishonest, willful, deliberate, or
intentional acts or omissions; provided , however ,
that no act, or failure to act, on Employee’s part shall be
considered Willful unless done, or omitted to be done, by Employee
in bad faith and without reasonable belief that Employee’s
action or omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interest of
Employer or its Affiliates.
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Employment . Subject to the closing of the Merger and
effective as of the Effective Date, Employer hereby employs
Employee as [____________], and Employee accepts such employment
and agrees to perform services for Employer and its Affiliates for
the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement.
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Term .
The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
and, unless terminated at an earlier date in accordance with
Section 9 hereof, shall continue thereafter for a period
ending March 3, 2012. Thereafter, the term of this Agreement may be
extended only upon written agreement of Employee and Employer.
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms of Sections 6 ,
7.2 (only with respect to Inventions conceived or made by
Employee during the period of his employment with Employer or its
Affiliates), 8 , 9 , and 10 hereof shall
survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any
reason.
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Employee shall
serve Employer and its Affiliates faithfully and to the best of his
ability, and devote his full business time, attention and efforts
to the business and affairs of Employer and its Affiliates during
normal business hours (and outside normal business hours as
reasonably required) during the term of this Agreement, subject to
holidays, leave and other paid time off taken in accordance with
Employer’s plans and programs. The duties of Employee shall
primarily consist of, but shall not be limited to, the management,
operation and oversight of Employer’s business, including
without limitation all responsibilities historically associated
with Employee’s role as [_________] of Employer.
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In addition,
Employee shall have such duties consistent with Employee’s
position as are reasonably assigned Employee pursuant to
Employer’s annual goal setting and appraisal processes, as
such processes may be amended from time to time.
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Employee shall
comply with all written policies of Employer, or of Best Buy
generally applicable to executives of Best Buy, that are not
inconsistent with this Agreement.
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During the term
of this Agreement, and except for services with respect to
charitable or non-profit organizations that do not unreasonably
interfere with Employee’s duties and/or responsibilities to
Employer and its Affiliates, Employee shall not perform services
for, or take an active management role in, or become a member of
the board of directors or similar body for, any other corporation,
firm, entity or person without the prior written approval of
Employer (which approval of Employer shall not be unreasonably
withheld if Employee requests to become a member of the board of
directors or similar body of a company that does not compete with
Employer, Best Buy, or any of their respective
Affiliates).
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Base
Salary . As compensation
for the services to be rendered by Employee under this Agreement,
Employer shall pay to Employee an annual base salary of
[$________], which salary shall be paid in accordance with
Employer’s normal payroll procedures and policies, but not
less frequently than in biweekly installments. Employee’s
salary shall be subject to review by Employer in accordance with
Employer’s salary review procedures as in effect from time to
time and not less frequently than on an annual basis; provided that
Employer may not decrease Employee’s base salary.
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Short-Term
Incentive Compensation .
Employee shall be eligible for short-term incentive compensation
with an incentive target of 30% of base salary and a maximum
incentive payout of two times the target (60% of base salary). With
respect to the short-term incentive compensation opportunity for
the remainder of fiscal year 2009 (the fiscal year ending February
28, 2009), (a) the incentive formula will be based on Best Buy
enterprise financial performance goals currently in effect for peer
executives employed by Best Buy or any of its subsidiaries, (b) the
short-term incentive compensation amount will be pro rated from the
Acceptance Date with respect to the Offer under the Merger
Agreement (as such terms are defined in the Merger Agreement) to
February 28, 2009, and (c) such compensation will be payable only
if the Acceptance Date is on or before December 31, 2008. With
respect to the short-term incentive compensation opportunity for
fiscal year 2010 (March 1, 2009 to February 27, 2010) and any
subsequent fiscal years covered by this Agreement, the incentive
formula will be based on Employer financial performance goals
(i.e., revenue growth and operating income or free cash flow actual
results against fiscal year targets) and on Employee performance
goals (against individual objectives) as reasonably established by
David Morrish, EVP of Best Buy, in consultation with
Employer’s Chief Executive Officer and Advisory Board. Future
short term incentive goals and targets shall be reasonably
established such that target levels of performance are reasonably
attainable. To be entitled to any short-term incentive compensation
amounts, Employee must be employed by Employer on the last day of
the fiscal year to which such compensation relates. Any short-term
incentive compensation amounts actually payable to Employee for a
particular fiscal year shall be paid to Employee within 2 ½
months following the end of the Employer’s fiscal year to
which such compensation relates, whether or not Employee is
employed on the payment date.
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Employer
Restricted Stock Awards .
In connection with the Merger and pursuant to the terms of the
Merger Agreement, each share of Employer’s common stock
granted to Employee under the Employer’s 2001 Stock Plan (the
“ 2001 Plan ”) as a restricted stock award that
is outstanding at the Effective Time shall be assumed by Best Buy
or an Affiliate and be converted into the right to receive cash
consideration having a value equal to the Merger Consideration as
defined in the Merger Agreement (such cash consideration, the
“ Assumed Equity Value ”). The Assumed Equity
Value will be paid in installments as set forth on, and on (or not
later than thirty (30) days following) the corresponding dates set
forth on, Schedule 5.3 hereto; provided that, except as
provided in Section 9.5.2.4, Employee remains continuously employed
by Best Buy or any of its affiliates (including, without
limitation, the Employer) through the corresponding payment date
set forth on Scheduled 5.3 (for purposes of clarity, Employee need
only be employed on such date set forth on Schedule 5.3 even if the
actual payment is made later in the 30-day period provided for
above).
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Long-Term
Incentive Award . As soon
as practicable after the Effective Date, Best Buy will grant to
Employee a Long-Term Incentive Award as described in Schedule
5.4 hereto, to be evidenced by an Award Agreement substantially
in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.
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Stock Option
Award . Contingent upon
approval by the Compensation Committee of the Best Buy Board of
Directors, Best Buy will grant to Employee an option or options to
purchase an aggregate [_____] shares of Best Buy common stock, to
be evidenced by a Stock Option Award Agreement substantially in the
form attached as Exhibit C hereto. These stock options will
be granted under Best Buy’s 2004 Omnibus Stock and Incentive
Plan and will be subject to all of the terms and conditions of such
Plan and the applicable Stock Option Award Agreement. The first
vesting period of such options will be no later than the first
anniversary of the date of grant by the Compensation Committee with
all subsequent vesting dates measured from such date of grant, all
as approved by the Compensation Committee of the Best Buy Board of
Directors. If any approval of the Compensation Committee required
under this Section 5.4 is not obtained by February 28, 2009,
Employee may terminate this Agreement, with immediate effect, for
“Good Reason.”
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Participation in Benefit Plans
. Employee will be entitled to
participate in such benefit plans and programs as are established
by Best Buy or Employer, from time to time, to the extent that his
position, title, tenure, salary, age, health and other
qualifications make him eligible to participate; provided
that for a period of twelve (12) months from the Effective Date,
any such plans and programs shall, in the aggregate, provide
benefits to Employee that are not less favorable in the aggregate
to Employee than the benefits in effect with respect to Employee
immediately prior to the Merger, it being understood that the
foregoing shall not require Employer to maintain any particular
employee benefit plan, and that Employer shall not be required to
maintain the same stock option or employee stock purchase plans as
Employer maintained prior to the Merger. Employee’s
participation in any benefit plans or programs shall be subject to
the provisions, contributions, rules and laws applicable
thereto.
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Expenses . Employer shall pay or reimburse Employee for
all travel and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by
him in the performance of his duties under this Agreement, subject
to Best Buy’s usual and customary documentation policies for
reimbursement of business expenses.
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Vacation . During the term of this Agreement, Employee
shall be entitled to annual vacation on the same basis as in effect
with respect to Employee immediately prior to the
Merger.
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Confidential
Information .
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Employee shall
not divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone or use in any way
(other than for the business of Employer or any of its Affiliates)
any confidential or secret knowledge or information of Employer or
any of its Affiliates which Employee has acquired or become
acquainted with or shall acquire or become acquainted with prior to
the termination of the period of his employment by Employer
(including employment by Employer or any of its Affiliates),
whether developed by himself or by others, including, without
limitation, any trade secrets, confidential or secret designs,
processes, formulae, plans, devices or material (whether or not
patented or patentable) of Employer or any of its Affiliates,
financial results or condition, business plans or projections of
Employer or any of its Affiliates, any confidential customer lists
of Employer or any of its Affiliates, any confidential or secret
development or research work of Employer or any of its Affiliates,
any lists of potential investments or acquisitions contemplated by
Employer or any of its Affiliates, any plans, proposals or
strategies of Employer or its Affiliates to expand, merge or engage
in a business combination or relationship or any other confidential
or secret aspects of the business of Employer or any of its
Affiliates. Employee acknowledges that the above-described
knowledge or information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of
Employer and its Affiliates, as the case may be, acquired at great
time and expense by Employer, its predecessors and its Affiliates,
as the case may be, and that any disclosure or other use of such
knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of
Employer or any of its Affiliates would be wrongful and could cause
irreparable harm to Employer and its Affiliates, as the case may
be.
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The foregoing
obligations of confidentiality, however, shall not apply to any
knowledge or information which (i) is now publicly known or which,
through no act or omission of Employee, becomes publicly known,
(ii) Employee rightfully possessed without an obligation of
confidentiality before the date of this Agreement, or (iii)
Employee divulges, furnishes or discloses in a truthful response to
a lawful and valid subpoena or other legal process.
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The
confidentiality obligation of Employee shall remain in effect as
long as the knowledge or information retains its confidential or
secret nature.
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Ventures;
Assignment of Inventions .
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Ventures . If, during the term of this Agreement,
Employee is engaged in or associated with the planning or
implementing of any project, event, publication, program or venture
involving Employer or any of its Affiliates, or their respective
trademarks or intellectual property, and a third party or parties,
all rights in the project, event, publication, program or venture,
to the extent that such rights may be claimed by Employee or
Employer or any of its Affiliates, shall belong to Employer or its
Affiliates, as the case may be. Except as approved by
Employer’s Board of Directors, Employee shall not be entitled
to any interest in such project, program or venture or to any
commission, finder’s fee or other compensation in connection
therewith other than the compensation to be paid to Employee as
provided in this Agreement.
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Assignment
of Inventions .
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Employee agrees
that all Inventions made during his employment by Employer are the
exclusive property of Employer.
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Employee
further agrees that he will:
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promptly and
fully disclose and describe all Inventions in writing to an officer
of, or other person designated by, Employer and such disclosure
shall include, if requested, a detailed report of the procedures
employed and the results achieved by Employee; and
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give Employer
and its Affiliates all assistance they require to perfect, protect
and use its worldwide rights to Inventions, including, but not
limited to, signing all documents, doing all things and supplying
all information that Employer may deem necessary or desirable to:
(i) transfer or record the transfer of Employee’s entire
right, title and interest in Inventions to Employer; and (ii)
enable Employer and its Affiliates to obtain and maintain patent,
copyright or trademark protection for Inventions anywhere in the
world.
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Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 7.2 , Employee and
Employer agree that the provisions of this Section 7.2
requiring assignment of Inventions to Employer do not apply to any
Invention that was developed by Employee entirely on
Employee’s own time and without use of equipment, supplies,
facilities or trade secret information of Employer or any of its
Affiliates, unless (a) the Invention relates (i) directly to the
business of Employer or any of its Affiliates, or (ii) to
Employer’s or any of its Affiliates actual or demonstrably
anticipated research or development or (b) the Invention results
from any work performed by Employee for Employer or any of its
Affiliates.
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Copyrights . Employee agrees that Employer will own all
copyrightable works created by Employee relating to the business of
Employer and its Affiliates developed during his employment as
“ works made for hire ” to the full extent
provided for under U.S. or foreign law. To the extent any work of
Employee does not qualify as a “ work made for hire
”, Employee agrees to assign all U.S. and foreign trademark,
copyright, mask work registration, and other registrations and
rights pertaining to that work to Employer.
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Non-Solicitation . Throughout the term of Employee’s
employment by Employer or its Affiliates and for a period of twelve
(12) months following the termination of Employee’s
employment, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, employ,
solicit for employment, or advise or recommend to any other person,
firm or corporation that they employ or solicit for employment any
employee of Employer or any of its Affiliates. The parties hereto
agree that Employer may suffer irreparable harm from a breach by
Employee of the covenants or agreements contained in this
Section 8 , and that monetary damages may be inadequate to
compensate Employer for any such breach. Accordingly, Employee
agrees that in the event of any breach by Employee of this
Section 8 , Employer or its Affiliates, successors or
assigns shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive
relief to enforce or prevent any violations of this Section
8 and that such relief may be granted without the necessity of
proving actual damages. Such injunctive or equitable relief shall
be in addition to and not in lieu of any right to recover money
damages for any such breach.
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Death,
Disability . This
Agreement shall terminate prior to the expiration of the term set
forth in Section 3 hereof or of any extension
thereof:
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Immediately
upon the date of Employee’s death; or
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Immediately
upon the date that Employee is unable to perform his duties
hereunder due to a Disability.
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Termination
Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason
. This Agreement shall terminate
prior to the expiration of the term set forth in Section 3
hereof or of any extension thereof if Employee’s employment
is terminated by Employer without Cause or Employee resigns for
Good Reason.
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Resignation
Without Good Reason .
This Agreement shall terminate prior to the expiration of the term
set forth in Section 3 hereof or of any extension thereof if
Employee resigns for any reason other than Good Reason. Any
resignation pursuant to this Section 9.3 shall be effective
thirty (30) days after Employee provides written notice to Employer
of Employee’s intention to resign. Any resignation in
accordance with this Section 9.3 shall not be deemed a
breach by Employee of this Agreement.
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Termination
For Cause . This
Agreement shall terminate prior to the expiration of the term set
forth in Section 3 hereof or of any extension thereof if
Employee is terminated by Employer for Cause. Any termination
pursuant to this Section 9.4 shall be effective immediately
upon written notice from Employer to Employee.
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In the event
Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason prior to
or upon expiration of the term of this Agreement provided in
Section 3 hereof or any extension thereof, Employer shall be
obligated to pay Employee his salary, accrued and unpaid vacation,
and benefits through the date of termination (including any notice
periods), and unreimbursed expenses incurred prior to the date of
termination in accordance with Section 5.7
hereof.
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In the event
Employee’s employment is terminated by Employer without Cause
or Employee resigns for Good Reason pursuant to Section 9.2
, then in addition to any amounts that may be due pursuant to
Section 9.5.1 hereof:
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Employer will
pay Employee a lump sum cash amount equal to Employee’s
highest annual base salary rate in effect at any time in the
preceding year, such amount to be paid within thirty (30) days
following such termination of employment; provided ,
however , that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Section 9.5.2.1 , if Employee’s termination of
employment is not a separation from service within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other published
guidance thereunder (including §1.409A-1(h)), then, if
required in order to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of
the Code and avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest
thereunder, payment of the lump sum cash amount shall be delayed
until such a separation from service occurs and shall be paid
within thirty (30) days following the date of such separation from
service;
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Until a
separation from service occurs, Employee shall be entitled to
participate in benefit plans and programs as provided in Section
5.6 hereof. If Employee elects, following a separation from
service, to continue his health insurance coverage under COBRA,
Employer will reimburse Employee for the cost of the premiums
during the first twelve (12) months of such coverage; and any
period of Employee’s COBRA continuation coverage for which
the cost is reimbursed by Employer will count toward the eighteen
(18) month duration of available continuation coverage, as provided
under Federal law, and any similar coverage under applicable State
law;
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Employer will
be obligated to pay Employee within thirty (30) days following such
termination of employment (or if later, the date of
Employee’s separation from service) a lump-sum amount equal
to the greater of (i) the incentive target under the short-term
incentive plan described in Section 5.2 hereof for the year
in which such termination occurs, pro rated to the date of
termination, or (ii) Employer’s reasonable estimate at the
time of termination of employment of the actual amount payable
under the short-term incentive plan described in Section 5.2
hereof for the year in which such termination occurs, pro rated to
the date of termination;
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Any unvested
portion of the Assumed Equity Value shall become vested upon such
termination of employment and shall be paid within thirty (30) days
following such termination;
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the terms of
the Long-Term Incentive Award described in Section 5.4
hereof (including the Award Agreement) shall govern whether any
amounts shall be payable thereunder upon such termination;
and
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the terms of
the stock option award described in Section 5.5 hereof
(including the terms of Best Buy’s 2004 Omnibus Stock and
Incentive Plan and Employee’s Stock Option Award Agreement
thereunder) shall govern whether any portion of such award shall be
exercisable upon such termination.
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As a condition
to the severance benefits described in this Section 9.5.2 ,
Employee will enter into an agreement releasing all claims against
Employer and its Affiliates, in the form attached as Exhibit
A hereto, and all applicable rescission periods shall have
expired without exercise. Employer’s obligations under this
Section 9.5.2 immediately shall cease if Employee materially
breaches any of the covenants in Sections 6 , 7 ,
8 and 9.7 hereof.
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In the event
Employee’s employment is terminated prior to or upon
expiration of the term of this Agreement provided in Section
3 hereof or any extension thereof, other than a termination
described in Section 9.5.2 hereof, then in addition to any
amounts that may be due pursuant to Section 9.5.1
hereof:
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the terms of
the short-term incentive plan described in Section 5.2
hereof shall govern whether any incentive shall be payable in the
year of termination;
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the terms of
the Employer restricted stock awards described in Section
5.3 hereof (including the terms of the 2001 Plan and
Employee’s restricted stock award agreement(s) thereunder)
shall govern whether any amounts shall be payable thereunder upon
such termination;
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the terms of
the Long-Term Incentive Award described in Section 5.4
hereof (including the Award Agreement) shall govern whether any
amounts shall be payable thereunder upon such
termination;
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the terms of
the stock option award described in Section 5.5 hereof
(including the terms of Best Buy’s 2004 Omnibus Stock and
Incentive Plan and Employee’s Stock Option Award Agreement
thereunder) shall govern whether any portion of such award shall be
exercisable upon such termination; and
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thereafter, no
salary, incentive, or any other benefits or amounts shall be
payable or extended by Employer to Employee, except as required by
Federal or State law or to the extent the Employee’s rights
to such benefits or amounts were earned on the date of
termination.
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All amounts
payable to Employee pursuant to Section 9.5.1 , Section
9.5.2 and Section 9.5.3 shall be paid without regard to
whether Employee has taken or takes actions to mitigate
damages.
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Limitation
on Payments . In the
event that the severance and other benefits provided for in this
Agreement or otherwise payable to Employee (i) constitute “
parachute payments ” within the meaning of Section
280G of the Code and (ii) would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax
”), then Employee’s benefits under this Agreement or
otherwise payable to Employee shall be either delivered in full
(without Employer paying any portion of the Excise Tax due upon
such payment), or delivered as to such lesser extent which would
result in no portion of such benefits being subject to the Excise
Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the
applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise
Tax, results in the receipt by Employee on an after-tax basis, of
the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some
portion of such benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the
Code. Unless Employer and Employee otherwise agree in writing, any
determination required under this Section 9.6 shall be made
in writing by Employer’s or an Affiliate’s independent
public accountants (the “ Accountants ”), whose
determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Employee and
Employer for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations
required by this Section 9.6 , the Accountants may make
reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable
taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations
concerning the application of Section 280G and 4999 of the Code.
Employer and Employee shall furnish to the Accountants such
information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request
in order to make a determination under this Section 9.6 .
Employer shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur
in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section
9.6 .
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Surrender of
Records and Property .
Upon termination of his employment for any reason, Employee shall
deliver promptly to Employer all records, manuals, books, blank
forms, documents, letters, manuscripts, letter head, business
cards, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables,
calculations, computers/PDAs, security/ID cards, keys, computer
files, cell phones, pagers, parking permits, company credit cards,
financial statements or records, budgets or business plans or
copies thereof, that are the property of Employer or any of its
Affiliates and all other property, trade secrets and confidential
information of Employer or any of its Affiliates, including, but
not limited to, all documents which in whole or in part contain any
trade secrets or confidential information of Employer or any of its
Affiliates, which in any of these cases are in his possession or
under his control, provided , however , that Employee
may retain his personal rolodex, address books, information
relating to Employee’s compensation or benefits or relating
to reimbursement of expenses and any agreement relating to the
terms of Employee’s employment with Employer.
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Governing
Law . Recognizing that
Employer is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Best Buy, this Agreement
shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of
Minnesota without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s
conflict of laws provisions, except to the extent any of the
provisions of California Labor Code are applicable. The parties
hereby expressly consent and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction
of either the federal or state district courts located in
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Entire
Agreement . Once the
Effective Date occurs, this Agreement, in conjunction with any
exhibits, schedules, addenda, amendments, or other attachments
hereto, contains the entire agreement between the parties and
supersedes all prior agreements, negotiations, oral understandings,
representations, warranties, and courses of conduct and dealing
with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall control any
conflicting similar provision in any other agreement, plan or
program to which Employee may previously have been a party or
participant in connection with his employment; provided that
all of Employee’s existing rights to indemnification with
respect to any action or omission to act occurring or allegedly
occurring prior to the Effective Date shall remain unaffected and
undiminished as a result of the execution of this Agreement.
Subject to the occurrence of the Effective Date, this Agreement
supersedes and replaces in its entirety the Existing Agreement,
which shall be of no further force and effect, and Employer shall
have no liability or obligations thereunder. In the event the
Merger Agreement is terminated and the Effective Date therefore
does not occur, this Agreement will be void and will create no
rights and impose no liabilities or obligations on Employer or
Employee.
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Withholding
Taxes . Employer may
withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all
federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant
to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
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Code Section
409A . Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Employee is
a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of
the Code, the Employee shall not be entitled to any payments upon a
termination of Employee’s employment until the earlier of (i)
the date which is six (6) months after Employee’s separation
from service (as such term is defined in Section 409A of the Code
and the regulations and other published guidance thereunder) for
any reason other than death, or (ii) the date of the
Employee’s death. Any amounts otherwise payable to the
Employee following a termination of employment that are not so paid
by reason of this Section 10.4 shall be paid as soon as
practicable, and in any event within thirty (30) days, after the
date that is six (6) months after Employee’s separation from
service (or, if earlier, the date of Employee’s death). The
provisions of this Section 10.4 shall only apply if, and to
the extent, required to comply with Section 409A of the Code. To
the ext
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