UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 29, 2005
NEW VIACOM CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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001-32686 |
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20-3515052 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification |
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1515 Broadway, New York, New York |
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10036 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(zip code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (212) 258-6000
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Section 1. Registrants Business and Operations
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On December 29, 2005, New Viacom Corp. (New Viacom)(to be renamed Viacom Inc. upon the separation of the current Viacom Inc. into two publicly traded companies (the Separation)) entered into a new employment agreement (the Employment Agreement) with Sumner M. Redstone, pursuant to which Mr. Redstone will serve as Executive Chairman and Founder of New Viacom upon the effective date of the Separation.
The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Redstone will be actively engaged in, and have responsibility, working with the Board and the President and Chief Executive Officer of New Viacom, for (a) the overall leadership and strategic direction of New Viacom; (b) providing guidance and support to senior management of New Viacom; (c) the coordination of the activities of the Board; and (d) communication with stockholders and other important constituencies. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Redstone will receive an annual salary of $1.75 million; annual deferred compensation of $1.3 million; an annual bonus for 2005 to be jointly determined by the compensation committees of New Viacom and CBS Corporation and to be paid 50% by each company; and an annual bonus for 2006 and thereafter to be paid in accordance with New Viacoms Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan based on performance objectives established by New Viacoms compensation committee (with the target bonus for 2006 and later years being 200% of the sum of Mr. Redstones salary and deferred compensation). The Employment Agreement also provides for the conversion of grants of 2005 Viacom Inc. equity awards (1.5 million options and 115,000 restricted share units) into corresponding New Viacom and CBS Corporation awards in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement dated as of November 21, 2005 executed by Viacom Inc., New Viacom Corp. and Viacom Merger Sub Inc. in connection with Separation. Mr. Redstones other Viacom Inc. equity awards will also be converted into corresponding New Viacom and CBS Corporation awards in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement. The Employment Agreement generally permits Mr. Redstone to participate in all arrangements for benefits, business expenses and perquisites available to senior executives of New Viacom (including life insurance, which in the case of Mr. Redstone is in the amount of $2.5 million). The Employment Agreement has no specific term and may be terminated at the will of either party upon notice to the other.
The foregoing description is qualified by reference to the Employment Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
For a description of certain relationships between Mr. Redstone and New Viacom, please see the sections entitled Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management of New Viacom and New Viacom Related Party Transactions in New Viacoms registration statement on Form S-4/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 23, 2005.
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Section 9. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit number |
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Description of Exhibit |
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10.1 |
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Employment Agreement with Sumner M. Redstone dated as of December 29, 2005 |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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NEW VIACOM CORP. |
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(Registrant) |
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By: |
/s/ Michael D. Fricklas |
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Name: |
Michael D. Fricklas |
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Title: |
Executive Vice President, General |
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Counsel and Secretary |
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Date: December 30, 2005 |
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit Number |
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Description of Exhibit |
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10.1 |
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Employment Agreement with Sumner M. Redstone dated as of December 29, 2005. |
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Exhibit 10.1
[New Viacom Corp. Letterhead]
December 29, 2005
Sumner M. Redstone
c/o Viacom Inc.
1515 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
Dear Mr. Redstone:
You have previously entered into an employment agreement with Viacom Inc., a Delaware corporation (Viacom), effective as of July 1, 2004 (the Viacom Employment Agreement), pursuant to which you served as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Viacom. In connection with the merger (the Merger) of Viacom and Viacom Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation (Viacom Merger Sub), and the related separation of the business of New Viacom Corp., a Delaware corporation (New Viacom) and CBS Corporation (CBS), New Viacom is entering into this letter agreement with you (the Agreement). If for any reason the Merger is not consummated, this Agreement shall not enter into effect and shall be considered null and void.
1. Title; Duties; and Effective Date. Effective as of the effective date of the Merger (the Effective Date), you will be employed as Executive Chairman and Founder of New Viacom and will serve in this capacity pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. As Executive Chairman and Founder of New Viacom, you shall have all the rights, powers, authority, functions, duties and responsibilities customarily associated with the position of an executive chairman, and such additional rights, powers, authority, functions, duties and responsibilities as are assigned to the office of Chairman of the Board under New Viacoms Amended and Restated Bylaws and as the Board of Directors of New Viacom (the Board) may assign to you from time to time that are commensurate with your status as Executive Chairman and Founder. Without limiting the foregoing, you will be actively engaged in, and have responsibility, working with the Board and the President and Chief Executive Officer of New Viacom (the CEO), for (a) the overall leadership and strategic direction of New Viacom, (b) providing guidance and support to senior management of New Viacom, (c) the coordination of the activities of the Board and (d) communication with shareholders and other important constituencies. The CEO shall report directly to you and to the Board, and you will be given regular access to senior management of New Viacom. New Viacom acknowledges that in addition to your services pursuant to this Agreement, you will simultaneously serve as executive chairman and founder of CBS.
2. Compensation. As the sole compensation for services to be rendered by you in all capacities to New Viacom, its subsidiaries and Affiliates, you will receive the
compensation specified herein from New Viacom. For purposes of this Agreement, Affiliate means any corporation or other entity that is controlled by New Viacom.
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Your Viacom Options were granted with a per share exercise price of Thirty-Five Dollars and Fifty-One Cents ($35.51). In connection with the Merger, your Viacom Options will be converted into stock options under the 2004 LTMIP to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock of New Viacom (New Viacom Options) and options under the CBS 2004 Long-Term Management Incentive Plan (the CBS LTMIP) to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock of CBS. The number of your New Viacom Options, and the per share exercise price therefor, will be determined in accordance with the Merger Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2005, among Viacom, New Viacom and Viacom Merger Sub (the Merger Agreement). The vesting schedule of your New Viacom Options will be the same as the vesting schedule for your Viacom Options before the Merger, and your New Viacom Options will have such other terms (including without limitation any terms relating to exercise periods, expiration, payment, forfeiture, and the consequences of termination of employment and changes in control) as apply to your Viacom Options before the Merger.
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3. Benefits.
4. Business Expenses, Perquisites. During your employment with New Viacom, you shall be reimbursed for such reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of your duties hereunder on a basis no less favorable than that provided by New Viacom to any of its senior executives but in any event on a basis no less favorable to you than had previously been provided to you prior to the date of this Agreement. For so long as you shall remain an executive officer or other employee of CBS, any travel or other expenses that you incur on behalf of both New Viacom and CBS shall be apportioned between New Viacom and CBS as determined by you in good faith pursuant to guidelines established jointly by New Viacom and CBS. Subject to paragraph 3(a), you shall be entitled to receive all perquisites made available by New Viacom from time to time during your employment with New Viacom to any other senior executives of New Viacom but in any event on a basis no less favorable to you than had previously been provided to you prior to the date of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you shall be entitled to (i) car insurance in accordance with New Viacoms policy and (ii) use of a private airplane in accordance with New Viacoms policy on a
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basis no less favorable than that provided by New Viacom to any of its senior executives but in any event on a basis no less favorable to you than had previously been provided to you prior to the date of this Agreement. New Viacom shall pay all fees and expenses of your counsel and other fees and expenses which you may incur in an effort to establish entitlement to compensation or other benefits under this Agreement in the event that you ultimately prevail.
5. Indemnification.
6. Notices. All notices required to be given hereunder shall be given in writing, by personal delivery or by mail at the respective addresses of the parties hereto set forth above, or at such other address as may be designated in writing by either party. Any notice given by mail shall be deemed to have been given three days following such mailing.
7. Assignment. This is an Agreement for the performance of personal services by you and may not be assigned by you or New Viacom except that New Viacom may assign this Agreement to any Affiliate of or any successor in interest to New Viacom, provided that such assignee assumes the obligations of New Viacom hereunder.
8. New York Law, Etc. This Agreement and all matters or issues collateral thereto shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts entered into and performed entirely therein. Any action to enforce this Agreement shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in the City of New York.
9. Termination at Will. This Agreement can be terminated by either party at will upon notice to the other party, provided that any termination is not intended, and shall not be construed, to affect your rights in any compensation and benefits that have been granted or accrued prior to such termination.
10. Entire Understanding. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter herein contained, and can be changed only by a writing signed by both parties hereto.
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11. Void Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement, as applied to either party or to any circumstances, shall be adjudged by a court to be void or unenforceable, the same shall be deemed stricken from this Agreement and shall in no way affect any other provision of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement.
12. Supersedes Previous Agreements. Effective as of the Effective Date, this Agreement shall supersede and cancel all prior agreements relating to your employment by New Viacom or any of its Affiliates and predecessors, including, without limitation, the Viacom Employment Agreement (and any incentive awards or other compensation contemplated or provided for therein that are not granted or accrued as of the Effective Date). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this Agreement is not intended, and shall not be construed, to affect your rights in any compensation or benefits that have been granted or accrued prior to the Effective Date.
13. Deductions and Withholdings, Payment of Deferred Compensation. All amounts payable under this Agreement shall be paid less deductions and income and payroll tax withholdings as may be required under applicable law and any property (including shares of New Viacom Class B Common Stock), benefits and perquisites provided to you under this Agreement shall be taxable to you as may be required under applicable law. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, no payment for any restricted share units or distribution of any other deferred compensation shall be made sooner than the earliest date permitted under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, as in effect on the date of such payment, in order for such payment to be taxable at the time of the distribution thereof without imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (including any regulations and guidance thereunder).
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please sign, date and return all four (4) copies of this Agreement and return it to the undersigned for execution on behalf of New Viacom; after this Agreement has been executed by New Viacom and a fully executed copy returned to you, it shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
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NEW VIACOM CORP. |
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By: |
/s/ Michael D. Fricklas |
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Name: |
Michael D. Fricklas |
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Title: |
Executive Vice President, |
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General Counsel and |
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Secretary |
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ACCEPTED AND AGREED: |
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/s/ Sumner M. Redstone |
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Sumner M. Redstone |
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