UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
¨ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
¨ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
¨ | Definitive Additional Materials |
¨ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
VIACOM INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x | No fee required. |
¨ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
(5) | Total fee paid: |
¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
¨ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
(1) | Amount Previously Paid: |
(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
(3) | Filing Party: |
(4) | Date Filed: |
April 16, 2010
Dear Viacom Stockholders:
We are pleased to invite you to attend the Viacom Inc. 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at our corporate headquarters located at 1515 Broadway (enter on 44th St.), New York, New York, beginning at 10:30 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
At this years meeting, we will be electing 11 members of our Board of Directors, selecting our independent public accountants, considering amendments to our management equity plan and considering the adoption of new equity plans for our Board of Directors.
To help reduce costs and the environmental impact of printing the proxy materials, we can deliver the proxy materials to you electronically, instead of by mail. We encourage you to take advantage of the electronic delivery process by following the instructions in the proxy statement. Stockholders who do not receive electronic delivery or printed proxy materials will receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials in the mail that tells you how to:
· | Access the Notice of 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, our Stockholder Letter and our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K through http://proxymaterials.viacom.com; and |
· | Submit your vote if you hold shares of Class A common stock. Class A common stockholders can submit their vote by telephone, the Internet or, of course, in person at the Annual Meeting. Class A holders will also find instructions on how to vote their shares on their proxy card or voting instruction card. |
We appreciate your continued support of Viacom and look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
SUMNER M. REDSTONE | PHILIPPE P. DAUMAN | |
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Founder |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
NOTICE OF 2010 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
AND PROXY STATEMENT
The Viacom Inc. 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at Viacoms corporate headquarters located at 1515 Broadway (enter at 44th St.), New York, New York, beginning at 10:30 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time. At the meeting, we will consider:
1. | The election of the 11 director nominees identified in the Proxy Statement; |
2. | The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as our independent auditor for our fiscal year 2010; |
3. | The approval of the Viacom Inc. 2006 Long-Term Management Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2011; |
4. | The approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors; |
5. | The approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors; and |
6. | Such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Holders of Class A common stock at the close of business on our record date of April 16, 2010 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any postponement or adjournment of the meeting. For a period of at least ten days prior to the Annual Meeting, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be open for examination by any stockholder during ordinary business hours at our corporate headquarters located at 1515 Broadway, New York, New York.
Holders of Class B common stock are not entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, but are invited to attend the meeting and will receive the proxy materials for informational purposes.
National Amusements, Inc., which as of our record date beneficially owned approximately 79.9% of the shares of Class A common stock, has advised us that it intends to vote all of its shares of Class A common stock in favor of each of the items of business identified above, which will be sufficient to constitute a quorum and to determine the outcome of each item under consideration.
If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you will need to obtain an admission ticket and present photo identification. Instructions on how to obtain an admission ticket are on page 4 of the proxy statement (How do I gain admission to the Annual Meeting?).
By order of the Board of Directors, |
|
MICHAEL D. FRICKLAS |
Executive Vice President, General Counsel |
April 16, 2010
Page | ||
Questions and Answers about the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders |
1 | |
5 | ||
6 | ||
11 | ||
18 | ||
20 | ||
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
24 | |
25 | ||
26 | ||
29 | ||
30 | ||
30 | ||
44 | ||
49 | ||
50 | ||
52 | ||
53 | ||
56 | ||
59 | ||
65 | ||
66 | ||
68 | ||
Item 2Ratification of the Appointment of the Independent Auditor |
69 | |
70 | ||
Item 4Approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors |
77 | |
Item 5Approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors |
80 | |
83 |
2010 PROXY STATEMENT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 2010 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
What is the purpose of this proxy statement?
The Viacom Board of Directors is soliciting a proxy from stockholders of our Class A common stock to vote on the items to be considered at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting), which will be held on June 9, 2010.
What is the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?
· | The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials is a document that: |
Ø | Indicates that our Stockholder Letter, Notice of 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, and 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at http://proxymaterials.viacom.com; |
Ø | Provides instructions on how Class A stockholders may vote their shares; and |
Ø | Indicates how you may request printed copies of these materials, including, for holders of Class A common stock, the proxy card or voting instruction card. |
· | We will begin distributing the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials on or about April 21, 2010. |
What items of business will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
At the meeting, we will consider:
1. | The election of the 11 director nominees identified in this proxy statement; |
2. | The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as our independent auditor for our fiscal year 2010; |
3. | The approval of the Viacom Inc. 2006 Long-Term Management Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2011; |
4. | The approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors; and |
5. | The approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors. |
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
If you are a holder of Class A common stock:
Holders of our Class A common stock as of the record date of April 16, 2010 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any postponement or adjournment of the meeting.
If you are a holder of Class B common stock:
Holders of our non-voting Class B common stock are not entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment of the meeting, but will receive this proxy statement and related materials for informational purposes.
1
How does the Board of Directors recommend holders of Class A common stock vote on the business of the meeting?
The Board of Directors recommends that Class A stockholders vote their shares:
1. | FOR the election of each of the 11 director nominees identified in this proxy statement; |
2. | FOR the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as our independent auditor for our fiscal year 2010; |
3. | FOR the approval of the Viacom Inc. 2006 Long-Term Management Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2011; |
4. | FOR the approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors; and |
5. | FOR the approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors. |
How many shares can vote at the Annual Meeting?
At the close of business on April 16, 2010, we had approximately 52.3 million shares of Class A common stock outstanding, and each of those shares is entitled to one vote. Shares of Class B common stock are not entitled to vote.
How many shares must be present or represented at the Annual Meeting to conduct business?
Under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Class A common stock outstanding on the record date, present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, constitute a quorum to conduct business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as present for purposes of determining a quorum. The shares of our Class A common stock held by National Amusements, Inc. (NAI) will be voted at the Annual Meeting and will constitute a quorum.
What vote is required to approve each of the items of business?
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Class A common stock outstanding at the close of business on our record date of April 16, 2010, present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, is required to approve each item of business listed above.
At the close of business on our record date, NAI beneficially owned through its wholly-owned subsidiary, NAIRI, Inc., approximately 79.9% of our outstanding Class A common stock. Sumner M. Redstone, the controlling stockholder of NAI, is our Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Founder. NAI has advised us that it intends to vote all of the shares of Class A common stock held by NAIRI in favor of each of the items of business listed above, which will be sufficient to approve each item.
How can I vote my shares at the Annual Meeting?
Voting by Proxy
Holders of Class A common stock may submit a proxy by:
· | following the instructions on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, proxy card or voting instruction card to vote by telephone or the Internet. These instructions can also be found at http://proxymaterials.viacom.com. Your telephone or Internet proxy must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 8, 2010; or |
· | completing, signing, dating and returning the proxy card or voting instruction card so that it is received prior to the Annual Meeting. |
2
Philippe P. Dauman and Michael D. Fricklas (the proxy holders) have been designated by our Board of Directors to vote the shares represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Messrs. Dauman and Fricklas are executive officers of Viacom, and Mr. Dauman is also a director nominee.
· | The proxy holders will vote the shares represented by your valid and timely received proxy in accordance with your instructions. |
· | If you do not specify instructions on your proxy when you submit it, the proxy holders will vote the shares represented by the proxy FOR each item of business listed above in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. |
· | If any other matter properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will vote the shares represented by proxy on that matter in their discretion. |
Voting Shares Held in the Viacom 401(k) Plan
Voting instructions for shares of Class A common stock held in the Viacom 401(k) plan must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 7, 2010 so that the trustee of the plan (who votes the shares on behalf of plan participants) has adequate time to tabulate the voting instructions. Shares held in the Viacom 401(k) plan that are not voted, or for which the trustee does not receive timely voting instructions, will be voted by the trustee in the same proportion as the shares held in the plan that are timely voted, except as otherwise required by law.
Voting other than by Proxy
While we encourage voting in advance by proxy, holders of Class A common stock (other than shares held in the Viacom 401(k) plan) also have the option of voting their shares in person at the Annual Meeting.
Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy after I return my proxy card?
Shares Held other than in the Viacom 401(k) Plan
You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time before your proxy is voted at the Annual Meeting by:
· | sending written notice to Michael D. Fricklas, Secretary, Viacom Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036-5794, so long as it is received before 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 8, 2010; |
· | submitting a proxy bearing a later date than the proxy being revoked to Broadridge, P.O. Box 9111, Farmingdale, NY 11735, so long as it is received before 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 8, 2010; |
· | voting again by telephone or the Internet by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 8, 2010; or |
· | attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. |
Shares Held in the Viacom 401(k) Plan
Voting instructions relating to shares of Class A common stock held in the 401(k) plan may be revoked prior to 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 7, 2010 by:
· | sending written notice to Michael D. Fricklas, Secretary, Viacom Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036-5794; |
· | submitting voting instructions bearing a later date than the voting instructions being revoked to Broadridge, P.O. Box 9111, Farmingdale, NY 11735; or |
· | voting again by telephone or the Internet. |
3
What effect do abstentions and broker non-votes have on the items of business?
An abstention on any item of business will have the effect of a vote against that item.
Broker non-votes may occur because certain beneficial holders of our Class A common stock hold their shares in street name through a broker or other nominee. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE), the broker or nominee may not be permitted to exercise voting discretion with respect to some items to be acted upon at our Annual Meeting, including the election of directors. Therefore, if a beneficial holder of our Class A common stock does not give the broker or nominee specific voting instructions, the holders shares may not be voted on those items and a broker non-vote will occur. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the voting results for such items.
How do I gain admission to the Annual Meeting?
If you are a registered holder of Class A common stock:
Please mark the appropriate box on the proxy card, or indicate that you plan to attend the meeting when you vote by telephone or the Internet, and an admission ticket will be sent to you. Please bring photo identification with you for admittance to the meeting.
If you are a registered holder of Class B common stock or hold Class A or Class B common stock beneficially in a brokerage account or otherwise:
You must obtain an admission ticket in advance by sending a written request along with proof of ownership (such as your brokerage firm account statement or statement of holdings from our transfer agent) to Director, Shareholder Relations, Viacom Inc., 1515 Broadway, 52nd Floor, New York, New York 10036-5794. Please bring photo identification with you for admittance to the meeting.
Who pays the cost of soliciting votes for the Annual Meeting?
We will pay the cost of the solicitation of proxies, including the preparation, website posting, printing and delivery of the proxy materials. We will furnish copies of these materials to banks, brokers, fiduciaries, custodians and other nominees that hold shares on behalf of beneficial owners so that they may forward the materials to beneficial owners.
Who will count the votes?
We have retained IVS Associates, Inc. to tabulate the votes and serve as the independent inspector of election for the Annual Meeting.
Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?
We will publish the final results of the voting in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of the Annual Meeting.
How can I elect to receive future shareholder communications such as proxy materials electronically?
We highly recommend that you receive electronic delivery of Viacom proxy statements, annual reports and other stockholder communications. This helps reduce the use of paper and lowers our printing, postage and other costs. If you have not previously enrolled in electronic delivery of such materials, you can elect to participate when you vote on the Internet. You can also enroll at www.icsdelivery.com/viacom.
Stockholders who have not enrolled in electronic delivery will receive the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials indicating that our proxy materials are available at http://proxymaterials.viacom.com, unless you have advised us that you prefer to receive a printed copy.
4
COMPANY INFORMATION AND MAILING ADDRESS
We were organized as a Delaware corporation in 2005. Our mailing address is Viacom Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036-5794, and our telephone number is (212) 846-6000. Our website address is www.viacom.com.
References in this proxy statement to Viacom, company, we, us and our refer to Viacom Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. Information on our website is not intended to be incorporated into this proxy statement.
5
ITEM 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The election of 11 directors is proposed by the Board of Directors. In accordance with our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, each director will hold office for a term of one year and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
Our Director Nominees
The Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing the composition of our Board annually after considering the Boards anticipated needs for the upcoming year. In recommending director nominees to our Board, the members of the Governance and Nominating Committee consider information on the experience and qualifications of each director nominee, including each nominees independence, each incumbent directors performance as a Viacom Board member, and an overall assessment of the Boards functioning.
All of our director nominees are current members of our Board of Directors who were last elected at our 2009 Annual Meeting. The Governance and Nominating Committee unanimously recommended to the Board that the director nominees be invited to stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting.
Director Qualifications and Biographies
The Governance and Nominating Committee, consistent with the desires of the full Board and our controlling stockholder, seeks to achieve a Board that represents a diverse mix of skills, perspectives, talents, backgrounds and education that will enhance our decision-making process, oversee managements execution of strategic objectives, and represent the interests of all of our stockholders. Independence is a key factor when considering the director nominees, as are critical thinking skills, practical wisdom and mature judgment in the decision-making process. Our Board composition reflects our commitment to include individuals from diverse backgrounds and with diverse experience, and the members of our Governance and Nominating Committee are mindful of that objective when they nominate directors for election. Our Board composition also reflects the Committees determination as to the appropriate size of the board to facilitate effective communication and cooperation.
The information that follows includes each director nominees:
· | independence status as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the standards set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the NYSE listing standards, as discussed under Our Board of Directors; |
· | tenure on our Board and the Board of former Viacom Inc. (Former Viacom), which is now known as CBS Corporation, as applicable; |
· | experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board considered in concluding that each director nominee should serve on Viacoms Board; and |
· | service on the boards of directors of other public companies and investment companies during the past five years. |
In addition to these factors, the Governance and Nominating Committee may consider specific events in relation to a directors nomination. For example, in 2009, the Committee considered Messrs. Greenberg and Salernos positions with Bear Stearns and the events surrounding the sale of Bear Stearns in connection with its decision to re-nominate them to our Board.
Important information about Viacoms corporate governance practices, the responsibilities and functioning of the Board and its committees, director compensation and related person transactions is found elsewhere in this proxy statement. We encourage you to review this information in connection with your decisions on the election of the 11 director nominees.
6
George S. Abrams | Age 78 | Not Independent | ||
Mr. Abrams has been a member of our Board since January 1, 2006, having previously served as a director of Former Viacom since 1987. Mr. Abrams is being re-nominated to our Board because of his extensive knowledge of and history with Viacom, his skills as an attorney and advisor, familiarity with issues facing media and entertainment companies, and his involvement with NAI, our controlling stockholder. Mr. Abrams is an attorney associated with the law firm of Winer and Abrams in Boston since 1969. Prior to that, Mr. Abrams served for three years as General Counsel and Staff Director of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee for Refugees. Mr. Abrams is a Trustee of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and a Fellow and/or Director of a number of other arts and education related boards and foundations. He is also a director of NAI and has been a director of Sonesta International Hotels Corporation since 1995. |
Philippe P. Dauman | Age 56 | Not Independent | ||
Mr. Dauman has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2006 and a member of our Board since January 1, 2006, having previously served as a director of Former Viacom since 1987. Mr. Dauman is being re-nominated to our Board due to his role as our President and CEO, extensive knowledge of and history with Viacom, his strategic and operational experience, his in-depth understanding of our industry and his connections in the business community. Mr. Dauman was Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DND Capital Partners, L.L.C., a private equity firm specializing in media and telecommunications investments that he co-founded with Mr. Dooley, from May 2000 until September 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Dauman held several positions at Former Viacom, which he first joined in 1993, including Deputy Chairman and member of its Executive Committee. Mr. Dauman is also a director of NAI and has served as a director of Lafarge S.A. since 2007. He also served as a director of Lafarge North America from 1997 to 2006. |
Thomas E. Dooley | Age 53 | Not Independent | ||
Mr. Dooley has been our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer since September 2006, our Chief Financial Officer since January 1, 2007 and a member of our Board since January 1, 2006. Mr. Dooley is being re-nominated to our Board due to his position as Chief Administrative Officer and CFO, extensive knowledge of and history with Viacom, his financial expertise and operational experience, and his in-depth understanding of our industry. Mr. Dooley was Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DND Capital Partners, L.L.C., a private equity firm specializing in media and telecommunications investments that he co-founded with Mr. Dauman, from May 2000 until September 2006. Before that, Mr. Dooley held various corporate and divisional positions at Former Viacom, which he first joined in 1980, including Deputy Chairman and member of its Executive Committee. Mr. Dooley served as a director of Sapphire Industrial Corp. from 2007 to 2010 and LaBranche & Co Inc. from 2000 to 2007. |
Alan C. Greenberg | Age 82 | Independent | ||
Mr. Greenberg has been a member of our Board since January 1, 2006, having previously served as a director of Former Viacom since 2003. Mr. Greenberg is being re-nominated to our Board because of his independence, his broad business knowledge and demonstrated skills, his experience leading a large, multinational corporation in the financial industry and his connections in the business community. Mr. Greenberg is Vice Chairman Emeritus of JPMorgan Chase & Co., having previously served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. from June 2001 until Bear Stearns was acquired by JPMorgan in May 2008. Mr. Greenberg also served as Chairman of the Board of Bear Stearns from 1985 to 2001, and as its Chief Executive Officer from 1978 to 1993. |
7
Robert K. Kraft | Age 68 | Independent | ||
Mr. Kraft has been a member of our Board since January 1, 2006. Mr. Kraft is being re-nominated to our Board because of his independence, his experience and talent leading a large, multinational corporation, including strategic and operational experience, and his connections in the business community. Mr. Kraft is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, which includes the New England Patriots, New England Revolution, Gillette Stadium, Rand-Whitney Group and International Forest Products Corporation. Mr. Kraft has served as Chairman of the NFLs Finance Committee since 1998. He is also a director of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. |
Blythe J. McGarvie | Age 53 | Independent | ||
Ms. McGarvie has been a member of our Board since April 12, 2007. Ms. McGarvie is being re-nominated to our Board because of her independence, her financial expertise and critical thinking, her experience and talent as a consultant and her international experience. Ms. McGarvie is the Chief Executive Officer of Leadership for International Finance, LLC, a firm focusing on improving clients financial positions and providing leadership seminars for corporate and academic groups, having previously served as President since January 2003. From 1999 through 2002, Ms. McGarvie was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BIC Group. Prior to that, Ms. McGarvie served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hannaford Bros. Co. from 1994 to 1999. Ms. McGarvie has served as a director of Accenture Ltd. since 2001 and The Travelers Companies, Inc. since 2004. Ms. McGarvie also served as a director of The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. from 2002 to 2010 and Lafarge North America from 2004 to 2006. |
Charles E. Phillips, Jr. | Age 50 | Independent | ||
Mr. Phillips has been a member of our Board since January 1, 2006, having previously served as a director of Former Viacom since 2004. Mr. Phillips is being re-nominated to our Board because of his independence, his experience as a senior executive in a large, multinational corporation, his financial industry background and financial and analytical expertise, and his familiarity with issues facing media, new media and intellectual property-driven companies. Mr. Phillips has been a President of Oracle Corporation since May 2003 and has served as a member of its Board of Directors and Executive Management Committee since January 2004. Mr. Phillips also served as a director of Morgan Stanley from 2006 to 2010. |
Shari Redstone | Age 56 | Not Independent | ||
Ms. Redstone has been the Non-Executive Vice Chair of our Board since January 1, 2006. She also serves as Non-Executive Vice Chair of the Board of CBS Corporation. Ms. Redstone served on the Board of Former Viacom since 1994, becoming Vice Chairman in June 2005. Ms. Redstone is being re-nominated to our Board because of her extensive experience in and understanding of the entertainment industry, her experience and talent managing a large business, and her position with NAI, including as one of its significant stockholders. Ms. Redstone has been President of NAI since January 2000, and prior to that, served as Executive Vice President of NAI since 1994. Ms. Redstone is also Chairman of Rising Star Media. An attorney, Ms. Redstone is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the National Association of Theatre Owners, Co-Chairman of MovieTickets.com, Inc. and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CineBridge Ventures, Inc. She is also a member of the board of several charitable organizations, including the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Combined Jewish Philanthropies and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Ms. Redstone is also a director of NAI. She also served as a director of Midway Games Inc. from 2004 until 2008. She is the daughter of Sumner Redstone. |
8
Sumner M. Redstone | Age 86 | Not Independent | ||
Mr. Redstone has been our Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Founder since January 1, 2006. He has also served as Executive Chairman and Founder of CBS Corporation since January 1, 2006. He was Chairman of the Board of Former Viacom beginning in 1986. Mr. Redstone is being re-nominated to our Board because of his position as our controlling stockholder, role in founding Viacom, including managing it for many years, his extensive experience in and understanding of the media and entertainment industry and his connections in the business community. Mr. Redstone was Chief Executive Officer of Former Viacom from 1996 to 2005. He has been Chairman of the Board of NAI since 1986, its Chief Executive Officer since 1967 and also served as its President from 1967 through 1999. Mr. Redstone served as the first Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Theatre Owners and is currently a member of its Executive Committee. He has been a frequent lecturer at universities, including Harvard Law School, Boston University Law School and Brandeis University. Mr. Redstone graduated from Harvard University in 1944 and received an LL.B. from Harvard University School of Law in 1947. Upon graduation, he served as law secretary with the U.S. Court of Appeals and then as a special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General. Mr. Redstone served in the Military Intelligence Division during World War II. While a student at Harvard, he was selected to join a special intelligence group whose mission was to break Japans high-level military and diplomatic codes. Mr. Redstone received, among other honors, two commendations from the Military Intelligence Division in recognition of his service, contribution and devotion to duty, and the Army Commendation Award. |
Frederic V. Salerno | Age 66 | Independent | ||
Mr. Salerno has been a member of our Board since January 1, 2006, having previously served as a director of Former Viacom since 1994. Mr. Salerno is being re-nominated to our Board because of his independence, his experience as a chief financial officer in large, multinational corporations, his financial expertise and his extensive knowledge of and history with Viacom. Mr. Salerno is a retired Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., a position he held from June 2000 to October 2002. Prior to that, Mr. Salerno served as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Bell Atlantic (Verizons predecessor) from August 1997. Prior to the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX Corporation, Mr. Salerno served as Vice Chairman, Finance and Business Development, of NYNEX from 1994 to 1997. Mr. Salerno was Vice Chairman of the Board of NYNEX and President of the NYNEX Worldwide Services Group from 1991 to 1994. Mr. Salerno has served as a director of Akamai Technologies, Inc. since 2002, IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. since 2002, Popular Inc. since 2003, CBS Corporation since 2007, and National Fuel Gas Company since 2008. Mr. Salerno also served as a director of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. from 1992 until 2008, of Consolidated Edison Inc. from 2002 until 2007 and of GAMCO Investors, Inc. from 2003 until 2006. |
William Schwartz | Age 76 | Independent | ||
Mr. Schwartz has been a member of our Board since January 1, 2006, having previously served as a director of Former Viacom since 1987. Mr. Schwartz is being re-nominated to our Board because of his independence, his extensive knowledge of and history with Viacom, his experience in governance matters, his skills as an attorney and advisor and his background in academics. He is counsel to the law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, a position he has held since 1988. Mr. Schwartz served as Vice President for Academic Affairs (the chief academic officer) of Yeshiva University from 1993 to 1998, and has been University Professor of Law at Yeshiva University and the Cardozo School of Law since 1991. Mr. Schwartz was Dean of the Boston University School of Law from 1980 to 1988, and a professor of law at Boston University from 1955 to 1991. Mr. Schwartz is an honorary member of the National College of Probate Judges. Mr. Schwartz formerly served as chairman of UST Corp., and was chairman of the Boston Mayors Special Commission on Police Procedures and a member of the Legal Advisory Board of the New York Stock Exchange. |
9
In accordance with the Boards recommendation, the proxy holders will vote the shares of Class A common stock covered by valid and timely received proxies FOR the election of each of the 11 director nominees set forth above, unless the stockholder gives instructions to the contrary. If, for any reason, any of the director nominees becomes unavailable for election, the proxy holders may exercise discretion to vote for substitute nominees proposed by the Board. Each of the director nominees has indicated that he or she will be able to serve if elected and has agreed to do so.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of each of the director nominees named above.
10
Our Board of Directors is comprised of 11 members, 6 of whom are independent under the standards discussed below. The Board has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee, each of which consists solely of independent directors. Our Board met 7 times in 2009, and each of our directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and Committees on which the director served. In addition to our Board and Committee meetings, all directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting and all of our directors attended our 2009 Annual Meeting except for Messrs. Kraft and Phillips, who were unable to attend due to other commitments.
Board Structure
Our Board of Directors is comprised of the following members:
· | an Executive Chairman, |
· | a non-executive Vice Chair, |
· | our President and Chief Executive Officer, |
· | our Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and |
· | seven other directors, six of whom are independent. |
Mr. Redstone is the controlling stockholder of NAI, which has voting control of Viacom. Mr. Redstone founded Viacom in 1987 and has led our development over the years into the company we are today. The Board of Directors believes it is appropriate for Mr. Redstone to be Chairman of the Board, in an executive capacity, as he continues to actively participate in the development of the strategic direction of our company. The Board also appointed Mr. Redstones daughter, Shari Redstone, as non-executive Vice Chair of the Board, to increase her involvement with our company in a non-executive capacity. Ms. Redstone also has a significant ownership interest in NAI.
Mr. Dauman has been a member of Viacoms Board since 1987, and Mr. Dooley rejoined Viacoms Board in 2006 after serving on the Board for four years prior to the merger with CBS in 2000. In September 2006, Mr. Dauman was elected President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Dooley was elected Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, and the Board determined that their participation on the Board would be beneficial because of their experience, talent and knowledge of the business.
We do not have a formal lead independent director. Mr. Schwartz, the Chair of our Governance and Nominating Committee, leads executive sessions of non-management and independent directors. He and Mr. Salerno, the Chair of our Compensation Committee, play leading roles with respect to various other matters that are appropriate for consideration by independent directors, such as matters involving related parties or potential conflicts of interest.
In keeping with good corporate governance practices, we maintain a majority of independent directors.
Board Role in Risk Oversight
Our Board receives regular reports from our CEO, CFO and other members of senior management regarding areas of significant risk to us, including operational, strategic, legal and regulatory, financial and reputational risks. Certain risks that are under the purview of a particular Committee are monitored by that Committee, which then reports to the full Board as appropriate. For example, our Internal Audit and Strategic Business Practices group, which identifies and manages a wide range of risks companywide, reports to the Audit Committee and senior management, who in turn report significant developments to the full Board of Directors. In addition, under its Charter, the Audit Committee reviews our risk assessment and risk management processes. For a discussion of the risk assessment of our compensation programs, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis Risk Assessment of Compensation Programs.
11
Director Independence
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines (the Guidelines) provide that a majority of our directors must be independent of Viacom, as independence is defined in the NYSE listing standards and in the Guidelines.
NYSE Listing Standards
The NYSE listing standards provide five bright-line tests to determine independence. If a director fails any of the five tests, the director must be found to be not independent. In addition, the NYSE listing standards provide that a director is not independent unless the Board affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with Viacom.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Guidelines provide categorical standards to assist the Board in determining what constitutes a material relationship with Viacom for purposes of the NYSE listing standards. These categorical standards are summarized below and can be found in their entirety in our Guidelines, which are posted in the Investor Relations/Corporate Governance section of our website at www.viacom.com.
Under the categorical standards in our Guidelines, the following relationships are generally deemed not to be material:
· | the types of relationships identified by the NYSE listing standards bright-line tests, if they occurred more than five years ago (the Board will review any such relationship if it occurred more than three but less than five years ago); |
· | a relationship whereby the director has received, or an immediate family member of the director has received for service as an executive officer, $120,000 or less in direct compensation from us during any twelve-month period within the last three years; and |
· | a relationship in which the director is an executive officer or employee, or an immediate family member of the director is an executive officer, of the following: |
Ø | a company that made payments to or received payments from us for property or services in an amount that, in any of the last three fiscal years, is less than 1% of that companys annual consolidated gross revenues; |
Ø | a company that is either indebted to us or a creditor of ours in an amount that is less than 1% of that companys total consolidated assets; and |
Ø | a tax-exempt organization that received contributions from us in the prior fiscal year in an amount less than the greater of $500,000 or 1% of that organizations consolidated gross revenues. |
For relationships that exceed these thresholds, the determination of whether the relationship is material or not, and therefore whether the director would be independent or not, is made by the directors who are independent. In addition, the Guidelines state that, generally, the types of relationships not addressed by the NYSE listing standards or the categorical standards described in the Guidelines will not, by themselves, cause a director to be considered not independent. The Board may, after considering relevant facts and circumstances, determine that a director is not independent for any reason it deems appropriate.
12
Independence of Our Directors
When considering whether a director is independent, we believe it is important for our Board to have a range of information about the director so that it can make an informed independence determination. Our Governance and Nominating Committee and the full Board review summary information sheets on each director with information about:
· | the directors employment; |
· | any relationships required to be disclosed as related person transactions in this proxy statement; |
· | other relationships not required to be disclosed in this proxy statement because they do not meet materiality thresholds; |
· | any relationship of which we are aware between the director or a directors family member and Viacom or any other Viacom director or executive officer (for example, overlapping directorships); and |
· | other public company board and committee memberships and affiliations with not-for-profit organizations. |
In addition, as discussed under Related Person Transactions, the Governance and Nominating Committee receives reports on all transactions between related persons and us, regardless of whether such transaction is determined to involve a material interest by a related person.
Since our 2009 Annual Meeting, 6 of our 11 directors have been independent: Messrs. Greenberg, Kraft, Phillips, Salerno and Schwartz, and Ms. McGarvie. In April 2010, the Board conducted its annual review of the independence of the director nominees and confirmed that these directors continue to be independent.
With respect to specific companies affiliated with an independent director, the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board considered the following:
· | Mr. Greenberg is non-executive Vice Chairman Emeritus at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (having previously served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of Bear Stearns prior to JPMorgan Chases acquisition of Bear Stearns). JPMorgan provides banking and other services to us from time to time, including acting as trustee for our tax-qualified retirement plans and as our broker when we repurchase shares under our stock repurchase program. |
Ø | JPMorgan also acted as underwriter in a secondary offering of shares of Viacom Class B common stock by NAI in October 2009, for which it received underwriting fees from NAI. Viacom did not sell any shares in the offering, did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale and did not participate in the selection of JPMorgan as underwriter. |
· | Charles Phillips is a President of Oracle Corporation, with which we have commercial agreements for the licensing or purchase of software and other equipment and related consulting services. |
Any financial amounts involved in the transactions described above (in the aggregate) were well below 1% of the other companys revenues, which is the applicable threshold under our Guidelines below which transactions are presumed not to affect independence. In addition, these transactions were not entered into as a result of Messrs. Greenbergs or Phillips service on our Board. The transactions between Viacom and JPMorgan and Oracle were negotiated on an arms length basis. The Board determined that these transactions did not affect the independence of either Mr. Greenberg or Mr. Phillips.
13
Board Committees
Committee Membership
The Board reviews and determines the membership of the committees at least annually, with input from the Governance and Nominating Committee. In 2009, our Committee membership changed. Due to other commitments on his time, Mr. Kraft resigned from our Compensation Committee and Governance and Nominating Committee, effective August 26, 2009. Mr. Salerno, who was already a member of the Compensation Committee, replaced Mr. Kraft as Chair of the Compensation Committee, and Ms. McGarvie joined the Compensation Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee. Effective January 1, 2010, Ms. McGarvie replaced Mr. Salerno as Chair of the Audit Committee, with Mr. Salerno remaining a member of that committee.
The following discusses the membership of our Board committees in 2009, including the number of meetings held in 2009, and in 2010, as well as information about the committees, their respective roles and responsibilities and their charters. Each of our committees has a written charter, which is posted in the Investor Relations/Corporate Governance section of our website at www.viacom.com.
Name | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee |
Governance and Nominating Committee
| |||||||||
2009 | 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | |||||||
Robert K. Kraft |
Chair/Member (until 8/09) |
Member (until 8/09) | ||||||||||
Blythe J. McGarvie |
Member | Chair |
Member (from 8/09) |
Member | Member (from 8/09) | Member | ||||||
Charles E. Phillips, Jr. |
Member | Member | ||||||||||
Frederic V. Salerno |
Chair | Member | Member; Chair (from 8/09) |
Chair | Member | Member | ||||||
William Schwartz |
Member | Member | Chair | Chair | ||||||||
2009 Meetings |
7 | 11 | 5 |
Audit Committee
Under its Charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for the following, among other things:
· | the appointment, compensation, retention, termination and oversight of our independent auditor, including reviewing with the independent auditor the scope of the audit plan and audit fees; |
· | reviewing our financial statements and related SEC filings and financial disclosures; |
· | overseeing our compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to internal control over financial reporting; |
· | reviewing our risk assessment and risk management processes; |
· | oversight of our internal audit function; and |
· | oversight of our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. |
For additional information on the Committees role and its oversight of the independent auditor during 2009, see Report of the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee Charter also provides that:
· | the Committee will be comprised of at least three independent directors, each of whom also meets the separate standards for Audit Committee independence set forth in the NYSE listing standards; |
· | all Committee members must be financially literate and the Committee must have at least one audit committee financial expert; |
14
· | the Committee will hold at least six regular meetings each year; |
· | the Committee will meet separately with the independent auditor at least four times each year; |
· | the Committee will meet regularly in executive session with members of our senior management team; and |
· | the Committee is empowered to hire outside advisors as it deems appropriate. |
Audit Committee Financial Experts
The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee are financially literate, as that term is interpreted by the Board in its business judgment. In addition, the Board has determined that all three members, Ms. McGarvie (Chair, effective January 1, 2010), Mr. Phillips and Mr. Salerno (Chair throughout 2009), are independent directors and qualify as audit committee financial experts, as that term is defined in the regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).
Service on the Audit Committees of Other Public Companies
We do not restrict the number of other audit committees on which members of our Audit Committee may serve; however, in recommending director candidates to the Board and directors to serve on committees of the Board, the Governance and Nominating Committee considers the other demands on each directors time, including those arising from such service. Mr. Salerno, who was the Chair of the Audit Committee until January 1, 2010 and remains a member of that committee, currently serves on the audit committees of more than three public companies. The Board has determined that Mr. Salernos service on the audit committees of these other companies does not impair his ability to effectively serve on our Audit Committee or as Chair of our committee. This determination is based on his experience as the former chief financial officer of a major public company, experience as the Chair of our Audit Committee and as a member of the audit committees of other major corporations, and the fact that he is retired from full-time employment and therefore able to devote sufficient attention to his responsibilities to our Audit Committee.
Compensation Committee
Under its Charter, the Compensation Committee is responsible for the following, among other things:
· | establishing and regularly reviewing our general compensation philosophy, strategy, principles and policies, including conducting periodic risk assessments of our compensation programs; |
· | reviewing and approving the total compensation packages for our Executive Chairman and Founder, our President and Chief Executive Officer, our other executive officers, the divisional executives who report to the CEO, and certain other executives; |
· | reviewing and making recommendations to the Board on compensation plans and overseeing the administration of those plans; |
· | determining the appropriate design for awards made under our annual cash bonus and equity compensation plans and setting related performance targets; |
· | approving all equity awards we grant; and |
· | evaluating the performance of our Executive Chairman and Founder and our President and Chief Executive Officer, and other executives as appropriate, including in the context of succession planning. |
For additional information on the Committees role, its processes for the consideration and determination of executive compensation and its use of outside advisors, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
The Compensation Committee Charter also provides that:
· | the Committee will be comprised of at least three independent directors, each of whom must also be an outside director as defined by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
15
· | the Committee will hold at least four regular meetings each year; |
· | the Committee will meet regularly in executive session, including with its independent outside advisors; and |
· | the Committee is empowered to hire outside advisors as it deems appropriate. |
Compensation Committees Relationship with its Independent Compensation Consultant
The Committees independent compensation consultant in 2009 was Towers Perrin. Towers Perrin is engaged by, and reports directly to, the Committee, which has the sole authority to hire or fire Towers Perrin and to approve fee arrangements for work performed. Towers Perrin assists the Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities under its Charter, including advising on proposed compensation packages for top executives, compensation program design and market practices generally. The Committee has authorized Towers Perrin to interact with management on behalf of the Committee, as needed in connection with advising the Committee, and Towers Perrin is included in discussions with management and the Committees outside legal counsel on matters being brought to the Committee for consideration.
It is the Committees policy that the Chair of the Committee or the full Committee pre-approve all additional services provided by Towers Perrin to us. In 2009, the fees Towers Perrin received in connection with non-executive compensation consulting services were less than $10,000. These fees were approved in advance by the Chair of the Committee. In early 2010, Towers Perrin merged with Watson Wyatt, another human resources consulting firm that has provided services to us, and is now called Towers Watson. Effective February 1, 2010, the Committee retained Pay Governance LLC, a firm founded by the consultant who formerly served the Committee when he was employed by Towers Perrin. Pay Governance LLC will not provide any services to Viacom without prior Committee approval. The Committee may continue to have access to data from Towers Watson but the firm no longer serves as the independent compensation consultant to the Committee.
Governance and Nominating Committee
Under its Charter, the Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for the following, among other things:
· | identifying and recommending to the Board potential director candidates and reviewing the composition of the Board as part of this process; |
· | overseeing all aspects of our corporate governance initiatives, including regular assessments of our principal governance documents; |
· | establishing policy on and overseeing our entry into related person transactions; |
· | establishing criteria for the annual self-assessments of the Board and its Committees; |
· | reviewing and making recommendations to the Board on director compensation matters; and |
· | monitoring developments in the law and practice of corporate governance. |
The Governance and Nominating Committee Charter also provides that:
· | the Committee will be comprised of at least three independent directors, which the Board believes should include a Chair with experience in governance matters plus the Chairs of the Audit and Compensation Committees in accordance with good governance practice; |
· | the Committee will hold at least three regular meetings each year; |
· | the Committee will meet regularly in executive session; and |
· | the Committee is empowered to hire outside advisors as it deems appropriate. |
The Governance and Nominating Committee uses the Compensation Committees independent compensation consultant for advice on director compensation. For additional information on the Committees oversight of director compensation and related person transactions, see the sections Director Compensation and Related Person Transactions.
16
Executive Sessions of the Board
Mr. Schwartz, the Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee, leads the executive sessions of non-management and independent directors.
Director Nomination Process and Consideration of Diversity
Our Guidelines and the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter set forth certain criteria for director qualifications and Board composition. These criteria include an expectation that directors have substantial accomplishments in their professional backgrounds, are able to make independent, analytical inquiries, and exhibit practical wisdom and mature judgment. The Governance and Nominating Committee seeks to achieve a Board that represents a diverse mix of skills, perspectives, talents, backgrounds and education that will enhance our decision-making process, oversee managements execution of strategic objectives, and represent the interests of all of our stockholders. Director candidates should meet our standards for independence, be free of potential conflicts of interest, possess the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, be committed to promoting the long-term interests of our stockholders and be able and willing to devote the necessary time to carrying out their duties and responsibilities as members of the Board. These criteria are described more fully in our Guidelines and the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter. The Governance and Nominating Committee considers these criteria, including diversity, in connection with its annual review of the composition, qualifications and independence of our Board.
For additional discussion of the process undertaken by the Committee in determining the director nominees, see Item 1Election of Directors and Our Board of DirectorsDirector Independence.
Stockholder Recommendations for Director Candidates
The Committee will consider potential director candidates recommended by our stockholders. When making a recommendation, stockholders should consider our criteria for director qualifications and Board composition set forth above and in our Guidelines and the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter. Director candidates recommended by stockholders who meet these qualifications will be considered by the Chair of the Committee, who will present the information on the candidate to the entire Committee. All director candidates recommended by stockholders will be considered by the Committee in the same manner as any other candidate.
All recommendations by stockholders for potential director candidates must include written materials on the potential candidates qualifications and be sent to Michael D. Fricklas, Secretary, Viacom Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036-5794.
Communications with Directors
Stockholders and other interested parties who would like to contact our non-management directors may send an email to: nonmanagementdirectors@viacom.com or write to Non-Management Directors, Viacom Inc., 1515 Broadway, 52nd Floor, New York, NY 10036-5794. The non-management directors contact information is also available on our website at www.viacom.com. The non-management directors have approved the process for handling communications received in this manner.
Stockholders should also use the email and mailing address for the non-management directors to send communications to the Board. The process for handling stockholder communications to the Board received in this manner has been approved by the independent directors of the Board. Correspondence relating to accounting or auditing matters will be handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit Committee for such matters.
17
Our corporate governance practices are established, monitored and regularly assessed by our Board of Directors with assistance from the Governance and Nominating Committee. The Board considers current and proposed legal requirements and governance best practices in connection with its decisions on our governance practices, including ensuring that a majority of our Board is independent and that all of our Board committees are comprised solely of independent directors.
Our principal governance documents are our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Board Committee Charters, Global Business Practices Statement and Supplemental Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers. These documents are available in the Investor Relations/Corporate Governance section of our website at www.viacom.com, and copies of these documents may be requested by writing to Investor Relations, Viacom Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036-5794.
Certain aspects of our governance documents are summarized below. We encourage our stockholders to read our governance documents, as we believe they illustrate our commitment to good governance practices and ethical business conduct.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines establish our corporate governance principles and practices on a variety of topics, including the responsibilities, composition and functioning of the Board. The Governance and Nominating Committee assesses the Guidelines annually and makes recommendations to the Board on any changes to implement. Our Guidelines address, among other things:
· | director qualifications, including our director independence standards; |
· | the requirement to hold separate executive sessions of the non-management directors and of the independent directors a minimum number of times each year; |
· | how stockholders and interested parties may communicate with the non-management directors; |
· | stock ownership guidelines for directors and the Boards policies for setting director compensation; |
· | director orientation and continuing education; |
· | policies regarding director access to management, employees and independent advisors; |
· | the role of the non-management directors in executive succession planning; and |
· | the annual self-assessment of the Board to evaluate its effectiveness. |
Board Committee Charters
As discussed in more detail in the descriptions of our Board committees under Our Board of DirectorsBoard Committees, each of our Board committees operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. The charters set forth the purpose, objectives and responsibilities of the respective committee and discuss matters such as committee membership requirements, number of meetings and the setting of meeting agendas. The charters are assessed annually by the Governance and Nominating Committee and the respective committee and are updated by the Board as needed.
Viacom Global Business Practices Statement
Our Global Business Practices Statement (the GBPS) discusses our standards for ethical conduct that are expected of all directors and employees of Viacom and its subsidiaries. The GBPS has been distributed to our directors and employees worldwide. As part of our compliance and ethics programs, directors and employees receive regular training on the contents of the GBPS and, where permitted, are required to certify as to
18
compliance with it. They are also required to disclose any conflicts or potential conflicts of interest on an ongoing basis and appropriately report on suspected violations of the GBPS. The GBPS addresses, among other things, topics such as:
· | Compliance with laws, rules and regulations; |
· | Conflicts of interest, including the disclosure of actual or potential conflicts; |
· | Confidentiality, insider information, and fair disclosure; |
· | Financial accounting and improper payments; |
· | Our commitment to being an equal opportunity employer and to providing a workplace environment free of harassment and improper bias; |
· | Fair dealing and relations with competitors, customers and suppliers; |
· | Privacy and data security, including protection and proper use of Company assets, electronic systems and communications; |
· | Anti-corruption laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; |
· | Export control and anti-boycott laws; |
· | Health, safety and the environment; and |
· | Political contributions and payments. |
The GBPS also identifies numerous avenues for employees to report violations of the GBPS, matters of alleged financial impropriety, or any other matters of concern, anonymously or with attribution, to the appropriate officers of Viacom and/or the Audit Committee. These avenues include telephone hotlines (in the United States and for numerous international locations), email contacts, and reporting through various internal websites at Viacom and its business divisions. The GBPS makes clear that retaliation against an employee who makes a report in good faith will not be tolerated.
Our Senior Vice President and Deputy Head, Internal Audit and Strategic Business Practices, has day-to-day responsibility for our compliance and ethics programs. He reports to the Audit Committee and, as to compliance matters, to the General Counsel. These individuals, together with senior executives of various disciplines from Viacom and its business divisions, regularly review and update the GBPS policies, and generate more detailed policies and training for those officers and employees engaged in activities that warrant additional focus, such as conducting business internationally. We also require that our suppliers comply with pertinent elements of our business conduct policies.
Waivers of the GBPS for our executive officers and directors will be disclosed on our website at www.viacom.com or by Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
Supplemental Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers
The Supplemental Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers is applicable to our Executive Chairman and Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. The Supplemental Code of Ethics addresses matters specific to those senior financial positions at Viacom, including responsibility for the disclosures made in our filings with the SEC, reporting obligations with respect to certain matters and a general obligation to promote honest and ethical conduct within Viacom. As with all employees, the Senior Financial Officers are also required to comply with the GBPS.
Amendments to or waivers of the Supplemental Code of Ethics for these officers will be disclosed on our website at www.viacom.com or by Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
19
Directors who are not employees of Viacom or any of its subsidiaries (the Outside Directors) are entitled to receive compensation for their service on the Board and are eligible to participate in certain director plans, as discussed below. Messrs. Abrams, Greenberg, Kraft, Phillips, Salerno and Schwartz, Ms. McGarvie and Ms. Redstone are Outside Directors.
Our director compensation programs are overseen by our Governance and Nominating Committee, which makes recommendations annually to the Board on the appropriate amount and structure of director compensation in light of then current competitive practice and other factors. The Governance and Nominating Committee receives advice from Towers Watson, the Compensation Committees independent compensation consultant, on director compensation matters.
Elements of Outside Director Compensation in 2009 and Through June 9, 2010
Cash Compensation
We paid in 2009, and will pay through June 9, 2010, cash compensation to our Outside Directors as follows:
· | an annual Board retainer of $60,000, payable in equal installments quarterly in advance, plus a per meeting attendance fee of $2,000, except for our Vice Chair, who receives an annual retainer of $200,000 and a per meeting attendance fee of $4,000; |
· | the Chairs of the Audit and Compensation Committees each receive an annual retainer of $20,000, payable in equal installments quarterly in advance, and the members of those committees receive a per meeting attendance fee of $2,000; and |
· | the Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee receives an annual retainer of $15,000, payable in equal installments quarterly in advance, and the members of that committee receive a per meeting attendance fee of $1,500. |
Outside Directors may elect to defer their cash compensation under the Viacom Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors discussed below.
Equity Compensation
Stock Options
Under the Viacom Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, Outside Directors automatically receive the following:
· | an initial grant of options to purchase 7,928 shares of Class B common stock on the date the director first joins the Board or becomes an Outside Director, which vest one year from the date of grant; and |
· | an annual grant of options to purchase 3,171 shares of Class B common stock on January 31 of each year, which vest in three equal annual installments on the anniversaries of the date of grant. |
The exercise price of the stock options is the closing price of our Class B common stock on the NYSE on the date of grant.
Restricted Share Units
Under the Viacom Inc. 2006 RSU Plan for Outside Directors, Outside Directors receive an annual grant of restricted share units (RSUs) on January 31 of each year equal to $55,000 in value based on the closing price of our Class B common stock on the NYSE on the date of grant. The RSUs vest one year from the date of grant. RSUs are payable in shares of Class B common stock upon vesting unless the Outside Director elects to defer settlement of the RSUs to a future date.
See 2009 Director Compensation below for detail on the compensation our Outside Directors received in 2009.
20
Deferred Compensation Plan
Under the Viacom Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors, Outside Directors may elect to defer their Board and Committee retainers and meeting fees for the upcoming calendar year. Deferred amounts are credited during a calendar quarter to an interest-bearing income account or a stock unit account in accordance with the directors prior election. Amounts credited to an income account bear interest at the prime rate in effect at the beginning of each calendar quarter. Amounts credited to a stock unit account are deemed invested in a number of phantom stock units equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock that the deferred amounts, if invested as equally as possible in the Class A and Class B common stock, would have purchased based on their respective closing market prices on the first day of the next calendar quarter. Amounts credited to a stock unit account bear interest at the prime rate in effect at the beginning of the relevant calendar quarter until they are converted to phantom stock units.
Upon a directors retirement from the Board, the amounts deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors are paid in cash in a lump sum or in three or five annual installments, based on the directors prior election, with the lump sum or initial annual installment becoming payable on the later of six months after the director leaves the Board or on January 15 of the following year. The value of a stock unit account is determined by reference to the average of the closing market prices of Class A common stock and Class B common stock on the NYSE on each trading date during the four-week period ending five business days prior to the payment date. Amounts credited to the interest account and paid in installments accrue interest until the final installment is paid.
For more information on the phantom stock units held by certain of our directors as of February 28, 2010, see footnote (1) to the Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management table.
2009 Director Compensation
The following table presents information on compensation in 2009 for services as an Outside Director. Mr. Dauman was not an Outside Director during 2009.
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1) |
Option Awards ($)(1) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(2) |
All Other Compensation ($) |
Total ($) | |||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | |||||||
George S. Abrams(3) |
$ 72,000 | $54,988 | $25,400 | | $ 63 | $120,000(3) | $272,451 | |||||||
Philippe P. Dauman(4) |
| | | | $ 6,578 | | $ 6,578 | |||||||
Alan C. Greenberg(5) |
$ 72,000 | $54,988 | $25,400 | | | | $152,388 | |||||||
Robert K. Kraft(6) |
$103,500 | $54,988 | $25,400 | | $ 169 | | $184,057 | |||||||
Blythe J. McGarvie(7) |
$ 97,000 | $54,988 | $25,400 | | | | $177,388 | |||||||
Charles E. Phillips, Jr.(8) |
$ 86,000 | $54,988 | $25,400 | | $ 161 | | $166,549 | |||||||
Shari Redstone(9) Vice Chair |
$224,000 | $54,988 | $25,400 | | $ 131 | | $304,519 | |||||||
Frederic V. Salerno(10) |
$144,457 | $54,988 | $25,400 | | $ 364 | | $225,209 | |||||||
William Schwartz(11) |
$118,500 | $54,988 | $25,400 | | $ 293 | | $199,181 |
(1) | Reflects the grant date fair value of the awards calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 Stock Compensation. Grant date fair value assumptions are consistent with those disclosed in the Stock Based Compensation Note to our Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. |
(2) | Interest accrues on the amounts deferred under our Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors at the prime rate in effect at Citibank N.A. at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The prime rate generally represents an interest rate that is more than 120% of the applicable Federal Reserve Boards long-term interest rate and therefore is deemed to be preferential for purposes of this table. Accordingly, we have indicated above the difference in the amount of interest accrued for each director in 2009 compared to the interest that would have been accrued at the applicable Federal Reserve Boards long-term interest rate. |
21
(3) | Mr. Abrams did not defer receipt of his cash director fees in 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Abrams held a total of 28,538 stock options for shares of Class B common stock and 3,728 RSUs for shares of Class B common stock. The amount under All Other Compensation reflects amounts paid in connection with Mr. Abrams consulting agreement discussed under Related Person Transactions. |
(4) | Mr. Dauman was compensated as an Outside Director prior to becoming our President and Chief Executive Officer on September 5, 2006. The amount presented in this table relates to compensation previously deferred by Mr. Dauman when he was an Outside Director. |
(5) | Mr. Greenberg did not defer receipt of his cash director fees in 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Greenberg held a total of 26,954 stock options for shares of Class B common stock and 3,728 RSUs for shares of Class B common stock. |
(6) | Mr. Kraft deferred receipt of his cash director fees in 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Kraft held a total of 20,612 stock options for shares of Class B common stock and 3,728 RSUs for shares of Class B common stock. |
(7) | Ms. McGarvie did not defer receipt of her cash director fees in 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Ms. McGarvie held a total of 14,270 stock options for shares of Class B common stock and 3,728 RSUs for shares of Class B common stock. |
(8) | Mr. Phillips deferred receipt of his cash director fees in 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Phillips held a total of 23,783 stock options for shares of Class B common stock and 4,976 RSUs (including deferred RSUs) for shares of Class B common stock. |
(9) | Ms. Redstone deferred receipt of her cash director fees in 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Ms. Redstone held a total of 17,570 stock options for shares of Class B common stock and 7,826 RSUs (including deferred RSUs) for shares of Class B common stock. |
(10) | Mr. Salerno deferred receipt of his cash director fees in 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Salerno held a total of 28,538 stock options for shares of Class B common stock and 9,074 RSUs (including deferred RSUs) for shares of Class B common stock. |
(11) | Mr. Schwartz deferred receipt of his cash director fees in 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Schwartz held a total of 28,538 stock options for shares of Class B common stock and 9,074 RSUs (including deferred RSUs) for shares of Class B common stock. |
2010 Grants of Equity Securities
On January 31, 2010, all Outside Directors received the annual grant of stock options to purchase 3,171 shares of Class B common stock and 1,887 RSUs.
Changes to Director Compensation Programs in 2010
In 2010, the Governance and Nominating Committee reviewed a report on director compensation prepared by Towers Watson. The report concluded that our director compensation levels had become significantly lower than market practice over time, especially since the last increase to director compensation was made in 2005. As a result, in April 2010, the Board made the following changes to our director compensation programs, to be effective June 10, 2010:
· | eliminated Board per meeting fees in favor of an increased annual Board retainer from $60,000 to $75,000; |
· | eliminated a fixed number of stock options per year, and established annual equity compensation valued at $140,000, which will be paid 50% in stock options and 50% in RSUs; |
· | eliminated the one-time initial grant of stock options upon joining the Board; and |
· | determined not to change the Committee Chair annual retainers and Committee per meeting attendance fees, or to change the annual retainer for our Vice Chair. |
The director equity plans presented in this proxy statement as Items 4 and 5 for stockholder approval reflect these changes to the equity components of our director compensation programs.
Director Perquisites
We generally do not provide perquisites to our directors. Occasionally, a directors spouse may accompany him or her to Viacom events at our request. For example, spouses are invited to some of the Board dinners we hold during the year in connection with Board meetings. This policy involves a de minimis or no incremental cost to us, and we believe it serves a legitimate business purpose.
22
Director Attendance at Certain Viacom Events
We believe it is in our best interest for directors to participate in certain events throughout the year, and the Board has established a policy under which directors are allocated tickets without charge to attend specific events that have been designated as having a business purpose. Travel expenses to such events are reimbursed by us in accordance with our normal travel policies. The Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for oversight of this policy.
23
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The table below presents as of February 28, 2010, unless otherwise indicated, information concerning the beneficial ownership of our Class A and Class B common stock by (i) each director and director nominee, (ii) each named executive officer (NEO) and (iii) our directors, NEOs and executive officers as a group. Option Shares reflects stock options to purchase shares which were unexercised but exercisable, either currently or within a period of 60 days from February 28, 2010, and are excluded from the column Number of Equity Shares. Each person has sole voting and investment power over the shares reported, except as noted. The table also includes information concerning the beneficial ownership by each person, or group of affiliated persons, who is known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our Class A common stock.
As of February 28, 2010, there were 52,342,980 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding and 555,026,673 shares of our Class B common stock outstanding.
Beneficial Ownership of Equity Securities | |||||||||||||||
Name | Title of Equity Security |
Number of Equity Shares |
Option Shares |
Percentage of Class | |||||||||||
George S. Abrams |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
24,552 |
(1) (1)(2) |
25,367 |
* * | ||||||||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
318,801 |
(3)(4) |
2,011,210 |
* * | ||||||||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
1,720 265,792 |
(4) |
1,605,807 |
* * | ||||||||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
23 11,914 |
(3)(4) (3)(4) |
746,405 |
* * | ||||||||||
Alan C. Greenberg |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
34,074 |
|
22,726 |
* * | ||||||||||
Robert K. Kraft |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
58,626 |
(1) (1)(2) |
17,441 |
* * | ||||||||||
Blythe J. McGarvie |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
5,149 |
(1) (1) |
11,099 |
* * | ||||||||||
Charles E. Phillips, Jr. |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
9,074 |
(1)(5) (1) |
20,612 |
* * | ||||||||||
Shari Redstone |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
9,326 |
(1) (1)(2)(5)(6) |
14,399 |
* * | ||||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone(7) |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
41,806,422 385,150 |
(8) (3)(9) |
3,217,440 |
79.9% * | ||||||||||
Frederic V. Salerno |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
24,074 |
(1) (1)(5) |
25,367 |
* * | ||||||||||
William Schwartz |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
13,574 |
(1) (1)(5) |
25,367 |
* * | ||||||||||
Denise White |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
13,395 |
(4) |
8,217 |
* * | ||||||||||
NAIRI/National Amusements, Inc.(10) |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
41,806,382 |
|
|
79.9% * | ||||||||||
Directors, NEOs and executive officers as a group, other than Sumner M. Redstone |
Class A common stock Class B common stock |
1,743 798,924 |
(4) (4) |
4,710,999 |
* * | ||||||||||
Mario J. Gabelli(11) Gabelli Asset Management Inc. |
Class A common stock | 5,767,422 | | 11% |
* | Represents less than 1% of the outstanding common stock of the class. |
24
(1) | The table above does not reflect the following Class A phantom stock units and Class B phantom stock units credited to the respective director under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors: |
Abrams: |
10,750 Class A and 10,952 Class B. | |
Kraft: |
7,310 Class A and 7,481 Class B. | |
McGarvie: |
681 Class A and 681 Class B. | |
Phillips: |
2,798 Class A and 2,918 Class B. | |
Shari Redstone: |
12,579 Class A and 12,936 Class B. | |
Salerno: |
18,757 Class A and 19,027 Class B. | |
Schwartz: |
19,871 Class A and 20,225 Class B. |
(2) | Includes for Mr. Abrams, 100 Class B shares held indirectly as trustee of a trust; for Mr. Kraft, 50,800 Class B shares held by KPC US Equity LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Kraft; and for Shari Redstone, 1,500 Class B shares held in trusts for the benefit of her children for which she is co-trustee. |
(3) | The table above does not reflect the following Class A phantom stock units and Class B phantom stock units credited to the respective executive officer under the Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives: |
Dauman: |
1,746 Class B. | |
Fricklas: |
13 Class A and 3,668 Class B. | |
Redstone: |
197 Class B. |
(4) | Includes shares held in our 401(k) plan. |
(5) | Includes for Mr. Phillips, 4,976 RSUs, for Shari Redstone, 7,826 RSUs, for Mr. Salerno, 9,074 RSUs, and for Mr. Schwartz, 9,074 RSUs, the settlement of which the directors elected to defer. |
(6) | Ms. Redstone is a stockholder of NAI and has a significant indirect beneficial interest in the Viacom shares owned by NAI. |
(7) | The address for Mr. Redstone is c/o Viacom Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, New York 10036-5794. |
(8) | Except for 40 shares owned directly by Mr. Redstone, all shares of Class A common stock are owned beneficially by NAIRI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NAI. Mr. Redstone is the beneficial owner of the controlling interest in NAI and, accordingly, beneficially owns all such shares. Based on information received from NAI, all of the Viacom shares owned by NAIRI have been pledged to NAIs lenders as part of a restructuring of NAIs indebtedness. |
(9) | Reflects gifts of an aggregate of 55,310 shares of Class B common stock made by Mr. Redstone as of February 28, 2010, which have not yet been reported on a beneficial ownership report. |
(10) | The address for NAI and NAIRI is 846 University Avenue, Norwood, Massachusetts 02062. |
(11) | According to Amendment No. 4 to a Schedule 13D filed on November 6, 2009 with the SEC by GAMCO Investors, Inc. and related entities. The address for Mario J. Gabelli and GAMCO Investors, Inc. is One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580. |
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and NYSE. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by the Exchange Act to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. As an administrative matter, we assist our executive officers and directors by monitoring transactions and filing Section 16 reports on their behalf. Based on our records, compliance program, and review of written representations, we believe that during 2009 our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.
25
NAI, through NAIRI, Inc., is the controlling stockholder of both Viacom and CBS Corporation. Mr. Redstone, the controlling stockholder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAI, serves as our Executive Chairman and Founder and the Executive Chairman and Founder of CBS Corporation. Ms. Redstone, the President and a director of NAI, serves as non-executive Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of both Viacom and CBS Corporation. Mr. Dauman and Mr. Abrams are directors of NAI, and Mr. Salerno is also a director of CBS Corporation. We consider these entities, as well as our directors and executive officers and certain of their family members, to be related persons.
Policy on Oversight of Related Person Transactions
Since January 1, 2007, the Governance and Nominating Committee has maintained a written policy on its review, approval and ratification of transactions with related persons. The policy generally groups these transactions into three categories: (1) transactions requiring the specific pre-approval of the Committee, (2) transactions that the Chair of the Committee is authorized to pre-approve and (3) certain ordinary course transactions below established financial thresholds that are deemed pre-approved by the Committee.
Generally, the Committee deems pre-approved any transaction or series of transactions between Viacom and an entity for which a related person is an executive or employee (except NAI and CBS Corporation) that is entered into in the ordinary course of business and where the aggregate amount of all such transactions on an annual basis is less than 1% of the annual consolidated gross revenues of the other entity.
Ordinary course transactions with NAI, CBS Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries where the amount exceeds $10 million or $25 million, respectively, require pre-approval of the Committee.
Regardless of whether a transaction is deemed pre-approved, all transactions with related persons, including NAI, CBS and their respective subsidiaries, in any amount are required to be reported to the Committee. The Committee reviews and discusses with management the determination on whether a transaction with a related person involves a direct or indirect material interest.
Related Person Transactions in 2009
Transactions with National Amusements, Inc.
NAI licenses films in the ordinary course of business for its motion picture theaters from all major studios, including Paramount. Payments made to us in connection with these licenses for 2009 amounted to approximately $35 million and are continuing in 2010 as a result of this ongoing relationship. NAI also licenses films from a number of unaffiliated companies, and Paramount expects to continue to license films to NAI on similar terms in the future. In addition, NAI and Paramount have co-op advertising arrangements pursuant to which Paramount paid NAI approximately $251,000 in 2009. These arrangements are continuing in 2010. Our businesses also occasionally engage in other ordinary course transactions with NAI (e.g., movie ticket purchases and various promotional activities) from time to time, none of which we believe have been or are expected to be material, either individually or in the aggregate. We believe that the terms of these transactions between NAI and Paramount and our other businesses were no more or less favorable to Paramount or our other businesses than transactions between unaffiliated companies and NAI.
In October 2009, we filed a registration statement with the SEC registering NAIs underwritten public offering of shares of Viacom Class B common stock. In connection with the offering, we entered into an underwriting agreement with NAI and with the underwriters in the offering. We also entered into a cost and indemnification agreement with NAI under which NAI reimbursed us for our expenses related to the offering and indemnified us for certain liabilities in connection with the offering. We did not sell any shares in the offering, did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale and did not participate in the selection of the underwriters.
26
Transactions with CBS Corporation
In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in transactions with CBS Corporation and its various businesses (CBS) that result in the recognition of revenues and expenses by us. Transactions with CBS, through the normal course of business, are settled in cash.
Paramount distributes certain television products into the home entertainment market on behalf of CBS. Effective January 1, 2008, we entered into a new distribution agreement with CBS under which we record revenue and expenses in our financial statements on a gross basis. Under the terms of the agreement, Paramount is entitled to retain a fee based on a percentage of gross receipts and is generally responsible for all out-of-pocket costs which are recoupable, together with an annual $100 million advance due to CBS, prior to any participation payments to CBS. Paramount also leases studio space to CBS.
Additionally, our Media Networks businesses recognize advertising revenues from CBS and purchase television programming from CBS. Both of our segments also place advertisements with CBS.
The following table summarizes the transactions with CBS, which can also be found in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 contained in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(in millions) | For the
year ended December 31, 2009 | |
Consolidated Statements of Earnings |
||
Revenues |
$ 406 | |
Operating expenses |
504 | |
Discontinued operations |
- | |
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
||
Accounts receivable |
$ 25 | |
Other assets |
1 | |
Total due from CBS |
$ 26 | |
Accounts payable |
$ 3 | |
Participants share, residuals and royalties payable |
178 | |
Programming rights, current |
132 | |
Programming rights, noncurrent |
185 | |
Other liabilities |
13 | |
Total due to CBS |
$ 511 | |
Other Related Party Transactions
Mr. Abrams entered into an agreement with Former Viacom in 1994 under which he provides us with legal and governmental consulting services for an annual fee of $120,000.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Messrs. Kraft, Salerno and Schwartz and Ms. McGarvie served on our Compensation Committee during 2009. None of them has ever been an officer or employee of ours or any of our subsidiaries. During 2009, no Viacom executive officer served as a director or member of the compensation committee of any other registrant of which an executive officer served on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
27
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
James W. Barge has been our Executive Vice President, Tax and Treasury since January 22, 2008 and assumed the additional role of Controller on March 10, 2008. Prior to joining Viacom, he was the Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Time Warner Inc. In 2005, Time Warner entered into a settlement with the SEC relating to an SEC investigation of certain of its accounting and financial disclosure practices. In connection with this settlement, Mr. Barge, together with certain other individuals, agreed, without admitting or denying the SECs allegations, to the entry of an administrative order that he cease and desist from causing violations or future violations of certain reporting provisions of the securities laws. Mr. Barge is not subject to any suspension, bar or penalty. Our management team, Audit Committee and Compensation Committee considered this event in connection with the decision to hire Mr. Barge and determined that, in light of the circumstances underlying the investigation, the administrative order was not an impediment to his hiring.
28
The following Compensation Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), except to the extent Viacom specifically incorporates such information by reference.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. Based on its review and discussions with management, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Viacom Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
Members of the Compensation Committee
Robert K. Kraft, Chair (through August 26, 2009)
Blythe J. McGarvie (beginning August 26, 2009)
Frederic V. Salerno (Chair beginning August 26, 2009)
William Schwartz
29
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Overview
The goal of our compensation programs is to make sure that we have the talented executives and employees we need to achieve our best possible results, and that we motivate them to position us for long-term success and increase stockholder value. To do that, we need to attract and retain great managers and employees, and compensate them in a way that encourages and rewards their performance. Our compensation programs include salaries, a cash bonus plan that rewards annual performance, and a long-term equity plan that links the value the executive receives to the value of our company as measured by our stock price. Our compensation packages are highly performance-based, with over 85% of compensation for our most senior executives performance-based and/or equity-linked. Awards are balanced between short-term and long-term compensation to incent our executives to achieve superior operating and financial results every year while achieving long-term strategic objectives to drive stockholder value.
We are committed to providing competitive compensation packages to ensure that we attract and retain executives who will achieve these goals. We compete for talented executives in a highly-compensated industry based largely in the New York and Los Angeles markets. The Committee reviews information about past and evolving practices of our media and entertainment industry peer companies and other comparable public companies, but it does not specifically benchmark compensation to a particular level.
2009 Performance
2009 represented one of the most difficult operating environments we have ever experienced. In the second half of 2008, as a result of historic disruptions in financial markets, the broad economy began a steep and severe decline. Retailers, manufacturers and service providers experienced softness in demand for their products and services, were unable to obtain financing and pulled back on their business plans. Otherwise healthy companies found that financing was hard to come by or extraordinarily expensive. Unemployment doubled from early 2007 levels and gross domestic product declined at rates not seen in almost 30 years. Consumer spending declined dramatically.
Our businesses were directly affected by these events. We experienced significant weakness in the advertising market as companies reduced spending on marketing. Many of the largest categories of advertising, which is a significant component of our revenues, suffered the most. For example, as consumers spent less on automobile purchases, two of the big three automobile manufacturers reorganized under bankruptcy laws and all three suffered sales declines and drastically reduced advertising spending. Nearly every category of advertiser was affected and overall U.S. advertising declined by a reported 14.7% in the first three quarters of 2009 amid only the fifth spending drop in the past 50 years.
Consumer cautiousness affected sales levels of our retail products, as did cutbacks in purchases by retail outlets. Several prominent retail outlets declared bankruptcy, reducing consumer access to our products and shifting the competitive landscape for distribution of our products.
In 2009, we focused on rapidly adjusting to this new environment, while continuing to invest in our business and execute our strategy. The efforts and leadership of our senior management team allowed us to successfully navigate the difficult economic conditions and produce results that furthered our financial position and strategic objectives. We performed extraordinarily well on both an absolute and a relative basis and emerged well-positioned to capitalize on an economic recovery. For example:
We generated operating income, earnings per share and cash flow growth as compared to 2008
In 2009, our operating income increased 15% and our earnings per share increased 33% compared to 2008, despite a 7% decrease in revenues. Our operating free cash flow (cash flow from operations minus capital expenditures, before our voluntary repayment of certain indebtedness) was $2.044 billion, a 17% increase over
30
2008. We incurred $454 million in restructuring and other charges in 2008. Even without the impact of those charges, we grew operating income and earnings per share in 2009. This is important to our annual performance-based bonus program, which excluded the charges for purposes of calculating performance for 2009.
We continued to achieve operational excellence
In 2009, our results reflected both our long-term strategies and our short-term operational strength. For example, our revenues are a diversified mix of advertising (32% in 2009), feature film (38%), affiliate fees (21%) and ancillary (9%), and a mix of international (28%) and domestic (72%) revenues. Affiliate fees tend to be subject to long term contracts at pre-agreed growth rates, feature film revenues tend to be based on overall consumer acceptance of our movies, while advertising tends to be related to the economy generally as well as the popularity of our content. The diversity that is a feature of our business model enabled us to experience growth despite the decline in the advertising and retail markets.
In addition, the restructuring and refinement of our operating model that we began in late 2008 helped us to continue to reduce costs and streamline our operations. We also began to see the results of our continued investment in programming as ratings improved at key networks late in the year. Paramount was number two at the box office, despite releasing fewer films, and saw dramatically improved profitability on its more focused slate of films.
We improved our financial position during the year
We used our substantial cash flow to reduce our debt and strengthen our financial position during the crisis. We took advantage of our strong financial position to issue a total of $1.4 billion in debt securities at interest rates ranging from 4.375% to 5.625% and maturities ranging from five to ten years. We decreased our leverage ratio from 2.8x at December 31, 2008 to 2.1x at December 31, 2009 (we define leverage ratio as gross debt plus guarantees and unfunded pension obligations, divided by operating income before depreciation and amortization plus restructuring and equity compensation expenses). As a result of these steps, a major credit ratings agency increased our credit rating, while another changed the outlook from negative to stable.
Compensation decisions contributed to our results
In 2009, we suspended annual increases in salary and target compensation for almost all of our senior executives. In addition, we froze benefits under our excess pension plan, reducing costs while allowing us to maintain a broad-based pension plan and enhance certain other benefits for employees.
For our annual performance-based bonus program, the Board of Directors approved a budget at the beginning of 2009 that, consistent with prior years, contained challenging targets to drive growth even with the deteriorating economic environment. The Compensation Committee (the Committee in this section) established performance goals for our 2009 bonuses based on our achievement of the budgets goals as well as strategic qualitative objectives. The Committee continued to link the ability of a participant to realize a bonus at target levels to the achievement of results at budget, and require overperformance for a participant to achieve a bonus amount above target.
For our equity awards, the Committee implemented certain design changes that attempt to better align the cost of our equity awards with the value our employees place on them, as well as reduce the overall cost of the program. The Committee continued its policy of multi-year vesting and/or performance periods in support of its retention objectives.
31
2009 Named Executive Officer Compensation
The achievements discussed above were a direct result of the leadership of our named executive officers (NEOs) and other senior executives. Our NEOs for 2009 were:
· | Sumner M. Redstone, Executive Chairman and Founder; |
· | Philippe P. Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer; |
· | Thomas E. Dooley, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer; |
· | Michael D. Fricklas, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; and |
· | Denise White, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Administration. |
The tables below compare 2009 target compensation for our NEOs to actual compensation and demonstrate the impact of our pay for performance approach.
NEO |
Employment Agreement Terms(1) | |||||||||
Base Salary |
Target Bonus |
Target Equity Award Value |
Target Compensation |
Target % Performance- Based and/or Equity-Linked Compensation | ||||||
Sumner M. Redstone |
$1,250,000 | $4,750,000 | $ 6,000,000 | $12,000,000 | 90% | |||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
2,500,000 | 9,500,000 | 12,000,000 | 24,000,000 | 90% | |||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
2,000,000 | 7,600,000 | 9,600,000 | 19,200,000 | 90% | |||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
1,050,000 | 1,675,000 | 3,000,000 | 5,725,000 | 82% | |||||
Denise White |
825,000 | 495,000 | 700,000 | 2,020,000 | 59% |
(1) | Base salaries and target bonus amounts in 2009 were the same as in 2008, except for Ms. White who received an increase in July 2008 that became effective in October 2008. Target equity award values are unchanged since 2006 for Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley, and since 2007 for Mr. Fricklas and Ms. White. See Equity Awards below for information on the awards granted and how value is calculated. |
The table below shows how performance is reflected in the Committees decisions on annual bonus amounts over the past three years and provides information on the market value of 2009 equity awards as of December 31, 2009. The performance goals for our 2009 bonus program and information on how the Committee determined the 2009 bonus amounts are discussed under Annual Performance-Based Bonus below.
NEO |
Annual Performance-Based Bonus | Equity Awards | ||||||||
2009 | 2008 | 2007 |
Value of 2009 Equity Awards(2) | |||||||
Amount | % of Target Bonus |
% of Target Bonus |
% of Target Bonus |
|||||||
Sumner M. Redstone |
$6,270,000 | 132% | 83% | 100% | $6,654,602 | |||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
$12,540,000 | 132% | 83% | 100% | $13,309,226 | |||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
$10,032,000 | 132% | 83% | 100% | $10,647,363 | |||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
$2,000,000 | 119% | 83% | 111% | $3,001,409 | |||||
Denise White |
$625,000 | 126% | 83% | N/A | $700,323 |
(2) | Values use the closing price of our Class B common stock of $29.73 at December 31, 2009 and assume all awards were fully-vested. Stock option value reflects the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of $29.73. Restricted stock units (RSUs) are valued based on the closing price. For performance share units (PSUs), the value is based on the closing price assuming that the target number of PSUs was received on December 31, 2009. PSUs generally vest in 3 years and stock options vest over a 4 year period as more fully described below. |
32
Compensation Program Design
The following section provides additional detail on our compensation philosophy, components of compensation and how our programs are designed and complement each other.
Employment agreements are standard in our industry for top executives, and are important for recruiting purposes as well as for their restrictive and other covenants.
Each of our NEOs has an employment agreement in which the Committee sets the components of compensation and initial compensation levels. Compensation levels are generally reviewed annually to ensure they remain competitive. The key terms of our NEO employment agreements are described below and in the narrative following the 2009 Summary Compensation Table.
The Committee considers each component of compensation individually and in the aggregate as part of its pay for performance approach, with its general goal being that a large part of the compensation package be performance-based and/or equity-linked rather than guaranteed cash. Each component is designed to serve a specific purpose and is evaluated both separately and in light of the overall value of the award. The components of our compensation packages generally include:
Component | Compensation Profile | Rationale | ||
Base Salary |
Guaranteed. Merit increases reflect performance | Rewards individual experience, performance and tenure, and considers competitive market data | ||
Annual Cash Bonus |
Performance-Based | Rewards annual company operating and strategic performance and individual performance during the year | ||
Annual Equity Awards |
Performance-Based and/or linked to stock performance | Multi-year vesting periods and/or performance conditions are designed to motivate employees to focus on long-term growth and creating stockholder value, as well as to provide retentive value for us. · Stock options: vest in equal annual installments over 4 years · PSUs: performance period of at least 3 years · RSUs: vest in equal annual installments over 4 years | ||
Health and Retirement Benefits |
Guaranteed | Support the health and safety of our employees and provide savings mechanisms for retirement | ||
Severance and Restrictive Covenants |
Contingent | Provides capped cash payments upon termination without cause or resignation for good reason (as defined in agreement). No severance payment is made if an employee leaves voluntarily or is terminated for cause. Severance protections are designed to allow executives to think and act independently (balanced by our ability to terminate without cause) and provide consideration for restrictive covenants |
Base Salary
Base salaries for our NEOs and other executive officers are generally reviewed annually by the Committee and increased at its discretion if individual performance and competitive considerations warrant. For other executives and employees, increases are made at the discretion of the executives to whom they report within approved parameters.
In light of economic conditions, none of our NEOs received a base salary increase in 2009. For other executive officers and members of corporate or divisional senior management, base salaries were generally only increased in connection with promotions or material changes in job responsibilities.
33
Annual Performance-Based Bonus
Our annual bonuses are paid under our Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP), which is a broad-based program that we use to motivate management at all levels to obtain superior operating, strategic and individual results during a particular year. In 2009, approximately 5,300 of our 11,200 employees participated in the STIP. Our business unit multipliers in 2009 ranged from 20% to 135% of target, and in 2008, they ranged from 20% to 120% of target. Our NEOs participate in the Senior Executive STIP, a plan which contains a separate financial performance goal and is designed to comply with the provisions on performance-based compensation of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 162(m)).
The design of our STIP program is reviewed and approved by the Committee each year. Key elements of the design for our 2009 STIP include the following:
Minimum and Maximum Bonus Amounts
· | Based on the achievement of the performance goals set by the Committee, as well as individual performance, cash bonus amounts can range from a threshold of 0% to a maximum of 200% of an individuals target bonus amount. |
· | In light of economic conditions, and in accordance with decisions on salary, none of our NEOs received an increase in target bonus amount in 2009. For other executive officers or members of corporate or divisional senior management target bonus amounts were generally only increased in connection with promotions or material changes in job responsibilities. |
Performance Goals Overview
· | Our performance goals relate to achievement of operating income (weighted 60%), free cash flow (weighted 20%) and qualitative objectives (weighted 20%). Our qualitative objectives in 2009, which apply to all STIP participants, related to achievement of strategic initiatives, enhanced internal and public financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting processes, continued fulfillment of compliance requirements, and the commitment to and achievement of inclusion and diversity in our businesses. |
Ø | Operating income and free cash flow performance goals are used because they encourage executives to achieve superior operating results while taking into account appropriate cost management. |
Ø | Operating income and free cash flow performance is determined relative to our operating budget. Bonuses for corporate executives are based on corporate performance; bonuses for divisional executives are based the performance of their division or, in many cases, smaller business units. |
Setting Performance Goals
· | When setting the range of performance goals for operating income and free cash flow at the outset of the year, the Committee considers our financial results from the prior year and our annual operating budget for the coming year, as approved by the Board. The budget reflects desired growth rates, strategic initiatives, the economic environment, and cyclical and seasonal factors that can impact performance, among other factors. |
· | The Committee uses this information to set operating income and free cash flow performance grids for corporate and each of the divisions. |
Ø | Consistent with the minimum and maximum bonus amounts, a minimum performance factor of 0% and a maximum of 200% can be earned for each performance goal (including the qualitative goals) before the respective weightings are applied. |
Ø | Achievement of operating income and free cash flow at budget equates to a performance factor of 100% on each performance grid. We believe our budgeting process is rigorous and results in goals that are meaningful and challenging, the achievement of which is designed to drive stockholder value. |
Ø | The performance range on the grids is 25%-200% of the target bonus amount, with performance below the level required to generate a payout of 25% resulting in a performance factor of 0%. |
Ø | The Committee sets the payout slopes on each grid from 25% to 100% and 100% to 200% in a manner that is designed to encourage overachievement within reasonable limits and penalize |
34
underachievement within reason, recognizing the need to encourage performance throughout the year, even in difficult conditions. |
2009 Bonus Decisions
The following table sets forth the corporate performance goals that applied to our NEOs in 2009, with the bottom of the performance range equal to a performance factor of 25% and the top of the range equal to a performance factor of 200%. The Committee determined that the corporate performance multiplier for 2009 was 110%, as shown in the table.
Performance Goals | Performance Range(1) (in millions) |
2009 (in millions) |
Resulting Performance Factor |
Weighting | Weighted Performance Factor | |||||
Operating income(2) |
$2,479 3,599 | $2,964 | 76% | 60% | 45% | |||||
Free cash flow(3) |
$ 941 2,005 | 2,044 | 200% | 20% | 40% | |||||
Qualitative objectives |
N/A | N/A | 125% | 20% | 25% | |||||
Corporate performance multiplier |
110% |
(1) | The operating income performance range reflects growth of (17)% to 21% over 2008, and free cash flow reflects to growth of (46)% to 15% over 2008. For operating income, these growth rates are as compared to 2008 adjusted operating income, which, importantly, excludes the $454 million of restructuring and other charges taken in 2008. |
(2) | Operating income performance in 2009 excludes a $60 million non-cash impairment charge relating to broadcast licenses held by a 32% owned entity that we consolidate. |
(3) | We define free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP measure, as cash flow provided by operations minus capital expenditures. Free cash flow performance represents the free cash flow we generated in 2009 prior to a voluntary repayment of our asset securitization facilities ($950 million) and the premium we paid on our early extinguishment of certain debt securities ($84 million). We also refer to free cash flow earned prior to these voluntary actions as operating free cash flow. |
Committee Determination of Bonus Amounts
· | For corporate and each of the divisions, the Committee reviews actual 2009 financial performance compared to the goals set by the Committee at the beginning of the year and Mr. Daumans assessment of the achievement of the qualitative factors. That performance multiplier is then applied to the aggregate target bonus amounts for each STIP participant (by division) to create the recommended aggregate dollar amount of the corporate and divisional bonus pools. |
· | The Committee may consider other financial or qualitative factors significant to the year, such as the extent to which the performance targets were met in ways that related to the fundamentals of the business and furthered our long-term interests as well as the appropriateness of excluding unusual expenses or contributors, such as the non-cash impairment charge, to financial results which it believes have the effect of distorting the performance goals. |
· | The Committee then determines, in its discretion, the final amount of each performance multiplier and bonus pool. Once the bonus pools are established, individual bonus amounts are increased or decreased based on individual performance so long as the total amount of the bonus pool is not exceeded. |
Individual NEO Performance
· | The Committee also approves individual bonus amounts for the executives within its oversight, which includes all of the NEOs. Mr. Dauman makes specific bonus recommendations for each of those executives, including the NEOs other than Mr. Redstone, Mr. Dooley and himself. Given our accomplishments in 2009, the Committee decided to increase each of the NEOs bonus amounts above the amount produced by the corporate performance multiplier. Specifically, in addition to the accomplishments discussed earlier in this section: |
Ø | Mr. Redstone, Mr. Dauman and Mr. Dooley provided strategic leadership and guidance for our executive team and Board, guiding the company through extraordinarily difficult economic conditions, achieving outstanding financial performance and positioning the company well for the future. They made organizational improvements to refine our operating model, including in |
35
areas such as programming development. They also were integral in the renewal of a significant portion of our affiliation agreements, which secures long-term pricing increases for this revenue stream. Each division delivered superior operating results and made substantial progress on strategic initiatives such as programming development, audience ratings improvement, and the mix and marketing of our feature films. The Committee also noted our timely access to credit markets and financial discipline, resulting in an extremely strong balance sheet and improving credit profile. |
Ø | Mr. Fricklas and Ms. White participated in and advised the senior management team and: |
¡ | Mr. Fricklas brought to successful conclusion a number of significant disputes and provided leadership on copyright theft issues and a wide variety of other matters; and |
¡ | Ms. White continued to enhance the human resources function company wide, improving the quality and depth of our management team and enhancing the design of our compensation programs, while reducing costs. |
Senior Executive STIP
Under the Senior Executive STIP, the Committee establishes an annual performance target that is in addition to the performance goals under the STIP. If the annual performance target is met, the NEOs bonus amount is determined by the Committee in the manner described above, notwithstanding that the Senior Executive STIP provides for a maximum allowable bonus amount of eight times base salary subject to downward adjustment. In 2009, the performance target for the Senior Executive STIP related to the achievement of at least $2.399 billion of operating income. Our operating income was $2.904 billion in 2009.
Equity Awards
Our Long-Term Management Incentive Plan (LTMIP) is a broad-reaching program that motivates management to focus on long-term growth and the performance of our stock price, and provides retentive value to us through multi-year vesting schedules for equity awards. In 2009, approximately 1,350 employees participated in the LTMIP.
The Committee approves all of our equity awards, which have historically taken the form of (i) stock options, (ii) RSUs and (iii) PSUs. The Committee determines, either by employment agreement or at the time of grant, the appropriate type, combination and value of each equity award. The target values for our NEO equity awards are specified in their employment agreements.
In June 2009, the Committee adopted a new design for our LTMIP that attempts to better align the cost of our equity awards with the value our employees place on them. In particular, the Committee decided to stop broadly granting PSUs to members of senior management and to replace them with RSUs. The Committee decided to continue to grant PSUs to Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley as specified in their employment agreements. The decision to eliminate PSU use more broadly was made after a careful review of the extent to which the PSUs were the best tool to motivate those executives performance in the long-term interests of the company. In addition, the accounting associated with PSUs results in a higher expense to us than other forms of compensation with similar or greater value to employees. The following table illustrates the difference between the accounting charge and the target value of the PSU awards, as well as the actual value received by the executive, in the context of our 2007 PSU grant that vested in early 2010.
NEO | Target Value of 2007 PSU Award |
Accounting Charge for 2007 PSU Award |
Value Delivered upon Vesting of 2007 PSU Award(1) |
|||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone |
$ | 3,000,000 | $ | 5,418,227 | $ | 1,747,368 | ||||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
$ | 6,000,000 | $ | 10,836,383 | $ | 3,494,675 | ||||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
$ | 4,800,000 | $ | 8,669,107 | $ | 2,795,746 | ||||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
$ | 1,500,000 | $ | 1,517,365 | $ | 537,425 |
(1) | Value equals the number of shares earned at the end of the performance period multiplied times the closing price of our Class B common stock on January 20, 2010, the date of vesting ($30.71). |
36
2009 Equity Awards
Our equity awards to NEOs in 2009 were granted at the target values in their employment agreements and are set forth in the table below. PSUs are granted on January 1 of each year and stock options and RSUs are granted at the meeting of the Compensation Committee that takes place in May or June of each year.
NEO | Award Type | Award Percentage of Target Value |
Number of Class B Shares Underlying Award(1) |
Vesting or Performance Period |
Exercise Price/Performance Conditions(2) | |||||
Sumner M. Redstone |
Stock Options | 50% | 229,008 | 4 years | $22.70 | |||||
PSUs |
50% | 169,683 | 3 years | Performance relative to S&P 500 companies | ||||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
Stock Options | 50% | 458,015 | 4 years | $22.70 | |||||
PSUs |
50% | 339,367 | 3 years | Performance relative to S&P 500 companies | ||||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
Stock Options | 50% | 366,412 | 4 years | $22.70 | |||||
PSUs |
50% | 271,493 | 3 years | Performance relative to S&P 500 companies | ||||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
Stock Options | 40% | 91,603 | 4 years | $22.70 | |||||
RSUs |
60% | 79,295 | 4 years | Time-vesting only | ||||||
Denise White |
Stock Options | 40% | 21,374 | 4 years | $22.70 | |||||
RSUs |
60% | 18,502 | 4 years | Time-vesting only |
(1) | The number of stock options granted is determined by using the Black-Scholes valuation method on the date of grant. Stock options have an 8 year term until expiration. The number of RSUs granted is determined by dividing the value of the award by the closing market price of our Class B common stock on the date of grant ($22.70). For PSUs, the number shown in the above table equals the target number of PSUs, and was determined by dividing the value of the award by the average closing market price of our Class B common stock for a period of 10 trading days ending on the date of grant. |
(2) | Stock option exercise price is equal to the closing market price of our Class B common stock on the date of grant (June 3, 2009). See Performance Share Units below for additional detail on the PSU performance conditions. |
Use of Stock Options and RSUs
The Committee believes it is appropriate for most members of senior management to receive a mix of stock options and RSUs. Stock options are more sensitive to the stock price and have no value if the share price is less than the price on the date of grant. In contrast, for any particular award value, an executive will receive fewer RSUs than stock options. Therefore, RSUs appreciate relatively less as the stock price rises, but continue to have value as the stock price declines and therefore provide motivation and retentive value in down markets. Similarly, for any particular award value RSUs are less dilutive to stockholders than stock options. For these reasons, the Committee believes that a ratio of 40% stock options and 60% RSUs appropriately balances the goals of providing incentives, retention value and shareholder alignment with the cost of the awards to us.
Performance Share Units
PSU awards are made in the form of a target grant. The target number of PSUs is equal to the target award value divided by the average closing price of our Class B common stock during the 10 trading days ending on the date of grant. The number of shares of Class B common stock the executives ultimately receive at the end of the measurement period depends on the total shareholder return (TSR) of our Class B common stock measured against the TSR of the common stock of the companies comprising the S&P 500 Index at the start of the measurement period (the reference group). The percentile ranking of the TSR of our Class B common stock compared to the TSR of the common stock of the companies in the reference group is used to calculate the number of shares received. The maximum payout is 300% of the target award, which the executive would be eligible to receive if our stock outperformed every other company in the reference group. The payout schedule for the awards is set forth in the following table.
37
Schedule (1) |
If Viacom achieves less than the 25th percentile TSR, the award of PSUs will be forfeited, unless the EPS hurdle is met |
If Viacom achieves the 25th percentile TSR, the number of shares to be delivered under the award will be 25% of the target award, subject to adjustment if the EPS hurdle is met |
If Viacom achieves the 50th percentile TSR, the number of shares to be delivered under the award will be 100% of the target award |
If Viacom achieves the 100th percentile TSR (that is, if it is the first ranked company in the S&P 500 for TSR), the number of shares to be delivered under the award will be 300% of the target award |
(1) | For achievement at intermediate points between the 25th and 50th percentile, or between the 50th percentile and the 100th percentile, the number of shares to be delivered will be interpolated between the respective shares delivered at such percentiles, subject to adjustment between the 25th and 50th percentile, if the EPS hurdle is met. |
EPS Hurdle
· | The EPS, or earnings per share, hurdle is intended to provide an alternative measure of performance for the PSU awards in the event strong operating performance is not appropriately reflected in our stock price due to market or other conditions outside of our control. |
· | If we achieve less than the 50th percentile TSR during the measurement period but achieve the EPS hurdle, the executive would receive the average of his target award and the award he would have earned under the above schedule. |
· | For the 2009 PSU grants, the Committee set the EPS hurdle as achievement of compound annual growth of EPS from continuing operations that is greater than the average compound annual EPS growth rate for the companies in the reference group during the measurement period of 2009-2011. This is a challenging, relative metric, and whether we will meet the hurdle is uncertain until 2011 financial results are determined. |
Benefits
We provide traditional benefit plans and programs to our executives and employees on the same relative basis with few exceptions, which are described under Perquisites below. Our retirement and savings plans provide certain guaranteed compensation for our executives and employees, with multi-year vesting schedules designed to encourage retention. These plans include:
· | a tax-qualified defined benefit Pension Plan; |
· | a tax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) Plan and Excess 401(k) Plans; |
· | Bonus Deferral Plans, which allow the executive to elect to defer a portion of his or her annual cash bonus amount; and |
· | health coverage, life insurance, disability benefits and other similar benefits. |
Changes to Retirement Programs
Effective April 1, 2009, we stopped accruing benefits in our Excess Pension Plan. Our broad-based Pension Plan continues to accrue benefits, with certain modifications that became effective in 2010. In our 401(k) Plan and Excess 401(k) Plans, we increased the company matching contribution to 3.5% of eligible compensation from 3% so long as the employee contributes at least 6% of eligible compensation to the plans. We also capped compensation for our matching contribution at $500,000, from $750,000. These changes are expected to generate significant savings over many years, and reduce guaranteed compensation for senior executives while continuing to offer valuable benefits to our broad employee base.
For more detail on our benefit plans, see the narratives following the 2009 Pension Benefits and 2009 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation tables.
Perquisites
We generally provide few perquisites to our NEOs. However, we and the Committee believe that some perquisites, as discussed below and in the footnotes to the 2009 Summary Compensation Table, are appropriate
38
for the reasons discussed below. The executives are taxed as appropriate on these perquisites and we do not gross up our NEO compensation for these taxes.
· | Our NEOs may be eligible to occasionally use the Viacom aircraft for personal use. Mr. Dauman may use the Viacom plane to travel to meetings of the other board of directors on which he serves, and we consider amounts related to such travel to be a perquisite. |
· | We have a car and driver in New York, which are provided to Mr. Redstone and Mr. Dauman for security reasons and are occasionally used for business purposes by other executives. Mr. Redstone is also provided with a car and driver in his hometown of Los Angeles. Any personal use of a car and driver by either Mr. Redstone or Mr. Dauman, including commuting, is considered a perquisite. |
· | Under their employment agreements, certain of our NEOs receive life insurance benefits in amounts that are higher than the life insurance benefits we provide to employees generally. This incremental amount is considered a perquisite. We pay the premiums for these life insurance benefits and do not generally provide any other death benefit such as salary continuation. In 2009, we provided $5,000,000 in coverage for each of Messrs. Dauman, Dooley and Fricklas. |
Our NEOs also receive occasional tickets to company events, DVDs and merchandise related to our businesses. For business purposes, an NEOs spouse may also accompany him or her from time to time to these events. These items involve a de minimis or no incremental cost to us, and we believe they serve a legitimate business purpose.
Severance and Restrictive Covenants
The Committee believes that providing certain severance benefits is important to attract and retain high-caliber executives in our industry and provide consideration for the executives commitments under the employment agreement. For non-contractual employees, we also maintain more broad-based severance plans that generally provide our employees with a set number of weeks of severance.
Our NEO agreements (other than Mr. Redstones) provide for cash payments upon termination without cause or resignation for good reason. These payments are generally capped at the lesser of two years of base salary and bonus amount in the year of termination or the remaining cash compensation payable under the agreement, a policy that we have had in place since 2006. No payment is made if an employee leaves voluntarily or is terminated for cause. The employment agreements define good reason and cause.
Receipt of severance is conditioned on the employees continuing compliance with certain restrictive and other covenants. Typical restrictive covenants in our employment agreements include commitments not to compete with our company during the term of the agreement, not to solicit our employees to leave our company within a specified time frame, and to protect our confidential information, among other commitments.
For detail on the severance obligations we may have to our NEOs upon termination of employment, see the section Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-In-Control. These obligations were negotiated at the time we entered into each NEOs employment agreement.
Tax Deductibility of Performance-Based Compensation and Other Tax Considerations
Where appropriate, and after taking into account various considerations, we generally structure our executive employment agreements and compensation programs to allow us to take a tax deduction for the compensation we pay to our executives. Any individual base salary we pay over $1,000,000 is not tax deductible. The performance-based compensation we pay in the form of annual cash bonus amounts under our Senior Executive STIP is designed to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) and therefore be tax deductible. In addition, our stock option and PSU grants under the LTMIP contain performance and/or market conditions and are designed to be Section 162(m) compliant. RSUs with time-vesting only are not tax deductible to the extent they result in compensation that exceeds the $1 million limit under Section 162(m).
Our deferred compensation arrangements, including those in our employment agreements and compensation and benefit plans, are designed to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
39
Risk Assessment of Compensation Programs
We have reviewed our compensation programs company-wide to assess whether they encourage our employees to take unnecessary or excessive risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business. We have concluded that our programs are appropriately tailored to encourage employees to grow our business, but not incent them to do so in a way that poses unnecessary or excessive material risk to us. For example, our STIP and LTMIP, which are our two primary, company-wide compensation programs, balance each other by providing compensation that rewards short-term (STIP) and long-term (LTMIP) performance. The STIP balances risk by considering a mix of performance goals and capping the maximum payout a participant can receive, and the LTMIP provides balanced incentives through the mix of equity awards. In addition, we have various policies, such as our clawback policy, that are designed to discourage undue risk-taking or manipulation of results. These conclusions have been presented to the Committee.
Compensation Decision Process and Compensation Policies
Compensation Committee Composition
Compensation decisions for our NEOs, other executive officers and certain key divisional executives are made by the Committee. The Committee is comprised of three independent directors, Blythe J. McGarvie, Frederic V. Salerno (Chair), and William Schwartz. Ms. McGarvie replaced Robert Kraft on the Committee in August 2009, and Mr. Salerno succeeded Mr. Kraft as Chair of the Committee at the same time. The Committee has the sole decision-making authority for the compensation of our NEOs and, under its Charter, may not delegate this authority in connection with any material element of NEO compensation. As discussed below, the Committee considers information and recommendations from several sources when making its compensation decisions.
Managements Role
The Committee interacts with management regarding our executive compensation initiatives and programs. For our senior executives other than Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley, the proposed terms of new employment agreements and annual merit compensation reviews, if any, are initially discussed by Mr. Dauman and Ms. White (except with respect to her own agreement), with input from the executive to whom the NEO directly reports (if other than Mr. Dauman). The proposed terms of the agreements are presented to the Committee for consideration and approval. All of our NEOs have input into the compensation decisions for the executives and employees who report to them.
In the case of the employment agreements for Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley entered into in 2006, the Committee took the lead role in negotiating the terms, assisted by Towers Perrin and the Committees outside legal counsel. Similarly, the Committee, with the input and assistance of its advisors, independently led the discussions and determinations made on the 2010 merit increases for Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley and the extension of Mr. Daumans employment agreement discussed below under 2010 Compensation Decisions.
Mr. Dauman, Mr. Dooley and Ms. White also participate in STIP and LTMIP design discussions, including recommendations with respect to performance targets, the results of which are presented to the Committee for consideration and determination. They may provide input to the Committee and/or the Board, as appropriate, from time to time on benefits, retirement programs and other matters related to our Human Resources function.
Independent Compensation Consultant
Since January 1, 2006, the Committee has retained the services of Towers Perrin, an independent compensation consulting firm that has particular expertise in compensation matters for media and entertainment companies. Towers Perrin is engaged by, and reports directly to, the Committee. See Our Board of DirectorsCompensation Committee for additional information.
Use of Outside Counsel
The Committee also retains regular outside legal counsel, who is not one of managements outside legal advisors on compensation matters. The Committees counsel attends all Committee meetings, provides advice and
40
performs other duties as the Committee may request from time to time, including reviewing documents relating to the Committees work and participating in negotiations on behalf of the Committee.
The Entertainment Industry and Use of Peer Company Data
The Committee considers information about the practices of our media and entertainment industry peer companies and other comparable public companies, as well as evolving market practices, because it believes that reviewing this information is appropriate to ensure that it makes informed compensation decisions. The Committee does not benchmark the compensation of any executive over which it has oversight to any particular percentile, or range of percentiles, of peer company data. Rather, the Committee considers the compensation levels for similar executive positions at our peer companies as only one factor in its decision-making process. One reason for this is that the structure and organization of other companies, as well as the duties, responsibilities, tenure and talents of executives at other companies, often vary considerably. Specifically, Towers Perrin provides the Committee with analysis of information about the other major, diversified media and entertainment industry companies, The Walt Disney Company, Time Warner Inc., News Corporation, NBC Universal and CBS Corporation. The Committee may also consider information provided by Towers Perrin on a broad industry peer group, which, in 2009, was comprised of the following companies: Altria Group, Inc., AT&T Inc., Cablevision Systems Corporation, CBS Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, Comcast Corporation, Dell, Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., General Electric Company, Hewlett-Packard Company, International Business Machines Corporation, News Corporation, PepsiCo, Inc., The Procter & Gamble Company, Qwest Communications International Inc., Sprint Nextel Corporation, Time Warner Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., The Walt Disney Company and Yahoo! Inc. In addition, the Committee generally monitors compensation best practices and considers alternatives for compensation program design by reference to their own experience and judgment, as well as to the experience and practices of other large public companies and expert commentary, but does not refer to any set group of companies for this purpose.
Individual Considerations
Individual qualifications are another key factor in the Committees compensation decisions. The Committee considers the executives professional experience, tenure and accomplishments at our company and/or within the industry, the executives compensation history, compensation levels of executives at comparable levels within the company, competitive conditions, management development and succession planning activities, input from Towers Perrin, and, if the executive is an existing employee, individual performance. Several of our NEOs and many of our divisional executives have been affiliated with Viacom for many years and this is reflected in their compensation packages.
Wealth Accumulation
The Committee does not consider past wealth accumulation in connection with its compensation decisions. The Committee is focused on ensuring that a large part of our NEOs compensation package is performance-based and believes that executives and employees should not be penalized in future years for strong performance in prior years, and that all employees, regardless of individual financial situation, should have a compensation package that is competitive for their respective position. Further, the Committee believes the Companys ability to retain employees is diminished if pay is not at competitive levels.
Change-in-Control
As further discussed in the section Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control, we do not have any plans or arrangements that provide for payments or accelerated vesting of incentives solely in connection with a change in control of Viacom. Messrs. Dauman and Dooley, whose employment agreements were originally negotiated in 2006, may receive an excise tax gross-up payment if there is a change in control, they are terminated without cause or resign for good reason as a result of the change in control, and their severance amount subjects them to certain related excise taxes.
Timing of Equity Grants
We protect against issues associated with timing of equity awards by granting them on an annual basis at regular Committee meetings generally scheduled more than a year in advance. Since 2006, the Committee has made our
41
annual equity grants to senior executives and other employees at the meeting of the Committee held in connection with our Annual Meeting, other than contractual PSU grants made to Messrs Redstone, Dauman and Dooley, which are granted on January 1 each year. Although our Annual Meeting will change in connection with our change in fiscal year, we plan to continue to grant equity awards at the regular Committee meeting that takes place in May or June of each year. Stock option exercise prices and the values of the annual equity grants are determined based on the closing price of our Class B common stock on the date of grant.
For certain newly hired executives, and rarely upon entering into new or amended employment agreements with existing executives, the Committee may award off-cycle equity grants. These grants are generally made 10 days after the later of Committee approval or the execution of the employment agreement by both parties and are valued based on the closing price of our Class B common stock on the date of grant.
Repricing of Stock Options
Our LTMIP prohibits the repricing of stock options.
Clawback Policy: Adjustment to Bonuses/Equity Awards in the Event of a Restatement
Since 2006, the Committee has had a policy under which it reserves the right to require any of our employees or former employees to return all or a portion of the bonus or equity compensation the employee receives if any of the performance goals or quantitative factors considered in determining the amount of the award are restated in a manner that would have affected the amount if known prior to the grant, or, with respect to bonus amounts, if such restatement alters the Committees assessment of the employee or former employees individual performance in a manner that warrants reduction.
Executive Stock Ownership Requirements
Given the significant stock ownership of Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley ($1.3 billion, $9.5 million and $7.9 million as of February 28, 2010), as well as the significant equity holdings (with multi-year vesting schedules) of our executive team, the Committee believes senior management is appropriately incented to manage the business in line with stockholders interests and has not established specified executive stock ownership requirements.
Pledges and Hedges of Viacom Stock
All hedges and pledges of Viacom securities held directly by our executive officers are prohibited. In addition, all of our employees are prohibited from selling short our stock and may not hedge or pledge equity compensation.
2010 Compensation Decisions
Base Salary Increases
In January 2010, in accordance with the employment agreements for Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley the Compensation Committee considered whether it would be appropriate for them to receive merit salary and target bonus increases in 2010. Their agreements were entered into in 2006, and they received one merit increase in 2008. The Committee and its outside advisors performed an extensive review of the executives performance (as discussed earlier in this section) and competitive market data for our peer companies and industry peer group. Based on these factors, the Committee decided to increase Mr. Daumans salary from $2.5 million to $3.5 million and target bonus from $9.5 million to $12 million, Mr. Dooleys salary from $2.0 million to $2.5 million and target bonus from $7.6 million to $8 million, and Mr. Redstones salary from $1.25 million to $1.75 million and target bonus from $4.75 million to $6 million, each effective January 1, 2010.
In connection with his new employment agreement, Mr. Fricklas salary was increased from $1.050 million to $1.215 million and his target bonus amount was increased from $1.675 million to $2.3 million, effective January 1, 2010.
42
New Employment Agreement for Philippe Dauman
On April 14, 2010, Mr. Dauman entered into an amended and restated employment agreement extending his employment term an additional five years, to December 31, 2016, and reflecting the increase in salary and target bonus amount set by the Compensation Committee earlier in the year. In addition, he received a one-time grant of 1 million performance restricted share units (PRSUs) that will vest in four equal annual installments beginning with the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and will deliver, at the time of vesting, 75% to 125% of the shares underlying the PRSUs, depending on the achievement of company financial targets over specified periods. On April 20, 2010, he will be granted stock options to purchase 2 million shares of our Class B common stock. The exercise price of the options will be the closing market price of our Class B common stock on the date of grant, and they will vest over four years from the date of grant. Mr. Dauman will continue to receive the annual grants of performance share units and stock options contemplated by his existing employment agreement. His agreement provides for severance benefits upon a termination without cause or resignation for good reason, as those terms are defined in the agreement, including the vesting of certain equity awards and cash severance capped at 3 times base salary and bonus amounts.
Change in Fiscal Year End
In 2010, there will be a nine-month transition period ending September 30, 2010, following which we will report on a twelve-month fiscal year ending on September 30 of each year. The Board has approved a nine-month budget for the transition period and anticipates evaluating performance over that period and granting awards under the STIP following September 30. The target awards are expected to be reduced for the shortened period. We do not anticipate any change in the annual grant timing for equity awards.
2010 STIP Design
Except for the changes resulting from our change in fiscal year, our 2010 STIP design is the same as it was in 2009. The 2010 qualitative objectives include: (i) for corporate employees, furtherance and achievement of the company-wide strategic initiatives contemplated in the budgeting and long-range planning processes, (ii) timely adherence to achievement of corporate goals, compliance and policy objectives and (iii) specific strategic goals for each of the divisions.
43
2009 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table presents information on the total compensation in 2009 and 2008, and in 2007 as applicable, for our named executive officers (NEOs).
Name and Principal Position(1) |
Year | Salary ($) |
Stock ($)(3) |
Option ($)(3) |
Non-Equity Compensation ($)(4) |
Change in Value and Deferred ($)(5)
|
All Other Compensation ($)(6) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone Executive Chairman and Founder |
2009 | $ | 1,250,000 | $ | 6,344,447 | $ | 3,000,005 | $ | 6,270,000 | $ | 13,061 | $ | 6,002 | $ | 16,883,515 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 1,250,000 | $ | 5,619,374 | $ | 3,000,005 | $ | 3,942,500 | $ | 20,891 | $ | 151,937 | $ | 13,984,707 | |||||||||||||||||
2007 | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | 5,418,227 | $ | 2,999,997 | $ | 3,500,000 | $ | 2,543,500 | (7) | $ | 140,451 | $ | 15,602,175 | ||||||||||||||||
Philippe P. Dauman President and Chief Executive Officer |
2009 | $ | 2,500,000 | $ | 12,688,932 | $ | 5,999,997 | $ | 12,540,000 | $ | 37,911 | $ | 243,150 | $ | 34,009,990 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 2,500,000 | $ | 11,238,665 | $ | 5,999,999 | $ | 7,885,000 | $ | 74,348 | (8) | $ | 296,820 | $ | 27,994,832 | ||||||||||||||||
2007 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 10,836,383 | $ | 5,999,994 | $ | 7,000,000 | $ | 16,380 | (8) | $ | 264,326 | $ | 26,117,083 | ||||||||||||||||
Thomas E. Dooley Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
2009 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 10,151,123 | $ | 4,799,997 | $ | 10,032,000 | $ | 31,318 | $ | 11,982 | $ | 27,026,420 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 8,990,949 | $ | 4,799,997 | $ | 6,308,000 | $ | 63,817 | (8) | $ | 11,532 | $ | 22,174,295 | ||||||||||||||||
2007 | $ | 1,600,000 | $ | 8,669,107 | $ | 4,799,995 | $ | 5,600,000 | $ | 13,957 | (8) | $ | 32,809 | $ | 20,715,868 | ||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Fricklas Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
2009 | $ | 1,050,000 | $ | 1,799,997 | $ | 1,199,999 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 26,501 | $ | 13,295 | $ | 6,089,792 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 1,050,000 | $ | 1,259,290 | $ | 1,499,991 | $ | 1,390,300 | $ | 126,832 | $ | 11,950 | $ | 5,338,363 | |||||||||||||||||
2007 | $ | 1,084,875 | (2) | $ | 4,017,350 | $ | 1,499,999 | $ | 1,725,000 | $ | 20,415 | $ | 30,125 | $ | 8,377,764 | ||||||||||||||||
Denise White Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Administration |
2009 | $ | 825,000 | $ | 419,995 | $ | 279,999 | $ | 625,000 | $ | 36,990 | $ | 7,298 | $ | 2,194,282 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 768,173 | $ | 314,323 | $ | 378,005 | $ | 410,900 | $ | 18,927 | (9) | $ | 74,106 | $ | 1,964,434 | ||||||||||||||||
(1) | Supplemental 2009 Summary Compensation Table |
The following table presents information on the compensation of our NEOs during the periods presented using, in the Stock Awards column, the market value of the shares underlying the RSUs and PSUs granted during the respective year and, in the Option Awards column, the intrinsic value (the difference between the market value of the shares and the exercise price of the option) of the stock option grants during the respective year. The corresponding grant date fair value for the awards is shown in the above Summary Compensation Table. The other columns in the tables are the same.
The table below assumes that the stock option and RSU awards were vested, and that they were exercised/settled as of December 31 of each year. For PSUs, since they have a multi-year measurement period, the table below assumes that the target number of PSUs was received on December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. The actual number of PSUs the executive will receive cannot be determined until the end of the measurement period when the relative performance of our stock compared to other companies in the S&P 500 as well as our achievement of the EPS threshold can be determined. Values were calculated for each year using the closing price of our Class B common stock of $29.73 at December 31, 2009, $19.06 at December 31, 2008 and $43.92 at December 31, 2007.
This table is not intended to be a substitute for the Summary Compensation Table shown above. However, we believe the table provides a useful comparison of the difference between the grant date fair value for an award under applicable accounting standards and the value that an executive might actually receive from an award. The actual value an executive might receive fluctuates daily with the price of our stock. In addition, the awards shown are not vested or exercisable, and have multi-year vesting and/or performance periods. Please see the table Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End below for a list of each NEOs outstanding equity awards and their vesting/exercisable schedules.
44
Year | Salary ($) |
Stock Awards ($) |
Option Awards ($) |
Non-Equity Compensation ($) |
Change in Value and Deferred ($)
|
All Other Compensation ($) |
Total ($) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone | 2009 | $ | 1,250,000 | $ | 5,044,676 | $ | 1,609,926 | $ | 6,270,000 | $ | 13,061 | $ | 6,002 | $ | 14,193,665 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 1,250,000 | $ | 1,307,916 | $ | 0 | $ | 3,942,500 | $ | 20,891 | $ | 151,937 | $ | 6,673,244 | |||||||||||||||||
2007 | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | 3,323,119 | $ | 14,742 | $ | 3,500,000 | $ | 2,543,500 | $ | 140,451 | $ | 10,521,812 | |||||||||||||||||
Philippe P. Dauman | 2009 | $ | 2,500,000 | $ | 10,089,381 | $ | 3,219,845 | $ | 12,540,000 | $ | 37,911 | $ | 243,150 | $ | 28,630,287 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 2,500,000 | $ | 2,615,813 | $ | 0 | $ | 7,885,000 | $ | 74,348 | $ | 296,820 | $ | 13,371,981 | |||||||||||||||||
2007 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 6,646,194 | $ | 29,484 | $ | 7,000,000 | $ | 16,380 | $ | 264,326 | $ | 15,956,384 | |||||||||||||||||
Thomas E. Dooley | 2009 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 8,071,487 | $ | 2,575,876 | $ | 10,032,000 | $ | 31,318 | $ | 11,982 | $ | 22,722,663 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 2,092,655 | $ | 0 | $ | 6,308,000 | $ | 63,817 | $ | 11,532 | $ | 10,476,004 | |||||||||||||||||
2007 | $ | 1,600,000 | $ | 5,316,955 | $ | 23,587 | $ | 5,600,000 | $ | 13,957 | $ | 32,809 | $ | 12,587,308 | |||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Fricklas | 2009 | $ | 1,050,000 | $ | 2,357,440 | $ | 643,969 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 26,501 | $ | 13,295 | $ | 6,091,205 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 1,050,000 | $ | 697,329 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,390,300 | $ | 126,832 | $ | 11,950 | $ | 3,276,411 | |||||||||||||||||
2007 | $ | 1,084,875 | $ | 4,019,031 | $ | 7,371 | $ | 1,725,000 | $ | 20,415 | $ | 30,125 | $ | 6,886,817 | |||||||||||||||||
Denise White | 2009 | $ | 825,000 | $ | 550,064 | $ | 150,259 | $ | 625,000 | $ | 36,990 | $ | 7,298 | $ | 2,194,611 | ||||||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 768,173 | $ | 174,056 | $ | 0 | $ | 410,900 | $ | 18,927 | $ | 74,106 | $ | 1,446,162 |
(2) | Mr. Fricklas 2007 base salary includes $41,346 of compensation deferred in accordance with his employment agreement prior to the time his agreement was amended to eliminate the deferral. |
(3) | Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the equity awards granted in the respective year calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 Stock Compensation, not including assumed forfeitures. Grant date fair value assumptions are consistent with those disclosed in the Stock Based Compensation Note to our Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2009, 2008 and 2007 Annual Reports on Form 10-K. The amounts reported in the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns for 2007 and 2008 in prior years proxy statements reflected equity compensation expense recognized in the respective year (not including assumed forfeitures), including expense we incurred in connection with the equity awards granted in the respective year, as well as continuing accounting expense for awards from prior years, in accordance with SEC rules in effect at the time of filing those proxy statements. Therefore, the amounts reported here for 2007 and 2008 are not the same as amounts reported in previous proxy statements for those years. |
(4) | Represents annual cash bonus amounts under the Senior Executive STIP for performance during the respective year. |
(5) | Change in pension value only, except as discussed in footnote (7) with respect to Mr. Redstone. |
(6) | All Other Compensation includes the following amounts received in 2009 by the NEOs: |
Additional Compensation | Perquisites | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company Match in 401(k) Plan |
Company Match in Excess 401(k) Plan |
Dividend Equivalents on RSUs Settled in Cash(a) |
Life Insurance (b) |
Personal Use of Aircraft(c) |
Car Service(d) |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone |
| | | | | $ | 6,002 | $ | 6,002 | |||||||||||||||||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
$ | 7,350 | $ | 9,958 | | $ | 5,040 | $ | 205,843 | $ | 14,959 | $ | 243,150 | |||||||||||||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
$ | 7,350 | | | $ | 4,632 | | | $ | 11,982 | ||||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
$ | 7,363 | | $ | 1,686 | $ | 4,246 | | | $ | 13,295 | |||||||||||||||||
Denise White |
$ | 7,298 | | | | | | $ | 7,298 |
(a) | Represents payment of dividend equivalents accrued on RSUs granted by Former Viacom. |
(b) | Represents the incremental cost of the life insurance policy we provide in accordance with the terms of the NEOs respective employment agreement above the cost of life insurance that would be provided to employees generally. |
(c) | The incremental cost of use of our aircraft is calculated by dividing the total variable costs (such as fuel, aircraft maintenance, landing and navigation fees and flight crew expenses) by the total flight hours for such year and multiplying such amount by the individuals total number of flight hours for non-business use for the year, including flights that were made to reposition the plane in connection with the personal travel from either our New York or Los Angeles locations. Incremental cost does not include certain fixed costs that we incur by virtue of owning the plane. After the reimbursement of certain amounts between CBS and us, there was no net incremental cost attributable to Mr. Redstone. |
(d) | Represents incremental costs in connection with personal use of car service, including amounts attributable to commuting expenses. For security reasons, we provide Messrs. Redstone and Dauman with a shared car and driver in New York for use by them and other executives and provide Mr. Redstone with a car and driver in his hometown of Los Angeles. The amount shown above for Mr. Redstone reflects our half of the incremental cost of his personal use of the car and driver, the other half of which CBS Corporation reimburses us. |
45
An executives spouse or other guests may accompany him on business travel, including travel on company aircraft, in company-paid car service, and sharing a hotel room. No amounts are included in the table above for such events since there is little or no incremental cost to us. Other items that may be considered perquisites and for which there is a de minimis or no incremental cost to us include meals provided by our corporate kitchen upon an executives request (we do not have an executive dining room), access to the executive fitness room (non-staffed) and occasional receipt of tickets, DVDs and other merchandise related to our businesses. |
(7) | Mr. Redstone participates in the Viacom Pension Plan and Excess Pension Plan and his change in pension value was $13,061 in 2009, $20,891 in 2008 and $36,022 in 2007. Mr. Redstones change in pension value for 2008 has been adjusted to reflect valuation in the form of a single life annuity. The difference between Mr. Redstones 2007 change in pension value and the amount shown in the table for 2007 is attributable to the increase in intrinsic value of Mr. Redstones stock option equivalents (SOEs) held in his deferred compensation account from September 27, 2006, the date on which the cash balance of his account was deemed invested in SOEs. The SOEs had no intrinsic value as of December 31, 2008 or December 31, 2009 and therefore the amounts shown in the table for 2008 and 2009 reflect change in pension value only. We recognized expense of $3,434,279 in 2009, income of $2,803,836 in 2008 and expense of $2,948,638 in 2007 related to the SOEs. For purposes of this table, we treat any increase in the intrinsic value of the SOEs as preferential since other executives and employees do not have the ability to invest their deferred salary in SOEs. |
(8) | Messrs. Dauman and Dooley did not participate in the Viacom Pension Plan or the Viacom Excess Pension Plan until October 1, 2007. See the 2009 Pension Benefits table for a discussion on the agreements we have with Messrs. Dauman and Dooley with respect to pension benefits. |
(9) | Ms. White did not participate in the Viacom Pension Plan or the Viacom Excess Pension Plan until October 1, 2008. |
Compensation of Viacoms Named Executive Officers
Additional detail on the compensation of our NEOs, including decisions made on 2010 compensation, can be found in Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
Sumner Redstone
Mr. Redstone became our Executive Chairman of the Board and Founder in January 2006. He was Chief Executive Officer of Former Viacom from 1996 to 2005 and served as Chairman of the Board of Former Viacom beginning in 1987. Mr. Redstone, through NAI, is our controlling stockholder.
Cash Compensation
· | 2007. In September 2006, we amended Mr. Redstones employment agreement to reduce guaranteed compensation in favor of performance-based compensation. Beginning January 1, 2007, Mr. Redstones base salary was reduced from $1.75 million to $1 million and his deferred compensation of $1.3 million per year was eliminated. His target annual cash bonus was reduced from $6.1 million to $3.5 million, subject to the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee. |
· | 2008. Following his annual merit compensation review by the Committee in February 2008, Mr. Redstones base salary was increased to $1.25 million, effective January 1, 2008. His target annual cash bonus was increased to $4.75 million, subject to the achievement of the performance goals established by the Committee. The increase reflected the Committees evaluation of Mr. Redstones performance as well as its desire to maintain the same relative compensation levels to Mr. Dauman. |
· | 2009. Mr. Redstone did not receive a salary or target bonus increase in 2009. |
Other Provisions of Mr. Redstones Employment Agreement
· | Provides that Mr. Redstone receive annual equity awards through 2011 that have a target value of $6 million, 50% in stock options and 50% in PSUs. |
· | Terminable at will by either party. |
· | For information on the treatment of equity awards and other holdings on termination of employment under various circumstances, see the section entitled Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-In-Control. |
Philippe Dauman
Mr. Dauman has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since September 5, 2006. From 1993 to 2000, he served in several positions at Former Viacom, including its Deputy Chairman and member of its Executive Committee. He left Former Viacom in connection with the merger with CBS Corporation in 2000.
46
Cash Compensation
· | 2007. During 2007, Mr. Daumans employment agreement provided that he receive a base salary of $2 million and have a target bonus amount of $7 million, subject to the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee. |
· | 2008. Following his annual merit compensation review by the Committee in February 2008, Mr. Daumans base salary was increased to $2.5 million, effective January 1, 2008. His target annual cash bonus was increased to $9.5 million, subject to the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee. Mr. Daumans increase reflected his strong performance as well as the Committees desire to pay him at a level more comparable to CEOs at our peer companies. |
· | 2009. Mr. Dauman did not receive a salary or target bonus increase in 2009. |
Other Provisions of Mr. Daumans Employment Agreement
· | Provides for an employment term of September 5, 2006 to December 31, 2011. |
· | Provides that Mr. Dauman receive annual equity awards that have a target value of $12 million, 50% in stock options and 50% in PSUs, from 2007 through the end of the agreement. |
· | Provides for term life insurance in the amount of $5 million. |
Thomas Dooley
Mr. Dooley has been our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer since September 5, 2006 and our Chief Financial Officer since January 1, 2007. From 1980 to 2000, he served in several positions at Former Viacom, including its Deputy Chairman and member of its Executive Committee. He left Former Viacom in connection with the merger with CBS Corporation in 2000.
Cash Compensation
· | 2007. During 2007, Mr. Dooleys employment agreement provided that he receive a base salary of $1.6 million and have a target cash bonus of $5.6 million, subject to the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee. |
· | 2008. Following his annual merit compensation review by the Committee in February 2008, Mr. Dooleys base salary was increased to $2 million, effective January 1, 2008. His target annual cash bonus was increased to $7.6 million, subject to the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee. The increase reflected the Committees evaluation of Mr. Dooleys performance as well as its desire to maintain the same relative compensation level to Mr. Dauman. |
· | 2009. Mr. Dooley did not receive a salary or target bonus increase in 2009. |
Other Provisions of Mr. Dooleys Employment Agreement
· | Provides for an employment term of September 5, 2006 to December 31, 2011. |
· | Provides that Mr. Dooley receive annual equity awards that have a target value of $9.6 million, 50% in stock options and 50% in PSUs. |
· | Provides for term life insurance in the amount of $5 million. |
Michael Fricklas
Mr. Fricklas became our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in January 2006. He first joined Former Viacom in 1993 as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel and served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since 2000.
Compensation
· | 2007. In March 2007, we amended Mr. Fricklas employment agreement and reduced his guaranteed compensation in favor of performance-based compensation. His salary was reduced from $1.5 million to $1 million per year and his deferred compensation of $250,000 per year was eliminated. His target annual cash bonus was increased from $1.51 million to $1.55 million, subject to the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee. He was also awarded a one-time grant of 62,096 RSUs having a value of $2.5 million determined on the date of grant, which vest in three equal annual installments beginning on May 31, 2008. |
47
· | 2008. Following his annual merit compensation review by the Committee in February 2008, Mr. Fricklas base salary was increased to $1.05 million, effective January 1, 2008. His target annual cash bonus was increased to $1.675 million, subject to the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee. |
· | 2009. Mr. Fricklas did not receive a salary or target bonus increase in 2009. |
Other Provisions of Mr. Fricklas Employment Agreement
In October 2009, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Fricklas.
· | Extends his employment term until June 30, 2013. |
· | Increases his salary to $1.215 million per year, effective January 1, 2010, and increases his target annual cash bonus to not less than $2.3 million, subject to the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee. |
· | Provides that he receive annual equity awards with a target value of $3 million. |
· | Provides for term life insurance in the amount of $5 million. |
Denise White
Ms. White became our Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Administration in October 2007. She was previously General Manager at Microsofts Entertainment and Devices Division, having first joined Microsoft in 1990.
Compensation
· | 2007. During 2007, Ms. Whites employment agreement provided that she receive a base salary of $750,000 and have a target bonus amount of $450,000, prorated from her start date of October 1, 2007. She also received a one-time grant of 30,000 RSUs on October 11, 2007, which vest in three equal annual installments beginning on October 11, 2008. |
· | 2008. Following her annual merit compensation review by the Committee in July 2008, Ms. Whites base salary was increased to $825,000, effective October 1, 2008, and her target annual cash bonus was increased to $495,000, subject to the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee. |
· | 2009. Ms. White did not receive a salary or target bonus increase in 2009. |
Other Provisions of Ms. Whites Employment Agreement
· | Provides for an employment term of October 1, 2007 to September 29, 2010. |
· | Provides that she receive annual equity awards that have a target value of $700,000. |
Generally Applicable Employment Agreement Provisions
The employment agreements of Messrs. Dauman, Dooley and Fricklas and Ms. White generally permit the executive to participate in all arrangements for benefits, business expenses and perquisites available to senior executives of Viacom. Provisions on termination of employment under various circumstances and applicable restrictive covenants are discussed in the section entitled Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-In-Control.
48
2009 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
The table below presents information on our non-equity incentive compensation plan awards and our equity grants to our NEOs under our LTMIP in 2009. The Committee made our annual LTMIP grants to our NEOs and other LTMIP eligible employees in June 2009, except for the PSU grants to Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley, which are made on January 1 of each year pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements. For additional information on the terms of the grants, see Compensation Discussion and AnalysisCompensation Program DesignEquity Awards.
Name | Grant Date |
Date of Board Action, if Different from Grant Date(1)
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
Type of |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(3) |
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)(3)
|
All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)(3)
|
Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Stock Option Awards ($)(5)
|
Intrinsic Value of Option Awards; Value of Stock Awards(6) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thresh- old (#)(2)
|
Target (#)
|
Maxi- mum (#)
|
Thresh- old (#)(4)
|
Target (#)
|
Maxi- mum (#)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone | 1/1/09 | 9/22/06 | PSU | 42,421 | 169,683 | 509,049 | | | | $ | 6,344,447 | $ | 5,044,676 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | | SO | | | | | 229,008 | $ | 22.70 | $ | 3,000,005 | $ | 1,609,926 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,187,500 | $ | 4,750,000 | $ | 9,500,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Philippe P. Dauman | 1/1/09 | 9/4/06 | PSU | 84,842 | 339,367 | 1,018,101 | | | | $ | 12,688,932 | $ | 10,089,381 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | | SO | | | | | 458,015 | $ | 22.70 | $ | 5,999,997 | $ | 3,219,845 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 2,375,000 | $ | 9,500,000 | $ | 19,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas E. Dooley | 1/1/09 | 9/4/06 | PSU | 67,873 | 271,493 | 814,479 | | | | $ | 10,151,123 | $ | 8,071,487 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | | SO | | | | | 366,412 | $ | 22.70 | $ | 4,799,997 | $ | 2,575,876 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,900,000 | $ | 7,600,000 | $ | 15,200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Fricklas | 6/3/09 | | RSU SO |
| | | 79,295 | 91,603 | $ | 22.70 | $ | 2,999,996 | $ | 3,001,409 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 418,750 | $ | 1,675,000 | $ | 3,350,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Denise White | 6/3/09 | | RSU SO |
| | | 18,502 | 21,374 | $ | 22.70 | $ | 699,994 | $ | 700,323 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 123,750 | $ | 495,000 | $ | 990,000 |
(1) | Date of Compensation Committee approval of employment agreement providing for the annual January 1 PSU grants. |
(2) | Threshold amount is equal to 25% of the target award, which is the minimum amount that could be paid if any bonus amount were earned. Performance below the 25% threshold earns a bonus amount of $0. |
(3) | The target number of PSUs is determined by dividing the target value of the award by the average closing market price of our Class B common stock for a period of 10 trading days ending on the date of grant. The number of RSUs granted is determined by dividing the target value of the award by the closing market price of our Class B common stock on the date of grant. The number of stock options granted is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation method on the date of grant. |
(4) | Threshold amount is equal to 25% of the target award, which is the minimum amount that could be paid if the market condition for the PSU awards is met. The maximum award is 300% of the target award. |
(5) | Grant date fair value assumptions are consistent with those disclosed in Note 11, Stock Based Compensation to our Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. For PSUs, the grant date fair value takes into consideration the performance and market conditions applicable to the grant, and makes certain assumptions about the performance of our stock and that of the companies in the reference group over the measurement period. Factors such as market volatility and possibility of a payout above target can cause dramatic changes in the accounting expense for a PSU award. Accordingly, the expense shown in this column may be significantly higher than the value of the awards determined in accordance with the respective NEO employment agreements. |
(6) | We believe it is relevant for investors understanding of our NEOs compensation to present the current value of the awards compared to the grant date fair value, which is the total accounting expense for the 2009 awards that we will recognize over a period of years. This information is for illustrative purposes only to demonstrate the compensation the executive might realize from the awards if they were vested and settled, or for stock options, vested and exercised, using our Class B common stock price of $29.73 as of December 31, 2009. The actual market value of the awards fluctuates daily with the price of our stock. In addition, our stock options and RSUs vest over a period of 4 years and our PSUs have measurement periods of three or more years; therefore, none of the equity awards in the above table have actually vested. |
(7) | Since PSUs have a multi-year measurement period, this table assumes that the target number of PSUs was received on December 31, 2009. The actual number of PSUs the executive will receive cannot be determined until the end of the measurement period when the relative performance of our stock compared to other companies in the S&P 500 as well as our achievement of the EPS threshold can be determined. |
49
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END
The following table presents information on the outstanding equity awards, including which portions were vested or unvested, held by our NEOs as of December 31, 2009. Market value amounts are based on the closing price of our Class B common stock of $29.73 on December 31, 2009.
Name |
Grant Date |
|
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number
of (#) Exercisable |
Number
of (#) Unexercisable |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying (#) |
Option ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
Number of Units of Stock (#) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock Have Not Vested ($) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone |
5/4/00 | 977,218 | $ | 70.3203 | 5/4/10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/23/01 | 366,456 | $ | 71.9096 | 5/23/11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/22/02 | 293,165 | $ | 60.7466 | 5/22/12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/21/03 | 390,887 | $ | 55.6003 | 5/21/13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/19/04 | 268,734 | $ | 47.5025 | 5/19/14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7/1/04 | 488,609 | $ | 44.7906 | 7/1/14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7/1/04 | 244,304 | $ | 44.7906 | 7/1/14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/29/07 | 122,850 | 122,850 | (1) | $ | 43.8600 | 5/29/15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/4/08 | 65,217 | 195,653 | (2) | $ | 35.2600 | 6/4/16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | 229,008 | (3) | $ | 22.7000 | 6/3/17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1/07 | 56,899(4) | $ | 1,691,607 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1/08 | 17,155(5) | $ | 510,018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1/09 | 42,421(6) | $ | 1,261,176 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
5/4/00 | 4,886 | $ | 70.3203 | 5/4/10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8/1/00 | 1,465 | $ | 88.2945 | 8/1/10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/31/01 | 1,465 | $ | 69.6265 | 1/31/11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/31/02 | 1,465 | $ | 50.4414 | 1/31/12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/31/03 | 1,465 | $ | 48.6251 | 1/31/13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/31/04 | 1,954 | $ | 50.8324 | 1/31/14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/31/05 | 1,954 | $ | 47.0988 | 1/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/31/06 | 3,171 | $ | 41.4800 | 1/31/16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9/8/06 | 1,617,251 | $ | 34.4600 | 9/8/14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/29/07 | 245,700 | 245,700 | (1) | $ | 43.8600 | 5/29/15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/4/08 | 130,434 | 391,305 | (2) | $ | 35.2600 | 6/4/16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | 458,015 | (3) | $ | 22.7000 | 6/3/17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9/11/06 | 71,811(7) | $ | 2,134,941 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1/07 | 113,796(4) | $ | 3,383,155 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1/08 | 34,310(5) | $ | 1,020,036 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1/09 | 84,842(6) | $ | 2,522,353 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
1/3/06 | 7,928 | $ | 41.5900 | 1/3/16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/31/06 | 3,171 | $ | 41.4800 | 1/31/16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9/8/06 | 1,293,801 | $ | 34.4600 | 9/8/14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/29/07 | 196,560 | 196,560 | (1) | $ | 43.8600 | 5/29/15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/4/08 | 104,347 | 313,044 | (2) | $ | 35.2600 | 6/4/16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | 366,412 | (3) | $ | 22.7000 | 6/3/17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9/11/06 | 57,448(7) | $ | 1,707,929 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1/07 | 91,037(4) | $ | 2,706,530 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1/08 | 27,448(5) | $ | 816,029 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1/09 | 67,873(6) | $ | 2,017,864 |
50
Name |
Grant Date |
|
Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number
of (#) Exercisable |
Number
of (#) Unexercisable |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying (#) |
Option ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
Number of Units of Stock (#) |
Market Value of Shares Units of Stock Have Vested ($) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
5/25/00 | 79,280 | $ | 68.1917 | 5/25/10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/31/01 | 59,460 | $ | 69.6265 | 1/31/11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/30/02 | 67,388 | $ | 49.8233 | 1/30/12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/29/03 | 99,100 | $ | 49.6089 | 1/29/13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/28/04 | 99,100 | $ | 50.9459 | 1/28/14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/26/05 | 105,640 | $ | 47.1493 | 1/26/13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/24/06 | 142,404 | 47,469 | (8) | $ | 36.7800 | 5/24/14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/29/07 | 61,425 | 61,425 | (1) | $ | 43.8600 | 5/29/15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/4/08 | 32,608 | 97,826 | (2) | $ | 35.2600 | 6/4/16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | 91,603 | (3) | $ | 22.7000 | 6/3/17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/15/07 | 20,699 | (9) | $ | 615,381 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | 79,295 | (10) | $ | 2,357,440 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/24/06 | 6,118 | (11) | $ | 181,888 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/29/07 | 17,500 | (4) | $ | 520,275 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/4/08 | 9,147 | (5) | $ | 271,940 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Denise White |
6/4/08 | 8,217 | 24,653 | (2) | $ | 35.2600 | 6/4/16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | 21,374 | (3) | $ | 22.7000 | 6/3/17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10/11/07 | 10,000 | (12) | $ | 297,300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/3/09 | 18,502 | (10) | $ | 550,064 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/4/08 | 2,283 | (5) | $ | 67,874 |
(1) | Remaining stock option grant vests in equal annual installments on May 29, 2010 and 2011. |
(2) | Remaining stock option grant vests in equal annual installments on June 4, 2010, 2011 and 2012. |
(3) | Stock option grant vests in equal annual installments on June 3, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. |
(4) | Represents the actual amount settled upon vesting of the PSUs in 2010 based on the achievement of the market and performance conditions on December 31, 2009 (target award was 75,663 PSUs in the case of Mr. Redstone, 151,325 PSUs in the case of Mr. Dauman, 121,060 PSUs in the case of Mr. Dooley and 29,412 PSUs in the case of Mr. Fricklas). |
(5) | Represents the threshold amount, or 25%, of the target award (target award was 68,621 PSUs in the case of Mr. Redstone, 137,241 PSUs in the case of Mr. Dauman, 109,793 PSUs in the case of Mr. Dooley, 36,586 PSUs in the case of Mr. Fricklas and 9,132 PSUs in the case of Ms. White), which is the minimum amount that could be paid if the market condition for the PSU awards is met. PSUs vest at the end of the performance period on December 31, 2010 subject to satisfaction of the market and performance conditions for the performance period. |
(6) | Represents the threshold amount, or 25%, of the target award (target award was 169,683 PSUs in the case of Mr. Redstone, 339,367 PSUs in the case of Mr. Dauman, and 271,493 PSUs in the case of Mr. Dooley), which is the minimum amount that could be paid if the market condition for the PSU awards is met. PSUs vest at the end of the performance period on December 31, 2011 subject to satisfaction of the market and performance conditions for the performance period. |
(7) | Remaining portion of the grant (grant was 287,242 RSUs in the case of Mr. Dauman, and 229,792 RSUs in the case of Mr. Dooley) vests on September 11, 2010, subject to the NEOs retention through that date of the corresponding portion of the shares of Class B common stock he purchased on September 11, 2006. |
(8) | Remaining portion of stock option grant vests on May 24, 2010. |
(9) | Remaining RSUs vest on May 31, 2010. |
(10) | RSUs vest in equal annual installments on June 3, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. |
(11) | Represents the threshold amount, or 25%, of the total grant of 24,470 market condition-based RSUs. These market condition-based RSUs vest in equal annual installments on May 24, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, subject to satisfaction of the market condition for the applicable year. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the market condition was not met and no portion of the grant has yet vested. |
(12) | Remaining RSUs vest on October 11, 2010. |
51
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN 2009
The following table presents information on exercises of stock options and the vesting of restricted share units held by our NEOs during 2009.
Option Awards | Stock Awards(1) | ||||||||||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on ($) |
Number of Shares Vesting (#) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($) |
|||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone |
| | | | |||||||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
| | 71,810(3) | $ | 1,869,214 | ||||||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
| | 57,448(4) | $ | 1,495,371 | ||||||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
(2) | | 25,470(5) | $ | 530,932 | ||||||||
Denise White |
| | 10,000(6) | $ | 289,800 |
(1) | Represents the gross number of shares acquired and value received on vesting of the RSUs, without reduction for the number of shares withheld to pay applicable withholding taxes. Shares and value net of withholding are discussed in the footnotes below. As supplemental information, the table below sets forth the aggregate accounting charge we expensed over the applicable vesting period for the shares shown above: |
(2) | Mr. Fricklas had 87,208 stock options with an exercise price of $52.90 expire and be cancelled in 2009. |
(3) | Represents the vesting of the third 25% of Mr. Daumans September 11, 2006 grant of 287,242 RSUs in accordance with the terms of the grant, valued at the closing price of our Class B common stock on the date of vesting of $26.03. Mr. Dauman received 34,842 shares net of withholding, or $906,937 in value. |
(4) | Represents the vesting of the third 25% of Mr. Dooleys September 11, 2006 grant of 229,792 RSUs in accordance with the terms of the grant, valued at the closing price of our Class B common stock on the date of vesting of $26.03. Mr. Dooley received 30,171 shares net of withholding, or $785,351 in value. |
(5) | Represents (i) the vesting of the fourth 25% of Mr. Fricklas January 26, 2005 RSU grant in accordance with the terms of the grant (dividend equivalents from Former Viacom payable in connection with the 2005 RSU grant were paid in cash), valued at the closing price of our Class B common stock on the date of vesting of $15.10, from which Mr. Fricklas received 2,968 shares net of withholding, or $44,817 in value, and (ii) the vesting of the second third of Mr. Fricklas March 15, 2007 RSU grant in accordance with the terms of the grant, valued at the closing price of our Class B common stock on the date of vesting of $22.17, from which Mr. Fricklas received 9,986 shares net of withholding, or $221,390 in value. |
(6) | Represents the vesting of the second third of Ms. Whites October 11, 2007 RSU grant in accordance with the terms of the grant, valued at the closing price of our Class B common stock on the date of vesting of $28.98. Ms. White received 6,252 shares net of withholding, or $181,183 in value. |
52
We offer pension benefits through the Viacom Pension Plan. Effective April 1, 2009, we terminated the accrual of benefits under the Viacom Excess Pension Plan. The table below presents certain information with respect to these plans.
Name |
Plan Name | Number of Years Credited Service (#) |
Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($)(1) |
|
|
Payments During Last Fiscal Year ($) |
| ||||
Sumner M. Redstone |
Viacom Pension Plan Viacom Excess Pension Plan |
4 years, 0 months(2) 3 years, 3 months(2) |
$ 66,137 34,993 |
|
$
|
5,340 |
| ||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
Viacom Pension Plan Viacom Excess Pension Plan |
2 years, 3 months(3) 1 year, 6 months(3) |
$ 50,042 78,596 $128,638 |
|
|
|
| ||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
Viacom Pension Plan Viacom Excess Pension Plan |
2 years, 3 months(4) 1 year, 6 months(4) |
$ 42,408 66,683 $109,091 |
|
|
|
| ||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
Viacom Pension Plan Viacom Excess Pension Plan |
15 years, 5 months 14 years, 8 months |
$225,297 542,207 $767,504 |
|
|
|
| ||||
Denise White |
Viacom Pension Plan Viacom Excess Pension Plan |
1 year, 3 months(5) 0 years, 6 months(5) |
$ 29,252 26,666 $ 55,918 |
|
|
|
|
(1) | Present Value of Accumulated Benefit as of December 31, 2009 is determined assuming commencement of benefits at age 65 (or immediate commencement if over 65) with an interest adjustment during the deferral period from December 31, 2009 until age 65, but no pre-retirement mortality assumption. Reflects a discount rate of 6.25% for the Viacom Pension Plan, a discount rate of 6.50% for the Viacom Excess Pension Plan and the RP2000 mortality tables for male/females projected to 2010 with Scale AA to determine the present value of the benefit at commencement. |
(2) | Mr. Redstone has participated in the Viacom Pension Plan and the Viacom Excess Pension Plan since the separation. Prior to the separation, he participated in Former Viacoms corresponding plans (now the CBS Corporation pension plans). Mr. Redstone received credit for his years of service at Former Viacom for purposes of meeting the eligibility requirement, but not for calculating the benefit amount, for our pension plans. He began receiving required minimum distributions from the Viacom Pension Plan in April 2007 in the form of a single life annuity. |
(3) | Mr. Dauman commenced participation in the Viacom Pension Plan and the Viacom Excess Pension Plan on October 1, 2007. In addition, Mr. Dauman has a vested pension benefit for 20 years of service under the CBS Corporation pension plans as a result of his previous service at Former Viacom. We have agreed in Mr. Daumans employment agreement to pay him the greater of (a) the benefit he would have received under our pension plans if he had received credit for the same number of years he has credited under the CBS pension plans plus his current years of service under our plans, offset by the benefit he has accrued under the CBS pension plans payable at age 65 or (b) the actual benefit he would be entitled to under our pension plans. |
(4) | Mr. Dooley commenced participation in the Viacom Pension Plan and the Viacom Excess Pension Plan on October 1, 2007. In addition, Mr. Dooley has a vested pension benefit for 20 years of service under the CBS Corporation pension plans as a result of his previous service at Former Viacom. We have agreed in Mr. Dooleys employment agreement to pay him the greater of (a) the benefit he would have received under our pension plans if he had received credit for the same number of years he has credited under the CBS pension plans plus his current years of service under our plans, offset by the benefit he has accrued under the CBS pension plans payable at age 65 or (b) the actual benefit he would be entitled to under our pension plans. |
(5) | Ms. White commenced participation in the Viacom Pension Plan and the Viacom Excess Pension Plan on October 1, 2008. |
The Viacom Pension Plan
We have established the Viacom Pension Plan for all eligible Viacom employees who satisfy age and service requirements, including the NEOs. The Pension Plan assumed from the Former Viacom pension plan (now the CBS Corporation pension plan) the liability for benefits accrued by Mr. Fricklas with respect to years of service at Former Viacom through the date of our separation from CBS Corporation, and assets allocable to those accrued benefits were also transferred to our Pension Plan based on applicable rules governing such transfers. The liabilities for Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley as a result of their years of service at Former Viacom remain under the CBS Corporation pension plans.
53
Participation in our Pension Plan begins on the first of the month coincident with or following the later of the date an employee turns 21 and completes one year of eligibility service. An eligible employee will receive a retirement benefit that is calculated using the plan formula and is based upon the employees years of benefit service (up to a maximum of 30 years), final average compensation and covered compensation amount. Final average compensation is eligible salary, commissions, overtime and eligible bonus for the highest 60 consecutive months out of the final 120 months of employment. Covered compensation is the average of the Social Security Wage Bases during the 35-year period that ends with the year the employee reaches the Social Security Retirement age. The pension plan formula, which provides a monthly benefit payable in the form of a single life annuity at a normal retirement age of 65, is as follows:
1.25% times final average compensation up to the covered compensation amount times benefit service (up to 30 years)
plus
1.75% times final average compensation above the covered compensation amount times benefit service (up to 30 years).
The Pension Plan offers optional forms of annuity payments that a participant may elect upon retirement. The single life annuity is the normal form of payment for a single participant and the 50% joint and survivor annuity is the normal form of payment for a married participant. A reduction is applied to the single life annuity benefit if an optional form is elected. The 50% joint and survivor annuity and all optional forms of payment under the Pension Plan are the actuarial equivalent of the single life annuity benefit.
Participants in the Pension Plan receive credit for years of service credited under the Former Viacom pension plan, except for Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley whose benefits remained at Former Viacom. Employees are fully vested in their accrued benefit upon completion of five full years of service. Vested participants who terminate employment prior to normal retirement age may begin receiving a reduced benefit as early as age 55. Participants who terminate employment after having reached age 55 with ten years of vesting service are eligible to receive a reduced early retirement benefit. Under applicable tax rules, Mr. Redstone began receiving certain minimum required in-service distributions from the Pension Plan beginning in April 2007.
Compensation for purposes of the Pension Plan was limited by federal law to $245,000 for 2009. This amount is adjusted each year in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code.
In February 2009, our Board of Director approved changes to the Pension Plan. As of December 31, 2009, all benefits determined under the existing benefit formula were frozen. For periods beginning January 1, 2010, pension benefits accumulate under a new benefit formula that provides a single-sum benefit payable at the normal retirement age of 65, equal to 10% of the participants post-2009 accumulated compensation. Accumulated compensation is the total of the participants eligible salary, eligible bonus, commissions and overtime from January 1, 2010 through all periods of active participation in the plan, adjusted annually during employment by a wage inflation factor. In addition to all existing annuity payment options which remain available, for vested participants who terminate after 2009, the Pension Plan will also offer a lump-sum distribution option and will allow payment of benefits at any time following termination of employment regardless of age, with reduced benefits to reflect the participants age if under 65.
The Viacom Excess Pension Plan
We established the Viacom Excess Pension Plan to provide benefits to participants in the Pension Plan whose annual base salary exceeds the IRSs annual compensation limit. Effective April 1, 2009, we discontinued further accruals under the Excess Pension Plan.
We have assumed the liability for amounts credited under the Former Viacom excess pension plan through the date of the separation for Mr. Fricklas. The liability for Messrs. Redstone, Dauman and Dooley remains a liability of Former Viacom.
54
Benefits under the Excess Pension Plan are calculated using the Pension Plan formula and eligible compensation in excess of the annual compensation limit. The overall accrued benefit for each participant was calculated as of March 31, 2009, the date we ceased accruals under the plan. The maximum amount of total compensation earned on or before March 31, 2009 that was taken into account under the Pension Plan and the Excess Pension Plan was generally limited to $750,000. In the case of Mr. Redstone, the maximum amount was limited to $375,000. Participants who received pension benefits from the Pension Plan through 2008 (other than minimum required in-service distributions) received pension benefits from the Excess Pension Plan in the same form and at the same time as they received Pension Plan payments. Participants who elect to commence receiving pension benefits from the Pension Plan after 2008 will receive the portion of their pension benefits accrued and vested under the Excess Pension Plan prior to January 1, 2005 coincident with and in the same form as their benefit from the Pension Plan. Payment of the portion of their benefit accrued and vested after December 31, 2004 will begin generally as of the later of the first day of the month coincident with or next following six months after termination of employment or the first day of the month coincident with or next following their attainment of age 55 and will be paid in the form of an annuity.
We generally do not grant employees extra years of benefit service under the Pension Plan or the Excess Pension Plan for purposes of calculating a pension benefit. However, we have on rare occasions in connection with the negotiation of an executive employment agreement agreed to terms that effectively grant credit for additional years of service. See footnotes (3) and (4) to the 2009 Pension Benefits table for a discussion of the contractual additional benefit we agreed to provide to Messrs. Dauman and Dooley in light of their years of service at Former Viacom.
55
2009 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
In addition to our tax-qualified 401(k) Plan, we maintain certain nonqualified deferred compensation plans. The Viacom Excess 401(k) Plans and the Viacom Bonus Deferral Plans are available to employees whose income exceeds certain statutory limits for the 401(k) Plan. We also previously had a program for any deferrals of base salary required under employment agreements.
In 2009, except for Mr. Daumans contributions to the Excess 401(k) Plan, none of our NEOs participated in these plans. Mr. Fricklas previously contributed to the Excess 401(k) Plan, and Messrs. Redstone and Fricklas previously deferred a portion of their base salary under their employment agreements. The table below presents, on an aggregate basis, contributions to these plans in 2009, earnings in 2009, and the balances in the plans as of December 31, 2009.
Name | Plan |
Executive ($)(1) |
Company ($)(2) |
Aggregate Earnings ($)(3) |
Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($) |
Aggregate ($) |
||||||||||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone |
Excess 401(k) RSU Deferral Salary Deferral |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
$ |
5,913 (243,773 13,662 (224,198 |
)(4) (5) ) |
$
|
834,360 |
(4)
|
$
$ |
90,164 0 399,072 489,236 |
| ||||||
Philippe P. Dauman |
Excess 401(k) | $ | 112,750 | $ | 9,958 | $ | 104,922 | | $ | 397,635 | ||||||||||||
Thomas E. Dooley |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
Excess 401(k) Salary Deferral Bonus Deferral |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
$ |
355,422 90,173 125,342 570,937 |
|
|
|
|
$
$ |
2,045,477 552,233 767,615 3,365,325 |
| ||||||
Denise White |
| | | | | |
(1) | Amount represents contributions under our Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives. This amount is included in Mr. Daumans salary in the 2009 Summary Compensation Table. |
(2) | Amount represents Company match under the Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives. This amount is included in Mr. Daumans All Other Compensation in the 2009 Summary Compensation Table. |
(3) | Except as otherwise noted, amounts deferred under our Deferral Plans are deemed invested in the same investment alternatives that the NEO has elected for his tax-qualified 401(k) plan or, if no election has been made, in the 401(k) plans default investment option. Amounts are net of deductions for annual fees. Since these amounts are not preferential, they are not included in the 2009 Summary Compensation Table, except for the change in value related to Mr. Redstones stock option equivalents (SOEs) discussed in footnote (5) below. |
(4) | Mr. Redstone deferred receipt of his 2005 RSU grant, which vested on January 24, 2006, until February 1, 2009. The aggregate earnings in 2009 reflects the change in value of the deferred RSUs from December 31, 2008 to February 1, 2009. Aggregate withdrawals/distributions reflects the value of the shares received on February 1, 2009 based on the closing market price of our Class B common stock of $14.75. On January 24, 2006, the date of vesting of the RSUs, the value of the shares was $2,456,097 based on the closing market price of our Class B common stock of $43.46. |
(5) | On September 27, 2006, Mr. Redstone converted the $9,439,918 balance of his deferred salary compensation account to SOEs of equal value that have an exercise price of $37.55 (which was the closing price of our Class B common stock on that date), an eight-year term, and vest in equal annual installments over four years. In accordance with his employment agreement, Mr. Redstone continued to defer his base salary through December 31, 2006. This amount reflects the net earnings in 2009 on amounts previously deferred under this account. The SOEs had no intrinsic value on December 31, 2009 or 2008. |
The Viacom Excess 401(k) Plans
We have established Excess 401(k) Plans to provide benefits to employees who are participants in the tax-qualified 401(k) Plan and whose annual base salary exceeds the annual compensation limit set forth in the Code. For 2009, the compensation limit for the tax-qualified 401(k) Plan was $245,000. We maintain an account in the name of each participant and that account is credited with the amount of the participants deferral. A participant may elect to defer between 1% and 15% of eligible compensation on a before-tax basis. Eligible compensation for Excess 401(k) Plan participants is, in general, a participants base pay including all pre-tax elective contributions made on behalf of a participant either to a company qualified cash or deferred arrangement (as defined under Section 401(k) of the Code and applicable regulations), a cafeteria plan (as
56
defined under Section 125 of the Code and applicable regulations), or a qualified transportation fringe (as defined under Section 132(f) of the Code and the applicable regulations). Eligible compensation does not include deferred compensation or cash bonuses under our STIP. Deferrals to the Excess 401(k) Plans begin once Code limits have been reached in the tax-qualified 401(k) Plan.
As with the qualified 401(k) plan, for the period from January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009, we matched 60% of the first 5% of eligible compensation contributed by a participant on a pre-tax basis. For the period from April 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, we matched 100% of the first 1% and 50% of the next 5% of eligible compensation contributed by a participant on a pre-tax basis. Matching contributions credited under the Excess 401(k) Plans in the aggregate for any participant were subject to an eligible compensation limit of $750,000 until March 31, 2009, and $500,000 thereafter, unless a grandfather provision applies. Prior to April 1, 2009, participants became fully vested in the matching contribution after five years of service; vesting occurs after two years of service for participants active on or after April 1, 2009. Participant accounts under the Excess 401(k) Plans are credited (or charged) with earnings, gains or losses based on the investment performance of the funds selected by the participant for amounts contributed to the qualified 401(k) Plan. For purposes of vesting, participants receive credit for years of service credited under the Former Viacom 401(k) plan. We have assumed the total liability for amounts credited under the Former Viacom excess 401(k) plans through the date of the separation for our NEOs who participated in the Former Viacom excess 401(k) plans, except for Mr. Redstone, for whom we assumed 50% of the liability.
The Bonus Deferral Plans
Our Bonus Deferral Plans are voluntary unfunded nonqualified deferred compensation plans for the benefit of senior executives who are designated as eligible to participate in the Excess 401(k) Plans (whose annual base salary exceeds the annual compensation limit applicable to the tax-qualified 401(k) Plan). Prior to 2010, a participant could elect before the end of each year to defer a portion (from 1% to 15%) of his or her annual bonus amount earned during the next succeeding calendar year. Beginning in 2010, elections must be made before the end of our fiscal year. We maintain an account in the name of each participant and that account is credited with the amount of the participants bonus deferral. Participant accounts under the Bonus Deferral Plans are credited (or charged) with earnings, gains or losses based on the investment performance of the funds selected by the participant for amounts contributed to the tax-qualified 401(k) Plan. We do not make matching contributions in the Bonus Deferral Plans. We have assumed the liability for amounts credited under the Former Viacom bonus deferral plans through the date of the separation for our NEOs who participated in the Former Viacom bonus deferral plan.
Distributions and Withdrawals under the Excess 401(k) Plans and Bonus Deferral Plans
The vested portion of each participants accounts in the Excess 401(k) Plans and the Bonus Deferral Plans is distributed in cash after termination of employment in accordance with the participants payment election. Participants are required to make a joint payment election for all amounts deferred under the plans.
For amounts earned, deferred and vested prior to January 1, 2005, participants elected to have these amounts paid in a single lump sum in January of the first, second, third, fourth or fifth year following termination of employment, or in up to five annual installments in amounts designated by the participants beginning in the January following the year of termination. If no election is made, a participant is deemed to have elected a lump sum payment in January of the year following termination of employment. If a participant elects to receive annual installment payments over a period of two or more years, the annual payments will be made in substantially equal annual installments, unless the participant designates at the time of making his or her payment option election a specific percentage of his or her account to be distributed in each year. All specified percentages must be a whole multiple of 10% and the total of all designated percentages must be equal to 100%.
For amounts earned, deferred and vested after December 31, 2004, the payment options are the same as those set forth above, except that a participant will not be able to receive any payment from post-2004 accounts until the later of the January 31 following his or her termination of employment or six months following termination of employment. For all amounts earned, deferred and vested prior to January 1, 2005, participants can change their
57
payment elections up to three times during their term of employment. Payments of pre-2005 amounts will be made in accordance with the most recent payment election made more than six months before termination of employment. No changes can be made to the joint payment election made for post-2004 deferrals.
A participant who suffers an unforeseeable emergency as defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code may receive a withdrawal of all or part of the vested portion of his or her accounts in the Excess 401(k) Plans and/or the Bonus Deferral Plans to the extent permitted under Section 409A.
The Deferred Compensation Plan
This plan was established for employees who have a deferred compensation arrangement in their employment contract. The amounts deferred are dictated by the specific employment contract. Participant accounts under the deferred compensation plan are credited (or charged) with earnings, gains or losses based on the investment performance of the funds selected by the participant for amounts contributed to the qualified 401(k) Plan, except that, as discussed above, Mr. Redstones account is indexed to stock option equivalents effective September 27, 2006. We do not make matching contributions in the deferred compensation plan. Payment of amounts accrued under the deferred compensation plan are made in accordance with the participants employment agreement, which generally provides that the amounts be paid after the participant ceases to be an employee in a timeframe designed to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code unless a grandfather provision applies. We have assumed the liability for amounts credited under the Former Viacom deferred compensation plan through the date of the separation for our NEOs who participated in the plan.
58
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE-IN-CONTROL
Overview
Our employment agreements and certain of our plans require us to provide compensation and other benefits to our NEOs if their employment terminates under certain circumstances. Specifically:
· | we generally limit cash severance to 2x annual base salary and bonus amount; |
· | we do not have any single trigger plans or other arrangements that provide for benefits, payments or accelerated vesting of equity awards solely upon a change-in-control; |
· | our employment agreements specify that we may terminate the executive with or without cause and define certain events that may permit the executive to resign for good reason; and |
· | certain payments in connection with a change in ownership or effective control of our company may trigger an excise tax under the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). In the case of Mr. Dauman and Mr. Dooley, if an excise tax is incurred, we agreed in their employment agreements originally negotiated in 2006 to pay them an amount that, after taxes, will reimburse them for the excise tax. |
The following table summarizes our general approach to contractual severance upon the occurrence of various events. Individual NEO employment agreements may contain variations to the general approach. See Specific Employment Agreement Provisions below for additional detail.
Cash Severance | Unvested Equity Awards |
Vested Equity Awards |
Other Benefits | Accrued Benefits(1) | ||||||
Termination for Cause | None | Forfeited | Stock options forfeited | None, except as required by law. Retiree medical if certain conditions met | Payable through date of termination | |||||
Resignation without Good Reason | None | Forfeited | Stock options forfeited | None, except as required by law. Retiree medical if certain conditions met | Payable through date of resignation | |||||
Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason | Generally capped at 2x base and bonus. Benefits may be reduced if less than 2 years remain in contract(2) | Generally accelerated vesting of at least a portion of awards | Stock options generally exercisable for a set time | Continuation of health and welfare and life insurance benefits for a set period. Retiree medical possible | Payable through date of termination/ resignation | |||||
Retirement |
None | Stock options forfeited; Retirement date last day of PSU measurement period |
Stock options generally exercisable for 3 years | Retiree medical if certain conditions met | Payable through date of retirement | |||||
Death |
None | Varies | Stock options generally exercisable for a set time | Life insurance at specified amounts paid by our insurer | Payable through date of death | |||||
Disability |
None | Varies | Stock options generally exercisable for a set time | Long-term disability amounts paid(3) | Payable through date of disability |
(1) | Salary and accrued bonus amounts payable with respect to days previously worked, accrued vacation time, retirement plan obligations and other accrued amounts that were fully earned and vested as of the executives termination date. Certain of these accrued obligations are discussed in the 2009 Pension Benefits and 2009 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation tables. |
(2) | Except for Mr. Redstone. |
(3) | See Disability Benefits below for additional detail. |
59
Specific Employment Agreement Provisions as of December 31, 2009
Cash Severance
Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason
· | Redstone: No cash severance benefits. |
· | Dauman and Dooley. Capped at 2x base salary and bonus amount, unless less than two years remain under the executives employment agreement, in which case the capped severance amount will be reduced by a maximum of 50% according to a specified formula. |
· | Fricklas and White. Subject to the overall cap of 2x base salary and bonus amount, salary payable at specified rate for the longer of 1 year or the end of term of employment and annual bonus or pro-rated bonus amount (as applicable) payable at the lesser of target amount or corporate multiplier if under 100% through the end of term of employment. |
· | Mitigation and Offset. Messrs. Dauman and Dooley are not required to mitigate their cash severance by looking for other employment. Mr. Fricklas is not required to mitigate his cash severance by looking for other employment, but must offset that compensation beginning 12 months after termination if he is receiving other compensation for his services. Ms. White must mitigate her cash severance by looking for other employment beginning on the earlier of 12 months after termination or the end of the remaining term of employment. |
Unvested Equity Awards
Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason
· | All NEOs: Outstanding PSUs will be paid out and the date of termination will be deemed the last day of the measurement period for purposes of calculating the payout received. |
· | Redstone: Unvested stock options and stock option equivalents credited to his deferred compensation account will vest, and stock options will remain exercisable for 3 years (or until their expiration date, if earlier). |
· | Dauman and Dooley: All unvested stock options will vest and remain exercisable for two years (or until their expiration date, if earlier). Unvested RSUs will immediately vest. |
· | Fricklas: Unvested stock options that would have vested during the contract term will vest and remain exercisable for 12 months (or until their expiration date, if earlier). Unvested RSUs granted after January 1, 2007 that would have vested during the contract term will immediately vest. |
· | White. Unvested stock options that would have vested during the contract term will vest and will remain exercisable for six months (or until their expiration date, if earlier). Unvested RSUs that would have vested during the contract term will immediately vest, and her sign-on RSU grant will vest. |
Termination due to Death or Permanent Disability
· | All NEOs: Outstanding PSUs will be paid out and the date of termination for death/long-term incapacity will be deemed the last day of the measurement period for purposes of calculating the payout received. |
· | Redstone: Unvested stock options and stock option equivalents credited to his deferred compensation account will vest, and stock options will remain exercisable for 3 years (or until their expiration date, if earlier). |
· | Dauman and Dooley: Unvested stock options will vest and remain exercisable for their full term. All unvested RSUs will immediately vest. |
· | Fricklas: If due to disability, unvested stock options that would have vested during the contract term will vest and remain exercisable for 12 months (or until their expiration date, if earlier). Unvested RSUs granted after January 1, 2007 that would have vested during the contract term will immediately vest. Vesting of stock options and RSUs is not accelerated if his employment terminates due to death. |
· | White. Unvested stock options and RSUs will be forfeited, except her sign-on RSU grant, which will vest. |
60
Vested Equity Awards
Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason
· | Redstone: Vested stock options will remain exercisable for 3 years (or until their expiration date, if earlier). |
· | Dauman and Dooley: Vested stock options will remain exercisable for two years (or until their expiration date, if earlier). |
· | Fricklas and White: Vested stock options will remain exercisable for six months (or until their expiration date, if earlier). |
Termination due to Death or Permanent Disability
· | Redstone, Fricklas and White: Vested stock options will remain exercisable for two years, in the event of death and three years, in the event of permanent disability (or, in each case, until their expiration date, if earlier). |
· | Dauman and Dooley: Vested stock options will remain exercisable for their full term. |
Pension Benefits
Entitlement to pension benefits is described under the heading 2009 Pension Benefits.
Potential Payments Upon Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason
The following table sets forth amounts (other than accrued amounts) that an NEO may receive if a termination without cause or resignation for good reason occurred effective December 31, 2009. The table assumes that December 31, 2009 was the last day of the measurement period for all PSUs, and values RSUs as of that date. The closing price of our Class B common stock on December 31, 2009 was $29.73.
Any actual amounts these executives may receive would vary depending on any actual date of termination or resignation. In addition, the excise tax gross-up component discussed in footnote (6) is triggered only under very specific circumstances related to termination of employment in connection with a change in control.
Payable by Viacom |
Market Value of Equity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
NEO | Salary (other than accrued amounts)(1) |
Bonus (other than accrued amounts)(1) |
Benefits(3) | Interest on Payments Delayed under 409A(4) |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Sumner M. Redstone(5) |
| | | | | $ | 16,433,387 | |||||||||||||||||
Philippe P. Dauman(6) |
$ | 5,000,000 | $ | 19,000,000 | $ | 45,490 | $ | 461,299 | $ | 24,506,789 | (6) | $ | 35,001,732 | |||||||||||
Thomas E. Dooley(6) |
$ | 4,000,000 | $ | 15,200,000 | $ | 43,450 | $ | 368,115 | $ | 19,611,565 | (6) | $ | 28,001,325 | |||||||||||
Michael D. Fricklas |
$ | 2,100,000 | $ | 3,350,000 | $ | 98,532 | | $ | 5,548,532 | $ | 4,404,767 | |||||||||||||
Denise White |
$ | 825,000 | $ | 368,874 | $ | 18,743 | | $ | 1,212,617 | $ | 539,181 |
(1) | Cash severance capped under employment agreement at two times base salary and bonus in effect on the date of termination. Amounts are reduced if less than 2 years remain on the employment agreement. |
(2) | Reflects the market value of accelerated outstanding equity awards as described under Specific Employment Agreement Provisions assuming the Class B shares underlying the awards were sold on December 31, 2009. |
(3) | Continuation of health and welfare benefits and life insurance premiums, assuming current rates. |
(4) | Assumes an interest rate of 6.875%. |
(5) | Mr. Redstones employment agreement does not include a concept of good reason. In his case, the amounts indicated reflect termination of his employment without cause (as defined in the LTMIP). |
(6) | Under the terms of the employment agreements for Messrs. Dauman and Dooley, we may potentially pay any excise tax (including a gross-up payment) that they would owe if their termination without cause or resignation for good reason was as a result of a change-in-control that results in payments upon which an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code would be imposed. The following table sets forth our estimate of these amounts as of December 31, 2009. See Potential Excise Tax Gross-Up below for more information. |
Estimated Excise Tax | Tax Gross-Up | Total | ||||||
Dauman |
$9,404,158 | $9,059,987 | $18,464,145 | |||||
Dooley |
$6,565,698 | $5,463,797 | $12,029,495 |
61
Other Important Employment Agreement Provisions
Definition of Cause
Mr. Redstones employment agreement does not contain a definition of cause. The standard applicable to him with respect to his outstanding equity grants would be the definition of cause contained in the LTMIP. This definition is generally consistent with the definition in the employment agreements for Mr. Fricklas and Ms. White, except that the LTMIP definition does not include a notice requirement or a cure period.
Under the terms of the employment agreements for Messrs. Dauman and Dooley, we generally would have cause to terminate employment in any of the following circumstances: (i) engaging in intentional acts of material fraud against Viacom; (ii) engaging in willful malfeasance that has a material adverse effect on Viacom; (iii) substantial and continual refusal to perform his duties, responsibilities or obligations as our President and CEO or Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively; (iv) conviction of a felony or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a felony charge; (v) willful violation of any Viacom policy generally applicable to employees or officers, including policies concerning insider trading or sexual harassment, or our code of conduct, where he knew or should have known that the violation could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on Viacom; (vi) making of certain unauthorized disclosures of trade secrets or other confidential information; (vii) willful failure to cooperate with an internal investigation or with a regulatory or law enforcement investigation of Viacom after being instructed by the Board to cooperate; (viii) willful destruction or intentional failure to preserve documents or other material known by him to be relevant to an investigation; or (ix) willful inducement of others to fail to cooperate in any investigation. We are required to notify Messrs. Dauman and Dooley within 30 days after any event that constitutes cause comes to the attention of one of our executive officers, and in general, they have 30 days after receiving notice to cure the event.
Under the employment agreements of each of Mr. Fricklas and Ms. White, we generally would have cause to terminate employment in any of the following circumstances: (i) engaging in embezzlement, fraud or other conduct that would constitute a felony; (ii) engaging in the willful unauthorized disclosure of confidential information; (iii) failure to obey a material lawful directive that was appropriate to his or her position from an executive or executives in his reporting line; (iv) committing a material breach of his or her employment agreement; (v) failure (except in the event of disability) or refusal to substantially perform material obligations under the employment agreement; (vi) willful failure to cooperate with a bona fide internal investigation or investigation by regulatory or law enforcement authorities, after being instructed by Viacom to cooperate; (vii) willful destruction or failure to preserve documents or other material known to be relevant to such an investigation; or (viii) willful inducement of others to fail to cooperate in any investigation. We are required to notify the executive after any event that constitutes cause before terminating his or her employment, and in general he or she has 10 business days after receiving notice to cure the event.
Resignation for Good Reason
Mr. Redstones employment agreement does not include a provision on resignation for good reason.
Our employment agreements for Messrs. Dauman and Dooley provide that the executive would have good reason to terminate employment in any of the following circumstances: (i) if we assign duties inconsistent with his current positions, duties or responsibilities or if we change the parties to whom each reports; (ii) if we remove him from, or fail to re-elect him to, his position; (iii) if he is not re-elected to the board of directors; (iv) if we reduce his salary, target bonus or other compensation levels; (v) if we require him to be based anywhere other than the New York metropolitan area; or (vi) if we breach any of our obligations under the employment agreement. Messrs. Dauman and Dooley generally are required to notify us within 30 days after becoming aware of the occurrence of any event that constitutes good reason, and in general we have 30 days to cure the event.
Mr. Fricklas generally would have good reason to terminate his employment in any of the following circumstances: (i) if we assign him duties inconsistent with his current position, duties or responsibilities; (ii) if we withdraw material portions of his duties or change his reporting relationship such that he does not report
62
directly and solely to the chief executive officer or any chief operating officer; (iii) if we materially breach our material obligations under his employment agreement; or (iv) if his position is relocated outside the New York City metropolitan area. Ms. White generally would have good reason to terminate her employment in any of the following circumstances: (i) if we assign duties inconsistent with her current position or duties; (ii) if we withdraw material portions of her duties; or (iii) if we materially breach our material obligations under her employment agreement. Mr. Fricklas and Ms. White generally are required to notify us within 30 days after the occurrence of any event that constitutes good reason, and in general we have 10 business days to cure the event.
Restrictive Covenants
Our executive employment agreements contain several important restrictive covenants with which an executive must comply following termination of employment. For example, the entitlement of our NEOs to payment of any unpaid portion of the severance amount indicated in the table as owing following a termination without cause or resignation for good reason is conditioned on the executives compliance with covenants not to engage in any business that competes with Viacom and not to solicit certain of our employees. In some cases, executives are required to mitigate and/or offset continuing compensation.
The employment agreements for each of the NEOs other than Mr. Redstone also contain covenants regarding cooperation in litigation proceedings and non-disparagement, covenants regarding non-disclosure of confidential information and recognition of Viacoms ownership of works of authorship resulting from their services (both of unlimited duration) and covenants concerning the executives ability to prepare or assist in the preparation of certain creative works.
Disability Benefits
In the event an NEO becomes disabled during the term of employment, the NEO may participate in our short-term disability program for up to 26 weeks, and may then participate in our long-term disability program. In addition to any accrued benefits and target bonus payable, Messrs. Dauman and Dooley would receive their full salary while participating in our short-term disability program (which we self-insure and would therefore pay), and then payments would be made by our long-term disability insurer up to a maximum amount per month until age 65. In addition to any accrued benefits and target bonus payable, Messrs. Redstone and Fricklas and Ms. White would participate in our short-term disability program on the same basis as any other employee, earning 100% of salary for the first 13 weeks of participation in the short-term disability program and 80% of salary for the second 13 weeks. Mr. Fricklas and Ms. White would receive payments from our long-term disability insurer up to a maximum amount per month, until age 65.
Compliance with Section 409A
Our NEOs are specified employees for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. As a result, without triggering adverse consequences, we cannot make payments of deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A to them within six months of termination of employment, subject to certain exceptions. We have agreed to delay the payment of any amounts required to be delayed for six months until we are permitted to make payment without triggering adverse consequences under Section 409A, and, in the case of Messrs. Dauman and Dooley, to pay interest on the amounts as to which payment was delayed at our highest borrowing rate in effect on the termination date.
Potential Excise Tax Gross-Up
If Viacom were to experience a change-in-control contemplated by Section 280G of the Code, and the employment of Messrs. Dauman or Dooley terminated, or they resigned for good reason, in connection with the change-in-control, certain of the payments or benefits we owe Messrs. Dauman and Dooley may be subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code. Upon entering into their employment agreements in 2006, we agreed to pay directly or reimburse them for any such excise tax (including interest and penalties) that is imposed and to make an additional cash payment (a gross-up payment) that will place them in the same after-tax economic position that they would have been in if the payment or benefit had not been subject to the excise tax.
63
The amounts we estimate for the excise tax and gross-up payment are set forth in footnote (6) to the table under Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason above, based on the assumption that Viacom had experienced a change-in-control within the meaning of Section 280G on December 31, 2009, and that Mr. Daumans and Mr. Dooleys employment terminated in connection with that change-in-control. These amounts are calculated based on an excise tax rate of 20%, a 35% federal income tax rate, a 1.45% Medicare tax rate, a 8.97% state income tax rate and, in the case of Mr. Dauman, a 3.648% New York City tax rate. We also assumed that no amounts owed would be discounted as attributable to reasonable compensation and did not attribute any value to their agreement to a non-competition or any other restrictive covenants.
64
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
We grant equity awards to employees under the Viacom Inc. 2006 Long-Term Management Incentive Plan, as amended and restated December 2, 2008 (the LTMIP), and to Outside Directors under the Viacom Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors and the Viacom Inc. 2006 RSU Plan for Outside Directors. The director plans both use the same share reserve. Each of these equity compensation plans was approved by Former Viacom as our sole stockholder prior to the separation and became effective at the time of the separation.
The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2009 concerning the shares of Class B common stock authorized for issuance under these equity compensation plans. No shares of Class A common stock are authorized for issuance under the equity compensation plans.
Plan Category |
Number of securities to be (a) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) |
Number of securities (c) |
|||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders: |
||||||||||
LTMIP |
35,794,756 | $ | 45.78 | 50,541,683 | (1)(3) | |||||
Director Plans |
217,727 | $ | 43.87 | 357,093 | (2) | |||||
Total |
36,012,483 | $ | 45.77 | 50,898,776 |
(1) | Includes as of December 31, 2009 (a) 6,109,422 shares reserved for issuance of outstanding restricted share units and performance share units and (b) 44,432,261 shares reserved for future issuance of stock options, restricted share units, performance share units and/or other equity awards. |
(2) | Includes as of December 31, 2009 (a) 46,304 shares reserved for issuance of outstanding restricted share units and (b) 310,789 shares reserved for future issuance of stock options and restricted share units to Outside Directors. |
(3) | Assumes PSU awards are paid at target, except for awards for which the measurement period has been completed. |
65
The following Report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent Viacom specifically incorporates such information by reference.
The Audit Committee Charter states that the purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of Viacom and the audit of Viacoms consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee also assists the Boards oversight of:
| the quality and integrity of Viacoms consolidated financial statements and related disclosures; |
| Viacoms compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; |
| the independent auditors qualifications and independence; and |
| the performance of Viacoms internal audit function and independent auditor. |
Under the Charter, the Audit Committees authorities and duties include, among other things:
| direct responsibility for the appointment, retention, termination, compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor, which reports directly to the Committee, and the sole authority to pre-approve all services provided by the independent auditor; |
| reviewing and discussing Viacoms annual audited financial statements, quarterly financial statements and earnings releases with management and its independent auditor; |
| reviewing our risk assessment and risk management processes; |
| reviewing the internal audit functions organization, responsibilities, audit plan and results; |
| reviewing with management, the internal auditor and the independent auditor the effectiveness of Viacoms internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; and |
| reviewing with management material legal matters and the effectiveness of Viacoms procedures to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. |
The Audit Committee also discusses certain matters with the independent auditor on a regular basis, including Viacoms critical accounting policies, certain communications between the independent auditor and management, and the qualifications of the independent auditor.
Viacoms management is responsible for the preparation of its consolidated financial statements, the financial reporting processes and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting. The independent auditor is responsible for performing an audit of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited consolidated financial statements to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). The Audit Committee monitors and oversees these processes.
As part of its oversight role, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and Viacoms independent auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), Viacoms audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 and disclosures under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition in Viacoms Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
The Audit Committee has also discussed with PwC all required communications, including the matters required to be discussed pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (The Auditors Communications with Those Charged with Governance), as amended and adopted by the PCAOB in Rule 3200T. In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by PCAOB Rule 3526 (Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence) and has discussed with PwC the firms independence from Viacom.
66
Based on the Audit Committees review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in Viacoms Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Members of the Audit Committee
as of December 31, 2009
Frederic V. Salerno, Chair
Blythe J. McGarvie
Charles E. Phillips, Jr.
67
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR AND FEES PAID
Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Services Provided by PwC
All audit and non-audit services provided to us by PwC in 2009 were pre-approved by either our full Audit Committee or the Chair of the Audit Committee. Under our pre-approval policies and procedures in effect during 2009, the Audit Committee Chair was authorized to pre-approve the engagement of PwC to provide certain specified audit and non-audit services, and the engagement of any accounting firm to provide certain specified audit services, up to a maximum amount of $200,000 per engagement, with the total amount of such authorizations outstanding that have not been reported to the Audit Committee not to exceed an aggregate of $750,000. The Audit Committee receives reports on the engagements approved by the Chair pursuant to this delegation.
PwC Fees
The following table presents the fees paid by Viacom and its subsidiaries for services rendered by PwC for the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
2009 | 2008 | |||||||
Audit Fees(1) |
$ | 11,634,000 | $ | 11,555,000 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees(2) |
863,000 | 843,500 | ||||||
Tax Fees(3) |
442,000 | 1,129,270 | ||||||
All Other Fees(4) |
3,000 | 31,750 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 12,942,000 | $ | 13,559,520 |
(1) | Represents audit fees billed for each of 2009 and 2008. Audit fees in 2009 reflect the audit of our financial statements, statutory audits and services provided in connection with our debt offerings in 2009. Audit fees in 2008 reflect the audit of our financial statements and statutory audits. |
(2) | Represents audit-related fees billed in each of 2009 and 2008. Audit-related fees in 2009 principally related to services in connection with financial due diligence, agreed upon procedures, financial statement audits of employee benefit plans and reviews of controls surrounding accounting information systems. Audit-related fees in 2008 principally related to services in connection with agreed upon procedures, financial statement audits of employee benefit plans and reviews of controls surrounding accounting information systems. |
(3) | Represents tax fees billed in each of 2009 and 2008. Tax fees in 2009 and 2008 principally related to domestic and international tax compliance, transfer pricing and other consulting services. |
(4) | Represents all other fees billed in each of 2009 and 2008. All other fees in 2009 and 2008 principally related to PwC reference materials, seminars and publications purchased by us. |
68
ITEM 2 RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
The Audit Committee has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as the independent auditor of our consolidated financial statements for our fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, subject to stockholder ratification. The Audit Committee has reviewed PwCs independence from us as described in the Report of the Audit Committee. In appointing PwC as our independent auditor for our fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and in recommending that our stockholders ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee has considered whether the non-audit services provided by PwC were compatible with maintaining PwCs independence from us and has determined that such services do not impair PwCs independence.
Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. They will also be available to respond to questions at the Annual Meeting.
In accordance with the Boards recommendation, the proxy holders will vote the shares of Class A common stock covered by valid and timely received proxies FOR the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as our independent auditor for our fiscal year 2010, unless the stockholder gives instructions to the contrary.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as our independent auditor for our fiscal year 2010.
69
ITEM 3 APPROVAL OF THE VIACOM INC. 2006 LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011
Our 2006 Long-Term Management Incentive Plan, which we refer to in this section as the LTMIP or the Plan, is the program under which we grant equity awards to management employees. These awards are designed to motivate management to focus on long-term growth and the performance of our stock price, and help us retain key employees through multi-year vesting schedules. The LTMIP currently terminates on January 1, 2011, and we are proposing to amend it so that we will be able to continue to use it to make equity awards to our employees for an additional five years. In addition, we are proposing certain other amendments to the Plan as described below. The amended Plan will be effective January 1, 2011, subject to stockholder approval.
We are not asking our stockholders to make additional shares of Class B Common Stock available under the LTMIP. Instead, we propose to reduce the number of shares available under the Plan, as described below.
The following description of the LTMIP, as amended and restated as of January 1, 2011, should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Plan, a copy of which we have attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit A.
Proposed Amendments to the LTMIP
The Board has approved, and recommends that our stockholders approve, the following principal amendments to the LTMIP:
· | an extension of the expiration of the plan from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2016; and |
· | a reduction in the total number of shares of Class B Common Stock available under the Plan so that no more than 30 million shares are available for awards made on or after January 1, 2011; |
Ø | As of December 31, 2009, we had 44.4 million shares available for issuance under the Plan. Equity awards granted during 2010 will count against this current limit. The reduced limit will be effective January 1, 2011. |
The amendments approved by the Board are reflected in the description of the LTMIP that follows.
Plan Generally
The LTMIP is an omnibus equity compensation plan under which we can make awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted and unrestricted shares of our Class B common stock, restricted share units (RSUs), phantom shares, dividend equivalents, performance awards and other equity-related awards and cash payments. We describe these awards in more detail below.
Purpose and Eligibility
The purpose of the LTMIP is to benefit and advance the interests of our company and its subsidiaries by rewarding certain employees for their contributions to our financial success and thereby motivate them to continue to contribute in the future. We may make LTMIP awards to any employee of Viacom or any of its subsidiaries. Approximately 1,400 employees of Viacom and its subsidiaries, including officers, are currently eligible to receive awards under the LTMIP. The LTMIP, however, does not create any entitlement on the part of any officer or other employee to receive awards, and the Compensation Committee (the Committee) in its discretion selects which employees receive awards from time to time.
Administration
The Committee administers the LTMIP. Subject to certain limitations, the Committee may delegate its authority under the plan to one or more of its members or one or more officers of Viacom. The Committee selects the employees who receive awards and determines the type of award to be granted, the number of shares subject to awards or the cash amount payable in connection with an award and the terms and conditions of these awards in accordance with the terms of the LTMIP. The Committee has full authority to interpret the LTMIP and to establish rules for its administration.
70
Limit on shares available under the LTMIP; Sub-limits
As originally adopted, effective January 1, 2006, a maximum of 50 million shares of our Class B common stock were available for issuance under the LTMIP pursuant to awards granted on or after January 1, 2006. In addition, as of January 1, 2006, we had approximately 42 million equity awards outstanding from grants made to our employees prior to our separation from CBS Corporation that were transferred to the LTMIP as Substitute Awards in connection with the separation.
As of December 31, 2009, approximately 44.4 million shares remain available for future awards under the LTMIP. The Board has amended the LTMIP to reduce the number of shares that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted on or after January 1, 2011 to the lesser of (i) the number of shares that remain available for awards as of January 1, 2011 without giving effect to the amendment and (ii) 30 million.
Shares of our Class B common stock delivered under the LTMIP may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares or, subject to conditions that the Committee may determine, shares beneficially owned by one or more stockholders of Viacom. Shares of Class B common stock are the only shares authorized for delivery pursuant to awards under the LTMIP.
When the Committee grants an award, the number of shares in respect of which the award is granted is counted against the plan limit. Any shares that are:
· | tendered or withheld to pay the exercise price of an award or to satisfy any tax or other withholding obligations with respect to an award, |
· | subject to an award (or portion of an award) that expires or is canceled, forfeited or terminated without having been exercised or paid, or |
· | subject to an award (or portion of an award) that is settled in consideration other than shares of Class B common stock, including cash |
are added back to the plan limit and are available for future awards.
Shares underlying awards granted in substitution for awards previously granted by an entity that Viacom acquires, or with which Viacom merges or otherwise combines, or from which Viacom is spun-off or otherwise separated, are not counted against the plan limit. In particular, awards under the LTMIP that were granted in connection with our separation from CBS in substitution for stock options, restricted share units and other awards of the former Viacom Inc. (renamed CBS Corporation) granted prior January 1, 2006 were not counted against the original 50 million share limit.
The reduction in the number of shares available for awards on or granted after January 1, 2011 will have no affect on awards that are granted before that date.
In addition to the overall limit on shares, the LTMIP contains several sub-limits:
· | A maximum of 25 million shares of our Class B common stock may be delivered pursuant to restricted shares and certain other full value awards during each 5-year term of the plan (i.e., January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010 and January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2015). Of this number, Viacom may not issue more than 50,000 shares as unrestricted our Class B common stock. |
· | The maximum aggregate number of shares that we may issue in conjunction with awards of incentive stock options is 5 million. |
· | The maximum aggregate number of shares that we may grant to any single participant during each five-year term of the plan (i.e., January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010 and January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2015) pursuant to stock option, stock appreciation rights or phantom share awards that are not subject to performance goals is 7.5 million. |
71
· | For awards other than stock option, stock appreciation rights or phantom share awards that are intended to satisfy the Section 162(m) exception for qualified performance-based compensation, the maximum amount that may be granted to any participant during any performance period is $50 million for awards denominated in cash and 1,000,000 shares of our Class B common stock for awards denominated in shares. Under certain circumstances, the unused portion of the maximum dollar or share amount may be carried forward to the next performance period for which a participant is granted awards intended to satisfy the Section 162(m) exception. |
The same add back rules that apply to the overall plan limit generally apply to the sub-limits. Both the overall plan limit and the sub-limits described above are subject to adjustment in the event of certain significant transactions, as described under the caption Adjustments below.
The closing price of the Class B Common Stock on April 15, 2010 was $36.06.
Term of the LTMIP
Unless earlier terminated by action of the Board of Directors, the LTMIP will terminate on January 1, 2016. No additional grants may be made under the LTMIP after that date.
Awards Generally
Stock Options
Stock options can be either incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code or non-qualified stock options that do not qualify as incentive stock options for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Committee determines whether stock options will be incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options. To date, we have awarded only nonqualified stock options.
Subject to certain limits described below, the Committee determines the number and kind of stock options granted, the exercise price of the stock options, the applicable vesting schedule, the period during which they can be exercised and any applicable performance goal requirements. The Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate the vesting date of any stock option.
No stock option may be granted with a per share exercise price of less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of our Class B common stock on the date of grant. (This limitation does not apply to stock options granted in substitution for outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by Viacom to the extent that the substitute award preserves the intrinsic value of the predecessor award).
The LTMIP establishes a maximum term of ten years for stock options, so that, unless the Committee determines otherwise, no stock option can be exercised more than ten years after the date of grant. The Committees current practice is to fix a maximum term of eight years for stock options.
The LTMIP sets forth general rules concerning the effects of a termination of employment on a participants stock options, including the period, if any, following termination of employment during which vested stock options may be exercised. The Committee has authority to alter these default rules for any participant or group of participants.
Repricing Prohibited
The Committee may not reprice any stock option. To reprice means any of the following or any other action that has the same effect: (i) amending a stock option to reduce its exercise price, (ii) canceling a stock option at a time when its exercise price exceeds the fair market value of a share of Class B common stock in exchange for a stock option, restricted share or other equity award unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a merger, acquisition, spin off or other similar corporate transaction, or (iii) taking any other action that is treated as a repricing under U.S. GAAP.
Stock Appreciation Rights
The Committee may grant stock appreciation rights alone or in tandem with other awards. No stock appreciation right may be granted with a per share exercise price of less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of our Class B common stock on the date of grant unless it is awarded in substitution for outstanding awards previously
72
granted by an entity that Viacom acquires (subject to the same limitations that apply to stock options). Stock appreciation rights granted alone or in tandem with awards other than stock options will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the Committee as set forth in the applicable award agreement.
Stock appreciation rights granted in tandem with a stock option entitle the holder to surrender the related stock option in lieu of exercising it and to receive an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of a share of our Class B common stock over the aggregate exercise price of the stock option. We will pay this amount in cash or, in the discretion of the Committee, in shares of our Class B common stock or other Viacom securities A participant may not exercise a stock appreciation right granted in tandem with a stock option unless the related stock option is then exercisable.
Restricted Shares and RSUs
The Committee may grant restricted shares and RSUs under the LTMIP. A restricted share is a share of our Class B common stock granted to a participant subject to restrictions the Committee determines. A RSU is a contractual right to receive, in the discretion of the Committee, a share of our Class B common stock (or other Viacom securities designated by the Committee) or a cash payment equal to the fair market value of a share of our Class B common stock, subject to terms and conditions as determined by the Committee.
Restricted shares and RSUs will be subject to a vesting schedule, and may also include performance goal requirements. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, restricted shares or RSUs whose vesting is contingent solely on the continued employment of the participant may not fully vest in less than four years from the date of grant. A participant generally has the same rights with respect to his or her restricted shares as a holder of shares of our Class B common stock except that the participant cannot sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares until they have vested.
Upon termination of employment with Viacom and its subsidiaries for any reason, a participant will forfeit unvested restricted shares and RSUs unless otherwise provided in the participants employment agreement or the Committee determines otherwise. The Committee may in its discretion accelerate the dates on which restricted shares and RSUs vest.
Phantom Shares
Phantom shares are contractual rights to receive the appreciation value of a specified number of shares of Class B common stock. The appreciation value is determined by reference to the fair market value of a share of our Class B common stock on the date of grant and is calculated as of valuation dates specified for the award; the Committee, moreover, may establish a limit on the maximum amount payable in respect of any phantom share award. The Committee determines the valuation dates (not later than the eighth anniversary of the date of grant), the vesting schedule and any limit on the maximum amount of appreciation value payable for the phantom shares. The appreciation value of a phantom share will be paid to a participant in cash or, in the discretion of the Committee, in shares of our Class B common stock (or other Viacom securities).
Performance Awards
The Committee may grant performance awards in the form of either performance shares or performance share units. The Committee sets the terms and conditions of the performance awards and may condition the granting, vesting and/or exercisability of performance awards on the achievement of performance goals during the applicable performance period. Performance shares are payable in shares of our Class B common stock and performance share units are payable in cash or, in the discretion of the Committee, in shares of our Class B common stock (or other Viacom securities).
Performance Goals
The Committee may condition the grant, vesting and/or exercisability of any award, including, but not limited to, performance shares and performance units, upon the attainment of performance targets related to one or more performance goals over a specified performance period. The Committee may reduce any award below the maximum amount that could be paid based on the degree to which the performance targets related to the award were attained. However, the Committee may not increase any award that is intended to satisfy the exception for qualified performance-based compensation set forth in Section 162(m) above the maximum amount that could be paid based on the attainment of the applicable performance targets.
73
Any awards that are intended to satisfy the Section 162(m) exception for qualified performance-based compensation will be subject to the achievement of financial goals based on one or more of the following financial metrics chosen by the Committee in its discretion:
· | OIBDA (operating income before depreciation and amortization); |
· | OIBDA without intercompany eliminations; |
· | operating income; |
· | free cash flow; |
· | net earnings; |
· | net earnings from continuing operations; |
· | earnings per share; |
· | revenue; |
· | net revenue; |
· | operating revenue; |
· | total shareholder return; |
· | share price; |
· | return on equity; |
· | return in excess of cost of capital; |
· | profit in excess of cost of capital; |
· | return on assets; |
· | return on invested capital; |
· | net operating profit after tax; |
· | operating margin; |
· | profit margin; |
or any combination thereof. For any awards that are not intended to satisfy the Section 162(m) exception for qualified performance-based compensation, the Committee may establish performance targets based on other performance goals.
The Committee may base performance targets on objectives related to individual performance, company performance, or the performance of a subsidiary, division, department, region, function or business unit. The performance targets may be determined on an absolute or cumulative basis or on a percentage of improvement over time. In addition, a performance target may be measured in terms of company performance (or of the performance of a subsidiary, division, department, region, function or business unit) considered independently, or measured relative to selected peer companies or a market index.
If, during a performance period, a significant corporate transaction or other extraordinary event occurs that has the effect, as determined by the Committee, of distorting the applicable performance criteria (including, without limitation, changes in accounting standards) the Committee shall adjust or modify the calculation of the performance goals, to the extent necessary to prevent reduction or enlargement of the participants awards for the applicable performance period.
Dividend Equivalents and Other Awards
The Committee may allow any recipient of an award under the LTMIP to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, interest, dividends or dividend equivalent payments with respect to the number of shares of our Class B common stock covered by the award. The Committee may also provide for the amount of such interest, dividend or dividend equivalent to be reinvested and/or subject to the same terms and conditions (including vesting and forfeiture provisions) as the related award.
The Committee may grant other equity-related awards or cash payments, based on one or more criteria it determines, that are consistent with the purpose of the LTMIP and the interests of our company. The Committee may also establish procedures for the deferral of payment of awards.
74
Adjustments
In the event of a merger, consolidation, stock split, reverse stock-split, dividend, distribution, combination, reclassification, reorganization, split up, spin-off or recapitalization that changes the character or amount of our Class B common stock or other changes in the corporate structure, equity securities or capital structure of Viacom, the Committee will make any adjustments it deems appropriate. The adjustments may, as determined by the Committee, relate to (i) the number and kind of securities subject to any outstanding award, (ii) the exercise price or purchase price, if any, of any outstanding award or the initial value of any outstanding phantom shares, (iii) the maximum number or kind of securities that may be granted under the LTMIP or under the applicable plan sub-limits or (iv) the aggregate number or kind of securities that may be granted to any participant. These adjustments will not be considered a repricing under the LTMIP.
Transfer and Rights Restrictions
Participants may not transfer their rights with respect to any award granted under the LTMIP other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or beneficiary designation. The Committee may, however, permit other transferability, subject to any conditions and limitations that it imposes. During a participants lifetime, the participants rights with respect to any award may be exercised only by the participant or his or her permitted transferee. No award will be construed as giving any employee a right to receive future awards or to continued employment with Viacom.
Amendment and Termination of the Plan
The Viacom Board of Directors may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the LTMIP, in whole or in part. No amendment will be effective without stockholder approval if stockholder approval is required by law or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. No amendment or termination may materially adversely alter or affect the terms of any then-outstanding awards without the consent of the affected participant, unless the amendment or termination is necessary or desirable to comply with, or to take into account changes in, applicable law or to ensure that a participant is not required to recognize income for federal tax purposes in respect of an award prior to its payment or subject to interest or additional tax under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
Repayment (Clawback)
The Committee may include a provision in any award that would require a participant to return gains realized on the award if the participant materially breaches specified obligations under one or more agreements with Viacom during the participants employment or during the one-year period after the termination of the participants employment, or if any financial or other performance criteria on the basis of which the award was granted are restated or adjusted. In addition, the Committee may require a participant to return all or a portion of any payment made in respect of any performance award if the performance goals used to determine the grant, vesting and/or exercisability of the award are subsequently restated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of the performance award or any payment thereunder.
New Plan Benefits
We cannot currently determine the benefits or number of shares subject to awards under the LTMIP that the Committee may grant in the future to our executives and employees, as these awards are either subject to the sole discretion of the Committee or contemplated as a target value amount in employment agreements with certain of our executives and employees, in which case, the equivalent number of shares will depend on the fair market value of our Class B common stock at various future dates.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion is intended as a general summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences associated with the grant and exercise of stock options. This summary does not purport to be complete and does not address any applicable state or local tax law.
75
Non-Qualified Stock Options
In general, a participant does not recognize taxable income upon the grant of a non-qualified stock option, and no deduction is available to Viacom at that time. When a participant exercises a non-qualified stock option, the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price will be taxable to the participant as ordinary income. Viacom generally may deduct the amount included in the gross income of the participant. The participants tax basis in shares acquired upon the exercise of a stock option will equal the exercise price plus the amount includable in the participants gross income as ordinary income. When a participant disposes of shares acquired upon exercise of a non-qualified stock option, any amount realized in excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise generally will be treated as a capital gain and will be long-term or short-term, depending on the holding period of the shares. The holding period commences upon exercise of the non-qualified stock option. If the amount received is less than such fair market value, the loss will be treated as a long-term or short-term capital loss, depending on the holding period of the shares. Certain additional rules may apply if the participant pays the exercise price of a non-qualified stock option in shares or other securities the participant already owns.
Incentive Stock Options
In general, a participant does not recognize taxable income and no tax deduction is available to Viacom upon either the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. If a participant holds the shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option for more than one year after the transfer of the shares upon exercise of the incentive stock option and more than two years from the date of the grant of the incentive stock option, which we refer to as the ISO Holding Period, the difference between the exercise price and the amount the participant realizes upon the sale of the shares will be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss. In this case, no deduction will be available to Viacom. If the participant disposes of shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option before the expiration of the ISO Holding Period, the participant will realize ordinary income, and Viacom will be entitled to a deduction, on the portion of the gain, if any, equal to the difference between the exercise price of the incentive stock option and the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise or, if less, the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the adjusted basis of the stock. Any further gain or loss from an arms-length sale or exchange will be taxable as a long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending upon the holding period of the shares before disposition. Certain additional rules may apply if the participant pays the exercise price of an incentive stock option in shares or other securities the participant already owns.
The excess of the fair market value at the time of exercise of the shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option over the exercise price of the stock option may constitute an adjustment to taxable income for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. Special rules for computing alternative minimum taxable income also may apply in certain cases where there are subsequent sales of shares in disqualifying dispositions and to determine the basis of the shares for purposes of computing alternative minimum taxable income on the subsequent sale of the shares.
In accordance with the Boards recommendation, the proxy holders will vote the shares of Class A common stock covered by valid and timely received proxies FOR the approval of the Amended and Restated LTMIP, unless the stockholder gives instructions to the contrary.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the Amended and Restated LTMIP.
76
ITEM 4 APPROVAL OF THE VIACOM INC. 2011 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR
OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
The Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board annually assess the appropriate amount and structure of director compensation in light of then current competitive practice and other factors. In April 2010, in connection with this annual assessment, our independent compensation consultant recommended to the Governance and Nominating Committee that the total amount of director compensation for the Outside Directors be increased, particularly since director compensation had not changed since 2005, and that this increase take the form of additional equity compensation. The Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board approved the changes to director compensation discussed in Director CompensationChanges to Director Compensation Programs in 2010, and the Board adopted the Viacom Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (the Stock Option Plan), which will be effective January 1, 2011, subject to stockholder approval.
The Stock Option Plan, if approved by our stockholders, will replace our 2006 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, which was in place from January 1, 2006 through January 1, 2011.
The following description of the Stock Option Plan should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the plan, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit B.
Plan Generally
The Stock Option Plan provides that Outside Directors receive automatic annual grants of stock options to purchase shares of Class B common stock on January 31st of each year. The number of stock options received each year will be equal in value to $70,000, calculated using the Black-Sholes valuation method.
The Stock Option Plan does not provide for prorated awards. Thus, directors who join our Board after January 31 of any year will receive their first award on January 31 of the following year.
The number of shares of Class B common stock that may be issued under the Stock Option Plan, when aggregated with the number of shares of Class B common stock that may be issued under the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors (the RSU Plan), which is described in Item 5 of this proxy statement, is 500,000 shares. This is the same number of shares that was authorized under the corresponding director plans in place from January 1, 2006 through January 1, 2011. We are not asking for an increase in this 5-year share limit even though the value of our director equity awards will increase beginning in 2011. In addition, we are not carrying forward for use under the Stock Option Plan and RSU Plan any shares that may remain available for awards under the predecessor plans when they expire on January 1, 2011.
The issuance of Class B common stock under the Stock Option Plan in any manner will result in a decrease in the number of shares of Class B common stock that thereafter may be issued under the plan by the number of shares as to which the stock options are exercised. Shares of Class B common stock covered by expired or terminated stock options will not be counted towards the plan limit and will be available for new grants under the Stock Option Plan or the RSU Plan.
Shares of Class B common stock issued under the Stock Option Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. Unless terminated earlier by action of our Board, the Stock Option Plan will terminate on the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the plan, and no additional grants of stock options may be made after that date.
Purpose of the Plan
The purpose of the Stock Option Plan is to benefit and advance the interests of Viacom and its subsidiaries by obtaining and retaining the services of qualified persons who are not employees of Viacom or any of its subsidiaries to serve as directors and to induce them to make a maximum contribution to the success of Viacom and its subsidiaries.
Administration
The Stock Option Plan will generally be administered by the members of the Board who are not Outside Directors.
77
Terms of the Stock Options
Each annual grant of stock options will vest in three equal annual installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant, provided the recipient of the stock options remains a Viacom director on such dates.
The per share exercise price of the annual stock option grants is equal to the fair market value of a share of our Class B common stock on the date of grant or, if that date is not a business day, on the last business day preceding the date of grant on which the fair market value can be determined. No stock option granted under the Stock Option Plan may be exercised more than 10 years after the date of grant. Each share of Class B common stock purchased through the exercise of a stock option granted under the Stock Option Plan must be paid in full in cash on or before the settlement date for such share of Class B common stock.
If a director leaves the Board for any reason, including death or permanent disability, the stock options that were vested on the date of termination may be exercised for up to one year following termination, but in no event after the stock options have otherwise expired.
Substitute Stock Options
The Board may provide for substitute stock options under the Stock Option Plan upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding stock options previously granted by a company or other entity all or a portion of the assets or equity of which is acquired by Viacom, with which Viacom merges or otherwise combines or from which Viacom is spun-off or otherwise separated. Substitute stock options may have a per share exercise price of less than the fair market value of a share of Class B common stock on the date of grant (with certain limitations). Substitute stock options may have substantially the same terms and conditions, including without limitation provisions relating to vesting, exercise periods, expiration, payment, forfeiture, and the consequences of termination of employment and changes in control, as the awards that they replace. Viacom shares subject to substitute stock options will not count against the 500,000 combined share limit of the Stock Option Plan and the RSU Plan.
Adjustments
In the event of any merger, consolidation, stock split, dividend (other than a regular cash dividend), distribution, combination, recapitalization or reclassification that changes the character or amount of the Class B common stock or any other changes in the corporate structure, equity securities or capital structure of Viacom, the Board shall make such proportionate adjustments as it deems appropriate to the number and kind of securities subject to stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan, the exercise price of the stock options, the number and kind of securities subject to the annual grants under the Stock Option Plan, and the maximum number and kind of securities available for issuance under the Stock Option Plan. The Board may, in its sole discretion, also make such other adjustments as it deems appropriate in order to preserve, but not increase, the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Stock Option Plan upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing events. The Boards determination as to what, if any, adjustments will be made will be final and binding on Viacom and all participants. All adjustments will be conducted in a manner consistent with any adjustments under the RSU Plan.
Transfer Restrictions, Etc.
The Stock Option Plan provides that the rights of a participant with respect to stock options will not be transferable other than:
· | by will or the laws of descent and distribution, |
· | upon prior notice to Viacom, for transfers to members of the participants immediate family or trusts whose beneficiaries are members of the participants immediate family, provided that such transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes without consideration being received therefor, |
78
· | upon prior notice to Viacom, for transfers to a former spouse incident to a divorce, or |
· | for such other transfers as the Board may approve, subject to any conditions and limitations that it may, in its sole discretion, impose. |
No grant of stock options under the Stock Option Plan entitles the participant, the participants estate or a permitted transferee to any rights of a holder of shares of Class B common stock, except upon delivery of shares upon exercise of a stock option. No grant will be construed as giving the recipient the right to remain a member of our Board for any period of time, or at any particular rate of compensation.
Amendment and Termination of the Plan
The Board may at any time and from time to time alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, including, without limitation, amending the provisions for determining the amount of stock options to be issued to an Outside Director, provided that any amendment which under the requirements of applicable law or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is then listed must be approved by the stockholders of the Company will not be effective unless and until such stockholder approval has been obtained in compliance with such law or rule; and no termination, suspension, alteration or amendment of the Stock Option Plan that would adversely affect a participants rights under the Stock Option Plan with respect to any award of stock options made prior to such action shall be effective as to such participant unless he or she consents thereto, provided, however, that no such consent shall be required if the Board determines in its sole discretion that any such alteration, amendment, suspension or termination is necessary or advisable to comply with any law, regulation, ruling, judicial decision or accounting standards.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan will be non-qualified stock options and will not qualify as incentive stock options for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, a participant will not realize taxable income upon the grant of a stock option award under the Stock Option Plan, and no deduction generally is then available to Viacom. Upon exercise, the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price will be taxable to the participant as ordinary income. Viacom generally will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount the participant is required to include in the gross income. The participants tax basis in shares acquired upon exercise will equal the exercise price plus the amount includable in gross income as ordinary income. When a participant disposes of shares acquired upon exercise of a stock option award under the Stock Option Plan, any amount realized in excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise generally will be treated as a capital gain and will be long-term or short-term, depending on the holding period of the shares. The holding period commences upon exercise of the non-qualified stock option. If the amount received is less than such fair market value, the loss will be treated as a long-term or short-term capital loss, depending on the holding period of the shares. Certain additional rules may apply if the participant pays the exercise price of a stock option in shares or other securities previously owned by the participant.
New Plan Benefits
Only Outside Directors are eligible to receive awards of stock options under the Stock Option Plan. The estimated annual benefit that we expect to allocate to the Outside Directors, in the aggregate, under the Stock Option Plan is approximately $560,000, which assumes the total number of Outside Directors will continue to be eight. We cannot currently determine the number of shares subject to awards as the equivalent number of shares will depend on the fair market value of our Class B common stock at various future dates.
In accordance with the Boards recommendation, the proxy holders will vote the shares of Class A common stock covered by valid and timely received proxies FOR the approval of the Stock Option Plan, unless the stockholder gives instructions to the contrary.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors.
79
ITEM 5 APPROVAL OF THE VIACOM INC. 2011 RSU PLAN FOR OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
As discussed in Item 4, the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board annually assess the appropriate amount and structure of director compensation in light of then current competitive practice and other factors. In April 2010, in connection with this annual assessment, our independent compensation consultant recommended to the Governance and Nominating Committee that the total amount of director compensation for the Outside Directors be increased, particularly since director compensation had not changed since 2005, and that this increase take the form of additional equity compensation. The Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board approved the changes to director compensation discussed in Director CompensationChanges to Director Compensation Programs in 2010, and the Board adopted the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors, which will be effective January 1, 2011, subject to stockholder approval.
The RSU Plan, if approved by our stockholders, will replace our 2006 RSU Plan for Outside Directors, which was in place from January 1, 2006 through January 1, 2011.
The following description of the RSU Plan should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the plan, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit C.
Plan Generally
The RSU Plan provides that Outside Directors receive automatic annual grants of restricted share units (RSUs) of Class B common stock on January 31st of each year. The number of RSUs received each year will be determined by dividing (i) $70,000 by (ii) the fair market value of one share of Class B common stock on the date of grant or, if that date is not a business day, on the last business day preceding the date of grant on which the fair market value can be determined.
The RSU Plan does not provide for prorated awards. Thus, directors who join our Board after January 31 of any year will receive their first award on January 31 of the following year.
Each RSU represents a contractual right to receive one share of Class B Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the RSU Plan. RSUs will be settled exclusively in Class B Common Stock, with fractional shares payable in cash.
The number of shares of Class B common stock that may be issued under the RSU Plan, when aggregated with the number of shares of Class B common stock that may be issued under the Stock Option Plan, is 500,000 shares. This is the same number of shares that was authorized under the corresponding director plans in place from January 1, 2006 through January 1, 2011. We are not asking for an increase in this 5-year share limit even though the value of our director equity awards will increase beginning in 2011. In addition, we are not carrying forward for use under the Stock Option Plan and RSU Plan any shares that may remain available for awards under the predecessor plans when they expire on January 1, 2011.
The settlement of RSUs under the RSU Plan in any manner will result in a decrease in the number of shares of Class B common stock that thereafter may be issued under the plan by the number of shares issued upon such settlement. Shares of Class B common stock with respect to which RSUs lapse, expire or are canceled without being settled or are otherwise terminated may be regranted under the RSU Plan or the Stock Option Plan.
Shares of Class B common stock issued under the RSU Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. Unless terminated earlier by action of the Board, the RSU Plan will terminate on the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the plan, and no additional grants may be made after that date.
Purpose of the Plan
The purpose of the RSU Plan is to benefit and advance the interests of Viacom and its subsidiaries by obtaining and retaining the services of qualified persons who are not employees of Viacom or any of its subsidiaries to serve as directors and to induce them to make a maximum contribution to the success of Viacom and its subsidiaries.
80
Administration
The RSU Plan will generally be administered by the members of the Board who are not Outside Directors.
Terms of the Director RSUs
Each annual grant of RSUs will vest in full on the first anniversary of the date of grant. Subject to the following paragraph, upon vesting, Viacom will settle the RSUs by delivering the corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any. An Outside Director who ceases to serve on the Board for any reason will forfeit all of his or her unvested RSUs.
The RSU Plan permits recipients of RSUs to elect to defer settlement of the RSUs to a date after the vesting date. Outside Directors who elect to defer settlement of RSUs may elect to have their deferral settled in a single distribution or in three or five annual installments. The single distribution or first annual installment, as applicable, will be payable in accordance with the directors prior election on the later of (i) six months following the date of the directors termination of services on the Board for any reason and (ii) January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the directors service on the Board terminates for any reason.
Dividend Equivalents
The RSU Plan provides that dividend equivalents will be awarded with respect to the RSUs in the event Viacom pays a regular cash dividend with respect to shares of Class B common stock. Dividend equivalents will be credited in dollar amounts to a book entry account that Viacom will maintain on behalf of the Outside Directors.
Dividend equivalents will accrue on the RSUs until the RSUs vest, at which time they will be paid in shares of Class B common stock, based on the fair market value of Class B common stock on the vesting date, with any fractional shares paid in cash. Payment of dividend equivalents that have been credited to the recipients account will not be made with respect to any RSUs that do not vest and are canceled.
If an Outside Director elects to defer settlement of his or her RSUs, the dividend equivalents related to such RSUs will be credited to the recipients account and will be settled when the related RSUs are settled, and deferred RSUs will continue to earn dividend equivalents through the settlement date. These dividend equivalents will be converted on each anniversary of the original vesting date into additional whole and/or fractional RSUs, based on the fair market value of Class B common stock on the respective date, and these additional RSUs will be deferred and settled at the same time and in the same manner as the original underlying RSUs.
Substitute RSUs
The Board may provide for substitute RSUs under the RSU Plan upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company or other entity all or a portion of the assets or equity of which is acquired by Viacom, with which Viacom merges or otherwise combines or from which Viacom is spun-off or otherwise separated. Substitute RSUs may have substantially the same terms and conditions, including without limitation provisions relating to vesting, expiration, payment, forfeiture, and the consequences of termination of employment and changes in control, as the awards that they replace. Viacom shares subject to substitute RSUs will not count against the 500,000 combined share limit of the RSU Plan and the Stock Option Plan.
Adjustments
In the event of a merger, consolidation, stock split, dividend (other than a regular cash dividend), distribution, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, split-up or spin-off that changes the character or amount of the Class B common stock or any other changes in the corporate structure, equity securities or capital structure of Viacom, the Board will make such proportionate adjustments as it deems appropriate to the number and kind of securities subject to outstanding awards granted under the RSU Plan, the number and kind of securities subject to the annual RSU grants under the RSU Plan, and the maximum number and kind of securities available for issuance under the RSU Plan. The Board may, in its sole discretion, also make such other adjustments as it deems appropriate in order to preserve, but not increase, the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available hereunder upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing events. The Boards
81
determination as to what, if any, adjustments shall be made shall be final and binding on Viacom and all participants. All adjustments will be conducted in a manner consistent with any adjustments under the Stock Option Plan.
Transfer Restrictions, Etc.
The RSU Plan provides that the rights of a participant with respect to awards granted under the RSU Plan are not transferable other than:
· | by will or the laws of descent and distribution, |
· | upon prior notice to Viacom, for transfers to members of the participants immediate family or trusts whose beneficiaries are members of the participants immediate family, provided that such transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes without consideration being received therefor, |
· | upon prior notice to Viacom, for transfers to a former spouse incident to a divorce, or |
· | for such other transfers as the Board may approve, subject to any conditions and limitations that it may, in its sole discretion, impose. |
No grant of awards under the RSU Plan entitles a participant, a participants estate or a permitted transferee to any rights of a holder of shares of Class B common stock, except upon delivery of shares upon settlement of an award. No grant will be construed as giving the recipient the right to remain a member of the Board for any period of time, or at any particular rate of compensation.
Amendment and Termination of the Plan
The Board may at any time alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, including, without limitation, amend the provisions for determining the amount of RSUs to be issued to an Outside Director, provided that any amendment which under the requirements of applicable law or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the shares of Class B Common Stock are then listed must be approved by the stockholders of the Company shall not be effective unless and until such stockholder approval has been obtained in compliance with such law or rule; and no alteration, amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan that would adversely affect a participants rights under the RSU Plan with respect to any award made prior to such action will be effective as to such Participant unless he or she consents thereto. A participants consent will not be required, however, if the Board determines in its sole discretion that any such alteration, amendment, suspension or termination is necessary or advisable to comply with any law, regulation, ruling, judicial decision or accounting standards or to ensure that RSUs or dividend equivalents are not subject to federal, state or local income tax prior to settlement.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
Outside Directors generally will not recognize income when they are awarded RSUs or when dividend equivalents are credited on their behalf. Outside Directors will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of Class B common stock and any cash delivered when their RSUs are settled. Viacom will generally be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount.
New Plan Benefits
Only Outside Directors are eligible to receive awards of RSUs under the RSU Plan. The estimated annual benefit that we expect to allocate to the Outside Directors, in the aggregate, under the RSU Plan is approximately $560,000, which assumes the total number of Outside Directors will continue to be eight. We cannot currently determine the number of shares subject to awards as the equivalent number of shares will depend on the fair market value of our Class B common stock at various future dates.
In accordance with the Boards recommendation, the proxy holders will vote the shares of Class A common stock covered by valid and timely received proxies FOR the approval of the RSU Plan, unless the stockholder gives instructions to the contrary.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors.
82
As of the date of this proxy statement, management does not intend to present and has not been informed that any other person intends to present any matter for action not specified in this proxy statement. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the proxy holders will act on those matters in accordance with their best judgment.
In order for proposals by stockholders to be considered for inclusion in the proxy card and proxy statement relating to the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such proposals must be received on or before September 23, 2010 at our principal executive offices at 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036-5794, attention: Michael D. Fricklas, Secretary.
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
MICHAEL D. FRICKLAS |
Secretary |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting
We have sent or are sending the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, which indicates that this Notice of 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, our Stockholder Letter and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, with financial statements and schedules thereto, will be made available at http://proxymaterials.viacom.com. If you wish to receive paper or e-mail copies of any of these materials, please follow the instructions on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. These materials are also available on our website at www.viacom.com.
83
Exhibit A
VIACOM INC.
2006 LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
(Amended and Restated on April 12, 2007, December 2, 2008 and effective January 1, 2011)
ARTICLE I
GENERAL
Section 1.1 Purpose.
The purpose of the Viacom Inc. 2006 Long-Term Management Incentive Plan (the Plan) is to benefit and advance the interests of Viacom Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) by rewarding certain employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries for their contributions to the financial success of the Company and its Subsidiaries and thereby motivate them to continue to make such contributions in the future.
Section 1.2 Definitions.
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Administrator shall mean the individual or individuals to whom the Committee delegates authority under the Plan in accordance with Section 1.3(c).
(b) Agreement shall mean the written agreement or certificate or other documentation governing an Award under the Plan, which shall contain terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan and which shall incorporate the Plan by reference.
(c) Appreciation Value shall mean the excess, if any, of the Value of a Phantom Share on the applicable Valuation Date or date of termination of employment or of the Participants death, Retirement or Permanent Disability (as described in Section 5.5(a) hereof), as the case may be, over the Initial Value of such Phantom Share.
(d) Awards shall mean any Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, unrestricted shares of Class B Common Stock, Phantom Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Performance Awards or Other Awards or a combination of any of the above.
(e) Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) Cause shall (i) have the meaning provided in a Company or a Subsidiary employment agreement that is in effect and applicable to the Participant, or (ii) mean, if there is no such employment agreement or if such employment agreement contains no such term, unless the Committee determines otherwise, (A) conduct constituting embezzlement, misappropriation or fraud, whether or not related to the Participants employment with the Company or a Subsidiary; (B) conduct constituting a felony, whether or not related to the Participants employment with the Company or a Subsidiary; (C) conduct constituting a financial crime, material act of dishonesty or material unethical business conduct, involving the Company or a Subsidiary; (D) willful unauthorized disclosure or use of Company or Subsidiary confidential information; (E) the failure to obey a material lawful directive that is appropriate to the Participants position from a superior in his or her reporting line or the Board; (F) the failure or refusal to substantially perform the Participants material employment obligations (other than any such failure or refusal resulting from the Participants disability); (G) the willful failure to cooperate with a bona fide internal investigation or an investigation by regulatory or law enforcement authorities, whether or not related to employment with the Company or a Subsidiary, after being instructed by the
A-1
Company or a Subsidiary to cooperate; (H) the willful destruction of or failure to preserve documents or other material known to be relevant to any investigation referred to in subparagraph (G) above; or (I) the willful inducement of others to engage in the conduct described in subparagraphs (A) (H).
(g) Class B Common Stock shall mean shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
(h) Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any successor law thereto, and the rules, regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
(i) Committee shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board (or such other Committee(s) as may be appointed or designated by the Board) to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 1.3 of the Plan.
(j) Date of Grant shall mean the effective date of the grant of an Award as set forth in the applicable Agreement.
(k) Dividend Equivalent shall mean a right to receive a payment based upon the value of the regular cash dividend paid on a specified number of shares of Class B Common Stock as set forth in Section 8.1 hereof. Payments in respect of Dividend Equivalents may be in cash, or, in the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Class B Common Stock or other securities of the Company designated by the Committee or in a combination of cash, shares of Class B Common Stock or such other securities.
(l) Earnings Per Share shall have the meaning provided by GAAP.
(m) Effective Date shall have the meaning set forth in Article XIII.
(n) Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including any successor law thereto.
(o) Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on a given date shall be, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the 4:00 p.m. (New York time) closing price on such date on the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is then listed.
(p) Free Cash Flow shall mean the Companys Operating Income before depreciation and amortization, less cash interest, taxes paid, working capital requirements and capital expenditures.
(q) GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
(r) Initial Value shall mean the value of a Phantom Share as specified by the Committee as of the Date of Grant or the Value of a Phantom Share calculated as of the Date of Grant or such earlier date as the Committee may determine.
(s) Net Earnings shall have the meaning provided in GAAP.
(t) Net Earnings from Continuing Operations shall have the meaning provided in GAAP.
(u) Net Revenue shall have the meaning provided by GAAP.
(v) OIBDA shall mean the Companys Operating Income before depreciation and amortization.
(w) OIBDA Without Inter-Company Eliminations shall mean the Companys Operating Income before depreciation, amortization and inter-company eliminations.
(x) Operating Income shall have the meaning provided by GAAP.
A-2
(y) Operating Revenue shall have the meaning provided by GAAP.
(z) Other Awards shall mean any form of award authorized under Section 8.2 of the Plan, other than a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Share, Restricted Share Unit, unrestricted share of Class B Common Stock, Phantom Share, Performance Award or Dividend Equivalent.
(aa) Outstanding Phantom Share shall mean a Phantom Share granted to a Participant for which the Valuation Date has not yet occurred.
(bb) Outstanding Stock Option shall mean a Stock Option granted to a Participant which has not yet been exercised and which has not yet expired or been terminated in accordance with its terms.
(cc) Participant shall mean any employee who has met the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 1.4 and to whom an Award has been made under the Plan.
(dd) Performance Award shall mean any award of Performance Shares or Performance Share Units pursuant to Article VI hereof.
(ee) Performance Goals shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2 hereof.
(ff) Performance Period shall mean a period of time over which performance is measured as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
(gg) Performance Share shall mean an award granted pursuant to Article VI hereof of a share of Class B Common Stock subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Agreement.
(hh) Performance Share Units shall mean an award granted pursuant to Article VI hereof, payable, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in shares of Class B Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and in the applicable Agreement.
(ii) Permanent Disability shall have the same meaning as such term or a similar term has in the long-term disability policy maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary thereof for the Participant and that is in effect on the date of the onset of the Participants Permanent Disability, unless the Committee determines otherwise, in its discretion; provided, however, with respect to grants of Incentive Stock Options, permanent disability shall have the meaning given it under the rules governing Incentive Stock Options under the Code.
(jj) Phantom Share shall mean a contractual right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article V to receive an amount equal to the Appreciation Value at such time, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and the applicable Agreement.
(kk) Restricted Share shall mean a share of Class B Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Article III, which is subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 3.3 hereof and to such other terms, conditions and restrictions as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Agreement.
(ll) Restricted Share Unit shall mean a contractual right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article IV to receive, in the discretion of the Committee, shares of Class B Common Stock, a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of Class B Common Stock, or other securities of the Company designated by the Committee or a combination of cash, shares of Class B Common Stock or such other securities, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and in the applicable Agreement.
(mm) Retirement shall mean the resignation or termination of employment after attainment of an age and years of service required for payment of an immediate pension pursuant to the
A-3
terms of any qualified defined benefit retirement plan maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary in which the Participant participates; provided, however, that no resignation or termination prior to a Participants 60th birthday shall be deemed a retirement unless the Committee so determines in its sole discretion; and provided further that the resignation or termination of employment other than a termination of employment for Cause after attainment of age 60 shall be deemed a retirement if the Participant does not participate in a qualified defined benefit retirement plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(nn) Revenue shall have the meaning provided by GAAP.
(oo) Section 162(m) shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code.
(pp) Section 162(m) Exception shall mean the exception under Section 162(m) for qualified performance-based compensation.
(qq) Section 162(m) Performance Goals shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2 hereof.
(rr) Section 409A shall mean Section 409A of the Code.
(ss) Separation shall mean the series of transactions by which the Company was separated from the former Viacom Inc. (renamed CBS Corporation), which prior to such transactions had been the parent corporation of the Company.
(tt) Separation Date shall mean the closing date of the transactions by which the Separation was effected.
(uu) Stock Appreciation Right shall mean a contractual right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article II to receive an amount determined in accordance with Section 2.6 of the Plan, subject to such other terms and conditions as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Agreement.
(vv) Stock Option shall mean a contractual right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article II to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock at such time and price, and subject to such other terms and conditions as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Agreement. Stock Options may be Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or Non-Qualified Stock Options which do not meet the requirements of such Code section.
(ww) Subsidiary shall mean a corporation (or a partnership or other enterprise) in which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the outstanding shares of stock normally entitled to vote for the election of directors (or comparable equity participation and voting power).
(xx) Substitute Awards shall mean Awards granted upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company or other entity all or a portion of the assets or equity of which is acquired by the Company, with which the Company merges or otherwise combines or from which the Company is spun-off or otherwise separated.
(yy) Valuation Date shall mean the date on which the Appreciation Value of a Phantom Share shall be measured and fixed in accordance with Section 5.2(a) hereof.
(zz) The Value of a Phantom Share shall be determined by reference to the average Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock. The average Fair Market Value on a given date of a share of Class B Common Stock shall be determined over the 30-day period ending on such date or such other period as the Committee may decide shall be applicable to a grant of Phantom Shares, determined by dividing (i) by (ii), where (i) shall equal the sum of the Fair Market Values on each day that the Class B Common Stock was traded and a closing price was reported during such period, and
A-4
(ii) shall equal the number of days, as determined by the Committee for the purposes of determining the average Fair Market Value for such Phantom Shares, on which the Class B Common Stock was traded and a closing price was reported during such period.
Section 1.3 Administration of the Plan.
(a) Board or Committee to Administer. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall consist of at least two members of the Board. If any member of the Committee does not meet the qualification requirements of the Section 162(m) Exception, then, with respect to any Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of the Section 162(m) Exception, the Committee shall act through a subcommittee consisting of at least such number of directors as is required from time to time to satisfy the Section 162(m) Exception, and each such subcommittee member shall satisfy the qualification requirements of such exception. If any member of the Committee (or subcommittee, as applicable) is found not to have met the qualification requirements of the Section 162(m) Exception, any actions taken or Awards granted by the Committee (or subcommittee, as applicable) shall not be invalidated by such failure to so qualify.
(b) Powers of the Committee.
(i) The Committee shall adopt such rules as it may deem appropriate in order to carry out the purpose of the Plan. All questions of interpretation, administration and application of the Plan shall be determined by the Committee. The determination of the Committee shall be final and binding as to all matters relating to the Plan.
(ii) The Committee shall have authority to select Participants from among the class of eligible persons specified in Section 1.4 below, to determine the type of Award to be granted, to determine the number of shares of Class B Common Stock subject to an Award or the cash amount payable in connection with an Award, and to determine the terms and conditions of each Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Except as provided in Section 6.4, the Committee shall also have the authority to amend the terms of any outstanding Award or waive any conditions or restrictions applicable to any Award; provided, however, that no amendment shall materially impair the rights of the holder thereof without the holders consent except that the Committee shall have the right at any time, without a holders consent and whether or not the rights of the holder in an Award are materially adversely affected thereby, to amend or modify the Plan or any Award under the Plan in any manner that the Committee considers necessary or advisable to comply with any law, regulation, ruling, judicial decision, accounting standards, regulatory guidance or other legal requirement. With respect to any restrictions in the Plan or in any Agreement that are based on the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code, the Section 162(m) Exception, the rules of any exchange upon which the Companys securities are listed, or any other applicable law, rule or restriction to the extent that any such restrictions are no longer required, the Committee shall have the sole discretion and authority to grant Awards that are not subject to such restrictions and/or to waive any such restrictions with respect to outstanding Awards.
(c) Delegation by the Committee. The Committee may, but need not, from time to time delegate some or all of its authority under the Plan to an Administrator consisting of one or more members of the Committee or of one or more officers of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate its authority (i) to make Awards to employees (A) who are subject on the date of the Award to the reporting rules under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, (B) whose compensation for such fiscal year may be subject to the limit on deductible compensation pursuant to Section 162(m) or (C) who are officers of the Company who are delegated authority by the Committee hereunder, or (ii) under Article XI of the Plan. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Committee specifies at the time of such delegation or thereafter. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed as obligating the Committee to delegate authority to an Administrator, and the Committee may at any time rescind the authority delegated to an Administrator appointed hereunder or appoint a new Administrator. At all times, the Administrator appointed under this Section 1.3(c) shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Committee. Any action undertaken by the Administrator in accordance with the Committees delegation of authority shall have the same force and effect as if undertaken
A-5
directly by the Committee, and any reference in the Plan to the Committee shall, to the extent consistent with the terms and limitations of such delegation, be deemed to include a reference to the Administrator.
(d) Non-Uniform Determinations. The Committees determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Agreements, as to the persons receiving Awards under the Plan, and the terms and provisions of Awards under the Plan.
(e) No Liability. Subject to applicable law: (i) no member of the Committee nor any Administrator shall be liable to any Participant or any other person for anything whatsoever in connection with the administration of the Plan except such persons own willful misconduct; (ii) under no circumstances shall any member of the Committee or any Administrator be liable for any act or omission of any other member of the Committee or any other Administrator; and (iii) in the performance of its functions with respect to the Plan, the Committee and any Administrator shall be entitled to rely upon information and advice furnished by the Companys officers, the Companys accountants, the Companys counsel and any other party the Committee or such Administrator deems necessary, and no member of the Committee or such Administrator shall be liable for any action taken or not taken in good faith reliance upon any such advice.
Section 1.4 Eligible Persons.
Awards may be granted to any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. An individuals status as an Administrator will not affect his or her eligibility to receive Awards under the Plan.
Section 1.5 Class B Common Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a) Plan Limit. The shares of Class B Common Stock subject to Awards under the Plan shall be made available from authorized but unissued Class B Common Stock, from Class B Common Stock issued and held in the treasury of the Company or, subject to such conditions as the Committee may determine, from shares beneficially owned by one or more stockholders of the Company. Subject to adjustment under Article IX hereof, (i) the total number of shares of Class B Common Stock that may be delivered under the Plan (the Section 1.5 Limit) through December 31, 2010 shall not exceed 50 million and (ii) effective January 1, 2011, the Section 1.5 Limit shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the number of shares of Class B Common Stock that remains available to be delivered under the Plan pursuant to this Section 1.5 on January 1, 2011 and (B) 30 million.
(b) Plan Sub-Limits. Subject to adjustment under Article IX hereof, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock that may be delivered in conjunction with awards of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, unrestricted shares of Class B Common Stock, Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Performance Share Units and Other Awards during each five-year period under the Plan (i.e, each of the five-year period starting on the initial Effective Date and the five-year period beginning on the 2011 Effective Date) is 25 million, provided that, subject to adjustment under Article IX hereof, no more than 50,000 shares may be issued as unrestricted Class B Common Stock. Subject to adjustment under Article IX hereof, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock that may be delivered in conjunction with awards of Incentive Stock Options is 5 million.
(c) Rules Applicable to Determining Shares Available for Issuance. For purposes of determining the number of shares of Class B Common Stock that remain available for delivery under the Plan, the following rules apply:
(i) In connection with the granting of an Award (other than an Award denominated in dollars), the number of shares of Class B Common Stock in respect of which the Award is granted or denominated shall be counted against the Section 1.5 Limit (and, if applicable, the limits set forth in Section 1.5(b)).
A-6
(ii) To the extent permitted by law or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is listed, the number of shares of Class B Common Stock that shall be added back to the Section 1.5 Limit (and, if applicable, the limits set forth in Section 1.5(b)) and shall again be available for Awards, shall be the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock that are (A) tendered in payment of the exercise price of an Award or to satisfy a Participants tax or other withholding obligations with respect to an Award; (B) subject to an Award or any portion of an Award which for any reason expires or is cancelled, forfeited, or terminated without having been exercised or paid; (C) withheld from any Award to satisfy a Participants tax or other withholding obligations or to pay the exercise price of an Award; and (D) subject to an Award or any portion of an Award that is settled in consideration other than shares of Class B Common Stock (including cash). Anything to the contrary in this Section 1.5(c) notwithstanding, if an Award is settled in whole or in part by delivery of fewer than the full number of shares of Class B Common Stock that was counted against the Section 1.5 Limit (and, if applicable, the limits set forth in Section 1.5(b)) pursuant to clause (i) (as such number may have been adjusted from time to time), the excess, if any, of the number of shares of Class B Common Stock so counted over the number of shares of Class B Common Stock delivered to the Participant upon exercise or settlement shall no longer be counted against the Section 1.5 Limit (and, if applicable, the limits set forth in Section 1.5(b)) and shall again be available for Awards.
(iii) Any shares of Class B Common Stock underlying Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Section 1.5 Limit (and, if applicable, the limits set forth in Section 1.5(b)).
Section 1.6 Section 162(m) Limits on Awards to Participants.
(a) Limits on Certain Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Phantom Shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock that may be granted to any Participant during each five-year period under the Plan (i.e, each of the five-year period starting on the initial Effective Date and the five-year period beginning on the 2011 Effective Date) with respect to Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or Phantom Shares is 7.5 million (regardless of whether Stock Appreciation Rights and Phantom Shares are settled in cash, Class B Common Stock, other Company securities or a combination thereof), subject to adjustment pursuant to Article IX hereof.
(b) Limits on other Awards. The maximum amount of Awards (other than those Awards set forth in Section 1.6(a)) intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exception that may be awarded to any Participant in respect of any Performance Period is $50 million (with respect to Awards denominated in cash) and 1,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (with respect to Awards denominated in shares of Class B Common Stock), subject to adjustment pursuant to Article IX hereof. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if in respect of any Performance Period, the Committee grants to a Participant Awards having an aggregate dollar value and/or number of shares less than the maximum dollar value and/or number of shares that could be paid or awarded to such Participant based on the degree to which the relevant Performance Goals were attained, the excess of such maximum dollar value and/or number of shares over the aggregate dollar value and/or number of shares actually subject to Awards granted to such Participant shall be carried forward and shall increase the maximum dollar value and/or number of shares that may be awarded to such Participant in respect of the next Performance Period in respect of which the Committee grants to such Participant an Award intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exception, subject to adjustment pursuant to Article IX hereof.
Section 1.7 Agreements.
The Committee shall determine and set forth in an Agreement the terms and conditions of each Award (other than an Award of unrestricted Class B Common Stock). Each Agreement (i) shall state the Date of Grant and the name of the Participant, (ii) shall specify such other terms of the Award as appropriate for inclusion in the Agreement, (iii) shall incorporate the Plan by reference and (iv) shall be delivered or otherwise made available to the Participant. The Agreement shall contain such other terms not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may deem advisable. The Committee shall have the authority to adjust the terms of the Agreements relating to an Award in a jurisdiction outside of the United States (i) to comply with the laws of such jurisdiction or (ii) to obtain more favorable tax treatment for the Company and/or any Subsidiary, as applicable, and/or for the Participants in such jurisdiction. Such authority shall be notwithstanding the fact that the requirements of the local jurisdiction may be more restrictive than the terms set forth in the Plan.
A-7
ARTICLE II
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO STOCK OPTIONS
Section 2.1 Grants of Stock Options.
The Committee may from time to time grant to eligible employees Stock Options on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and on such other terms and conditions as are not inconsistent with the purposes and provisions of the Plan, as the Committee, in its discretion, may from time to time determine. Each Agreement covering a grant of Stock Options shall specify the number of Stock Options granted, the Date of Grant, the exercise price of such Stock Options, whether such Stock Options are Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options, the period during which such Stock Options may be exercised, any vesting schedule, any Performance Goals and any other terms that the Committee deems appropriate.
Section 2.2 Exercise Price.
The Committee shall establish the per share exercise price of a Stock Option on the Date of Grant in such amount as the Committee shall determine; provided that such exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on the Date of Grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the per share exercise price of a Stock Option that is a Substitute Award may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on the Date of Grant, provided that the excess of the aggregate intrinsic value of the Substitute Award, determined immediately after the transaction giving rise to the substitution or assumption of the predecessor award, does not exceed the aggregate intrinsic value of such predecessor award, determined immediately before such transaction, and such substitution complies with applicable laws and regulations, including the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is then listed and Section 409A or Section 424 of the Code, as applicable. The exercise price of any Stock Option will be subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Article IX of the Plan. Any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 2.2 shall be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.
Section 2.3 Exercise of Stock Options.
(a) Exercisability. Stock Options shall be exercisable only to the extent the Participant is vested therein, subject to any restrictions that the Committee shall determine. The Committee shall establish the vesting schedule applicable to Stock Options, which vesting schedule shall specify the period of time, the increments in which a Participant shall vest in the Stock Options and/or any applicable Performance Goal requirements, subject to any restrictions that the Committee shall determine and specify in the applicable Agreement (or any employment agreement applicable to the Participant). The Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at which a Participant vests in his Stock Options.
(b) Option Period. For each Stock Option granted, the Committee shall specify the period during which the Stock Option may be exercised.
(c) Registration Restrictions. A Stock Option shall not be exercisable, no transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock shall be made to any Participant, and any attempt to exercise a Stock Option or to transfer any such shares shall be void and of no effect, unless and until (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, has been duly filed and declared effective pertaining to the shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Stock Option, and the shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Stock Option have been duly qualified under applicable federal or state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines, or the Participant, upon the request of the Committee, provides an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Committee, that such registration or qualification is not required as a result of the availability of an exemption from registration or qualification under such laws. Without limiting the foregoing, if at any time the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Stock Option is required under any federal or state law or on any securities exchange or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is
A-8
necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, delivery or purchase of such shares pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option, such Stock Option shall not be exercised in whole or in part unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.
(d) Exercise in the Event of Termination of Employment, Retirement, Death or Permanent Disability.
(i) Termination other than for Cause, or due to Retirement, Death or Permanent Disability. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.3 or as otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event that (A) the Participant ceases to be an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by reason of the voluntary termination by the Participant or the termination by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than for Cause, his Outstanding Stock Options may be exercised to the extent then exercisable until the earlier of six months after the date of such termination or the Expiration Date, (B) the Participant ceases to be an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by reason of the Participants Retirement, the Participant may exercise his outstanding Stock Options to the extent exercisable on the date of Retirement until the earlier of the third anniversary of such date or the Expiration Date; (C) the Permanent Disability of the Participant occurs, his Outstanding Stock Options may be exercised to the extent exercisable upon the date of the onset of such Permanent Disability until the earlier of the third anniversary of such date or the Expiration Date; and (D) a Participant dies during a period during which his Stock Options could have been exercised by him, his Outstanding Stock Options may be exercised to the extent exercisable at the date of death by the person who acquired the right to exercise such Stock Options by will or the laws of descent and distribution, permitted transfer or beneficiary designation until the earlier of the second anniversary of the date of death or the Expiration Date. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.3 or as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon the occurrence of an event described in clauses (A), (B), (C) or (D) of this Section 2.3(d)(i), all rights with respect to Stock Options that are not vested as of such event will be relinquished.
(ii) Termination for Cause. If a Participants employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries ends due to a termination of employment for Cause then, unless the Committee in its discretion determines otherwise, all Outstanding Stock Options, whether or not then vested, shall terminate effective as of the date of such termination.
(iii) Maximum Exercise Period. Anything in this Section 2.3(d) to the contrary notwithstanding and unless the Committee determines otherwise, no Stock Option shall be exercisable after the earlier to occur of (A) the expiration of the option period set forth in the applicable Agreement or (B) the tenth anniversary of the Date of Grant thereof. If the date determined in accordance with the preceding sentence is not a business day, the Stock Options may be exercised up to and including the last business day before such date.
Section 2.4 Payment of Purchase Price Upon Exercise.
Every share purchased through the exercise of a Stock Option shall be paid for in full on or before the settlement date for the shares of Class B Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of the Stock Options in cash or, in the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Class B Common Stock or other securities of the Company designated by the Committee, in a combination of cash, shares or such other securities or in any other form of valid consideration that is acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion. If the Agreement so provides, such exercise price may also be paid in whole or in part using a net share settlement procedure or through the withholding of shares subject to the Stock Option with a value equal to the exercise price. In accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Company for this purpose, a Stock Option may also be exercised through a cashless exercise procedure approved by the Company from time to time, involving a broker or dealer, that affords Participants the opportunity to sell immediately some or all of the shares underlying the exercised portion of the Stock Option in order to generate sufficient cash to pay the exercise price of the Option.
A-9
Section 2.5 Repricing of Stock Options.
The Committee may not reprice any Stock Option. Reprice means any of the following or any other action that has the same effect: (i) amending a Stock Option to reduce its exercise price, (ii) canceling a Stock Option at a time when its exercise price exceeds the Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock in exchange for a Stock Option, Restricted Share or other equity award unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a merger, acquisition, spin-off or other similar corporate transaction, or (iii) taking any other action that is treated as a repricing under GAAP, provided that nothing in this Section 2.5 shall prevent the Committee from making adjustments pursuant to Article IX.
Section 2.6 Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) Generally. The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights alone or in tandem with other Awards.
(b) Stock Appreciation Rights Granted In Tandem with Stock Options. Any Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with a Stock Option shall be granted at the time of the grant of the Stock Option. The Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related Stock Option and shall be exercisable only at such times and to such extent as the related Stock Option is exercisable. A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the holder to surrender to the Company the related Stock Option (in whole or in part) unexercised and receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Class B Common Stock subject to the surrendered portion of such Stock Option, determined as of the day preceding the surrender of such Stock Option, over the aggregate exercise price of the portion of the Stock Option so surrendered. Such amount shall be paid in cash, or in the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Class B Common Stock or other securities of the Company designated by the Committee or in a combination of cash, shares of Class B Common Stock or such other securities.
(c) Stock Appreciation Rights Granted Alone or In Tandem with Awards Other Than Stock Options. Subject to the next sentence, Stock Appreciation Rights granted alone or in tandem with Awards other than Stock Options shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish at or after the time of grant and set forth in the applicable Agreement. The Committee shall establish the per share exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right granted alone on the Date of Grant in such amount as the Committee shall determine; provided that such exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on the Date of Grant. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, the per share exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on the Date of Grant; provided that the excess of the aggregate intrinsic value of the Substitute Award, determined immediately after the transaction giving rise to the substitution or assumption of the predecessor award, does not exceed the aggregate intrinsic value of such predecessor award, determined immediately before such transaction, and such substitution complies with applicable laws and regulations, including the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is then listed and Section 409A or Section 424 of the Code, as applicable. The exercise price of any Stock Appreciation Right will be subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII of the Plan. Any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 2.6(c) shall be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.
ARTICLE III
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO RESTRICTED SHARES
Section 3.1 Grants of Restricted Shares.
The Committee may from time to time grant to eligible employees Restricted Shares on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and on such other terms and conditions as are not inconsistent with the purposes and provisions of the Plan, as the Committee, in its discretion, may from time to time determine. Each Agreement covering a grant of Restricted Shares shall specify the number of Restricted Shares granted, the Date
A-10
of Grant, the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for such Restricted Shares, the vesting schedule (as provided for in Section 3.2 hereof) and any Performance Goals for such Restricted Shares and any other terms that the Committee deems appropriate.
Section 3.2 Vesting.
The Committee shall establish the vesting schedule applicable to Restricted Shares granted hereunder, which vesting schedule shall specify the period of time, the increments in which a Participant shall vest in the Restricted Shares and/or any applicable Performance Goal requirements, subject to any restrictions that the Committee shall determine and specify in the applicable Agreement, provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Restricted Shares that vest contingent solely on the requirement of continued employment shall not fully vest in less than three years from the Date of Grant.
Section 3.3 Rights and Restrictions Governing Restricted Shares.
The Participant shall have all rights of a holder as to such shares of Class B Common Stock (including, to the extent applicable, the right to receive dividends (as described in Section 3.8) and to vote), subject to the following restrictions: (a) the Participant shall not be entitled to be registered on the books and records of the Company as a stockholder until such shares have vested; (b) none of the Restricted Shares may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of until such shares have vested; and (c) except as otherwise provided in Section 3.6 below, all unvested Restricted Shares shall be immediately forfeited upon a Participants termination of employment with the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason or the Participants death, Retirement or Permanent Disability.
Section 3.4 Adjustment with Respect to Restricted Shares.
Any other provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee may, in its discretion, at any time accelerate the date or dates on which Restricted Shares vest. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, remove any and all restrictions on such Restricted Shares whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in applicable law, the rules of any stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is listed or other changes in circumstances arising after the Date of Grant, such action is appropriate.
Section 3.5 Delivery of Restricted Shares.
On the date on which Restricted Shares vest, all restrictions contained in the Agreement covering such Restricted Shares and in the Plan shall lapse as to such Restricted Shares. Restricted Share Awards issued hereunder may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee in its discretion shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, book-entry registration or issuance of one or more stock certificates. If stock certificates are issued, such certificates shall be delivered to the Participant or such certificates shall be credited to a brokerage account if the Participant so directs; provided, however, that such certificates shall bear such legends as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine to be necessary or advisable in order to comply with applicable federal or state securities laws.
Section 3.6 Termination of Employment, Retirement.
Unless otherwise provided in a Participants employment agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, in the event that the Participants employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries terminates prior to the date or dates on which Restricted Shares vest, the Participant shall forfeit all unvested Restricted Shares as of the date of such event, unless the Committee determines otherwise and provides that some or all of such Participants unvested Restricted Shares shall vest as of the date of such event or some other date or dates.
Section 3.7 Grants of Unrestricted Shares.
Subject to the limit set forth in the proviso in Section 1.5(b) (as such limit may be adjusted under Article IX hereof), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, make awards of unrestricted Class B Common Stock to eligible employees in recognition of outstanding achievements and performance.
A-11
Section 3.8 Delivery of Dividend Payments.
Subject to the provisions of this Plan and any Agreement, the recipient of an Award of Restricted Shares may, if so determined by the Committee, be entitled to receive dividends with respect to the number of shares of Class B Common Stock covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee shall determine the payment schedule for such amounts (if any) and may provide that such amounts (if any) shall accrue and be paid at the time that the related Award vests and is payable. The terms of any deferral or accrual of such amounts (if any) shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Section 409A.
ARTICLE IV
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
Section 4.1 Grants of Restricted Share Units.
The Committee may from time to time grant Restricted Share Units on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and on such other terms and conditions as are not inconsistent with the purposes and provisions of the Plan as the Committee, in its discretion, may from time to time determine. Each Restricted Share Unit awarded to a Participant shall correspond to one share of Class B Common Stock. Each Agreement covering a grant of Restricted Share Units shall specify the number of Restricted Share Units granted, the vesting schedule (as provided for in Section 4.2 hereof) for such Restricted Share Units and any Performance Goals and any other terms that the Committee deems appropriate.
Section 4.2 Vesting.
The Committee shall establish the vesting schedule applicable to Restricted Share Units granted hereunder, which vesting schedule shall specify the period of time, the increments in which a Participant shall vest in the Restricted Share Units and/or any applicable Performance Goal requirements, subject to any restrictions that the Committee shall determine and specify in the applicable Agreement, provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Restricted Share Units that vest contingent solely on the requirement of continued employment shall not fully vest in less than three years from the Date of Grant.
Section 4.3 Adjustment with Respect to Restricted Share Units.
Any other provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee may, in its discretion, at any time accelerate the date or dates on which Restricted Share Units vest.
Section 4.4 Settlement of Restricted Share Units.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, on the date on which Restricted Share Units vest, all restrictions contained in the Agreement covering such Restricted Share Units and in the Plan shall lapse as to such Restricted Share Units and the Restricted Share Units will be payable, at the discretion of the Committee, in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to such Restricted Share Units, in shares of Class B Common Stock or in other securities of the Company designated by the Committee or in a combination of cash, shares of Class B Common Stock or such other securities. Restricted Share Units paid in Class B Common Stock may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee in its discretion shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, book-entry registration or issuance of one or more stock certificates. If stock certificates are issued, such certificates shall be delivered to the Participant or such certificates shall be credited to a brokerage account if the Participant so directs; provided, however, that such certificates shall bear such legends as the Company may determine to be necessary or advisable in order to comply with applicable federal or state securities laws. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, in no event shall payment pursuant to this Section 4.4 occur later than March 15th of the year following the year in which the Restricted Share Units are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture for purposes of Section 409A.
A-12
Section 4.5 Termination of Employment.
Unless otherwise provided in a Participants employment agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, in the event that the Participants employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries terminates prior to the date or dates on which Restricted Share Units vest, the Participant shall forfeit all unvested Restricted Share Units as of the date of such event, unless the Committee determines otherwise and provides that some or all of such Participants unvested Restricted Share Units shall vest as of the date of such event or some other date or dates. In the case of the Participants death, payment in respect of the Participants Restricted Share Units shall be made in the manner provided in Section 4.4 to the person or persons who acquired the right to receive such payment by will or the laws of descent and distribution or by permitted transfer or beneficiary designation.
ARTICLE V
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO PHANTOM SHARES
Section 5.1 Grants of Phantom Shares.
The Committee may from time to time grant to eligible employees Phantom Shares, the value of which is determined by reference to a share of Class B Common Stock, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and on such other terms and conditions as are not inconsistent with the purposes and provisions of the Plan as the Committee, in its discretion, may from time to time determine. Each Agreement covering a grant of Phantom Shares shall specify the number of Phantom Shares granted, the Initial Value of such Phantom Shares, the Valuation Dates, the number of Phantom Shares whose Appreciation Value shall be determined on each such Valuation Date, any applicable vesting schedule (as provided for in Section 5.3 hereof) and Performance Goals for such Phantom Shares, and any applicable limitation on payment (as provided for in Section 5.4 hereof) for such Phantom Shares and any other terms that the Committee deems appropriate.
Section 5.2 Appreciation Value.
(a) Valuation Dates; Measurement of Appreciation Value. The Committee shall provide in the Agreement for one or more Valuation Dates on which the Appreciation Value of the Phantom Shares granted pursuant to the Agreement shall be measured and fixed, and shall designate in the Agreement the number of such Phantom Shares whose Appreciation Value is to be calculated on each such Valuation Date. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, each Valuation Date shall be December 15 and no Valuation Date shall occur later than the year in which the eighth (8th) anniversary of the Date of Grant occurs.
(b) Payment of Appreciation Value. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.5 hereof, and subject to the limitation contained in Section 5.4 hereof, the Appreciation Value of a Phantom Share shall be paid to a Participant in cash, or in the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Class B Common Stock or other securities of the Company designated by the Committee or in a combination of cash, shares of Class B Common Stock or such other securities, as soon as practicable following the Valuation Date applicable to such Phantom Share. In no event shall a payment occur pursuant to the previous sentence later than the 60th day following the Valuation Date applicable to such Phantom Share.
Section 5.3 Vesting.
The Committee may establish a vesting schedule applicable to Phantom Shares granted hereunder, which vesting schedule shall specify the period of time, the increments in which a Participant shall vest in the Phantom Shares and/or any applicable Performance Goal requirements, subject to any restrictions that the Committee shall determine and specify in the applicable Agreement.
Section 5.4 Limitation on Payment.
The Committee may, in its discretion, establish and set forth in the Agreement a maximum dollar amount payable under the Plan for each Phantom Share granted pursuant to such Agreement.
A-13
Section 5.5 Termination of Employment, Retirement, Death or Permanent Disability.
(a) Termination Other Than for Cause, or due to Retirement, Death or Permanent Disability. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.5, if, before the occurrence of one or more Valuation Dates applicable to the Participants Outstanding Phantom Shares, (i) the Participants employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries ends by reason of the voluntary termination by the Participant, the termination by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than for Cause or the Participants Retirement or (ii) the Participants death or Permanent Disability occurs, then, unless the Committee, in its discretion, determines otherwise, the Appreciation Value of each Outstanding Phantom Share as to which the Participants rights are vested as of the date of such event shall be the lesser of (x) the Appreciation Value of such Phantom Share calculated as of the date of such event or (y) the Appreciation Value of such Phantom Share calculated as of the originally scheduled Valuation Date applicable thereto. Unless the Committee, in its discretion, determines otherwise and so specifies in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise in compliance with Section 409A, the Appreciation Value so determined for each such vested Outstanding Phantom Share shall then be payable to the Participant following the originally scheduled Valuation Date applicable thereto in accordance with Section 5.2(b) hereof. Upon the occurrence of an event described in this Section 5.5(a), unless the Committee determines otherwise, all rights with respect to Phantom Shares that are not vested as of such date will be relinquished.
(b) Termination for Cause. If a Participants employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries ends due to a termination of employment for Cause, then, unless the Committee, in its discretion, determines otherwise, all Outstanding Phantom Shares, whether or not vested, and any and all rights to the payment of Appreciation Value with respect to such Outstanding Phantom Shares shall be forfeited effective as of the date of such termination.
ARTICLE VI
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
Section 6.1 Grants of Performance Awards.
The Committee may from time to time grant to eligible employees Performance Awards consisting of Performance Shares or Performance Share Units on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and on such other terms and conditions as are not inconsistent with the purposes and provisions of the Plan, as the Committee, in its discretion, may from time to time determine. Performance Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to other Awards made under the Plan.
Section 6.2 Performance Goals.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the grant, vesting and/or exercisability of Performance Awards shall be conditioned, in whole or in part, on the attainment of performance targets, in whole or in part, related to one or more performance goals over a Performance Period. For any such Performance Awards that are intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exception, the performance targets on which the grant, vesting and/or exercisability are conditioned shall be selected by the Committee from among the following goals (the Section 162(m) Performance Goals): OIBDA, OIBDA Without Intercompany Eliminations, Operating Income, Free Cash Flow, Net Earnings, Net Earnings from Continuing Operations, Earnings Per Share, Revenue, Net Revenue, Operating Revenue, total shareholder return, share price, return on equity, return in excess of cost of capital, profit in excess of cost of capital, return on assets, return on invested capital, net operating profit after tax, operating margin, profit margin or any combination thereof. In addition, for any Awards not intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exception, the Committee may establish performance targets based on other performance goals as it deems appropriate (together with the Section 162(m) Performance Goals, the Performance Goals). The Performance Goals may be described in terms of objectives that are related to the individual Participant or objectives that are Company-wide or related to a Subsidiary, division, department, region, function or business unit and may be measured on an absolute or cumulative basis or on the basis of percentage of improvement over time, and may be measured in terms of Company performance (or performance of the applicable Subsidiary, division, department, region, function or business unit) or measured relative to selected peer companies or a market index.
A-14
Section 6.3 Performance Goals on Awards other than Performance Awards.
The Committee, in its sole discretion, may also require that the grant, vesting and/or exercisability of Awards other than Performance Awards be conditioned, in whole or in part, on the attainment of performance targets, in whole or in part, related to Performance Goals over a Performance Period, as described in Section 6.2.
Section 6.4 Discretion to Reduce Awards.
The Committee retains the right to reduce any Award below the maximum amount that could be paid based on the degree to which the Performance Goals related to such Award were attained. The Committee may not increase any Award intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exception in any manner that would adversely affect the treatment of the Award under the Section 162(m) Exception.
Section 6.5 Adjustment of Calculation of Performance Goals.
In the event that, during any Performance Period, any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, acquisition, divestiture, consolidation, spin-off, combination, liquidation, dissolution, sale of assets or other similar corporate transaction or event, or any other extraordinary event or circumstance occurs which has the effect, as determined by the Committee of distorting the applicable performance criteria involving the Company, including, without limitation, changes in accounting standards, the Committee shall adjust or modify the calculation of the Performance Goals, to the extent necessary to prevent reduction or enlargement of the Participants Awards under the Plan for such Performance Period attributable to such transaction, circumstance or event. All determinations that the Committee makes pursuant to this Section 6.5 shall be conclusive and binding on all persons for all purposes.
ARTICLE VII
SUBSTITUTE AWARDS
Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may provide for Substitute Awards under the Plan upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company or other entity all or a portion of the assets or equity of which is acquired by the Company, with which the Company merges or otherwise combines or from which the Company is spun-off or otherwise separated. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, Substitute Awards include Awards granted in connection with the Separation in substitution for stock options, restricted share units and other awards of the former Viacom Inc. (renamed CBS Corporation) granted prior to the Separation Date. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of the Plan to the contrary, Substitute Awards may have substantially the same terms and conditions, including without limitation provisions relating to vesting, exercise periods, expiration, payment, forfeiture, and the consequences of termination of employment and changes in control, as the awards that they replace.
ARTICLE VIII
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS AND OTHER AWARDS
Section 8.1 Dividend Equivalents.
Subject to the provisions of this Plan and any Agreement, the recipient of an Award (including, without limitation, any Award deferred pursuant to Section 10.9) may, if so determined by the Committee, be entitled to receive interest or dividends or Dividend Equivalents, with respect to the number of shares of Class B Common Stock covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee shall determine the payment schedule for such amounts (if any) and may provide that such amounts (if any) shall accrue and be paid at the time that the related Award vests and is payable. The terms of any deferral or accrual of such amounts (if any) shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Section 409A.
A-15
Section 8.2 Other Awards.
The Committee shall have the authority to specify the terms and provisions of other forms of equity-based or equity-related awards not described above that the Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan and the interests of the Company. Other Awards may also include cash payments under the Plan which may be based on one or more criteria determined by the Committee that are unrelated to the value of Class B Common Stock and that may be granted in tandem with, or independent of, Awards granted under the Plan.
ARTICLE IX
EFFECT OF CERTAIN CORPORATE CHANGES
In the event of a merger, consolidation, stock-split, reverse stock-split, dividend, distribution, combination, reclassification, reorganization, split-up, spin-off or recapitalization that changes the character or amount of the Class B Common Stock or any other changes in the corporate structure, equity securities or capital structure of the Company, the Committee shall make such adjustments, if any, to (i) the number and kind of securities subject to any outstanding Award, (ii) the exercise price or purchase price, if any, of any outstanding Award or the Initial Value of any Outstanding Phantom Shares, and (iii) the maximum number and kind of securities referred to in Section 1.5(a) and (b) and Section 1.6(a) and Section 1.6(b) of the Plan, in each case, as it deems appropriate. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, also make such other adjustments as it deems appropriate in order to preserve the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available hereunder. All determinations that the Committee makes pursuant to this Article IX shall be conclusive and binding on all persons for all purposes. Any adjustments made pursuant to this Article IX shall be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 No Rights to Awards or Continued Employment.
Nothing in the Plan or in any Agreement, nor the grant of any Award under the Plan, shall confer upon any individual any right to be employed by or to continue in the employment of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, nor to be entitled to any remuneration or benefits not set forth in the Plan or such Agreement, including the right to receive any future Awards under the Plan or any other plan of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof or interfere with or limit the right of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof to modify the terms of or terminate such individuals employment at any time for any reason. All grants of Awards and deliveries of shares of Class B Common Stock, cash or other property under the Plan shall constitute a special discretionary incentive payment to the Participant and shall not be required to be taken into account in computing the amount of salary or compensation of the Participant for the purpose of determining any contributions to or any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit-sharing, bonus, life insurance, severance or other benefit plan of the Company, or payments based on the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, or under any agreement with the Participant, unless the Company specifically provides otherwise.
Section 10.2 Restriction on Transfer.
The rights of a Participant with respect to any Award shall not be transferable, except by will, the laws of descent and distribution or beneficiary designation; provided that the Committee may permit other transferability, subject to any conditions and limitations that it may, in its sole discretion, impose. During a Participants lifetime, the Participants rights with respect to any Award may be exercised only by the Participant or by any transferee to whom the Award has been transferred in accordance with the preceding sentence.
Section 10.3 Taxes.
The Company or a Subsidiary thereof, as appropriate, shall have the right to deduct from all payments made under the Plan to a Participant, a Participants estate or a Participants permitted transferee or beneficiary any federal, state, local or other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments. The
A-16
Committee, in its discretion, may require, as a condition to the exercise or settlement of any Award or delivery of any certificate(s) for shares of Class B Common Stock, that an additional amount be paid in cash equal to the amount of any federal, state, local or other taxes required to be withheld as a result of such exercise or settlement. In addition, the Committee may establish procedures to allow Participants to satisfy such withholding obligations through a net share settlement procedure or the withholding of shares subject to the applicable Award, or through a cashless exercise procedure as described in Section 2.4. Any Participant who makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to have his Award taxed in accordance with such election must give notice to the Company of such election immediately upon making a valid election in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Code. Any such election must be made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Code.
Section 10.4 Stockholder Rights.
No Award under the Plan shall entitle a Participant or a Participants estate or permitted transferee or beneficiary to any rights of a holder of shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company, except as provided in Article III with respect to Restricted Shares, until the Participant, the Participants estate or the permitted transferee or beneficiary is registered on the books and records of the Company as a stockholder with respect to the exercise or settlement of such Award, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends or distributions on, or other events relating to, shares of Class B Common Stock subject to an Award for which the record date is prior to the date such registration.
Section 10.5 No Restriction on Right of Company to Effect Corporate Changes.
The Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Companys capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock whose rights are superior to or affect the Class B Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Class B Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
Section 10.6 Source of Payments.
The general funds of the Company shall be the sole source of cash settlements of Awards under the Plan and payments of Appreciation Value and the Company shall not have any obligation to establish any separate fund or trust or other segregation of assets to provide for payments under the Plan. Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between the Company and a Participant or any other person. To the extent a person acquires any rights to receive payments hereunder from the Company, such rights shall be no greater than those of an unsecured creditor.
Section 10.7 Exercise Periods Following Termination of Employment.
For the purposes of determining the dates on which Awards may be exercised following a termination of employment or following the Retirement, death or Permanent Disability of a Participant, the day following the date of such event shall be the first day of the exercise period and the Award may be exercised up to and including the last business day falling within the exercise period. Thus, if the last day of the exercise period is not a business day, then the last date an Award may be exercised is the last business day preceding the end of the exercise period.
Section 10.8 Repayments.
The Committee may include in any Agreement a provision requiring the Participant to return gains (as defined by the Committee) realized on Awards made under the Plan in the event that (i) the Committee determines that a material breach of specified obligations under one or more written agreements between a Participant and the Company or under any Company policy applicable to the Participant has occurred during the Participants employment or the one year period after termination of the Participants employment with the
A-17
Company or a Subsidiary, or (ii) any financial or other performance criteria on the basis of which the Award was granted are restated or adjusted. In addition, the Committee may require a Participant to return gains (as defined by the Committee) on any Performance Award if the Performance Goals used to determine the grant, vesting and/or exercisability of such Performance Award are subsequently restated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of the Performance Award or any payment thereunder.
Section 10.9 Deferral of Awards.
The Committee may establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred. Any such deferral shall be made in a manner that conforms to the requirements of Section 409A applicable to initial and subsequent deferrals, and the Committee shall set forth in writing (which may be in electronic form), on or before the date the applicable deferral election is required to be irrevocable in order to meet the requirements of Section 409A, the conditions under which such election may be made.
Section 10.10 Employment of Participant by Subsidiary.
Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the employment of a Participant who works for a Subsidiary shall terminate, for Plan purposes, on the date on which the Participants employing company ceases to be a Subsidiary.
Section 10.11 Section 409A.
If any provision of the Plan or an Agreement contravenes any regulations or Treasury guidance promulgated under Section 409A or could cause a Participant to be required to recognize income for United States federal income tax purposes prior to the time of payment, settlement or exercise of an Award or to be subject to any tax or interest under Section 409A, such provision of the Plan or any Agreement may be modified to maintain, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without the imposition of any tax or interest under Section 409A. Moreover, any discretionary authority that the Board or the Committee may have pursuant to the Plan shall not be applicable to an Award that is subject to Section 409A to the extent such discretionary authority will contravene Section 409A.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
The Plan may be terminated and may be altered, amended, suspended or terminated at any time, in whole or in part, by the Board; provided, however, that no alteration or amendment will be effective without stockholder approval if such approval is required by law or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is listed. No termination or amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of the Participant to whom an Award has been made, materially adversely affect the rights of such Participant in such Award. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Committee shall have broad authority to amend the Plan or any outstanding Award under the Plan without approval of the Participant to the extent necessary or desirable (i) to comply with, or take into account changes in, applicable tax laws, securities laws, accounting rules and other applicable laws, rules and regulations or (ii) to ensure that a Participant is not required to recognize income for United States federal income tax purposes prior to the time of payment, settlement or exercise of an Award or subject to interest and additional tax under Section 409A with respect to any Award. Unless previously terminated pursuant to this Article XI, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, and no further Awards may be granted hereunder after such date.
ARTICLE XII
INTERPRETATION
Section 12.1 Governmental Regulations.
The Plan, and all Awards hereunder, shall be subject to all applicable rules and regulations of governmental or other authorities.
A-18
Section 12.2 Headings.
The headings of articles and sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions of the Plan.
Section 12.3 Governing Law.
The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE XIII
EFFECTIVE DATE AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL
The Plan initially became effective as of January 1, 2006 (the initial Effective Date) and was amended and restated on April 12, 2007. The Plan obtained the approval of the Companys stockholders at the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders. The Committee approved additional amendments to the Plan on December 2, 2008. The Plan was further amended and restated effective January 1, 2011 (the 2011 Effective Date) and the approval of the Companys stockholders was sought at the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.
A-19
Exhibit B
VIACOM INC.
2011 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
ARTICLE I
GENERAL
Section 1.1 Purpose.
The purpose of the Viacom Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (the Plan) is to benefit and advance the interests of Viacom Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and its subsidiaries by obtaining and retaining the services of qualified persons who are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries to serve as directors and to induce them to make a maximum contribution to the success of the Company and its subsidiaries.
Section 1.2 Definitions.
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Annual Grant shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
(b) Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) Class B Common Stock shall mean the shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
(d) Company shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
(e) Date of Grant shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
(f) Effective Date shall mean the effective date of the Plan provided for in Article VII below.
(g) Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including any successor law thereto.
(h) Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on a given date shall be the closing price on such date on the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is then listed, as reported by The Wall Street Journal (Northeast edition) as the 4:00 p.m. (New York time) closing price or as reported by any other authoritative source selected by the Company.
(i) Outside Director shall mean any member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(j) Participant shall mean any Outside Director to whom Stock Options have been granted under the Plan.
(k) Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
(l) RSU Plan means the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors.
(m) Stock Option shall mean a contractual right granted to a Participant under the Plan to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock or other securities at such time and price, and subject to the terms and conditions, as are set forth in the Plan.
B-1
(n) Substitute Options means Stock Options granted upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding stock options previously granted by a company or other entity all or a portion of the assets or equity of which is acquired by the Company, with which the Company mergers or otherwise combines or from which the Company is spun-off or otherwise separated.
Section 1.3 Administration of the Plan.
The Plan shall be administered by the members of the Board who are not Outside Directors and such Board members shall determine all questions of interpretation, administration and application of the Plan. References in the Plan to actions or determinations by the Board will be understood to mean actions or determinations by those members of the Board responsible for administering the Plan. The Board may authorize any officer of the Company to execute and deliver a stock option certificate on behalf of the Company to a Participant.
Section 1.4 Eligible Persons.
Stock Options shall be granted only to Outside Directors.
Section 1.5 Class B Common Stock Subject to the Plan.
Subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof, the maximum number of shares of Class B Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan, when aggregated with the number of shares of Class B Common Stock that may be issued under the RSU Plan, shall be 500,000 shares. Any shares of Class B Common Stock underlying Substitute Options shall not be counted against this limit. The shares of Class B Common Stock shall be made available from authorized but unissued Class B Common Stock or from Class B Common Stock issued and held in the treasury of the Company. Exercise of Stock Options in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of shares of Class B Common Stock which thereafter may be issued for purposes of this Section 1.5, by the number of shares as to which the Stock Options are exercised. Shares of Class B Common Stock with respect to which Stock Options expire or are cancelled without being exercised or are otherwise terminated may be regranted under the Plan.
ARTICLE II
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO STOCK OPTIONS
Section 2.1 Grants of Stock Options.
(a) On January 31st of 2011 and each subsequent year until the Plan terminates in accordance with the terms hereof (each January 31st being the Date of Grant of the respective Stock Options), each Outside Director shall automatically be granted Stock Options to purchase a number of whole shares of Class B Common Stock (each, an Annual Grant) equal in value to $70,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation method. Each Annual Grant shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and shall have an option exercise price per share equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on the Date of Grant or, if the Date of Grant is not a business day on which the Fair Market Value can be determined, on the last business day preceding the Date of Grant on which the Fair Market Value can be determined. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the option exercise price of a Stock Option that is a Substitute Option may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on the Date of Grant, provided that the excess of:
(i) the aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the Date of Grant of such Substitute Option) of the shares of Class B Common Stock subject to the Substitute Option, over
(ii) the aggregate option price thereof,
does not exceed the excess of:
(iii) the aggregate fair market value (as of the time immediately preceding the transaction pursuant to which the Substitute Option was granted, such fair market value to be determined by the Board) of the shares of the predecessor entity that were subject to the award assumed or substituted for by the Company, over
B-2
(iv) the aggregate option price of such shares.
(b) The Annual Grants shall not be prorated and persons who become Outside Directors after the date of a particular Annual Grant shall first become eligible to receive an Annual Grant under the Plan on the date of the next Annual Grant.
(c) All Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be Non-Qualified Stock Options which do not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The terms and conditions of the Stock Options shall be set forth in an option certificate which shall be delivered to the Participant reasonably promptly following the Date of Grant of such Stock Options.
Section 2.2 Exercise of Stock Options.
(a) Exercisability. Stock Options shall be exercisable only to the extent the Participant is vested therein. Subject to Section 2.2(c), each Annual Grant shall vest and become exercisable in three equal annual installments, on the first, second and third anniversaries of the Date of Grant, assuming that the Participant continues as a member of the Board through the applicable vesting date.
(b) Option Period.
(i) Latest Exercise Date. No Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the Date of Grant thereof.
(ii) Registration Restrictions. Any attempt to exercise a Stock Option or to transfer any shares issued upon exercise of a Stock Option by any Participant shall be void and of no effect, unless and until (A) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, has been duly filed and declared effective pertaining to the shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Stock Option, and the shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Stock Option have been duly qualified under applicable federal or state securities or blue sky laws or (B) the Board, in its sole discretion, determines, or the Participant desiring to exercise such Stock Options, upon the request of the Board, provides an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Board, that such registration or qualification is not required as a result of the availability of any exemption from registration or qualification under such laws. Without limiting the foregoing, if at any time the Board shall determine, in its sole discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Class B Common Stock under any federal or state law or on any securities exchange or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, delivery or purchase of such shares pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option, such Stock Option shall not be exercisable in whole or in part unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Board.
(c) Exercise in the Event of Termination of Services.
(i) Termination other than for Death or Disability. If the services of a Participant as a director of the Company terminate for any reason other than for death or disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Stock Options until the first anniversary of the date of such termination, but only to the extent such Stock Options were vested on the termination date, subject to earlier expiration of such Stock Options pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(i). Upon a termination described in this Section 2.2(c)(i), the Participant shall relinquish all rights with respect to Stock Options that are not vested as of such termination date.
(ii) Death. If a Participant dies while serving as a director, his or her Stock Options may be exercised by any person who acquired the right to exercise such Stock Options by will or the laws of descent and distribution until the first anniversary of the date of death, but only to the extent such Stock Options were vested on the date of death, subject to earlier expiration of such Stock Options pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(i). All rights with respect to Stock Options that are not vested as of the date of death will terminate on such date of death.
B-3
(iii) Permanent Disability. If the services of Participant as a director of the Company terminate by reason of permanent disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Stock Options until the first anniversary of the date of such termination, but only to the extent such Stock Options were vested on the termination date, subject to earlier expiration of such Stock Options pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(i). Upon a termination described in this Section 2.2(c)(iii), the Participant shall relinquish all rights with respect to Stock Options that are not vested as of such termination date.
(d) Payment of Purchase Price Upon Exercise. Every share of Class B Common Stock purchased through the exercise of a Stock Option shall be paid for in full in cash on or before the settlement date for such share of Class B Common Stock. In addition, the Participant shall make an arrangement acceptable to the Company to pay to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state or local withholding tax obligations which arise in connection with exercise of such Stock Options.
ARTICLE III
EFFECT OF CERTAIN CORPORATE CHANGES
In the event of any merger, consolidation, stock-split, dividend (other than a regular cash dividend), distribution, combination, recapitalization or reclassification that changes the character or amount of the Class B Common Stock or any other changes in the corporate structure, equity securities or capital structure of the Company, the Board shall make such proportionate adjustments to (i) the number and kind of securities subject to any Stock Options, (ii) the exercise price of any Stock Options, (iii) the number and kind of securities subject to the Annual Grants referred to in Section 2.1, and (iv) the maximum number and kind of securities available for issuance under the Plan referred to in Section 1.5, in each case, as it deems appropriate. The Board may, in its sole discretion, also make such other adjustments as it deems appropriate in order to preserve, but not increase, the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available hereunder upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing events. The Boards determination as to what, if any, adjustments shall be made shall be final and binding on the Company and all Participants. Adjustments under this Article shall be conducted in a manner consistent with any adjustments under the RSU Plan.
ARTICLE IV
SUBSTITUTE OPTIONS
Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of the Plan to the contrary, the Board may provide for Substitute Options under the Plan upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding stock options previously granted by a company or other entity all or a portion of the assets or equity of which is acquired by the Company, with which the Company mergers or otherwise combines or from which the Company is spun-off or otherwise separated. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of the Plan to the contrary, Substitute Options may have substantially the same terms and conditions, including without limitation provisions relating to vesting, exercise periods, expiration, payment, forfeiture, and the consequences of termination of employment and changes in control, as the awards that they replace.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 5.1 No Right to Re-election.
Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to create any obligation on the part of the Board to nominate any of its members for re-election by the Companys stockholders, nor confer upon any Participant the right to remain a member of the Board for any period of time, or at any particular rate of compensation.
Section 5.2 Restriction on Transfer.
The rights of a Participant with respect to the Stock Options shall not be transferable by the Participant to whom such Stock Options are granted, except (i) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) upon prior
B-4
notice to the Company, for transfers to members of the Participants immediate family or trusts whose beneficiaries are members of the Participants immediate family, provided, however, that such transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes without consideration being received therefor, (iii) upon prior notice to the Company, for transfers to a former spouse incident to a divorce or (iv) for such other transfers as the Board may approve, subject to any conditions and limitations that it may, in its sole discretion, impose.
Section 5.3 Stockholder Rights.
No grant of Stock Options under the Plan shall entitle a Participant, a Participants estate or a permitted transferee to any rights of a holder of shares of Class B Common Stock, except upon the delivery of shares through book-entry registration upon settlement of an Award.
Section 5.4 No Restriction on Right of Company to Effect Corporate Changes.
The Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Companys capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Class B Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Class B Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
Section 5.5 Exercise Periods Following Termination of Services.
For the purposes of determining the dates on which Stock Options may be exercised following a termination of services or the death or disability of a Participant, the day following the date of such event shall be the first day of the exercise period and the Stock Options may be exercised up to and including the last business day falling within the exercise period. Thus, if the last day of the exercise period is not a business day, then the last date the Stock Options may be exercised is the last business day preceding the end of the exercise period. At the end of the relevant exercise period, each unexercised Stock Option shall expire.
Section 5.6 Headings.
The headings of articles and sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions of the Plan.
Section 5.7 Governing Law.
The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 6.1 General.
The Board may at any time and from time to time alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, including, without limitation, amending the provisions for determining the amount of Stock Options to be issued to an Outside Director, provided, however, that any amendment which under the requirements of applicable law or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is then listed must be approved by the stockholders of the Company shall not be effective unless and until such stockholder approval has been obtained in compliance with such law or rule; and no termination, suspension, alteration or amendment of the Plan that would adversely affect a Participants rights under the Plan with respect to any award of Stock Options made prior to such action shall be effective as to such Participant unless he or she consents thereto, provided, however, that no such consent shall be required if the
B-5
Board determines in its sole discretion that any such alteration, amendment, suspension or termination is necessary or advisable to comply with any law, regulation, ruling, judicial decision or accounting standards.
ARTICLE VII
EFFECTIVE DATE
The Effective Date of the Plan is January 1, 2011 and stockholder approval of the Plan will be sought prior to that date. Unless earlier terminated in accordance with Article VI above, the Plan shall terminate on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date, and no further Stock Options may be granted hereunder after such date.
B-6
Exhibit C
VIACOM INC.
2011 RSU PLAN FOR OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
ARTICLE I
GENERAL
Section 1.1 Purpose.
The purpose of the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors (the Plan) is to benefit and advance the interests of Viacom Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and its subsidiaries by obtaining and retaining the services of qualified persons who are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries to serve as directors and to induce them to make a maximum contribution to the success of the Company and its subsidiaries.
Section 1.2 Definitions.
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Agreement shall mean the written agreement or certificate or other documentation governing an Award under the Plan, which shall contain terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan and which shall incorporate the Plan by reference.
(b) Annual RSU Grant shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
(c) Award shall mean any Director RSU or Dividend Equivalent.
(d) Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) Class B Common Stock shall mean the shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
(f) Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any successor law thereto, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.
(g) Company shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
(h) Director RSUs shall mean a contractual right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article II to receive shares of Class B Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan. Director RSUs shall be settled exclusively in Class B Common Stock, with fractional shares payable in cash.
(i) Dividend Equivalent shall mean a right to receive a payment based upon the value of the regular cash dividend paid on a specified number of shares of Class B Common Stock as set forth in Article III below. Payment in respect of Dividend Equivalents upon settlement shall be in shares of Class B Common Stock except as set forth in Article III below.
(j) Effective Date shall mean the effective date of the Plan provided for in Article VIII below.
(k) Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on a given date shall be the closing price on such date on the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the Class B Common Stock is then listed, as reported by The Wall Street Journal (Northeast edition) as the 4:00 p.m. (New York time) closing price or as reported by any other authoritative source selected by the Company.
(l) Outside Director shall mean any member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(m) Participant shall mean any Outside Director to whom Awards have been granted under the Plan.
C-1
(n) Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
(o) Stock Option Plan shall mean the Viacom Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors.
(p) Subsidiary shall mean a corporation (or a partnership or other enterprise) in which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares of stock normally entitled to vote for the election of directors (or comparable equity participation and voting power).
(q) Substitute Awards means Awards granted upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company or other entity all or a portion of the assets or equity of which is acquired by the Company, with which the Company mergers or otherwise combines or from which the Company is spun-off or otherwise separated.
Section 1.3 Administration of the Plan.
The Plan shall be administered by the members of the Board who are not Outside Directors and such Board members shall determine all questions of interpretation, administration and application of the Plan. References in the Plan to actions or determinations by the Board will be understood to mean actions or determinations by those members of the Board responsible for administering the Plan. Such Board members determinations shall be final and binding in all matters relating to the Plan. The Board may authorize any officer of the Company to execute and deliver an Agreement on behalf of the Company to a Participant.
Section 1.4 Eligible Persons.
Awards shall be granted only to Outside Directors.
Section 1.5 Class B Common Stock Subject to the Plan.
Subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Article IV hereof, the maximum number of shares of Class B Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan, when aggregated with the number of shares of Class B Common Stock that may be issued under the Stock Option Plan, shall be 500,000 shares. Any shares of Class B Common Stock underlying Substitute Awards shall not be counted against this limit. The shares of Class B Common Stock shall be made available from authorized but unissued shares of Class B Common Stock or from shares of Class B Common Stock issued and held in the treasury of the Company. The settlement of any Awards under the Plan in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of shares of Class B Common Stock which thereafter may be issued for purposes of this Section 1.5 by the number of shares issued upon such settlement. Shares of Class B Common Stock with respect to which Awards lapse, expire or are cancelled without being settled or are otherwise terminated may be regranted under the Plan.
ARTICLE II
RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
Section 2.1 Grants of Restricted Share Units.
(a) On January 31st of 2011 and each subsequent year until the Plan terminates in accordance with the terms hereof, each Outside Director shall automatically be granted a number of Director RSUs determined by dividing (i) $70,000 by (ii) the Fair Market Value of one share of Class B Common Stock on the date of grant (an Annual RSU Grant). If the date of grant is not a business day on which the Fair Market Value can be determined, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the last business day preceding the relevant date of grant on which the Fair Market Value can be determined. The terms and conditions of the Director RSUs shall be set forth in an Agreement which shall be delivered to the Participants reasonably promptly following the relevant date of grant of such Director RSUs.
C-2
(b) The Annual RSU Grants shall not be prorated and persons who become Outside Directors after the date of a particular Award shall first become eligible to receive an Award under the Plan as of the date of the next Annual RSU Grant.
Section 2.2 Vesting.
Director RSUs shall be settled only to the extent the Participant is vested therein. Subject to Section 2.3(b), each Annual RSU Grant shall vest on the first anniversary of the relevant date of grant.
Section 2.3 Settlement of Restricted Share Units.
(a) Settlement. On the date on which Director RSUs vest, all restrictions contained in the Agreement covering such Director RSUs and in the Plan shall lapse as to such Director RSUs and the Director RSUs shall be payable in shares of Class B Common Stock, with any fractional shares payable in cash, and shall be evidenced in such manner as the Board in its discretion shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, book-entry registration. Any fractional shares of Class B Common Stock to which a Participant becomes entitled shall not be settled by delivery of shares but instead shall be paid in cash, based on the Fair Market Value of the Class B Common Stock on the date of payment.
(b) Settlement in the Event of Termination of Services. If the services of a Participant as a director of the Company terminate for any reason, the Participant shall forfeit all unvested Director RSUs as of the date of such event.
(c) Deferral of Settlement. Notwithstanding Section 2.3(a), a Participant may elect to defer settlement of any or all Director RSUs to a date subsequent to the vesting date of such Director RSUs, provided that such election to defer is made no later than December 31 of the taxable year prior to the year in which the Outside Director performs the services for which such Director RSUs are granted. Settlement of any deferred Director RSUs shall be made in a single distribution or three or five annual installments in accordance with the Participants deferral election. The single distribution or first annual installment, as applicable, will be payable on the later of (i) six months following the date of the Participants termination of services as a director of the Company for any reason or (ii) January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participants services as a director of the Company terminate for any reason.
ARTICLE III
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
The Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents on the Director RSUs in the event the Company pays a regular cash dividend with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock. The Company shall maintain a bookkeeping record that credits the dollar amount of the Dividend Equivalents to a Participants account on the date that it pays such regular cash dividend on the shares of Class B Common Stock. Dividend Equivalents shall accrue on the Director RSUs until the Director RSUs vest, at which time they shall be paid in shares of Class B Common Stock determined by dividing (i) the aggregate amount credited in respect of such Dividend Equivalents by (ii) the Fair Market Value on the vesting date, with any fractional shares resulting from this calculation paid in cash. If, however, the Participant has made an election to defer settlement of Director RSUs, then the Dividend Equivalents related to such Director RSUs will not be paid when the Director RSUs vest but instead will be credited to the Participants account as additional whole and/or fractional Director RSUs based on the Fair Market Value of the Class B Common Stock on the vesting date and will be settled when the related Director RSUs are settled. Payment of Dividend Equivalents that have been credited to the Participants account will not be made with respect to any Director RSUs that do not vest and are cancelled.
In addition, if the Participant elects to defer settlement of the Director RSUs, the Participant will continue to earn Dividend Equivalents on the deferred Director RSUs (including any deferred Director RSUs that resulted from crediting Dividend Equivalents on the vesting date) through the settlement date. All such Dividend Equivalents credited to the Participants account with respect to deferred Director RSUs shall be converted, on
C-3
the anniversary of the date on which the Director RSUs originally vested and on each anniversary thereof, as appropriate, until the Director RSUs are settled, into additional whole and/or fractional Director RSUs, based on the Fair Market Value of the Class B Common Stock on the respective anniversary dates. Such additional Director RSUs shall be deferred subject to the same terms and conditions as the Director RSUs to which the Dividend Equivalents originally related. The aggregate amount credited in respect of Dividend Equivalents on deferred Director RSUs shall be paid in shares of Class B Common stock determined by dividing (i) the aggregate amount credited in respect of such Dividend Equivalents by (ii) the Fair Market Value on the settlement date, with any fractional shares resulting from this calculation paid in cash.
ARTICLE IV
EFFECT OF CERTAIN CORPORATE CHANGES
In the event of any merger, consolidation, stock-split, dividend (other than a regular cash dividend), distribution, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization, split-off or spin-off that changes the character or amount of the shares of Class B Common Stock or any other changes in the corporate structure, equity securities or capital structure of the Company, the Board shall make such proportionate adjustments to (i) the number and kind of securities subject to any outstanding Awards, (ii) the number and kind of securities subject to the Annual RSU Grants referred to in Section 2.1, and (iii) the maximum number and kind of securities available for issuance under the Plan referred to in Section 1.5, in each case, as it deems appropriate. The Board may, in its sole discretion, also make such other adjustments as it deems appropriate in order to preserve, but not increase, the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available hereunder upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing events. The Boards determination as to what, if any, adjustments shall be made shall be final and binding on the Company and all Participants. Adjustments under this Article shall be conducted in a manner consistent with any adjustments under the Stock Option Plan.
ARTICLE V
SUBSTITUTE AWARDS
Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of the Plan to the contrary, the Board may provide for Substitute Awards under the Plan upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to a director by a company or other entity all or a portion of the assets or equity of which is acquired by the Company, with which the Company mergers or otherwise combines or from which the Company is spun-off or otherwise separated. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of the Plan to the contrary, Substitute Awards may have substantially the same terms and conditions, including without limitation provisions relating to vesting, expiration, payment, forfeiture, and the consequences of termination of employment and changes in control, as the awards that they replace.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.1 No Right to Re-election.
Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to create any obligation on the part of the Board to nominate any of its members for re-election by the Companys stockholders, nor confer upon any Participant the right to remain a member of the Board for any period of time, or at any particular rate of compensation.
Section 6.2 Restriction on Transfer.
The rights of a Participant with respect to any Awards under the Plan shall not be transferable by the Participant to whom such Awards are granted, except (i) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) upon prior notice to the Company, for transfers to members of the Participants immediate family or trusts whose beneficiaries are members of the Participants immediate family, provided, however, that such transfer is being
C-4
made for estate and/or tax planning purposes without consideration being received therefor, (iii) upon prior notice to the Company, for transfers to a former spouse incident to a divorce or (iv) for such other transfers as the Board may approve, subject to any conditions and limitations that it may, in its sole discretion, impose.
Section 6.3 Stockholder Rights.
No grant of an Award under the Plan shall entitle a Participant, a Participants estate or a permitted transferee to any rights of a holder of shares of Class B Common Stock, except upon the delivery of shares through book-entry registration upon settlement of an Award and as provided in Section 2.3(a).
Section 6.4 No Restriction on Right of Company to Effect Corporate Changes.
The Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Companys capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the shares of Class B Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Class B Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
Section 6.5 Headings.
The headings of articles and sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions of the Plan.
Section 6.6 Governing Law.
The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
The Board may at any time and from time to time alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, including, without limitation, amend the provisions for determining the amount of Director RSUs to be issued to an Outside Director, provided, however, that any amendment which under the requirements of applicable law or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or other principal stock exchange on which the shares of Class B Common Stock are then listed must be approved by the stockholders of the Company shall not be effective unless and until such stockholder approval has been obtained in compliance with such law or rule; and no alteration, amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan that would adversely affect a Participants rights under the Plan with respect to any Award made prior to such action shall be effective as to such Participant unless he or she consents thereto, provided, however, that no such consent shall be required if the Board determines in its sole discretion that any such alteration, amendment, suspension or termination is necessary or advisable to comply with any law, regulation, ruling, judicial decision or accounting standards or to ensure that Director RSUs or Dividend Equivalents are not subject to federal, state or local income tax prior to settlement.
ARTICLE VIII
EFFECTIVE DATE
The Effective Date of the Plan is January 1, 2011 and stockholder approval of the Plan will be sought prior to that date. Unless earlier terminated in accordance with Article VII above, the Plan shall terminate on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date, and no further Awards may be granted hereunder after such date.
C-5
VIACOM INC. 1515 BROADWAY NEW YORK, NY 10036 |
VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date this proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage prepaid envelope so that it is received prior to the Annual Meeting on June 9, 2010.
| |
VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 8, 2010 (June 7, 2010 for 401(k) plan participants). Have this proxy card in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions.
| ||
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 If you live in the United States or Canada, use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 8, 2010 (June 7, 2010 for 401(k) plan participants). Have this proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the recorded instructions. | ||
Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the proxy holders to vote the shares represented by this proxy in the same manner as if you returned the proxy card. If you have submitted your proxy by telephone or the Internet, there is no need for you to return this proxy card. | ||
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS If you would like to help reduce our use of paper and other resources, you can consent to receive all future Viacom stockholder communications electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access stockholder communications electronically in future years. |
DETACH PROXY HERE IF YOU ARE NOT VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR THE
INTERNET AND MARK BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
q q
M22573-P94267 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. | DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
VIACOM INC. | For All | Withhold All |
For All Except |
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark For All Except and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.
________________________________________ |
||||||||||||||||
The Board recommends a vote FOR items 1 through 5. | ||||||||||||||||||||
1. The election of 11 directors: | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ | |||||||||||||||||
Nominees: | ||||||||||||||||||||
01) George S. Abrams 07) Charles E. Phillips, Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||
02) Philippe P. Dauman 08) Shari Redstone | ||||||||||||||||||||
03) Thomas E. Dooley 09) Sumner M. Redstone | ||||||||||||||||||||
04) Alan C. Greenberg 10) Frederic V. Salerno | ||||||||||||||||||||
05) Robert K. Kraft 11) William Schwartz | ||||||||||||||||||||
06) Blythe J. McGarvie | ||||||||||||||||||||
For | Against | Abstain | ||||||||||||||||||
2. |
Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as independent auditor for Viacom Inc. for fiscal year 2010. |
¨ |
¨ |
¨ | ||||||||||||||||
3. |
The approval of the Viacom Inc. 2006 Long-Term Management Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2011. |
¨ |
¨ |
¨ | ||||||||||||||||
4. |
The approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors. |
¨ |
¨ |
¨ | ||||||||||||||||
5. |
The approval of the Viacom Inc. 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors. |
¨ |
¨ |
¨ | ||||||||||||||||
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this proxy card. When shares are held jointly, both holders should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated. |
¨ |
Yes |
No |
|||||||||||||||||
MATERIALS ELECTION | Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting. If you check yes, an admission ticket will be sent to you. | ¨ | ¨ | |||||||||||||||||
As of July 1, 2007, SEC rules permit companies to send you a notice that proxy information is available on the Internet, instead of mailing you a complete set of materials. Check the box to the right if you want to receive future proxy materials by mail, at no cost to you. | ¨ | Please sign, date and return this proxy card in the enclosed postage prepaid envelope. |
||||||||||||||||||
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date |
Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The Notice of 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Stockholder Letter are available at http://proxymaterials.viacom.com.
M22574-P94267
VIACOM INC.
1515 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
2010 Annual Meeting Proxy Card
The undersigned hereby appoints PHILIPPE P. DAUMAN and MICHAEL D. FRICKLAS, and each of them, as proxy holders with full power of substitution, to represent and to vote on behalf of the undersigned all of the shares of Class A Common Stock of Viacom Inc. represented by this proxy at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at Viacom Inc.s corporate headquarters located at 1515 Broadway (enter on 44th St.), New York, New York, beginning at 10:30 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, on the items of business set forth on the reverse side as more fully described in the Notice of 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VIACOM INC. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED AND TIMELY RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE MEETING, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER.
You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors recommendations. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR items (1) through (5). Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the vote represented by this proxy will be cast FOR items (1) through (5). The proxy holders are directed to vote as specified on the reverse side hereof and in their discretion on all other matters.
Attention 401(k) plan participants: If you hold shares of Viacom Inc. Class A Common Stock through the Viacom 401(k) plan, you should complete, sign and return this proxy card to instruct the trustee of the plan how to vote these shares. Your proxy must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 7, 2010 so that the trustee of the plan (who votes the shares on behalf of plan participants) has adequate time to tabulate the voting instructions. Your voting instructions will be kept confidential. |
Address Changes/Comments: ____________________________________________________________ | ||||
(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.) |
Viacom Inc. c/o Broadridge 51 Mercedes Way Edgewood, NY 11717 |