SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
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1. PARTIES: The parties to this Severance Agreement - (herein
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"Agreement") are XXXXX X. XXXXX ("Xxxxx") and MATTEL, INC. ("Mattel").
2. RECITALS: This Agreement is made with reference to the following
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facts:
2.1 Xxxxx has been employed by Mattel, Inc. as President, Mattel
Worldwide and Chief Operating Officer pursuant to an Employment Agreement dated
as of December 20, 1996 (herein "Employment Agreement").
2.2 Mattel and Xxxxx have agreed that Xxxxx will immediately resign
his positions as President, Mattel Worldwide and Chief Operations Officer and as
a member of the Board of Directors of Mattel, Inc. and its subsidiary
corporations, and will terminate his employment with Mattel effective April 30,
1999. In this connection Xxxxx will execute the letter of resignation, a copy
of which is Exhibit "A" hereto.
2.3 Certain issues have arisen with respect to Xxxxx'x right to
receive certain payments and other benefits upon the termination of his
employment pursuant to the provisions of his Employment Agreement.
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2.4 It is the intention of the parties hereto to settle and dispose
of, fully and completely, any and all claims, demands and cause or causes of
action each may have against the other, heretofore or hereafter arising out of,
connected with or incidental to the dealings between the parties hereto prior to
the effective date hereof, including, without limitation on the generality of
the foregoing, any and all claims, demands and cause or causes of action arising
out of the employment or termination of Xxxxx'x employment with Mattel, or the
interpretation or application of any provision of his Employment Agreement, or
with respect to any reason whatsoever, including any matters not related to
those claims.
3. PAYMENTS: On or before May 1, 1999, Mattel shall pay or cause to be
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paid to Xxxxx, pursuant to the provisions of Section 5(d) et seq. of the
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Employment Agreement, the amount of $5,076,747.00.
4. OTHER BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION:
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4.1 Effective April 30, 1999 Mattel will forgive the principal amount
and accrued unpaid interest on Xxxxx'x outstanding loan.
4.2 Mattel shall continue to provide medical, dental, prescription
drug and vision care group insurance as presently provided to Xxxxx and his
dependants for a
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period ending April 30, 2002, or the date upon which Xxxxx accepts other full
time employment, whichever shall be the first to occur.
4.3 Xxxxx shall be entitled to continue to hold and exercise stock
options previously granted to him as provided for in Mattel's stock option
plans, as modified by the provisions of Exhibit "B" hereto. In the event that
any previously granted stock options shall be repriced prior to the expiration
date for any Mattel senior executives, options granted to Xxxxx shall be
similarly repriced.
4.4 Mattel agrees to transfer to Xxxxx the 1997 Series 5 BMW
currently provided to Xxxxx, for business purposes, effective May 1, 1999.
Thereafter he will be responsible for all insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs
and any other costs for that car. Upon execution of this agreement Xxxxx agrees
to return to Mattel all credit cards in his possession which were provided to
him by Mattel for his use in operating the car, or for other purposes. Mattel
also agrees to transfer the PC computer currently provided to Xxxxx for
business purposes. Thereafter he will be responsible for costs of maintenance
and all modem connections. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 et seq. of
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the employment agreement, Xxxxx shall not be required to reimburse Mattel for
either of the transfers.
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5. COSTS AND FEES: Mattel shall promptly pay to Sitrick & Co. for
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assisting Xxxxx and Mattel in preparing press releases the sum of Five Thousand
Dollars ($5,000.00) and to Buchalter, Nemer, Fields & Younger the sum of Twenty-
Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for legal services rendered to Xxxxx with
respect to this agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein each party
hereto shall bear their own costs and attorney's fees.
6. RELEASE OF CLAIMS: In consideration of the payments and promises
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provided for herein, and except for rights created by this agreement, and except
for any indemnification rights Xxxxx may have as an officer and/or director of
Mattel under Delaware law, the Mattel Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, or
any Directors and Officers liability insurance, Xxxxx hereby releases, remises
and forever discharges Mattel, its affiliates, subsidiaries, subsidiary entitles
and the owners, stockholders, predecessors, successors, assigns, employees,
officers, directors, counsel, and agents and Mattel hereby releases, remises and
forever discharges Xxxxx from any and all claims, demands, and cause or causes
of action heretofore arising out of, connected with or incidental to the
dealings between the parties hereto prior to the effective date hereof,
including, without limitation on the generality of the foregoing, any and all
claims, demands and cause or causes of action arising out of the employment, or
termination of employment of Xxxxx. This includes a release of any rights or
claims Xxxxx may have under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
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amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which prohibits discrimination in
employment based on race, color, national origin, religion or sex; the
California Fair Employment and Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based
on race, color, national origin, ancestry, physical handicap, medical condition,
marital status, sex or age; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act which
prohibits age discrimination over the age of forty (40); the Americans With
Disability Act, which prohibits discrimination based on physical handicap; the
Equal Pay Act, which prohibits paying men and women unequal pay for equal work;
or any other federal, state or local laws or regulations prohibiting employment
discrimination.
6.1 Xxxxx shall have a period of twenty-one (21) days to review and
consider this Agreement before signing it.
6.2 Xxxxx may revoke this Agreement within seven (7) days after he
signs it by delivering a written notice of revocation to Xxx Xxxxxxx at Mattel's
headquarters so that it is received by him not later than the close of business
on that day. In the event of such revocation it shall not be effective and
Xxxxx shall not receive the payments and other benefits provided for herein.
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6.3 This Agreement does not waive or release any rights or claims
which Xxxxx has under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act which arise after
the execution of this Agreement.
7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES: Each of the parties to this Agreement
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represents, warrants, and agrees as follows:
7.1 Each party has received independent legal advice from its
attorneys, with respect to the advisability of making the settlement provided
herein, with respect to the advisability of executing this Agreement, and with
respect to the meaning of California Civil Code Section 1542. By executing this
Agreement, Xxxxx acknowledges that he has read it, discussed it with his
attorneys, and has executed it in reliance upon the advice of his attorneys with
respect to each of these matters.
7.2 No party (nor any officer, agent, employee, representative, or
attorneys of or for any party), has made any statement or representation to any
other party regarding any fact relied upon in entering into this Agreement, and
each party does not rely upon any statement, representation or promise of any
other party (or of any officer, agent, employee, representative, or attorney for
the other party), in executing this Agreement, or in making the settlement
provided for herein, except as expressly stated in this Agreement.
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7.3 Each party to this Agreement has made such investigation of the
facts pertaining to this settlement and this Agreement and of all the matters
pertaining thereto as it deems necessary.
7.4 Each party executing this Agreement, or in the case of Mattel, a
responsible officer thereof, has read this Agreement and understands the
contents hereof. The officer executing this Agreement on behalf of Mattel is
empowered to do so and thereby binds Mattel.
7.5 Neither party has heretofore exercised its sole power to assign,
transfer, or grant, or purport to assign, transfer, or grant, any of the claims,
demands, and cause or causes of action disposed of by this Agreement.
7.6 Each term of this Agreement is contractual and not merely a
recital.
7.7 Xxxxx and Mattel are aware that they may hereafter discover
claims or facts in addition to or different from those they now know or believe
to be true with respect to the matters related herein. Nevertheless, and except
as herein provided, it is their intention to fully, finally and forever settle
and release all claims
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relative thereto which do now exist, or heretofore have existed between
Mattel and Xxxxx. In furtherance of such intention, the releases given herein
shall be and remain in effect as full and complete releases of all such matters,
notwithstanding the discovery of existence of any additional or different claims
or facts relative thereto.
7.8 It is expressly understood and agreed by Xxxxx that the sums
specified to be paid by or on behalf of Mattel to him, pursuant to paragraph 3
above, as well as the other benefits provided for in paragraph 4 et seq., shall
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be in lieu of any and all amounts of which Xxxxx is now or may become entitled
to from Mattel for any and all claims released, as described in paragraph 6 of
this Agreement.
7.9 Xxxxx agrees not to initiate, or cause to be initiated against
Mattel, its affiliates, subsidiaries and the shareholders, directors, officers
and employees, any compliance review, suit, action, appeal, investigation or
proceeding of any kind, or participate in same, individually or as a
representative or member of a class, unless compelled by law, under any contract
(express or implied), tort, law, or regulation (federal, state or local),
pertaining in any way whatsoever to the matters herein released, nor shall he be
entitled to receive any payment from any such proceeding.
7.10 The parties hereto agree that each and every provision of Part
10 "Confidential Information," contained in the Employment Agreement, including,
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without limitation, the non-disclosure provisions of the Employee Confidential
Information and Inventions agreement, previously executed by Xxxxx, shall by
this reference, be incorporated in this agreement. Any material violation of
this provision by Xxxxx which causes adverse economic results to Mattel shall
disqualify him from exercising any of the stock options he may hold under the
Premium Price Stock Option Plan as modified by the provisions of Exhibit "B"
hereto.
7.11 Except as to disclosures required by law, or otherwise made by
Mattel, Xxxxx agrees not to disclose the terms of this Agreement to anyone other
than the attorneys involved in this matter, his accountants or tax preparers or,
in the case of Xxxxx, his immediate family; and shall forthwith instruct such
attorneys, accountants or tax preparers and his immediate family not to disclose
the terms and conditions of this Agreement to anyone. Xxxxx acknowledges and
agrees that any disclosure of information contrary to the terms of this Section
would cause Mattel injury and damage. Any material violation of this provision
by Xxxxx which causes adverse economic results to Mattel shall disqualify him
from exercising any of the stock options he may hold under the Premium Price
Stock Option Plan as modified by the provisions of Exhibit "B" hereto.
7.12 Xxxxx agrees that he will refrain from making any statements
about Mattel or its senior executives which would disparage, or reflect
unfavorably upon the
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image or reputation of Mattel or any such senior executives. Mattel agrees to
refrain from making any statements about Xxxxx which would disparage, or reflect
unfavorably upon the image or reputation of Xxxxx.
7.13 Xxxxx agrees that until April 30, 1999 he will perform on a non-
exclusive basis such services for Mattel in Los Angeles, California, and
consistent with his position at Mattel, as may be directed in writing by Xxxx
Xxxxx.
7.14 Xxxxx agrees that he shall not seek employment with Mattel, its
affiliates, or subsidiaries, which are known to him, at any time in the future,
and that such parties have no obligation to employ, hire, rehire, or to consider
him for hire. Xxxxx'x forbearance from seeking employment is purely contractual
and voluntary, and does not constitute discrimination or retaliation in any
respect.
7.15 Xxxxx agrees that for a period ending on April 30, 2000 he will
not directly or indirectly, recruit or solicit any of Mattel's employees at the
level of vice-president or above, to accept employment with any other employer.
Any material violation of this provision by Xxxxx which causes adverse economic
results to Mattel shall disqualify him from exercising any of the stock options
he may hold under the Premium Price Stock Option Plan as modified by the
provisions of Exhibit "B" hereto.
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7.16 The parties will execute all such further and additional
documents as shall be reasonable, convenient, necessary or desirable to carry
out the provisions of this Agreement.
7.17 Mattel agrees that Xxx Xxxxxxx (herein "Xxxxxxx") will provide
to Xxxxx, at his request, an appropriate letter of recommendation, in the form
of Exhibit "C" attached hereto. Xxxxx agrees to request that all prospective
employers direct their requests for reference information to Xxxxxxx. Mattel
agrees that requests for reference information concerning Xxxxx which it
receives shall be directed to Xxxxxxx. The information which will be provided to
prospective employers will be substantially identical to that contained in
Exhibit "B".
8. SETTLEMENT: This Agreement affects the settlement of claims which are
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denied and contested, and nothing contained herein shall be construed as an
admission by any party hereto of any liability of any kind to any other party.
Each of the parties hereto denies any liability in connection with any claim and
intends merely to avoid litigation and buy its peace.
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9. MISCELLANEOUS:
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9.1 This Agreement shall be deemed to have been executed and
delivered within the State of California, and the rights and obligations of the
parties hereto shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and governed
by, the laws of the State of California.
9.2 This Agreement is the entire Agreement between the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and
contemporaneous oral and written agreements and discussions. This Agreement may
be amended only by an agreement in writing signed by all parties.
9.3 This Agreement is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto, their respective agents, employees, representatives,
officers, directors, divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates, heirs, predecessors,
successors in interest and shareholders.
9.4 Each party has cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this
Agreement. Hence, in any construction to be made of this Agreement, the same
shall not be construed against any party.
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9.5 Should any provisions of this Agreement be declared or determined
by any court to be illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts,
terms or provisions shall not be affected thereby and said illegal or invalid
part, term or provision shall be deemed not to be a part of this Agreement.
9.6 Mattel and Xxxxx each specifically waive the benefit of the
provisions of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California, as
follows:
"A general release does not extend to claims which the
creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at
the time of executing the release, which if known by him
must have materially affected his settlement with the
debtor."
9.7 The parties hereto agree that each and every provision of Part 8
"Arbitration of Disputes," contained in the Employment Agreement, shall by this
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reference, be incorporated in this Agreement and shall apply to any issue,
controversy or dispute which may arise with respect to the interpretation or
application of this Agreement.
9.8 All notices and other communications shall be in writing; shall
be delivered by hand or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested,
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postage prepaid, to the other party; and shall be deemed delivered upon actual
receipt; and shall be addressed as follows:
To Mattel:
Xxx Xxxxxxx
President Corporate Operations and General Counsel
Mattel Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
To Xxxxx:
Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
or to such other address as either party, in writing shall have furnished to the
other.
9.9 This Agreement consisting of 14 pages is made and entered into on
and as of April 5, 1999 in Los Angeles County, California and is effective as of
this date.
April 5, 1999 /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Date XXXXX XXXXX
MATTEL, INC.
April 7, 1999 By /s/ Xxx Xxxxxxx
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Date Xxx Xxxxxxx
Its President
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EXHIBIT A
March 15, 1999
Xx. Xxxx Xxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mattel, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Dear Xx. Xxxxx:
With this letter I am resigning my positions as President, Mattel
Worldwide and Chief Operating Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors
of Mattel, Inc., and its subsidiary corporations, effective immediately.
Pursuant to the terms of my Severance Agreement with Mattel, Inc., I
shall remain an employee of Mattel, Inc. until April 30, 1999 at which time my
employment shall terminate. From the date of this letter to April 30, 1999 I
will be available to perform, on a non-exclusive basis, those services for
Mattel, Inc. in Los Angeles, California which you may direct me to perform, in
writing, and which are consistent with my position at Mattel.
Very truly yours,
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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EXHIBIT B
Non-Qualified Stock Options
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Non-qualified stock options shall become immediately exercisable. Executive
shall have until July 30, 1999 to exercise all non-qualified stock options.
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Grant Date # Shares Option Price* # Exercisable
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8/8/96 400,000 $26.125 400,000
2/6/97 150,000 $25.750 150,000
2/6/97 150,000 $25.750 150,000
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Premium Price Stock Option Plan
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Prorata vesting will continue through April 30, 1999.
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Grant Date # Shares Option Price* # Exercisable
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11/6/97 721,707 $42.31 360,853
11/6/97 711,312 $44.87 355,656
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The vesting date will be 11/6/00.
Xxxxx may continue to exercise them for 2 additional years through 11/6/02.
*Subject to repricing as provided for in this Agreement.
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EXHIBIT C
To Whom It May Concern:
The purpose of this letter is to verify the employment relationship
between Xxxxx Xxxxx and Mattel, Inc., and to confirm the level of excellence
with which Xx. Xxxxx carried out his duties at Mattel.
Xx. Xxxxx joined Mattel, Inc. as President - Worldwide in August 1996,
and in 1997, was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of Mattel
Worldwide. As President and COO, Xx. Xxxxx directed and managed all of Mattel's
product lines, established vital long-term marketing relationships and
supervised Mattel's world-wide marketing efforts. Mattel has benefited
significantly from Xxxxx'x exceptional leadership, his strategic marketing
skills and his general management experience. We would welcome the opportunity
to work with him again in the future.
Please feel free to contact the undersigned with any questions you may
have concerning Xx. Xxxxx'x employment with Mattel. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
____________________________________
Xxx Xxxxxxx,
President - Corporate Administration
Mattel, Inc.
