Exhibit 4.13
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
XXXXXX
XX0 0XX
2 January 2001
Dear Xxxxxx,
This letter records the arrangements that have been agreed in relation to your
position on a change of control of Bright Station plc ("the Company"). These
arrangements have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything else contained in your contract of employment, in the
event that at any time after the date of this letter any person (or any persons
acting in concert within the meaning of the edition of the City Code on
Take-overs and Mergers current at the date hereof) acquires or acquire direct or
indirect control of a Controlling Interest (as defined below) in the Company and
who was not or were not in possession of that control at the date of this
letter, you shall be entitled to terminate your employment by serving not less
than one month's notice of termination on the Company at any time during the
period of 12 months after the date of the said acquisition. Should you serve
such notice or receive from the Company within the said period of 12 months,
notice of termination of your employment for any cause whatsoever (other than
gross misconduct) then and in either such event you shall be entitled to the
following benefits:
1. The Company will pay you on the date of termination of your employment a
sum of money equal to the gross annual salary and benefits being paid to
you immediately prior to the date of the said acquisition.
2. You will also receive a bonus equal to 50% of your gross annual salary
being paid to you immediately prior to the date of the said acquisition.
3. Your health care benefits will be maintained by the Company for a period of
twelve months from the termination of your employment, subject to such
cover being obtainable from the relevant insurers. If such cover is not
available from the Company's insurers, you will be paid an amount equal to
the cost of such cover.
4. In the event that your share options do not automatically become
exercisable upon a change of control, the Board has exercised its
discretionary powers (subject to Inland Revenue rules) in order that all
share options granted to you under the Company's 1994 Executive Share
Option Scheme will become capable of exercise upon the termination of your
employment and will remain so for a period of twelve months after the date
of termination of your employment. You should be aware that by accelerating
the date on which options issued under an approved scheme become
exercisable, they may no longer qualify for income tax relief upon
exercise.
Share options granted to you under the terms of The 1994 Unapproved Executive
Share Option Scheme and The 1994 Savings Related Share Option Scheme will
generally become exercisable automatically upon a change of control (as defined
within the rules of the respective schemes) and will remain exercisable for a
period of six months. The effect of a change of control upon restricted shares
awarded under the Long Term Incentive Plan is governed by the specific rules of
the scheme.
You should be aware that all of the above mentioned payments and benefits
(including inter alia the termination payments and bonuses) are instead of (and
not in addition to) the right to receive notice or pay in lieu of notice under
your contract of employment. However, they do not affect your right to
remuneration up to and including the date of termination of your employment,
which includes the right to a pro rata bonus.
In the event of termination, you shall not be under a duty to mitigate any loss
or damages resulting from such termination and accordingly the amount of
termination payments contemplated in this letter shall not be reduced as a
result of any implied duty to mitigate under any applicable law.
If any provision of this letter in whole or in part is found by a court or other
competent authority to be void or unenforceable, such provision or part of
provision shall be amended to a sufficient extent in order that it becomes
enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law and the remaining provisions
of this letter shall continue in full force and effect.
For the purpose of this letter "Controlling Interest" means an interest (within
the meaning of Part I of Schedule 13 to the Companies Act 1985) in any shares in
the capital of the Company conferring in aggregate 50 per cent or more of the
total voting rights conferred by all the shares in the capital of the Company
from time to time in issue and conferring the right to vote at all general
meetings of the Company or any other interest which directly or indirectly leads
to a majority control of the Board of Directors.
Please confirm your agreement to the above by signing and returning the enclosed
copy of this letter.
Executed as a deed by Bright Station plc
------------------ ..............
acting by two directors or a director and the Director
Company Secretary
........................
Director/Company Secretary
ACCEPTANCE
I acknowledge that I have read and agree to this letter.
________________________________________ Date____________
