FY2014_Q1_8K_Braverman Agreement
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________

FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
September 27, 2013
__________

The Walt Disney Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-11605
 
95-4545390
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
500 South Buena Vista Street
 
 
Burbank, California
 
91521
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)


(818) 560-1000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable
(Former name or address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

p
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

(e) The Company has entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Alan N. Braverman, pursuant to which he has agreed to extend the term of his employment with the Company.

The new employment agreement for Mr. Braverman (the “Braverman Agreement”) was entered into on September 27, 2013 and has a stated term commencing as of October 1, 2013 and ending on March 31, 2016. The Braverman Agreement took effect as of the termination of the employment agreement Mr. Braverman entered into with the Company in 2008, which expired by its terms on September 30, 2013.

Under the Braverman Agreement, Mr. Braverman continues to serve as the Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company. The Braverman Agreement provides that Mr. Braverman will receive an annual salary of $1,400,000, commencing as of January 1, 2014, and that for each year thereafter the annual salary for Mr. Braverman will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion but shall not be less than $1,400,000. The Braverman Agreement provides that Mr. Braverman is also eligible for an annual, performance-based bonus under the Company’s applicable annual incentive plan (currently, the Company’s Management Incentive Bonus Program) and that the Compensation Committee will set a target bonus each year of not less 200% of the annual base salary for Mr. Braverman as expected to be in effect at the end of the fiscal year. The actual amount payable to Mr. Braverman as an annual bonus will be dependent upon the achievement of performance objectives, which will be substantially the same as the objectives established under the plan for other executive officers of the Company. Depending on performance, the actual amount payable as an annual bonus to Mr. Braverman may be less than, greater than or equal to the stated target bonus (and could be zero).

The Agreement also provides that Mr. Braverman is entitled to participate in the Company’s equity-based long-term incentive plans and programs generally made available to executive officers of the Company and that for each fiscal year during the term of the Agreement, Mr. Braverman will be granted a long-term incentive award having a target value of not less than two times his annual base salary at the end of the preceding fiscal year, with the Compensation Committee of the Board retaining discretion to adjust the target value of the award in any fiscal year based on its evaluation of Mr. Braverman’s performance and/or any economic, financial or market conditions affecting the Company. These awards will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions (including vesting and performance conditions) as will be established for other executive officers of the Company in accordance with the Board’s policies for the grant of equity-based awards, as in effect at the time of the award, and do not guarantee Mr. Braverman any minimum amount of compensation. The actual amounts payable to Mr. Braverman in respect of such opportunities will be determined based on the extent to which any performance conditions and/or service conditions applicable to such awards are satisfied and on the value of the Company’s stock. Accordingly, Mr. Braverman may receive compensation in respect of any such award that is greater or less than the stated target value, depending on whether, and to what extent, the applicable performance and other conditions are satisfied, and on the value of the Company’s stock.

Under the Agreement, Mr. Braverman is entitled to participate in employee benefits and perquisites generally made available to executive officers of the Company.





Under the Agreement, Mr. Braverman’s employment may be terminated by the Company for “cause,” which is defined to include gross negligence, gross misconduct, willful nonfeasance or a willful material breach of the Agreement.

Mr. Braverman has the right to terminate his employment for “good reason,” which is defined as (i) a reduction in any of Mr. Braverman’s base salary, annual target bonus opportunity or annual target long-term incentive award opportunity (other than as adjusted by Compensation Committee as described above); (ii) removal from Mr. Braverman’s position as Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; (iii) a material reduction in Mr. Braverman’s duties and responsibilities; (iv) the assignment to Mr. Braverman of duties that are materially inconsistent with his position or duties or that materially impair his ability to function in his current position or any other position in which he is then serving; (vi) relocation of Mr. Braverman’s principal office to a location that is more than 50 miles outside of the greater Los Angeles area; or (vii) a material breach of any material provision of the Agreement by the Company. Following a change in control of the Company, as defined in the Company’s stock plans, good reason also includes any event that is a triggering event as defined in the plans. A triggering event is defined to include a termination of employment by the Company other than for “cause” or a termination of employment by the participant following a reduction in position, pay or other “constructive termination.”

Under the Agreement, in the event that Mr. Braverman’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Braverman for “good reason,” Mr. Braverman will be entitled to termination benefits, which include the following: (i) a lump sum payment of the base salary that would have been payable over the remaining term of the Agreement, (ii) a pro-rated bonus for the year of termination (any prior-year bonus not yet paid at time of termination is also paid), and (iii) Mr. Braverman’s outstanding unvested stock options and outstanding unvested restricted stock unit awards that could vest in accordance with their scheduled vesting provisions if Mr. Braverman’s employment had continued through the remaining term of the Agreement will be eligible to vest at the same time and subject to the same performance conditions as though Mr. Braverman continued in the Company’s employ, and all stock options, whether vested on date of termination or vesting thereafter as described above, shall vest and remain exercisable to the same extent as if Mr. Braverman’s employment had continued through the term of the Agreement. However, the Agreement provides that, unless necessary to preserve the tax deductibility of the compensation payable in respect of restricted stock units, the Company will waive any performance conditions related to performance in future fiscal years that were imposed primarily to permit the Company to claim a tax deduction for the compensation payable in respect of such units.

To qualify for the foregoing cash severance benefit, pro-rated bonus (and prior-year bonus, if not already paid), opportunity to vest in unvested equity awards and extended exercisability of stock options following an involuntary termination by the Company without cause, or a termination by Mr. Braverman for good reason, Mr. Braverman must execute a release in favor of the Company and agree to provide the Company with certain consulting services for a period of six months after his termination (or, if less, for the remaining term of the Agreement). Additionally, during the period of these consulting services, Mr. Braverman must also agree not to provide any services to entities that compete with any of the Company’s business segments.

The foregoing description is qualified by reference to the terms of the Braverman Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.






Item 9.01 Exhibits

Exhibit 10.1
Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2013 between the Company and Alan N. Braverman    







Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Walt Disney Company
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Roger J. Patterson
 
 
 
Roger J. Patterson
 
 
 
Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
 
 
 
Registered In-House Counsel
 
Dated: October 2, 2013