Severance Agreement - CD Radio Inc. and Keno V. Thomas
July 6, 1998
Mr. Keno V. Thomas
120 East 87th Street
Apt. P10C
New York, New York 10128
Dear Mr. Thomas:
This letter agreement (the "Agreement") confirms our understanding and
agreement with respect to your termination of employment with CD Radio Inc. (the
"Company") as follows:
1. Termination of Employment. Effective as of today (the "Termination
Date"), your employment with the Company and its affiliates shall be terminated.
You hereby resign, effective immediately, from all offices that you hold with
the Company and any of its affiliates.
2. Severance Payments; Stock Options. (a) In accordance with the terms
of the Employment and Noncompetition Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1997 (the
"Employment Agreement"), between you and the Company, you shall be paid
severance in the amount of $125,000, less applicable withholding taxes (the
"Severance Payment"). The Severance Payment will be paid to you on the first
regular payroll date of the Company following the Termination Date.
(b) (i) you shall be entitled to retain 10,000 options to purchase the
common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company at
an exercise price per share of $12.875 (which options are currently vested
pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1997 (the "Stock
Option Agreement"), between you and the Company); and (ii) the Company shall
vest an additional 40,000 options to purchase the Common Stock at an exercise
price per share of $12.875 which were granted pursuant to the Stock Option
Agreement (such 50,000 options described in clauses (i) and (ii) shall hereafter
be referred to as, the "Stock Options"). In each case, you agree that the Stock
Options shall only be exercisable until December 31, 1999.
(c) You acknowledge and agree that all other options to purchase the
Common Stock which are held by you, whether pursuant to the Stock Option
Agreement or oral agreements with the Company, shall be forfeited immediately.
3. Full Satisfaction. You hereby acknowledge and agree that, except for
the Severance Payment that will become payable to you hereunder and the Stock
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Options, you will not be entitled to any other compensation or benefits from the
Company or its affiliates, including, without limitation, any other severance or
termination benefits.
4. Confidential Information. Except as expressly modified by this
Agreement, the terms of the Employment Agreement, which by their terms continue
after your termination of employment, shall remain in full force and effect.
5. Return of Property to the Company. All memoranda, notes, lists,
records and other documents or papers (and all copies thereof), including items
stored in computer memories, on microfilm or by other means, made or compiled by
you, or made available to you relating to the Company or its affiliates or its
business, are and shall remain the property of the Company and shall be
delivered to the Company promptly upon the execution of this Agreement. You
shall immediately return to the Company all other property and equipment which
has been purchased by the Company for your use.
6. General Release. (a) For and in consideration of the Severance
Payment and the Stock Options, you hereby agree on behalf of yourself, your
agents, assignees, attorneys, successors, assigns, heirs and executors, to, and
you do hereby, fully and completely forever release the Company and its
affiliates, predecessors and successors and all of their respective past and/or
present officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, administrators,
attorneys, insurers and fiduciaries in their individual and/or representative
capacities (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Releasees"), from any
and all causes of action, suits, agreements, promises, damages, disputes,
controversies, contentions, differences, judgments, claims, debts, dues, sums of
money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, covenants, contracts, variances,
trespasses, extents, executions and demands of any kind whatsoever, which you or
your heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns ever had, now have
or may have against the Releasees or any of them, in law, admiralty or equity,
whether known or unknown to you, for, upon, or by reason of, any matter, action,
omission, course or thing whatsoever occurring up to the date of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, in connection with or in relationship to your
employment or other service relationship with the Company or its affiliates, the
termination of any such employment or service relationship and any applicable
employment, compensatory or equity arrangement with the Company or its
respective affiliates; provided that such released claims shall not include any
claims to enforce your rights under, or with respect to, this Agreement (such
released claims are collectively referred to herein as the "Released Claims").
(b) Notwithstanding the generality of clause (a) above, the Released
Claims include, without limitation, (i) any and all claims under Title_VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967,
the Civil Rights Act of 1971, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Fair Labor
Standards Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the
Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and
any and all other federal, state or local laws, statutes, rules and regulations
pertaining to employment or otherwise, and (ii) any claims for wrongful
discharge, breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation or any compensation
claims, or any other claims under any statute, rule or regulation or under the
common law, including compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees,
costs, expenses and all claims for any other type of damage or relief.
(c) THIS MEANS THAT, BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, YOU WILL HAVE WAIVED
ANY RIGHT YOU MAY HAVE HAD TO BRING A LAWSUIT OR MAKE ANY CLAIM AGAINST THE
RELEASEES BASED ON ANY ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF THE RELEASEES UP TO THE DATE OF THIS
AGREEMENT.
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(d) You represent that you have read carefully and fully understand the
terms of this Agreement, and that you have been advised to consult with an
attorney and have had the opportunity to consult with an attorney prior to
signing this Agreement. You acknowledge that you are executing this Agreement
voluntarily and knowingly and that you have not relied on any representations,
promises or agreements of any kind made to you in connection with your decision
to accept the terms of this Agreement, other than those set forth in this
Agreement.
7. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed, construed and
interpreted under the laws of the State of New York.
8. Entire Agreement; Counterparts. This constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties. It may not be modified or changed except by
written instrument executed by all parties. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and which together
shall constitute a single instrument.
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If this letter correctly sets forth your understanding of our agreement
with respect to the foregoing matters, please so indicate by signing below on
the line provided for your signature.
Very truly yours,
CD RADIO INC.
By: /s/ Patrick L. Donnelly
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Patrick L. Donnelly
Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
Reviewed, approved and agreed:
/s/ Keno Thomas
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Keno Thomas