EX-10.2 3 y23493exv10w2.htm EX-10.2: EMPLOYMENT LETTER AGREEMENT EX-10.2
 

EXHIBIT 10.2
July 24, 2006
Mr. Howard Hochhauser
Dear Howard:
       We are very pleased and excited to extend an offer to you to join Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (“MSO”) as described below:
1)   POSITION: You will serve as an MSLO employee and have the title of Chief Financial Officer, subject to review on an annual basis.
2)   TERM: Your service as CFO shall begin on July 24, 2006, and your employment shall continue until terminated by either you or MSO (the “Term”).
3)   DUTIES: During the Term, you will devote your full business time, attention and energies to the performance of duties included in your job description and such other duties as may be reasonably assigned to you and which are consistent with your titles. In performing your duties you will report directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer, or other position(s) as MSO deems appropriate. It will be your responsibility to keep that office informed on a timely basis and as directed on your progress with respect to your duties hereunder.
4)   COMPENSATION: You will be paid a salary at the annual rate of not less than $350,000, payable as earned, in 26 equal payments of $13,461.54 in accordance with MSO’s standard payroll practices for salaried employees. Your MSO compensation level is Grade 39. In a manner consistent with other MSO senior executives, you will be eligible for salary increases based upon your performance and the performance of MSO as the then-current policies of MSO provide for executives at your level.
5)   BONUS: Provided you continue to be employed by MSO at the time annual bonuses are paid, you will be eligible for an annual target bonus of 70% of your base salary, pursuant to company policies. In general, your bonus will be determined based upon MSO’s customary practices in effect from time to time with respect to bonus determination for executives of comparable level, and is based upon an evaluation of your performance as Chief Financial Officer, as well as the performance of MSO against certain financial goals and targets as determined by the company.
6)   BENEFITS: You will be eligible for all employment benefits provided by MSO subject to the terms and conditions of any relevant benefits plan document and MSO’s then-current policy (which may be changed by MSO from time to time), which presently entitles you to coverage as of your first day of work.
7)   LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS: As of your start date, you will be granted 20,000 shares of restricted stock (the “Award”) under the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Award represents the right to receive shares of MSO Class A common stock on the respective vesting dates. The Award will vest over three years, with thirty-three percent (33%) vesting on your first anniversary, thirty-three percent (33%) vesting on your second anniversary, and the remaining thirty-four percent (34%) vesting on your third anniversary. You must be employed by MSO on the respective vesting date in order to receive that portion of the Award.

 

 

8)   VACATION: You will be entitled to four (4) weeks vacation annually in accordance with company policy for Executives.
9)   NON-COMPETITION: You hereby agree that during your employment with MSO and during any Tail Period (as defined below), you shall not engage in or become associated with a Competitive Activity (as defined below). A “Competitive Activity” shall mean any business which is competitive with any business of MSO and its affiliates with respect to which you performed any duties during your employment with MSO and its affiliates and their predecessors. You shall be deemed to be “engaged in or associated with a Competitive Activity” if you become an owner, employee, officer, director, independent contractor, agent, partner, advisor, or render personal services in any other capacity, with or for any individual, partnership, corporation or other organization (collectively, an “Enterprise”) that is engaged in a Competitive Activity, provided, however, that you shall not be prohibited from (a) owning less than five percent of the stock in any publicly traded Enterprise engaging in a Competitive Activity, or (b) being an employee, independent contractor or otherwise providing services to an Enterprise that is engaged in a Competitive Activity so long as your services relate to an aspect or endeavor of such Enterprise that is distinct from, and unrelated to, and you have no influence or control over, such Enterprise’s pursuit of a Competitive Activity. “Tail Period” shall mean the period, if any, commencing on the date that your employment with MSO terminates, and ending on the twelve-month anniversary of such date. If, at any time, the provisions of this paragraph shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, by reason of being vague or unreasonable as to area, duration or scope of activity, this paragraph shall be considered divisible and shall become and be immediately amended to only such area, duration and scope of activity as shall be determined to be reasonable and enforceable by the court or other body having jurisdiction over the matter; and you agree that this paragraph as so amended shall be valid and binding as though any invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included herein. You agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threat of breach by you of this paragraph will be inadequate, and that, in addition to any other remedy to which MSO may be entitled at law or in equity, MSO will be entitled to seek a temporary or permanent injunction or injunctions or temporary restraining order or orders to prevent breaches thereof. Your such agreement shall not be deemed to prohibit you from opposing such relief on the basis of a dispute of facts related to any such application.
10)   CONFIDENTIALITY: You agree to sign the MSO confidentiality agreement upon hire.
11)   AT WILL STATUS: You specifically understand and agree that your employment hereunder shall be at all times on an “at will” basis, meaning that either you or MSO can terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause or notice, and nothing contained herein shall be construed as establishing any other relationship between you and MSO.
12)   WORK FOR HIRE: As an MSO employee, you will be part of a team of highly talented individuals, whose creative contributions are an integral part of MSO’s success as a company. Accordingly, you acknowledge and agree that MSO has specially ordered and commissioned any and all results and proceeds of your services hereunder (the “works”) as works-made-for-hire under the United States copyright Act and all similar laws throughout the world (the “Act”), and that MSO shall be deemed the sole author and owner of all right, title and interest in the Works in any an all languages, formats and media, whether now known or hereafter created, throughout the world in perpetuity (the “Rights”). If the Works or any part of the Works are not deemed works-made-for-hire under the Act, you hereby irrevocably grant and assign the Rights exclusively to MSO. You hereby waive any so-called moral rights of authors and other similar rights in connection with the Works. You acknowledge and agree that MSO is not under any obligation to use the Works, and may exploit, reproduce, distribute, make derivative works of, alter or edit the Works or combine the Works with other materials, in any media whether now known or hereafter created throughout the world, in MSO’s sole discretion, free of any obligation to you whatsoever, financial or otherwise. You hereby waive the right to seek or obtain any injunctive or other equitable relief in connection with MSO’s exploitation of the Works and any Rights therein. You agree that upon any termination of your employment, you will immediately turn over any and all of the Works in your possession to MSO. You irrevocably grant to MSO the perpetual right to

 

 

use and authorize others to use your name, biographical information, photograph, and likeness (in each case in a form approved by you) in connection with any use of the Works and/or in connection with your employment with MSO. You represent and warrant that you have the right to perform your services for MSO and to grant the Rights in the Works to MSO, and that, to the best of your knowledge, the Works will be original with you, and neither the Works, nor MSO’s exercise of any of the Rights, shall violate or otherwise conflict with the rights of any person
13)   SEVERANCE: You will be a Participant in the 2005 Executive Severance Pay Plan.
       We hope that you find the foregoing terms acceptable. You may indicate your agreement with these terms and accept this offer by signing this letter as well as the confidentiality agreement and returning them to me.
         
 
      Very truly yours,
 
        
 
       /s/ Susan Lyne 
 
       
 
      Susan Lyne
 
      President and Chief Executive Officer
 
      Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
         
/s/ Howard Hochhauser 
    
     
Howard Hochhauser    
 
        
Date:
  July 25, 2006