Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of
Certain Officers.
On June 18, 2020, News Corporation (the "Company") and Susan Panuccio, Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, entered into an Amended and Restated
Employment Agreement, effective as of July 1, 2020 (the "Amended and Restated
Panuccio Agreement"). The Amended and Restated Panuccio Agreement extends Ms.
Panuccio's term of employment until June 30, 2023 and provides for an annual
base salary of not less than $1,400,000; (ii) an annual bonus with a target of
not less than $2,000,000; and (iii) an annual long-term equity incentive award
with a target of not less than $2,200,000. These amounts represent an increase
over Ms. Panuccio's fiscal 2020 annual base salary, annual performance-based
bonus target and annual performance-based equity incentive award target of
approximately 7.7%, 14.3% and 25.7%, respectively, with approximately 75% of Ms.
Panuccio's target compensation being "at risk." All bonus payments and equity
grants are subject to the Company's claw-back policies.
If Ms. Panuccio's employment is terminated by the Company other than for cause
(as defined in the Amended and Restated Panuccio Agreement) or due to Ms.
Panuccio's death or disability, or by Ms. Panuccio for good reason (as defined
in the Amended and Restated Panuccio Agreement), the Amended and Restated
Panuccio Agreement provides that Ms. Panuccio will receive (i) the greater of
(A) her then-current base salary and target annual bonus paid in the same manner
as though Ms. Panuccio continued to be employed through June 30, 2023 and (B)
her then-current base salary and target annual bonus paid in the same manner as
though she continued to be employed for the successive 24 months following the
date of termination; (ii) a pro rata portion of the annual bonus she would have
earned for the fiscal year of termination had no termination occurred (a
"Pro-rated Annual Bonus"); (iii) continued vesting of equity incentive awards
granted prior to the date of termination in the same manner as though she
continued to be employed through the later of June 30, 2023 or one year
following the date of termination, based on Company performance for and payable
at the conclusion of the applicable performance periods; and (iv) Company-paid
premiums under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as
amended, for the executive and her eligible dependents for the successive 18
months following the date of termination. If Ms. Panuccio's employment is
terminated due to her death or disability, she or her surviving spouse or
estate, as applicable, would be entitled to: (i) salary continuation for up to
12 months (and, in the case of disability, continuation of other benefits as
well); (ii) any Pro-rated Annual Bonus; and (iii) (A) in the case of disability,
treatment of her outstanding equity incentive awards pursuant to the terms of
applicable plan documents or (B) in the case of death, continued vesting of
equity incentive awards granted prior to the date of termination in the same
manner as though she continued to be employed for a period of one year following
the date of termination. Finally, if, following the completion of the term under
the Amended and Restated Panuccio Agreement on June 30, 2023, Ms. Panuccio is
not offered a new employment agreement on terms at least as favorable to her as
the terms set forth in the Amended and Restated Panuccio Agreement, and Ms.
Panuccio is subsequently terminated without cause, then she will be entitled to
receive the payments and benefits summarized above with respect to a termination
other than for cause (using the same base salary and target annual bonus as in
effect immediately prior to the expiration of the term on June 30, 2023).
Payment of any compensation or benefits upon termination is subject to Ms.
Panuccio's execution of the Company's then-standard separation agreement and
general release and continued compliance with their terms. The Amended and
Restated Panuccio Agreement continues to have confidentiality, non-competition
and other covenants to protect the Company.
In addition, the Amended and Restated Panuccio Agreement provides that if Ms.
Panuccio is entitled to receive any "excess parachute payments" under Section
280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, in connection with a
change in control, those payments will either (i) be reduced below the
applicable threshold, or (ii) paid in full, whichever is more favorable for Ms.
Panuccio on a net after-tax basis. Ms. Panuccio is not entitled to any golden
parachute excise tax or other tax "gross-up" payments.
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