Exhibit 10.1
Execution Copy
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between Dara Khosrowshahi (“Executive”) and Expedia, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and is effective as of May 28, 2009 (the “Effective Date”).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish its right to the services of Executive, in the capacity described below, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and Executive is willing to accept such employment on such terms and conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, Executive and the Company have agreed and do hereby agree as follows:
1.A.EMPLOYMENT. The Company agrees to employ Executive as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; Executive accepts and agrees to such employment. During Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall perform all services and acts necessary or advisable to fulfill the duties and responsibilities as are commensurate and consistent with Executive’s position and shall render such services on the terms set forth herein. During Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall report directly to the Chairman and Senior Executive of the Company. Executive shall have such powers and duties with respect to the Company as may reasonably be assigned to Executive by the Chairman and Senior Executive, to the extent consistent with Executive’s position and status. Executive agrees to devote all of Executive’s working time, attention and efforts to the Company and to perform the duties of Executive’s position in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time. Executive’s principal place of employment shall be the Company’s offices located in Bellevue, Washington.
2.A.TERM OF AGREEMENT. The term (“Term”) of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue through the third anniversary of the Effective Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of the Standard Terms and Conditions.
3.A.COMPENSATION.
(a) BASE SALARY. During the Term, the Company shall pay Executive an annual base salary of $1,000,000.00 (the “Base Salary”), payable in equal biweekly installments or in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice as in effect from time to time. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Base Salary” shall refer to Base Salary as in effect from time to time.
(b) DISCRETIONARY BONUS. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to receive discretionary annual bonuses. Any such annual bonus shall be paid not later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year with respect to which such annual bonus relates (unless Executive has elected to defer receipt of such bonus pursuant to an arrangement that meets the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)).
(c)BENEFITS. During the Term, from the Effective Date through the date of termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any welfare, health and life insurance and pension benefit and incentive programs as may be adopted from time to time by the Company on the same basis as that provided to similarly situated executives of the Company generally. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits:
(i)Reimbursement for Business Expenses. During the Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by Executive in performing Executive’s duties for the Company, on the same basis as similarly situated executives of the Company generally and in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time.
(ii)Vacation. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to annual paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company applicable to similarly situated executives of the Company generally.
4.A.NOTICES. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by first-class mail, certified or registered with return receipt requested or hand delivery acknowledged in writing by the recipient personally, and shall be deemed to have been duly given three days after mailing or immediately upon duly acknowledged hand delivery to the respective persons named below:
| If to the Company: | Expedia, Inc. 333 108th Avenue NE Bellevue, Washington 98004 Attention: General Counsel | ||
| If to Executive: | At the most recent address on record for Executive at the Company |
Either party may change such party’s address for notices by notice duly given pursuant hereto.
5.A.GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION. This Agreement and the legal relations thus created between the parties hereto shall be governed by and construed under and in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Washington without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws. Any and all disputes between the parties which may arise pursuant to this Agreement will be heard and determined before an appropriate federal court in Washington, or, if not maintainable therein, then in an appropriate Washington state court. The parties acknowledge that such courts have jurisdiction to interpret and enforce the provisions of this Agreement, and the parties consent to, and waive any and all objections that they may have as to, personal jurisdiction and/or venue in such courts.
2
6.ACOUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Executive expressly understands and acknowledges that the Standard Terms and Conditions attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference, deemed a part of this Agreement and are binding and enforceable provisions of this Agreement. References to “this Agreement” or the use of the term “hereof” shall refer to this Agreement and the Standard Terms and Conditions attached hereto, taken as a whole.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer and Executive has executed and delivered this Agreement.
| EXPEDIA, INC. | ||||
| /s/ Burke F. Norton | ||||
| By: Burke F. Norton | ||||
| Title: | Executive Vice President, General Counsel | |||
| /s/ Dara Khosrowshahi | ||||
| Dara Khosrowshahi | ||||
3
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. TERMINATION OF EXECUTIVE’S EMPLOYMENT.
(a) DEATH. Upon termination of Executive’s employment prior to the expiration of the Term by reason of Executive’s death, the Company shall pay Executive’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, within 30 days of Executive’s death in a lump sum in cash, (i) Executive’s Base Salary from the date of Executive’s death through the end of the month in which Executive’s death occurs and (ii) any Accrued Obligations (as defined in Section l(f) below) in a lump sum in cash.
(b) DISABILITY. If, as a result of Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness (“Disability”), Executive shall have been absent from the full-time performance of Executive’s duties with the Company for a period of four consecutive months and, within 30 days after written notice is provided to Executive by the Company (in accordance with Section 4A hereof), Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of Executive’s duties, Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company for Disability. During any period prior to such termination during which Executive is absent from the full-time performance of Executive’s duties with the Company due to Disability, the Company shall continue to pay Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect at the commencement of such period of Disability, offset by any amounts payable to Executive under any disability insurance plan or policy provided by the Company. Upon termination of Executive’s employment due to Disability, the Company shall pay Executive within 30 days of such termination (i) Executive’s Base Salary through the end of the month in which Executive’s termination of employment for Disability occurs in a lump sum in cash, offset by any amounts payable to Executive under any disability insurance plan or policy provided by the Company; and (ii) any Accrued Obligations in a lump sum in cash.
(c) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE; RESIGNATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement with or without Cause at any time and Executive may resign under this Agreement with or without Good Reason at any time. As used herein, “Cause” shall mean: (i) the plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, conviction for, or the commission of, a felony offense by Executive;provided,however, that after indictment, the Company may suspend Executive from the rendition of services, but without limiting or modifying in any other way the Company’s obligations under this Agreement; (ii) a material breach by Executive of a fiduciary duty owed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) a material breach by Executive of any of the covenants made by Executive in Section 2 hereof; (iv) the willful or gross neglect by Executive of the material duties required by this Agreement; or (v) a knowing and material violation by Executive of any Company policy pertaining to ethics, legal compliance, wrongdoing or conflicts of interest that, in the case of the conduct described in clauses (iv) or (v) above, if curable, is not cured by Executive within 30 days after Executive is provided with written notice thereof. Upon Executive’s (A) termination of employment by the Company for Cause prior to the expiration of the Term or (B) resignation without Good Reason prior to the expiration of the Term, this Agreement shall terminate without
further obligation by the Company, except for the payment of any Accrued Obligations in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of such termination.
(d) TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY OTHER THAN FOR DEATH, DISABILITY OR CAUSE OR RESIGNATION BY EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD REASON. Upon termination of Executive’s employment prior to the expiration of the Term by the Company without Cause (other than for death or Disability) or by Executive for Good Reason (as defined below), then:
(i) the Company shall continue to pay Executive the Base Salary through the longer of (x) the end of the Term over the course of the then remaining Term and (y) 12 months (such period, the “Salary Continuation Period” and such payments, the “Cash Severance Payments”), in each case payable in equal biweekly installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice as in effect from time to time;
(ii) the Company shall pay Executive within 30 days of the date of such termination in a lump sum in cash any Accrued Obligations;
(iii) the Company will consider in good faith the payment of a discretionary bonus on apro ratabasis for the year in which the Termination of Employment occurs, any such payment to be paid (if at all) based on actual performance during the year in which termination has occurred and based on the number of days of employment during such year relative to 365 days (payable in a lump sum at the time such annual bonus would otherwise have been paid);
(iv) other than with respect to restricted stock units granted pursuant to the Expedia Restricted Stock Agreement between Executive and the Company, dated March 7, 2006, as amended, with respect to which this clause (iv) shall not apply, any compensation awards of Executive based on, or in the form of, Company equity (e.g. restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options or similar instruments) (“Equity Awards”) that are outstanding and unvested at the time of such termination but which would, but for a termination of employment, have vested during the 12 months following such termination (such period, the “Equity Acceleration Period”) shall vest (and with respect to awards other than stock options and stock appreciation rights, settle) as of the date of such termination of employment;provided that any outstanding award with a vesting schedule that would, but for a termination of employment, have resulted in a smaller percentage (or none) of the award being vested through the end of such Equity Acceleration Period than if it vested annually pro rata over its vesting period shall, for purposes of this provision, be treated as though it vested annually pro rata over its vesting period (e.g., if 100 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were granted 2.7 years prior to the date of the termination and vested pro rata on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant date and 100 RSUs were granted 1.7 years prior to the date of termination and vested on the fifth anniversary of the grant date, then on the date of termination 20 RSUs from the first award and 40 RSUs from the second award would vest and settle);providedfurther that any amount that would vest under this provision but for the fact that outstanding performance conditions have not been satisfied shall vest (and with respect to awards other than stock options and stock appreciation rights, settle) only if, and at such point as, such performance conditions are
2
satisfied; andprovidedfurther that to the extent that any such equity awards constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409 A, such awards shall vest, but only settle in accordance with their terms (it being understood that it is intended that no equity awards outstanding as of the date of this Agreement constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A); and
(v) any then vested options of Executive (including options vesting as a result of (iv) above) granted by the Company to purchase Company equity, shall remain exercisable through the date that is 18 months following the date of such termination or, if earlier, through the scheduled expiration date of such options.
The expiration of the Term shall not give rise to any payment to Executive or acceleration obligation under this Section 1(d). The payment to Executive of the severance benefits described in this Section l(d) shall be subject to Executive’s execution and non-revocation of a general release, within 30 days of the date of termination of Executive’s employment, of the Company and its affiliates in a form substantially similar to that used for similarly situated executives of the Company and Executive’s compliance with the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 2 (other than any non-compliance that is immaterial, does not result in harm to the Company or its affiliates, and, if curable, is cured by Executive promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Company). Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s payment of severance benefits described in this Section 1(d) constitutes good and valuable consideration for such release. As used herein, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following without Executive’s prior written consent: (A) the Company’s material breach of any material provision of this Agreement, (B) the material reduction in Executive’s title, duties or reporting responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any such reduction that is an isolated and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith or that is authorized pursuant to this Agreement, (C) the material reduction in Executive’s Base Salary, or (D) the relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment more than 50 miles outside the Seattle metropolitan area,provided that in no event shall Executive’s resignation be for “Good Reason” unless (x) an event or circumstance set forth in clauses (A) through (D) shall have occurred and Executive provides the Company with written notice thereof within 30 days after Executive has knowledge of the occurrence or existence of such event or circumstance, which notice specifically identifies the event or circumstance that Executive believes constitutes Good Reason, (y) the Company fails to correct the circumstance or event so identified within 30 days after receipt of such notice, and (z) Executive resigns within 90 days after the date of delivery of the notice referred to in clause (x) above. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 1(d), in the event that Executive is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A) on the date of termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and the Cash Severance Payments to be paid within the first six months following such date (the “Initial Payment Period”) exceed the amount referenced in Treas. Regs. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A) (the “Limit”), then (1) any portion of the Cash Severance Payments that is a “short-term deferral” within the meaning of Treas. Regs. Section 1.409A-1(b)(4)(i) shall be paid at the times set forth in Section 1(d), (2) any portion of the Cash Severance Payments (in addition to the amounts contemplated by the immediately preceding clause (1)) that is payable during the Initial Payment Period that does not exceed the Limit shall be paid at the times set forth in Section 1(d) as applicable, (3) any portion of the Cash Severance Payments that exceeds the Limit and is not a “short-term deferral” (and would have been payable
3
during the Initial Payment Period but for the Limit) shall be paid, with Interest, on the first business day of the first calendar month that begins after the six-month anniversary of Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) and (4) any portion of the Cash Severance Payments that is payable after the Initial Payment Period shall be paid at the times set forth in Section l(d). For purposes of this Agreement, “Interest” shall mean interest at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code, from the date on which payment would otherwise have been made but for any required delay through the date of payment.
(e) OFFSET. If Executive obtains other employment during the Salary Continuation Period, any payments to be made to Executive under Section l(d) hereof after the date such employment is secured shall be offset by the amount of compensation earned by Executive from such employment. For purposes of this Section l(e), Executive shall have an obligation to inform the Company regarding Executive’s employment status following termination and during the Salary Continuation Period, but shall have no affirmative duty to seek alternate employment.
(f) ACCRUED OBLIGATIONS. As used in this Agreement, “Accrued Obligations” shall mean the sum of (i) any portion of Executive’s accrued and earned but unpaid Base Salary through the date of death or termination of employment for any reason, as the case may be; (ii) any compensation previously earned but deferred by Executive (together with any interest or earnings thereon) that has not yet been paid and that is not otherwise paid at a later date pursuant to any deferred compensation arrangement of the Company to which Executive is a party, if any (provided, that any election made by Executive pursuant to any deferred compensation arrangement that is subject to Section 409A regarding the schedule for payment of such deferred compensation shall prevail over this Section l(f) to the extent inconsistent herewith); and (iii) other than in the event of Executive’s resignation without Good Reason or termination by the Company for Cause (except as required by applicable law), any portion of Executive’s accrued but unpaid vacation pay through the date of death or termination of employment.
(g) OTHER BENEFITS. Upon any termination of Executive’s employment prior to the expiration of the Term, Executive shall remain entitled to receive any vested benefits or amounts that Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of, or any other contract or agreement with, the Company in accordance with the terms thereof (other than any such plan, policy, practice or program of the Company that provides benefits in the nature of severance or continuation pay).
2. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NON-SOLICITATION: AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS.
(a) CONFIDENTIALITY. Executive acknowledges that while employed by the Company, Executive will occupy a position of trust and confidence. Executive shall not, except as is appropriate to perform Executive’s duties hereunder or as required by applicable law, disclose to others, use, copy, transmit, reproduce, summarize, quote or make commercial, whether directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information. Executive will also take reasonable steps to safeguard such Confidential Information and prevent its loss, theft, or inadvertent
4
disclosure to third persons. This Section 2 shall apply to Confidential Information acquired by Executive whether prior or subsequent to the execution of this Agreement. “Confidential Information” shall mean information about the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and their respective clients and customers, including (without limitation) any proprietary knowledge, trade secrets, data, formulae, information and client and customer lists and all papers, resumes, and records (including computer records) of the documents containing such Confidential Information,provided that Confidential Information shall not mean any such information that is previously disclosed to, or in possession of, the public other than by reason of Executive’s breach of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if Executive is required to disclose any such confidential or proprietary information pursuant to applicable law or a subpoena or court order, Executive shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any such requirement so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order or other appropriate remedy or waive compliance with the provisions hereof. Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company to obtain such a protective order or other remedy. If such order or other remedy is not obtained prior to the time Executive is required to make the disclosure, or the Company waives compliance with the provisions hereof, Executive shall disclose only that portion of the confidential or proprietary information which he is advised by counsel that he is legally required to so disclose. Executive acknowledges that such Confidential Information is specialized, unique in nature and of great value to the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates, and that such information gives the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates a competitive advantage. Executive agrees to deliver or return to the Company, at the Company’s request at any time or upon termination or expiration of Executive’s employment or as soon thereafter as possible, all documents, computer tapes and disks, records, lists, data, drawings, prints, notes and written information (and all copies thereof) furnished by the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates or prepared by Executive in the course of Executive’s employment by the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates. As used in this Agreement, “affiliates” shall mean any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.
(b) NON-COMPETITION. In consideration of the Company’s promise to disclose, and disclosure of, its Confidential Information and other good and valuable consideration provided hereunder, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by Executive, Executive hereby agrees and covenants that during the Term and for a period of 24 months beyond Executive’s date of termination of employment for any reason, including the expiration of the Term (the “Restricted Period”), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in, assist or become associated with a Competitive Activity. For purposes of this Section 2(b): (i) a “Competitive Activity” means, at the time of Executive’s termination, any business or other endeavor in any jurisdiction of a kind being conducted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, if engaged in the provision of any travel related services, any of its affiliates in any jurisdiction (or demonstrably anticipated by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates as of the Effective Date or at any time thereafter; and (ii) Executive shall be considered to have become “associated with a Competitive Activity” if Executive becomes directly or indirectly involved as an owner, principal, employee, officer, director, independent contractor, representative, stockholder, financial backer, agent, partner, advisor, lender, or in any other individual or representative capacity with any individual, partnership, corporation or other organization that is
5
engaged in a Competitive Activity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may make and retain investments during the Restricted Period, for investment purposes only, in less than five percent of the outstanding capital stock of any publicly-traded corporation engaged in a Competitive Activity if stock of such corporation is either listed on a national stock exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System if Executive is not otherwise affiliated with such corporation.
(c) NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, hire, recruit or solicit the employment or services of (whether as an employee, officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor), any employee, officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any such person who has terminated his or her relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates within the six-month period prior to such hiring, recruiting or soliciting (except for (i) such employment or hiring by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or (ii) such employment or hiring by Executive of an agent, consultant or independent contractor where the primary duties of such person are not for the Company);provided,however that a general solicitation of the public for employment shall not constitute a solicitation hereunder so long as such general solicitation is not designed to target, or does not have the effect of targeting, any employee, officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. This Section 2(c) shall not apply to any administrative assistant working directly for Executive.
(d) NON-SOLICITATION OF BUSINESS PARTNERS. During the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, persuade or encourage or attempt to persuade or encourage any business partners or business affiliates of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or to engage in any business competitive with the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates on its own or with any competitor of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
(e) PROPRIETARY RIGHTS; ASSIGNMENT. All Executive Developments (as defined below) shall be made for hire by Executive for the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. “Executive Developments” means any idea, discovery, invention, design, method, technique, improvement, enhancement, development, computer program, machine, algorithm or other work or authorship, in each case, (i) that (A) relates to the business or operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or (B) results from or is suggested by any undertaking assigned to Executive or work performed by Executive for or on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, whether created alone or with others, during or after working hours and (ii) that is conceived or developed during the Term. All Confidential Information and all Executive Developments shall remain the sole property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. Executive shall acquire no proprietary interest in any Confidential Information or Executive Developments developed or acquired during the Term. To the extent Executive may, by operation of law or otherwise, acquire any right, title or interest in or to any Confidential Information or Executive Development, Executive hereby assigns to the Company all such proprietary rights. Executive shall, both during and after the Term, upon the
6
Company’s request, promptly execute and deliver to the Company all such assignments, certificates and instruments, and shall promptly perform such other acts, as the Company may from time to time in its reasonable discretion deem necessary or desirable to evidence, establish, maintain, perfect, enforce or defend the Company’s rights in Confidential Information and Executive Developments.
(f) COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. During the Term, Executive shall adhere to the policies and standards of professionalism set forth in the Company’s Policies and Procedures as they may exist from time to time. Executive hereby consents to, and expressly authorizes, the Company’s use of Executive’s name and likeness in trade publications and other media for trade or commercial purposes.
(g) REMEDIES FOR BREACH. Executive expressly agrees and understands that the Company will have 30 days from receipt of Executive’s notice of any alleged breach by the Company of this Agreement to cure any such breach. Executive expressly agrees and understands that the remedy at law for any breach by Executive of this Section 2 will be inadequate and that damages flowing from such breach are not usually susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, it is acknowledged that upon Executive’s violation or threatened violation of any provision of this Section 2, the Company shall be entitled to obtain from any court of competent jurisdiction immediate injunctive relief and obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach as well as an equitable accounting of all profits or benefits arising out of such violation or threatened violation without the requirement of posting any bond. Nothing in this Section 2 shall be deemed to limit the Company’s remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 2, which may be pursued by or available to the Company.
(h) SURVIVAL OF PROVISIONS. The obligations contained in this Section 2 shall, to the extent provided in this Section 2, survive the termination or expiration of Executive’s employment with the Company and, as applicable, shall be fully enforceable thereafter in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Section 2 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.
3. ASSIGNMENT: SUCCESSORS. This Agreement is personal in its nature and none of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the others, assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder;provided, that, in the event of a merger, consolidation, transfer, reorganization, or sale of all, substantially all or a substantial portion of, the assets of the Company with or to any other individual or entity, this Agreement shall, subject to the provisions hereof, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor in interest in such transaction, and such successor shall discharge and perform all the promises, covenants, duties, and obligations of the Company hereunder, and all references herein to the “Company” shall refer to such successor.
7
4. WITHHOLDING. The Company shall make such deductions and withhold such amounts from each payment and benefit made or provided to Executive hereunder, as may be required from time to time by applicable law, governmental regulation or order.
5. HEADING REFERENCES. Section headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose. References to “this Agreement” or the use of the term “hereof” shall refer to these Standard Terms and Conditions and the Employment Agreement attached hereto, taken as a whole.
6. WAIVER: MODIFICATION. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right or power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times. This Agreement shall not be modified in any respect except by a writing executed by each party hereto.
7. SEVERABILITY. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any portion of this Agreement is in violation of any law or public policy, only the portions of this Agreement that violate such law or public policy shall be stricken. All portions of this Agreement that do not violate any statute or public policy shall continue in full force and effect. Further, any court order striking any portion of this Agreement shall modify the stricken terms as narrowly as possible to give as much effect as possible to the intentions of the parties under this Agreement.
9. SECTION 409A. The Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A or an exemption or exclusion therefrom and, with respect to amounts that are subject to Section 409A, shall in all respects be administered in accordance with Section 409A. Each payment under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement. All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement that constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, without limitation, that (i) in no event shall reimbursements by the Company under this Agreement be made later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the applicable fees and expenses were incurred, provided, that Executive shall have submitted an invoice for such fees and expenses at least 10 days before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and expenses were incurred; (ii) the amount of in-kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide in any given calendar year shall not affect the in-kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide in any other calendar year; (iii) Executive’s right to have the Company pay or provide such reimbursements and in-kind benefits may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) in no event shall the Company’s obligations to make such reimbursements or to provide such in-kind benefits apply later than Executive’s remaining lifetime (or if longer, through the 20th anniversary of the Effective Date). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that any amounts payable or benefits to be provided to Executive under Section l.(d) or any
8
other arrangement to which Executive is a party or participant constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A, (i) if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the date of termination), amounts that constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A that would otherwise be payable and restricted stock units that constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” that would otherwise have been settled under Section l(d) during the six-month period immediately following the date of termination shall instead be paid, with Interest determined as of the date of termination, or settled, on the first business day after the date that is six months following Executive’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A; (ii) if Executive dies following the date of termination and prior to the payment of the any amounts delayed on account of Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid to, and such restricted stock units shall be settled with, the personal representative of Executive’s estate within 30 days after the date of the Executive’s death; and (iii) in no event shall the date of termination of Executive’s employment be deemed to occur until Executive experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the date on which such separation from service takes place shall be the date of termination.
9
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE:
| EXPEDIA, INC. | ||||
| /s/ Burke F. Norton | ||||
| By: Burke F. Norton | ||||
| Title: | Executive Vice President, General Counsel | |||
| /s/ Dara Khosrowshahi | ||||
| Dara Khosrowshahi | ||||
10