================================================================================
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): May 16, 2005
______________
InterDigital Communications Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Pennsylvania 1-11152 23-1882087
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
781 Third Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406-1409
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 610-878-7800
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:
|_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR 230.425)
|_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
================================================================================
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
(a) On May 16, 2005, InterDigital Communications Corporation (the "Company")
entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with William J.
Merritt ("Employment Agreement") identifying the terms and conditions of Mr.
Merritt's service to the Company in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer
("CEO"). The Company's Board of Directors appointed Mr. Merritt as a Director
and as CEO and President on May 2, 2005.
Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Merritt reports directly to the
Board of Directors and will receive an annual base salary of $360,000, subject
adjustments from time to time ("Base Salary"), together with benefits which are
provided to similarly situated employees of the Company (e.g., medical, dental,
vision, 410(k), expense reimbursement). Mr. Merritt will continue to be eligible
to participate in the Company's Annual Employee Bonus Plan, and shall have an
annual target bonus level of 57% of his Base Salary for 2005. Mr. Merritt's
continued eligibility to receive an LTIP cash bonus and restricted stock unit
("RSU") award pursuant to the Company's Long-Term Compensation Program
("Program") have been adjusted upward on a pro-rata basis for the period
remaining under the current Program cycles. This adjustment reflects the
increase in Mr. Merritt's Base Salary and a higher Program target of 120% of his
Base Salary. Additionally, Mr. Merritt has been awarded 10,000 RSUs vesting over
three years beginning in May 2006.
The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Merritt's appointment as a
Director as well as any positions he holds as an officer or director of any of
the Company's subsidiaries or affiliates, will terminate upon termination of his
employment regardless of the reason for termination. If Mr. Merritt is
terminated without cause or terminates his employment for good reason (as both
"cause" and "good reason" are defined under Section 10.3(a) and 10.5(a) of the
Employment Agreement, respectively), and provided he executes the Company's
standard form termination letter, Mr. Merritt will be entitled to continue to
receive his Base Salary, together with dental and health coverage under COBRA,
for a period of eighteen months, and 50% of his target annual bonus paid over a
period of eighteen months. In addition, upon Mr. Merritt's separation of service
with the Company, the Employment Agreement provides that if any payment is made
to Mr. Merritt which would constitute a payment of nonqualified deferred
compensation pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code), such payment shall be delayed until the date that is six
months after the date of Mr. Merritt's separation. Further, in the event any
amount or benefit payable to Mr. Merritt under the Employment Agreement or under
any other plan, agreement or arrangement applicable to Mr. Merritt, is subject
to an excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code (or imposed under
any successor provision of the Code imposing a tax liability on "excess
parachute payments" as that term is defined in Code Section 280G), Mr. Merritt
shall be entitled to receive a cash "gross-up" payment, on an after-tax basis,
in an amount sufficient to indemnify him for the amount of any such excise tax.
A copy of the Employment Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
10.1 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between InterDigital
Communications Corporation and William J. Merritt dated May 16, 2005.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By: /s/ R.J. Fagan
-----------------------------------
Richard J. Fagan
Chief Financial Officer
Dated: May 20, 2005
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
- ----------- -----------
10.1 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between
InterDigital Communications Corporation and William J. Merritt
dated May 16, 2005.