Amendment to Severance Agreement between Playboy Enterprises, Inc. and Executive

Summary

This amendment updates the severance agreement between Playboy Enterprises, Inc. and an executive, effective August 2000. It extends the severance period from 12 to 36 months and revises certain payment and tax provisions. Notably, if severance or related payments trigger excise taxes, the company will provide additional payments to cover those taxes, ensuring the executive is not financially disadvantaged. The amendment also details the process for determining tax liabilities and reimbursement procedures. All changes were approved by the company's Compensation Committee.

EX-10.1 2 0002.txt AMENDMENT TO SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AMENDMENT TO SEVERANCE AGREEMENT This agreement between Playboy Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ____________________ (the "Executive") constitutes an amendment, dated and effective as of August _____, 2000, to the Severance Agreement, dated as of ____________________, between the Company and the Executive (the "Severance Agreement"). This amendment was approved in substance by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors at a meeting held on ____________________, 2000. For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the parties, the Severance Agreement is hereby amended as follows: 1. The number "12" in the first sentence of Section 4(a)(ii) of the Severance Agreement is replaced with the number "36". 2. In Section 4(d) of the Severance Agreement, the words "Section 7" are replaced with the words "Sections 6 and 7". 3. Section 6 of the Severance Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: 6. Certain Additional Payments by the Company (a) In the event that this Agreement becomes operative and it is determined (as hereafter provided) that any payment or distribution by the Company or any of its affiliates to or for the benefit of Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement, including without limitation any stock option, stock appreciation right or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any restriction on or the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing (a "Payment"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor 1 provision thereto), or to any similar tax imposed by state or local law, or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such tax or taxes, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then Executive will be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that, after payment by Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 6(f) below, all determinations required to be made under this Section 6, including whether an Excise Tax is payable by Executive and the amount of such Excise Tax and whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, will be made by a nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants (the "Accounting Firm") selected by Executive in Executive's sole discretion. Executive will direct the Accounting Firm to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and Executive within 15 calendar days after the date of the Change in Control or the date of Executive's termination of employment, if applicable, and any other such time or times as may be requested by the Company or Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that any Excise Tax is payable by Executive, the Company will pay the required Gross-Up Payment to Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive, it will, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on Executive's 2 federal, state, local income or other tax return. Any determination by the Accounting Firm as to the amount of the Gross-Up Payment will be binding upon the Company and Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) and the possibility of similar uncertainty regarding applicable state or local tax law at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made (an "Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts or fails to pursue its remedies pursuant to Section 6(f) below and Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, Executive will direct the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and Executive as promptly as possible. Any such Underpayment will be promptly paid by the Company to, or for the benefit of, Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations. (c) The Company and Executive will each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the Company or Executive, as the case may be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determination contemplated by Section 6(b) above. (d) The federal, state and local income or other tax returns filed by Executive will be prepared and filed on a consistent basis with the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Excise Tax payable by Executive. Executive will make proper payment of the amount of any Ex- 3 cise Tax, and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of Executive's federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service and corresponding state and local tax returns, if relevant, as filed with the applicable taxing authority, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment. If prior to the filing of Executive's federal income tax return, or corresponding state or local tax return, if relevant, the Accounting Firm determines that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment should be reduced, Executive will within five business days pay to the Company the amount of such reduction. (e) The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Section 6(b) and (d) above will be borne by the Company. If such fees and expenses are initially advanced by Executive, the Company will reimburse Executive the full amount of such fees and expenses within five business days after receipt from Executive of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of Executive's payment thereof. (f) Executive will notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of a Gross-Up Payment. Such notification will be given as promptly as practicable, but no later than 10 business days after Executive actually receives notice of such claim, and Executive will further apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid (in each case, to the extent known by Executive). Executive will not pay such claim prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the 30-calendar-day period following the date on which Executive gives such notice to the Company and (ii) the 4 date that any payment of amount with respect to such claim is due. If the Company notifies Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, Executive will: (i) provide the Company with any written records or documents in Executive's possession relating to such claim reasonably requested by the Company; (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company will reasonably request in writing from time to time, including without limitation accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney competent in respect of the subject matter and reasonably selected by the Company; (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim; and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided, however, that the Company will bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and will indemnify and hold harmless Executive, on an after-tax basis, for and against any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest and penalties with respect thereto, imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(f), the Company will control all proceedings taken in connection with the contest of any claim contemplated by this Section 6(f) and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such 5 claim (provided that Executive may participate therein at Executive's own cost and expense) and may, at its option, either direct Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company will determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund, the Company will advance the amount of such payment to Executive on an interest-free basis and will indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any excise Tax or income tax, including interest or penalties with respect thereto, imposed with respect to such advance; and provided further, however, that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of Executive with respect to which the contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of any such contested claim will be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and Executive will be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. (g) If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 6(f) above, Executive receives any refund with respect to such claim, Executive will (subject to the Company's complying with the requirements of Section 6(f) above) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after any taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 6(f) above, a determination is made that Ex- 6 ecutive will not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial or refund prior to the expiration of 30-calendar-days after such determination, then such advance will be forgiven and will not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance will offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid pursuant to this Section 6. The Severance Agreement, except as herein amended, is hereby ratified, confirmed and approved in all respects. PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES, INC. By_________________________________ ___________________________________ NAME OF EXECUTIVE 7