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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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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): December 29, 1997
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TRANSMEDIA NETWORK INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 0-4028 84-6028875
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
11900 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 460, Miami, Florida 33181
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (305) 892-3300
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Exhibit Index Appears on Page 4
Total Number of Pages: 16
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ITEM 5. Other Events
Consistent with the Registrant's previously announced plan to conduct a
search for a successor chief executive officer to Melvin Chasen, the Chairman of
the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, on December 29, 1997, the
Registrant entered into an agreement with Mr. Chasen pursuant to which (i) Mr.
Chasen's employment agreement with the Registrant will terminate on September
15, 1998; (ii) his consulting agreement was terminated; (iii) his right to
receive $1,000,000, under the terms of his employment agreement, in the event of
the sale of a control block of stock of the Registrant was extinguished; and
(iv) he agreed to a five-year non-competition covenant and a confidentiality
agreement with the Registrant. In return, (i) Mr. Chasen received a payment of
$2,750,000 on December 30, 1997; (ii) the Registrant agreed that any of his
stock options which are unvested as of the termination of his employment will
vest and that all his stock options will be exercisable through December 31,
1998; (iii) his indebtedness to the Registrant in the amount of $134,900 was
canceled; (iv) the Registrant agreed to purchase for him a new car of similar
style and quality to the leased automobile which the Registrant currently
provides him; (v) Mr. Chasen and his wife will receive health insurance coverage
for the remainder of their respective lives; and (vi) he will be reimbursed for
his reasonable accounting and legal expenses incurred in connection with such
negotiations.
(Page 2 of 16 Pages)
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
TRANSMEDIA NETWORK INC.
Date: January 12, 1998 By: /s/ Stephen E. Lerch
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Stephen E. Lerch
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Page 3 of 16 Pages)
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number Description Page
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10.1 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement,
dated as of November 15, 1996, by and between
Transmedia Network Inc. and Melvin Chasen
(incorporated by reference from the Registrant's
1997 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K as
exhibit 10.4.)
10.2 Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement,
dated as of November 15, 1996 by and between
Transmedia Network Inc. and Melvin Chasen
(incorporated by reference from the Registrant's
1997 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K as
exhibit 10.5.)
10.3 Agreement, dated as of December 29, 1997, by 5
and between Transmedia Network Inc. and
Melvin Chasen.
(Page 4 of 16 Pages)
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Exhibit 10.3
AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated as of December 29, 1997, by and between
TRANSMEDIA NETWORK INC., a Delaware corporation with its principal office at
11900 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami, Florida 33181 (the "Company"), and MELVIN
CHASEN residing at 2800 Island Boulevard, Apartment 1401, Williams Island,
Florida 33160 (the "Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H
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WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive entered into an Amended and
Restated Employment Agreement (the "Employment Agreement"), dated as of November
15, 1996, which they wish to amend in certain respects, and an Amended and
Restated Consulting Agreement (the "Consulting Agreement") dated as of November
15, 1996, which they wish to terminate.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. Amendment to Employment Agreement. (a) Section 2 of the
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Employment Agreement is amended to read in its entirety:
"The term of this Agreement shall be for the period commencing
October 7, 1994 and ending on September 15, 1998 (the "Term"), unless
earlier terminated as provided herein."
(b) At the request of the Board of Directors of the Company at any
time prior to September 15, 1998, the Executive shall resign as Chairman of the
Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer. In the event the
Executive delivers his resignation as Chairman of the Board of Directors,
President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to the request of the Board of
Directors of the Company, the Employment Agreement, and the Executive's
compensation and benefits thereunder, will continue in accordance with its terms
as amended by this Agreement.
(c) Section 10 of the Employment Agreement is hereby deleted.
2. Consulting Agreement and Restrictions. (a) The Consulting
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Agreement is hereby terminated.
(b) The Executive agrees for a period of five (5) years
following the termination of the Employment Agreement ("Restricted Period"),
without the
(Page 5 of 16 Pages)
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Company's consent, that he will not (i) directly or indirectly, own, manage,
operate, join or control, or participate in the ownership, management, operation
or control of, or be a director, officer, partner, stockholder or employee of,
or an executive to, any business, firm, organization or corporation located or
doing business in the Restricted Area (as defined below) which (A) is engaging
in financing restaurant advertising or equipment or providing restaurant
discounts to members of its programs or (B) directly or indirectly competes with
any other business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducted at any
time during the term of the Employment Agreement; or (ii) interfere with, or
divert or attempt to divert the benefits of, any relationship with employees,
agents, suppliers, restaurant clients, membership card holders or other
customers maintained by the Company and its subsidiaries at any time during the
Restricted Period. For purposes hereof, "Restricted Area" means any geographical
market in or with respect to which the Company, within twelve months prior to
the commencement of the Restricted Period, is then operating or has taken
significant affirmative steps to commence operations. Nothing in this Section
2(b) will prevent the Executive from owning or dealing in any stock actively
traded over-the-counter or on any recognized exchange and issued by a
corporation which may compete directly or indirectly with the Company and its
subsidiaries so long as the Executive does not participate in the management,
control, or operations of any such corporation and the Executive's holdings do
not at any time exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of any class
of stock of such corporation.
(c) The Executive agrees that all confidential and proprietary
matters which he may now have or may obtain during the term of his employment
hereunder relating in any way to the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries will not be disclosed to any other person, either during or after
the termination of his employment, unless the Company has given its prior
consent to such disclosure or such disclosure is a necessary incident to
transactions which the Executive is pursuing in accordance with duties delegated
to him by the Company's Board of Directors. The Executive will promptly return
all tangible evidence of such confidential and proprietary matters to the
Company at the termination of his employment or upon the Company's earlier
request.
(d) The Executive acknowledges that the remedy at law for his
breach of the covenants contained in Section 2(b) is inadequate, and that
therefore the Company and its subsidiaries will be entitled, in addition to any
other right or remedy available to them, to injunctive relief and the remedy of
specific performance to restrain the Executive from committing or continuing any
such breach and to enforce the Executive's obligations hereunder.
(e) If any court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction will
refuse to enforce any or all of the provisions of Section 2(b), because
individually or taken
(Page 6 of 16 Pages)
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together, they are deemed unreasonable, then the parties hereto understand and
agree that any such provision or provisions will not be void but for the purpose
of such proceedings, will be revised to the extent necessary to permit the
enforcement of such provisions.
(f) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Executive from and against, and to reimburse the Executive on demand, with
respect to any and all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, cost and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys' fees (collectively, "Losses") incurred by the
Executive, by reason of or arising out of or in connection with the performance
of the Executive's duties for the Company other than for Losses incurred as a
result of acts constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence.
3. Consideration. In consideration of Section 2(b) and in
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satisfaction of all other amounts payable to the Executive under the Employment
Agreement and the Consulting Agreement, the Executive will receive the following
(subject to appropriate withholding in each case):
(a) The Company will pay the Executive Two Million Seven Hundred
and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,750,000) in cash on or before December 31, 1997.
(b) All stock options heretofore granted by the Company to the
Executive which are not vested will vest as of the termination of his Employment
Agreement and all stock options which the Executive has as of such termination
will be exercisable to and including December 31, 1998.
(c) The Company will provide medical, health and
hospitalization insurance coverage for the Executive and his wife for their
respective lives commensurate with the medical, health and hospitalization
insurance coverage they are currently receiving.
(d) The Executive's indebtedness to the Company for One Hundred
Thirty-four Thousand and Nine Hundred Dollars ($134,900) is hereby satisfied and
canceled.
(e) Prior to the expiration of the lease for the automobile
which the Executive currently uses, the Company will purchase, and pay all taxes
and charges on such purchase, a new automobile for the Executive comparable to
the style and quality of the car the Executive currently uses.
(f) The Company will reimburse the Executive for the reasonable
legal and accounting expenses he incurred in connection with the negotiation and
execution of this Agreement.
(Page 7 of 16 Pages)
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4. Release. Coincident with the execution of this Agreement and
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as inducement for the Company to enter into this Agreement, the Executive is
executing and delivering to the Company a Release in the form of Exhibit A
attached hereto. Upon the termination of the Employment Agreement, the Executive
shall execute and deliver to the Company a Release substantially in the form of
Exhibit A dated as of the date of such termination.
5. Notices. Any notices to be given hereunder will be deemed to
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have been given if delivered personally against receipt, if sent by nationally
recognized overnight delivery service, or if mailed by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, to the following address: if to the Company, at
11900 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33181, with a copy to Morgan, Lewis &
Bockius LLP, 101 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10178, to the attention of
Stephen P. Farrell, Esq.; and if to the Executive, at 2800 Island Boulevard,
Apartment 1401, Williams Island, Florida 33160. Either party may change his or
her address set forth above by giving written notice to the other party in
accordance with this Section.
6. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
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construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
7. Captions. The captions of the sections of this Agreement are
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for the purpose of convenience only, are not intended to be part of this
Agreement and will not be deemed to modify, explain, enlarge or restrict any of
its provisions.
8. Severability. If any clause or provision of this
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Agreement will be held invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability will attach only to such
clause or provision, or part thereof, in such jurisdiction, and will not in any
manner affect any other clause or provision hereof in any jurisdiction.
9. Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement will bind and inure to
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the benefit of the respective heirs, representatives, successors, and assigns of
the Company and the Executive.
10. Miscellaneous. This Agreement embodies the entire
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understanding between the Company and the Executive with respect to its subject
matter, and there is no extrinsic agreement of any kind affecting it. This
Agreement also supersedes and replaces any prior agreement with respect to the
subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be changed or
terminated orally, and no change, termination or waiver of this Agreement or of
any of the provisions herein contained will be binding unless made in writing
and signed by the party against whom the same is sought to be enforced.
(Page 8 of 16 Pages)
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11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
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each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
[Signature Page to Follow]
(Page 9 of 16 Pages)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date and year first above written.
TRANSMEDIA NETWORK INC.
By: /s/ Stephen E. Lerch
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Name: Stephen E. Lerch
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
/s/ Melvin Chasen
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Melvin Chasen
(Page 10 of 16 Pages)
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Exhibit A
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RELEASE
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For good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of
which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned, Melvin Chasen, hereby WAIVES,
RELEASES AND COVENANTS NOT TO SUE Transmedia Network Inc. (the "Company"), a
Delaware corporation, and the Releasees (as defined below) with respect to, and
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASES, REMISES AND FOREVER DISCHARGES the
Company and the Releasees from, any and all claims, agreements, promises,
liabilities, rights, demands and causes of action of any kind whatsoever, in law
or equity, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, fixed or
contingent, apparent or concealed which he or his heirs, executors,
administrators, successors or assigns ever had or now have against the Company
or the Releasees and its past, present and future parents, subsidiaries,
affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns; and its and their past,
present and future stockholders, directors, officers, agents, representatives
and employees (collectively, the "Releasees"), for, upon, or by reason of any
matter, cause or thing whatsoever occurring on or prior to the date of this
Release, including, without limitation, any and all claims arising out of or
relating to his employment, compensation and benefits with the Company, and/or
the termination thereof, and claims for related costs, expenses and attorneys'
fees,
(Page 11 of 16 Pages)
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INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND RIGHTS UNDER THE AGE
DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT, AS AMENDED; TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
OF 1964, AS AMENDED; THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AS AMENDED; THE
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT, AS AMENDED; THE NEW YORK STATE
EXECUTIVE LAW, AS AMENDED; THE FLORIDA STATE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1992; AND THE
DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ORDINANCE, except for (1) claims under
the Amended and Restated Agreement (the "Employment Agreement"), dated as of
November 15, 1996, as amended, between the Company and the undersigned, and the
Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of December 29, 1997, between the Company
and the undersigned, (2) claims for indemnification, contribution or
reimbursement to which the undersigned may be entitled as a director, officer
and employee of the Company and its predecessors, (3) options and rights to
purchase Common Stock of the Company heretofore granted to the undersigned (the
"Stock Options"), and (4) retirement and similar benefits to which he is
entitled as an employee of the Company. The undersigned understands and agrees
that other than (1) as set forth in the Employment Agreement and the Agreement,
and (2) claims for indemnification, contribution and reimbursement to which he
may be entitled as a director, officer and employee of the Company and its
predecessors, he will not receive any compensation, payments or benefits of any
kind from the
(Page 12 of 16 Pages)
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Company or the Releasees and he expressly acknowledges and agrees that he is not
entitled and has no right to any such additional compensation, payment or
benefit.
This Release may be specifically enforced in Court and may be used as evidence
in any proceeding in which any of the parties allege a breach hereof. In the
event any proceeding is brought to interpret, enforce or obtain relief from a
breach of this Release, the prevailing party shall recover all such party's
costs, expenses and attorneys' fees incurred in each and every such proceeding,
including any and all appeals therefrom.
This Release shall be subject to, governed by and interpreted in accordance with
the laws of the State of Florida. The federal and state courts of Florida shall
have exclusive jurisdiction to resolve any dispute concerning this Release and
both parties hereby agree to submit to the jurisdiction of such courts for such
purpose. This Release, the Employment Agreement, the Agreement and the Stock
Options contain the entire agreement between the parties and supersede and
terminate any and all previous agreements between them, whether written or oral,
with respect to the subject matter thereof. All prior and contemporaneous
discussions and negotiations have been and are merged and integrated into, and
are superseded by, this Release, the Employment Agreement, the Agreement and the
Stock Options. This Release may not be changed orally. In the event any
provision of this Release shall be held to be unenforceable, the remaining
portions shall remain in full force
(Page 13 of 16 Pages)
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and effect. This Release shall be binding upon the undersigned and his heirs,
administrators, representatives, executors, and assigns. The undersigned agrees
that by retaining the payment provided in the Agreement, he will have ratified
this Release and therefore may not later renounce it.
If this Release is acceptable to the undersigned, he should indicate his
agreement by signing and dating this Release in the space provided below and
returning the signed Release to the Company. THE UNDERSIGNED WILL THEN BE
PERMITTED TO REVOKE THIS RELEASE AT ANY TIME DURING THE PERIOD OF SEVEN DAYS
IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE SIGNS THIS RELEASE. THIS RELEASE WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE
OR ENFORCEABLE UNTIL THE SEVEN-DAY REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED WITHOUT HIS
HAVING EXERCISED HIS RIGHT OF REVOCATION. In the event he fails to execute and
return this Release on a timely basis, or he execute and then elects to revoke
this Release, this Release will be of no further force and effect, and neither
he nor the Company will have any further rights or obligations under
this Release.
BY SIGNING THIS RELEASE, HE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AFFIRMS THAT HE IS COMPETENT, THAT
HE WAS AFFORDED A SUFFICIENT TIME PERIOD TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER THIS RELEASE,
THAT HE WAS ADVISED TO DO SO BY AN ATTORNEY OF HIS CHOICE, THAT HE HAS
(Page 14 of 16 Pages)
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READ AND UNDERSTANDS AND ACCEPTS THIS RELEASE, AS FULLY AND FINALLY WAIVING AND
RELEASING ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND RIGHTS WHICH HE MAY HAVE AGAINST THE COMPANY,
THAT NO PROMISES OR INDUCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO HIM EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN
THIS RELEASE, THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND THE AGREEMENT, AND THAT HE HAS SIGNED
THIS RELEASE, FREELY, KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY, INTENDING TO BE LEGALLY BOUND
BY ITS TERMS.
(Page 15 of 16 Pages)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed and sealed this Agreement this 29th
day of December, 1997.
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Melvin Chasen (Print Witness Name)
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(Employee Signature) (Witness Signature)
(Page 16 of 16 Pages)
