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Transactions with Officers and Directors
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12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2011
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| Transactions with Officers and Directors [Abstract] | |
| Transactions with officers and directors [Text Block] |
Transactions with Officers and Directors
Chief Executive Officer Compensation Arrangement
On December 17, 2009, the Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of Liberty approved a new compensation arrangement for its President and Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO"). The arrangement provides for a five year employment term beginning January 1, 2010 and ending December 31, 2014, with an annual base salary of $1.5 million, increasing annually by 5% of the prior year's base salary, and an annual target cash bonus equal to 200% of the applicable year's annual base salary. The arrangement also provides that, in the event the CEO is terminated for "cause" or terminates his employment without "good reason," he will be entitled only to his accrued base salary and any amounts due under applicable law, and he will forfeit all rights to his unvested restricted shares and unvested options. If, however, the CEO is terminated by Liberty without cause or if he terminates his employment for good reason, the arrangement provides for him to receive $7.8 million and for his unvested restricted shares and unvested options to vest pro rata based on the portion of the term elapsed through the termination date plus 18 months and for all vested and accelerated options to remain exercisable until their respective expiration dates. Lastly, in the case of the CEO's death or his disability, the arrangement provides for a payment of $7.8 million, for his unvested restricted shares and unvested options to fully vest and for his vested and accelerated options to remain exercisable until their respective expiration dates.
Also, on December 17, 2009, in connection with the approval of his compensation arrangement, the CEO received a one-time grant of options to purchase the following shares of Liberty with exercise prices equal to the closing sale prices of the applicable series of stock on the grant date: 8,743,000 shares of Series A Liberty Interactive common stock, 760,000 shares of Series A Liberty Starz common stock and 1,353,000 shares of Series A Liberty Capital common stock. One-half of the options will vest on the fourth anniversary of the grant date with the remaining options vesting on the fifth anniversary of the grant date, in each case, subject to the CEO being employed by Liberty on the applicable vesting date. The options will have a term of 10 years.
Salary compensation related to services provided are allocated from LMC to Liberty pursuant to the Services Agreement. Any cash bonus attributable to the performance of Liberty is paid directly by Liberty. The stock options relating to Liberty Capital common stock and Liberty Starz common stock were assumed by LMC at the time of the LMC Split-Off.
Chief Executive Officer Investment in Subsidiary
During 2009, 2010 and 2011, the CEO invested $4 million cash in Lockerz, LLC, an equity method affiliate of Liberty. The CEO's ownership interest is approximately 15% at December 31, 2011.
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