EXHIBIT 10.3
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF AUGUST 16, 1999
BY AND BETWEEN
VIACOM INC.
AND
BLOCKBUSTER INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I
FEES AND TERM
Section 1.01. Price and Payment...............................................1
Section 1.02. Term............................................................2
ARTICLE IISERVICES
Section 2.01. Services........................................................2
ARTICLE III
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 3.01. Transitional Services...........................................3
Section 3.02. Indemnity by Service Receiver...................................3
Section 3.03. Indemnification Procedures......................................4
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 4.01. Limitation of Liability.........................................4
Section 4.02. Relationship of the Parties.....................................4
Section 4.03. Force Majeure...................................................4
Section 4.04. Amendments......................................................5
Section 4.05. Successors and Assignment.......................................5
Section 4.06. Severability....................................................5
Section 4.07. Entire Agreement................................................5
Section 4.08. Notices.........................................................5
Section 4.09. Governing Law...................................................6
Section 4.10. Counterparts....................................................7
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
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TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of
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August 16, 1999 by and between VIACOM INC., a Delaware corporation ("Viacom")
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and BLOCKBUSTER INC., a Delaware corporation and an indirect, wholly owned
subsidiary of Viacom ("Blockbuster").
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RECITALS
WHEREAS, since September 29, 1994, Viacom has owned and operated the
businesses and operations related to Blockbuster;
WHEREAS, Viacom presently intends to split-off Blockbuster in a tax-
free transaction;
WHEREAS, prior to such split-off, Blockbuster proposes to issue shares
of its common stock in an initial public offering registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
WHEREAS, prior to the initial public offering of Blockbuster, Viacom
has heretofore provided certain services to Blockbuster;
WHEREAS, Blockbuster has requested from Viacom that certain such
services continue for a limited period of time pursuant to this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Viacom agreed to provide and Blockbuster agreed to be
provided with these services on terms and conditions set forth herein (Viacom as
such provider of transitional services referred to herein as the "Service
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Provider" and Blockbuster as such receiver of transitional services referred to
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herein as the "Service Receiver").
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein, it is agreed by and between the parties as follows:
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning given to
them in the Initial Public Offering and Split-Off Agreement dated as of the
dated hereof among Viacom, Viacom International Inc. and Blockbuster.
ARTICLE I
FEES AND TERM
Section 1.01. Price and Payment. (a) As consideration for the
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transitional services to be provided to Blockbuster by Viacom under the terms of
this Agreement, Blockbuster shall initially pay to Viacom a services fee (the
"Blockbuster Services Fee") of Dollars ($150,000) per month, which is based
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upon Viacom's cost in providing these services. The Blockbuster Services Fee
only represents payment with respect to the transitional services and not for
other payments, costs expenses related to the underlying transitional services
themselves. The
Blockbuster Services Fee shall be payable by Blockbuster to Viacom in arrears 15
days after the close of each month (prorated for any partial month) during the
term of this Agreement. Any transitional services provided by Viacom to
Blockbuster beyond the transitional services covered by the Blockbuster Services
Fee shall be billed to Blockbuster on a cost basis, or on such other basis as
the parties may agree from time to time. The Blockbuster Services Fee shall be
reviewed and either increased or reduced from time to time to account for
Viacom's cost of providing the transitional services hereunder.
(b) In addition to the Blockbuster Services Fee, Blockbuster shall
promptly pay or reimburse Viacom for any out-of-pocket payments, costs or
expenses incurred in good faith associated with, or related to, the underlying
transitional services provided by Viacom hereunder.
Section 1.02. Term. The term of this Agreement (the "Term") shall
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commence on the date hereof and shall expire on the closing of the Split-Off.
ARTICLE II
SERVICES
Section 2.01. Services. (a) Viacom agrees to, or will cause one of
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its Subsidiaries to, provide the following transitional services (subject to
such modification or adjustment as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties)
to Blockbuster and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates during the Term:
(i) Certain Cash Management Services: Viacom shall assist
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Blockbuster with certain of its treasury and cash management needs,
including foreign currency and certain hedging activities, consistent with
past practice.
(ii) Certain Employee Benefit Plans Administration: Viacom shall
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assist in the administration to certain employees of Blockbuster and its
Subsidiaries all benefit plans and a 401(k) plan consistent with past
practice.
(iii) Insurance Administration: Viacom shall administer insurance
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coverage on behalf of Blockbuster and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates under
Viacom's insurance policies against certain risks and in amounts consistent
with past practice. To the extent any loss is incurred by Blockbuster and
its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, such entity shall be responsible for the
payment of any deductible amounts related thereto and any amounts in excess
of applicable coverage limits. In the event that the "aggregate stop loss"
deductible is exceeded in any insurance period, Blockbuster and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates, on one hand, and Viacom and its Subsidiaries
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and Affiliates, on the other hand, shall be responsible for their pro rata
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portion of such deductible based upon the losses of such parties submitted
to Viacom's insurance carrier(s) in such period. To the extent that one
party is allocated more than its pro rata portion of the such deductible
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due to the timing of losses submitted to Viacom's insurance carrier(s), the
other party shall promptly pay the first party an amount so that each party
has been properly allocated its pro rata portion of the aggregate stop loss
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deductible.
(iv) Certain Accounting and Financial Services: Viacom shall provide
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to Blockbuster internal audit supervision and shall assist Blockbuster with
its periodic and public reporting requirements pursuant to the U.S.
securities laws.
(v) Tax Department: Viacom shall provide to Blockbuster tax
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compliance, reporting and planning services for international, U.S.
federal, state and local tax matters consistent with past practice and in
compliance with the Tax Matters Agreement.
(vi) Certain Legal Services: Viacom shall provide to Blockbuster
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certain legal services consistent with past practice.
(vii) Certain Management Information System Services. Viacom shall
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provide to Blockbuster certain management information system services
consistent with past practice.
ARTICLE III
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 3.01. Transitional Services. (a) In the absence of gross
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negligence or reckless or willful misconduct on Service Provider's part, and
whether or not it is negligent, Service Provider shall not be liable for any
claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses (including, but not
limited to, settlements, judgments, court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees),
fines and penalties, arising out of or relating to any actual or alleged injury,
loss or damage of any nature whatsoever in providing or failing to provide the
transitional services to Service Receiver.
(b) Service Provider's liability for damages to Service Receiver for
any cause whatsoever, and regardless of the form of action, whether in contract
or in tort, including gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be limited
to the Blockbuster Services Fee.
Section 3.02. Indemnity by Service Receiver. (a) Service Receiver
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shall indemnify, defend and hold Service Provider harmless against any and all
claims, liabilities,
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damages, losses, costs, expenses (including, but not limited to, settlements,
judgments, court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees) and any loss or damage
of any nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, loss of or damage to
property, or damage to the environment) ("Losses") arising out of or relating
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to the providing or failing to provide the transitional services by such Service
Provider except for Losses which are the direct and sole result of gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the personnel of Service Provider.
(b) Any claim for indemnity under this Article must be made by written
notice to the indemnifying party within one (1) year after the discovery
thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnities contained in this
Article shall survive for a period of three (3) years after the Term.
Section 3.03. Indemnification Procedures. The indemnification
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procedures set forth in Section 8.01(b) of the IPO and Split-Off Agreement are
incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes as if fully set
forth herein and shall govern the parties' rights and obligations with respect
thereto.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 4.01. Limitation of Liability. Neither Viacom nor Blockbuster
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shall be liable to the other for any special, indirect, incidental or
consequential damages of the other arising in connection with this Agreement.
Section 4.02. Relationship of the Parties. It is expressly
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understood and agreed that in rendering the transitional services hereunder,
Viacom is acting as an independent contractor and that this Agreement does not
constitute Viacom as an employee, agent or other representative of Blockbuster
for any purpose whatsoever. Viacom does not have the right or authority to
enter into any contract, warranty, guarantee or other undertaking in the name or
for the account of Blockbuster, or to assume or create any obligation or
liability of any kind, express or implied, on behalf of Blockbuster, or to bind
Blockbuster in any manner whatsoever, or to hold itself out as having any right,
power or authority to create any such obligation or liability on behalf of
Blockbuster or to bind Blockbuster in any manner whatsoever (except as to any
actions taken by Viacom at the express written request and direction of
Blockbuster).
Section 4.03. Force Majeure. In the event that Viacom is prevented
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from performing, or is unable to perform, any of its obligations under this
Agreement due to any act of God, fire, casualty, flood, war, strike, lock out,
failure of public utilities, injunction or any act, exercise, assertion or
requirement of governmental authority, epidemic, destruction of production
facilities, insurrection, inability to procure materials, labor, equipment,
transportation or energy sufficient to meet manufacturing needs, or any other
cause beyond the reasonable control of Viacom, and if Viacom shall have used its
reasonable best efforts to avoid such occurrence and
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minimize its duration and has given prompt written notice to Blockbuster, then
Viacom's performance for the period of delay or inability to perform due to such
occurrence shall be suspended. Should Viacom fail to perform hereunder and shall
have provided proper notice to Blockbuster that it is unable to perform on
account of one or more reasons set forth in this section, Blockbuster may obtain
replacement services from a third party for the duration of such delay or
inability to perform, or for such longer period as Blockbuster shall be
reasonably required to commit to in order to obtain such replacement services
and the Blockbuster Services Fee shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 4.04. Amendments. This Agreement shall not be supplemented,
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amended or modified in any manner whatsoever (including without limitation by
course of dealing or of performance or usage of trade) except in writing signed
by the parties.
Section 4.05. Successors and Assignment. This Agreement shall be
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binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by any
party by operation of law or otherwise without the express written consent of
the other party (which consent may be granted or withheld by such party).
Section 4.06. Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of
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this Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and
valid under applicable law. If any portion of this Agreement is declared
invalid for any reason in any jurisdiction, such declaration shall have no
effect upon the remaining portions of this Agreement, which shall continue in
full force and effect as if this Agreement had been executed with the invalid
portions thereof deleted; provided that the entirety of this Agreement shall
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continue in full force and effect in all other jurisdictions.
Section 4.07. Entire Agreement. Other than the IPO and Split-Off
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Agreement, the Release and Indemnification Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and
oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
Section 4.08. Notices. All notices, consents, requests, approvals,
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and other communications provided for or required herein, and all legal process
in regard thereto, must be in writing and shall be deemed validly given, made or
served, (a) when delivered personally or sent by telecopy to the facsimile
number indicated below with a required confirmation copy sent in accordance with
subsection (c) below; or (b) on the next business day after delivery to a
nationally recognized express delivery service with instructions and payment for
overnight delivery; or (c) on the fifth (5th) day after deposited in any
depository regularly maintained by the United States postal service, postage
prepaid, certified or registered mail, return receipt
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requested, addressed to the following addresses or to such other address as the
party to be notified shall have specified to the other party in accordance with
this section:
If to Viacom:
Viacom Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, General Counsel
Phone Number: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Fax Number: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to Blockbuster:
Blockbuster Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, General Counsel
Phone Number: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Fax Number: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Section 4.09. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
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construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Each of the
parties hereto agrees that any dispute relating to or arising from this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be resolved only in the
Court of the State of New York sitting in the County of New York or the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the appellate
courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts. In that context, and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the parties hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally:
(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal suit, action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement or transaction contemplated hereby, or for
recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of New York sitting in the County of New
York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
and appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts, and each of
the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in
respect of any such suit, action, or proceeding shall be heard and determined in
such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal
court;
(b) consents that any such suit, action or proceeding may and shall be
brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter
have to the venue or jurisdiction or any such action or proceeding in such court
or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient forum and
agrees not to plead or claim the same;
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(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding
may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or
any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party in its
address as provided in Section 4.08 hereof;
(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect
service of process in any other manner permitted by New York law; and
(e) agrees that this Agreement has been entered into in the State of
New York and performed in part in the State of New York.
Section 4.10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
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more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers
thereunto duly authorized.
VIACOM INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Sr. Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
BLOCKBUSTER INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Exec. Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary