Exhibit 10.24


 





















 


7/25/02


 


WARNER
MUSIC GROUP INC.


75
Rockefeller Plaza


NewYork,
New York 10019


 


July 31, 2002


 


Les Bider


1017 North Roxbury Drive


Beverly Hills, CA 90210


 


Dear Les:


 


Please refer to the
employment agreement between Warner Music Group Inc. (“Company”) and you dated
March 22, 1999 effective as of January 1, 1999, as amended by the letter
agreement (the “First Amendment”) dated May 31, 2001, effective January 1,
2001, and the letter agreement (the “Second Amendment”) dated February 14,
2002, effective January l, 2002 (as so amended, the “Agreement”).


 


This letter, when countersigned,
shall constitute our agreement to amend the
Agreement as set forth herein. Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms
shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.


 


1.                                       Paragraph 2 of the Agreement is
hereby amended to extend the Term through December 31, 2005.


 


2.                                       Paragraph 3(a) of the Agreement is hereby
amended to provide that with respect to the period from January 1, 2002 through
the remainder of the Term, your salary shall be $1,000,000 per annum.


 


3.                                       (a) Company
shall use its best efforts
to cause AOL Time Warner Inc. (“AOLTW”) to grant
to you options to purchase 25,000 shares of the Common Stock of AOLTW (“Options”),
which Options shall be exercisable in accordance with the terms of the stock
option agreement to be executed and delivered by you pursuant to the applicable
stock option plan. Company shall use all reasonable efforts to cause such grant
of Options (the “Third Amendment Options”) to occur prior to March 31, 2003.
Such Third Amendment Options shall be in addition to all Options which are to
be granted to you in 2002 and 2003 pursuant to the First Amendment and the
Second Amendment


 


(b)
The Agreement is hereby amended to provide that in the event of the termination
of your employment by Company other than pursuant to Paragraph 9 or 10 (an “Early
Termination”), except if you shall otherwise qualify for retirement under


 





















 


the terms of the applicable
stock option agreement (in which event the terms of such agreement shall
govern), (i) (A) the Third Amendment Options and (B) all stock options granted
to you by AOLTW after June 1, 2002 (which options are collectively referred to
as your “Term Options”) which, but for such Early Termination, would have
vested on or before the final day of the Term (or the final day of the term as
same may have been extended under any agreement that amends, replaces or
supersedes this Agreement), shall vest and become immediately exercisable upon
the effective date of such Early Termination, (ii) all of your vested Term
Options shall remain exercisable while you are on the payroll of Company and
for a period of three years after the date you leave the payroll of Company
(but not beyond the term of such options), and (iii) Company shall not be
permitted to determine that your employment was terminated for “unsatisfactory
performance” within the meaning of any stock option agreement between you and
AOLTW.


 


Except as expressly amended herein, the terms and provisions of the
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.


 


If the foregoing correctly
sets forth our understanding, please sign below and return this amendment to
the Agreement to Company.


 


 


	
   

  	
  WARNER MUSIC GROUP INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ David H. Johnson

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Accepted and Agreed:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  /s/ Les Bider

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Les Bider

  	
   

  
					



 


2





















 


2/12/02


 


WARNER
MUSIC GROUP INC.

75 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, New York 10019


 


February 14, 2002


Effective January 1, 2002


 


Les Bider


1017 North Roxbury Dr.


Beverly Hills, CA 90210


 


Dear Les:


 


Please refer to the employment agreement between Warner Music Group
Inc. (“Company”) and you dated March 22, 1999, effective as of January 1, 1999,
as amended by letter agreement (the “First Amendment”) dated May 31, 2001,
effective January 1, 2001 (the “Agreement”).


 


This letter, when
countersigned, shall constitute our agreement to amend the Agreement as set
forth herein. Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms shall have the
meanings set forth in the Agreement.


 


1.                                       Paragraph 3(a) of the Agreement is hereby
amended to provide that with respect to the period from January 1, 2002 until
December 31, 2003, your salary shall be $1,000,000 per annum.


 


2.                                       Paragraph 3(b) of the Agreement is hereby
amended to provide that with respect to each calendar year of the Term.
commencing on and after January 1, 2002, Company may grant to you an annual
bonus (or a pro rata portion of such annual bonus for a portion of such year)
(the “Annual Bonus”), the amount of which shall be determined by Company at its
sole discretion. Your “target bonus” with respect to each such year of the Term
shall be $1,000,000; provided that the amount of any Annual Bonus awarded to
you with respect to any year may be higher or lower than such amount, and shall
be determined by Company at its sole discretion. The parties acknowledge that
Company currently intends to establish a “Warner Music Group Annual Bonus Plan”
(as modified from time to time, the “Bonus Plan”). In the event that any such
Bonus Plan is established, Company shall determine your Annual Bonus in
accordance with such Bonus Plan.


 


3.                                       (a) Paragraph 2(a) of the First Amendment
provides that a certain number of Options shall be granted to you in each of
2002 and 2003 (the “Original Options,” with the Original Options
granted to you in 2002 being referred to as the “2002 Original Options”,
and the Original Options granted to you in 2003 being referred to as the “2003
Original Options”), and such provision shall remain in full force and effect.
The Agreement is hereby amended to provide that: (i) on or before February 28,
2002, Company shall cause


 





















 


AOL Time Warner Inc. to
grant to you such number of Options (the “2002 New Options”) as is sufficient
to cause the sum of the number of 2002 Original Options granted to you plus the
number of 2002 New Options granted to you to be not less than 250,000, and (ii)
on or before March 31, 2003, Company shall cause AOL Time Warner Inc. to grant
to you such number of Options (the “2003 New Options”) as is sufficient to
cause the sum of the number of 2003 Original Options granted to you plus the
number of 2003 New Options granted to you to be not less than 250,000. (The “2002
New Options” together with the “2003 New Options” being referred to
as the “New Options”). New Options granted to you shall be exercisable in
accordance with the terms of the stock option agreements to be executed and
delivered by you pursuant to the applicable stock option plans.


 


(b)                                 The
Agreement is hereby amended to provide that the provisions of Paragraphs 2(b)
and 2(c) of the First Amendment shall apply only to (i) the Options granted to
you in 2001 pursuant to Paragraph 2(a) of the First Amendment (the “2001
Options), and (ii) the Original Options.


 


(c)                                  The
Agreement is hereby amended to provide that in the event that your employment
with Company terminates at the expiration of the Term, regardless of whether
such termination is due to Company’s unwillingness to offer continued
employment, your unwillingness to accept continued employment, or any failure
of you and Company to agree upon the terms of future employment, then (i) such
number (if any) of the New Options shall automatically vest as is necessary to
cause not less than 75% of the 2002 New Options and not less than 50% of the
2003 New Options to be vested as of the final day of the Term, and (ii) any
vested New Options shall, to the extent that such New Options have not been
exercised as of the final day of the Term, remain exercisable until the date
that is three years after the final day of the Term (but in no event later than
the date on which such Options were scheduled to expire at the time they were
granted (i.e., generally the date that is ten: years after the date of grant)).


 


(d)                                 The
Agreement is hereby amended to provide that in the event of the termination of
your employment by Company other than pursuant to Paragraph 9 or 10, (i) with
respect to any New Options which have been granted to you prior to the date of
such termination, (A) such number (if any) of the New Options shall
automatically vest as is necessary to cause not less than 75% of any 2002 New
Options which have been granted and not less than 50% of any 2003 New Options
which have been granted to be vested as of the date of such termination, and (B)
any vested New Options shall, to the extent that such New Options have not been
exercised as of the date of such termination, remain exercisable until the date
that is three years after the date of such termination (but in no event later
than the date on which such Options were scheduled to expire at the time they
were granted (i.e., generally the date that is ten years after the date of
grant)), and (ii) no further New Options shall be granted to you.


 


2





















 


Except as expressly amended
herein, the terms and provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect.


 


If the foregoing correctly
sets forth our understanding, please sign below and return this amendment to
the Agreement to Company.


 


	
   

  	
  WARNER MUSIC GROUP INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ David H. Johnson

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Accepted and Agreed:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  /s/ Les Bider

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Les Bider

  	
   

  
					



 


3





















 


5/17/01


 


WARNER MUSIC GROUP INC.


75 Rockefeller Plaza


New York, New York 10019


 


May 31, 2001


Effective January 1, 2001


 


Les Bider


3830 Hayvenhurst Drive


Encino, CA 91436


 


Dear Les:


 


Please refer to the
employment agreement between Warner Music Group Inc. (“Company”) and you dated
March 22, 1999, effective as of January 1, 1999 (the “Pre-Amendment Agreement,”
and as amended by this Amendment, the “Agreement”).


 


This letter, when
countersigned, shall constitute our agreement to amend the Agreement as set
forth herein. Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms shall have the
meanings set forth in the Agreement.


 


1.  Paragraph 11
of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:


 


“11. Third Party
Employment Discussions; Deferred Compensation:


 


(a)  You
shall not, without the prior written consent of Company, discuss, negotiate
with respect to, or enter into any agreement relating to, the rendering of your
services following the expiration of the Term to any third party (a “Third
Party Employment Discussion”), unless such Third Party Employment Discussion
occurs during the final nine months of the Term.


 


(b)  During
the period from January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2000, in addition to the
salary and bonus which were payable to you by Company during such period in
accordance with Paragraph 3(a) above, Company paid to the trustee (the “Trustee”)
of a WMG grantor trust (the “Rabbi Trust”) for credit to a special account
maintained on the books of the Rabbi Trust for you (the “Trust Account”),
monthly, an amount equal to 50% of one-twelfth of your annual salary. As of
January 1, 2001, amounts shall cease to be credited to your Trust Account;
provided that, the Trust Account shall continue to be maintained by the Trustee
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and Annex A attached hereto and
the trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) establishing the Rabbi Trust (which
Trust Agreement shall in all respects be in furtherance of, and not
inconsistent with, the terms of this Agreement, including Annex A attached
hereto), until the full amount which you are entitled to


 





















 


receive therefrom has been
paid. WMG shall maintain the Rabbi Trust as a grantor trust within the meaning
of subpart E, part 1, subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and shall pay all fees and expenses of the Trustee
and shall enforce the provisions of the Trust Agreement for your benefit. In
the event that any amounts become payable to your Rabbi Trust after January 1,
2001 pursuant to this Agreement, you may elect by written notice delivered to
WMG at least 15 days prior to the commencement of any calendar year during the
Term to have (a) all of such payments credited instead to the Deferred
Compensation Plan established by Time Warner Inc. on November 18, 1998, as the
same may be amended from time to time (as so amended, the “Deferred Plan”) or
(b) 50% of such payments to be made to be made to the Rabbi Trust credited to
the Deferred Plan and the remaining 50% paid to the Rabbi Trust. For purposes
of clarification, the Trust Account shall be maintained as separate trust
account and shall not be combined with the trust account (the “Prior Trust
Account”) maintained by WMG for your benefit pursuant to the employment
agreement (including, Annex A attached thereto) between you and WMG (as
successor to Warner Communications Inc. and Warner/Chappell Music Inc.) dated
June 8, 1990, as amended by letter agreements dated June 7, 1991, August 2,
1994 and March 26, 1998 (as amended, the “Prior Agreement”). Accordingly, you
shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Prior Trust Account in
accordance with the terms of Annex A of the Prior Agreement.”


 


For
purposes of clarification, all amounts credited to your Trust Account and
Deferred Plan prior to January 1, 2001 (the “Prior Amounts”) shall be
maintained in the Trust Account and Deferred Plan and paid to you in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the Agreement, Annex A to the Agreement, and
the Trust Agreement. The maintenance and payment to you of the Prior Amounts in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement, Annex A to the
Agreement, and the Trust Agreement shall not be affected by this amendment.


 


2.               (a) The Agreement is hereby amended to
provide that in each of 2001, 2002, and 2003, Company shall cause AOL Time
Warner Inc. to grant to you options to purchase shares of the Common Stock of
AOL Time Warner Inc. (the “Options”) which Options shall be exercisable in
accordance with the terms of the stock option agreement to be executed and
delivered by you pursuant to the applicable stock option plan. The number of
Options to be granted to you in each such year shall be calculated to equal the
“Replacement Amount” (as defined below) multiplied by three (3). The “Replacement
Amount” means (i) the amount that would have been credited to your Trust
Account during such year pursuant to Paragraph 11(d) of the Agreement, but for
the elimination of such credit pursuant to Paragraph 1 above, divided by  (ii) the value of one Option (as
determined by AOL Time Warner Inc. using the Black-Scholes method of valuation).


 


(b) In the event that your
employment with Company terminates at the expiration of the Term, including,
without limitation, whether such termination is due to Company’s


 





















 


unwillingness to offer
continued employment, your unwillingness to accept continued employment, or any
failure of you and Company to agree upon the terms of future employment, then
the Options which have been granted to you pursuant to Paragraph 2(a) above (i)
shall, to the extent that.any such Options have not vested as of the
date of such termination, immediately vest, and (ii) shall, to the extent that
such Options have not been exercised as of the date of such termination, remain
exercisable until the earlier of (A) the date that is three years after the
date of such termination and (B) the date on which such Options expire pursuant
to the applicable stock option plans and agreements.


 


(c)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agreement is hereby amended to provide that
in the event of the termination of your employment by Company other than
pursuant to Paragraph 9 or 10, (i) any Options which have been granted to you
pursuant to Paragraph 2(a) above
prior to the date of such termination shall immediately vest, and (ii) Company
shall, within 30 days of the date of such termination, elect to.
either (a) pay to you any amounts that would have been credited to the Trust
Account and/or Deferred Plan pursuant to Paragraph 11(d) of the Pre-Amendment
Agreement during the remainder of the Term, but for the elimination of such
credit by operation of Paragraph 1 of this Amendment, to the extent that, and
at such times as, such amounts would have been payable to you pursuant to
Paragraph 11(d) of the Pre-Amendment Agreement, or (b) grant to you any Options
which were to be granted, pursuant to Paragraph 2(a) above during the remainder
of the Term, which Options shall vest immediately and remain exercisable for
three years after the date of such termination. In the event that, following
any such termination of your employment, Company fails to notify you in writing
of its election pursuant to this paragraph within such 30 day period, Company
shall be deemed to have elected to pay to you any amounts that would have been
credited to the Trust Account and/or Deferred Plan pursuant to Paragraph 11(d)
of the Pre-Amendment Agreement during the remainder of the Term, but for the
elimination of such credit pursuant to Paragraph 1 above, to the extent that,
and at such times as, such amounts would have been payable to you pursuant to
Paragraph 11(d) of the Pre-Amendment Agreement.


 


(d) References
to Paragraph 11(d) of the Pre-Amendment Agreement shall be deemed to exclude
any reference to Advisory Services, which the parties acknowledge are no longer
required in any circumstance.


 


Except
as expressly amended herein, the terms and provisions of the Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect.


 





















 


If the
foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please sign below and return
this amendment to the Agreement to Company.


 


	
   

  	
  WARNER MUSIC GROUP INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ David M. Johnson

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Accepted and Agreed:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  /s/ Les Bider

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Les Bider

  	
   

  
					



 





















 


3.10.99


 


WARNER
MUSIC GROUP INC.

4000 Warner Blvd.

Burbank, California 91522-1606


 


March 22, 1999


As of January 1, 1999


 


Leslie Bider


3830 Hayvenhurst Drive


Encino, CA 91436


 


Dear Les:


 


This letter, when signed by
you and countersigned by us (“WMG”), shall constitute our agreement
(the “Agreement”) with respect to your employment with Warner/Chappell Music
Inc. (“Company”).


 


1.                                       Position: Chairman and. Chief Executive Officer of Company.


 


2.                                       Term: The term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall commence on
January 1, 1999 and end on December 31, 2003.


 


3                                          Compensation:


 


(a) Salary: During
the Term, Company shall pay you a salary at the following rates for the specified
periods:


 


	
  Period of the Term

  	
   

  	
  Annual Rate of Salary

  	
   

  
	
  1/1/99 —12/31/01

  	
   

  	
  $

  	
  800,000

  	
   

  
	
  1/1/02 — 12/31/03

  	
   

  	
  $

  	
  850,000

  	
   

  



 


(b)
Discretionary Bonus: With respect to each calendar year of the Term,
Company may grant to you, an annual bonus (or a pro rata portion of such annual
bonus for a portion of such calendar year), the amount of which shall be
determined by WMG at its sole discretion.


 


(c)
Payment  of  Compensation: Compensation accruing to you
during the Term shall be payable in accordance with the regular payroll
practices of Company for employees at your level. You shall not be entitled to
additional compensation for performing any services for Company’s subsidiaries
or affiliates.


 


1





















 


4.                                       Exclusivity: Your employment with Company shall be
full-time and exclusive. During the Term you will not render any services for
others, or for your own account, in the field of entertainment or otherwise;
provided, however, that you shall not be precluded from personally, and for
your own account, investing or trading in real estate, stocks, bonds,
securities, commodities, or other forms of investment for your own benefit,
except that your rights hereafter to invest in any business or enterprise
principally devoted to any activity which, at the time of such investment, is
competitive to any business or enterprise of Company, Time Warner Inc. (“Time
Warner”), or the subsidiaries or affiliates thereof, shall be limited to the
purchase of not more than two percent (2%) of the issued and outstanding stock
or other securities of a corporation listed on a national securities exchange
or traded in the over-the-counter market.


 


5.                                       Reporting: You shall at all times work under the supervision and direction of
the Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of WMG, except that if WMG appoints a President or
Chief Operating Officer, or other senior executive officer of similar title,
then, the Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs may designate that you shall report to such
officer.


 


6.             Place of Employment: The
greater Los Angeles Metropolitan area. 
You shall render services at the offices established for Company at such
location.  You agree to travel on
temporary trips to such other place or places as may be required from time to
time to perform your duties hereunder.


 


7.                                       Travel and Entertainment Expenses: Company shall pay or reimburse you for
reasonable expenses actually incurred or paid by you during the Term in the
performance of your services hereunder in accordance with Company’s policy for
employees at your level upon presentation of expense statements or vouchers or
such other supporting information as Company may customarily require.


 


8.                                       Benefits: Stock Options: While you are employed hereunder, you shall
be entitled to all fringe benefits generally accorded to executives of Company
at your level from time to time, including, but not limited to, pension,
medical health and accident, group insurance and similar benefits, provided
that you are eligible under the general provisions of any applicable plan or program
and Company continues to maintain such plan or program during the Term. In
addition, you shall be entitled to an automobile allowance in accordance with
Company policy for executives at your level. You shall also be entitled to four
(4) weeks vacation (with pay) during each calendar year of the Term, which
vacation shall be taken at reasonable times to be approved by Company and shall
be governed by Company’s policies with respect to vacations for executives of
Company at your level. WMG shall use its best efforts to cause Time Warner Inc.
to grant to you options to purchase 100,000 shares of the Common Stock of Time
Warner Inc. (the “Options”), which Options shall be


 


2





















 


exercisable
in accordance with the terms of the stock option agreement to be executed and
delivered by you pursuant to the applicable stock option plan.


 


9.                                       Disability/Death: If you shall become physically or mentally
incapacitated from performing your duties hereunder, and such incapacity shall
continue for a period of six (6) consecutive months or more or for shorter
periods aggregating six months or more in any twelve-month period, Company
shall have the right, provided that you have not resumed your usual duties
prior to such date, to terminate your employment hereunder upon paying to you
any accrued but unpaid salary to the date of such termination. In the event of
your death, this Agreement shall automatically terminate except that Company
shall pay to your estate any accrued but unpaid salary through the last day of
the month of your death. The termination of your employment pursuant to this
Paragraph 9 shall not affect any vested rights which you may have at the time
of such termination pursuant to any insurance or other benefit plan or
arrangement of Company or WMG.


 


10.                                 Termination by Company: Company may at any time during the Term, by
written notice, terminate your employment for “Cause” (as defined below), such
Cause to be specified in the notice of termination. The following acts shall
constitute “Cause” hereunder: (i) any willful or intentional act or omission
having the effect, which effect is reasonably foreseeable, of materially
injuring the reputation, business or business or employment relationships of
Company or its affiliates; (ii) conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere
to, a misdemeanor involving theft, fraud, forgery or the sale or possession of
illicit substances or a felony; (iii) breach of material covenants contained in
this Agreement; and (iv) repeated or continuous failure, neglect or refusal to
perform your material duties hereunder. Notice of termination given to you by
Company shall specify the reason(s) for such termination, and in the case where
a cause for termination described in clause (iii) or (iv) above shall be
susceptible of cure, and such notice of termination is the first notice of
termination given to you for such reason, if you fail to cure such cause for
termination within ten (10) business days after the date of such notice,
termination shall be effective upon the expiration of such ten-day period, and
if you cure such cause within such ten-day period, such notice of termination shall
be ineffective. In all other cases, notice of termination shall be effective on
the date thereof.


 


11.                                 Advisory Services:


 


(a) In the event that prior
to June 30, 2003: (a) WMG offers to continue your employment following the
expiration of the Term on terms not less favorable to you than those in effect
under this Agreement with respect to the calendar year 2003, and (b) you elect
not to accept such offer, then, during the two-year period (the “Advisory
Period”) following the expiration of the Term, you shall render advisory


 


3





















 


services (the “Advisory
Services”) to Company on an exclusive basis as set forth in this Paragraph 11.


 


(b)
During the Advisory Period, you shall provide Advisory Services with respect to
the business, affairs and management of Company as may be requested by Company,
provided, however, that you shall not be required to devote more than one (1)
day (up to 8 hours) each month to Advisory Services, which services shall be
performed at a time mutually convenient to you and Company. You may, subject to
the restrictions set forth in Paragraph 11(c) hereof, engage in other full-time
employment during the Advisory Period and your Advisory Services hereunder
shall be required only at times and places consistent with such other
employment or your private activities.


 


(c)
In the event you are required to furnish Advisory Services hereunder, such
services shall be rendered on an exclusive basis in the recorded music .and
music publishing business and in furtherance thereof, during the Advisory
Period, you shall not enter into the employ of, or render any services to, any
person, firm or corporation engaged in the recorded music and music publishing
businesses in the United States of America or elsewhere in the world, nor shall
you have any interest directly or indirectly involving recorded music or music
publishing businesses to the same extent as such interests are prohibited in
Paragraph 4 of this Agreement.


 


(d)
In consideration of your agreement to furnish Advisory Services as set forth
herein, in addition to the salary and bonus which is payable to you by Company
during the Term in accordance with Paragraph 3(a) above, unless you shall make
the election described in the last sentence of this Paragraph 11(d), during the
Term, Company shall pay to the trustee (the “Trustee”) of a WMG grantor trust
(the “Rabbi Trust”) for credit to a special account maintained on the books of
the Rabbi Trust for you (the “Trust Account”), monthly, an amount equal to 50%
of one-twelfth of your annual salary. The Trust Account shall be maintained by
the Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and Annex A attached
hereto and the trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) establishing the Rabbi
Trust (which Trust Agreement shall in all respects be in furtherance of, and
not inconsistent with, the terms of this Agreement, including Annex A attached
hereto), until the full amount which you are entitled to receive therefrom has
been paid. WMG shall maintain the Rabbi Trust as a grantor trust within the
meaning of subpart E, part 1, subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and shall pay all fees and expenses of the
Trustee and shall enforce the provisions of the Trust Agreement for your
benefit. You may elect by written notice delivered to the WMG at least 15 days
prior to the commencement of any calendar year during the Term to have (a) all
of the payments to be made to the Rabbi Trust pursuant to the first sentence of
Paragraph 11(a) hereof, credited instead to the Deferred Compensation Plan
established by Time Warner Inc. on November


 


4





















 


18, 1998, as the same may be
amended from time to time (as so amended, the “Deferred Plan”) or (b) 50% of
the payments to be made to be made to the Rabbi Trust pursuant to the first
sentence of Paragraph 11(a), credited to the Deferred Plan and the remaining
50% paid to the Rabbi Trust. For purposes of clarification, the Trust Account
shall be maintained as separate trust account and shall not be combined with
the trust account (the “Prior Trust Account”) maintained by WMG for your
benefit pursuant to the employment agreement (including, Annex A attached
thereto) between you and WMG (as successor to Warner Communications Inc. and
Warner/Chappell Music Inc.) dated June 8, 1990, as amended by letter agreements
dated June 7, 1991, August 2, 1994 and March 26, 1998 (as amended, the “Prior
Agreement”). Accordingly, you shall be entitled to receive distributions from
the Prior Trust Account in accordance with the terms of Annex A of the Prior
Agreement, subject to Paragraph 11(e) below.


 


(e) Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, in Annex A hereto or in Annex A of the Prior
Agreement, in the event that you fail to provide Advisory Services on an
exclusive basis as provided in Paragraph 11(c) hereof, hi addition to any other
remedies that WMG and/or Company may have, WMG shall have the right to suspend,
during the remainder of the Advisory Period, making payments to you from the
Trust Account and the Prior Trust Account, notwithstanding that any amounts of
deferred compensation had been credited and/or paid to you as. herein provided
prior to such suspension. In the event that distributions from the Trust
Account and/or the Prior Trust Account are suspended during all or any part of the Advisory Period pursuant
to the preceding sentence, the value of the Trust Account and/or the Prior
Trust Account shall nevertheless be reduced to the extent of each such
suspended payment(s) in all respects as if such payment(s) had been made to you
when due as provided herein and in Annex A hereto and Annex A of the Prior
Agreement and the balance of the Trust Account and/or the Prior Trust Account,
as so reduced, shall be paid to you in accordance with Annex A hereto and Annex
A of the Prior Agreement commencing upon the conclusion of the Advisory Period.


 


12.                                 Confidential Matters: You shall keep secret all confidential
matters of Company and its affiliates (for purposes of this Paragraph 12 only, “Company”),
and shall not disclose them to anyone outside of Company, either during or
after your employment with Company, except with Company’s written consent. You shall
deliver promptly to Company upon termination of your employment, or at any time
Company may request, all confidential memoranda, notes, records, reports and
other documents (and all copies thereof) relating to the business of Company
which you may then possess or have under your control.


 


13.                                 Results and Proceeds of Employment: You acknowledge that Company shall own all
rights of every kind and character throughout the world in perpetuity in and to
any material and/or ideas written, suggested or in any way created by you
hereunder


 


5





















 


and
all other results and proceeds of your services hereunder, including, but not
limited to, all copyrightable material created by you within the scope of your
employment. You agree to execute and deliver to Company such assignments or
other instruments as Company may require from time to time to evidence Company’s
ownership of the results and proceeds of your services.


 


14.                                 Notices: All notices, requests, consents and other communications required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given if delivered personally or sent by prepaid courier, or mailed
first-class, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, as follows:


 


	
  TO YOU:

  	
  TO COMPANY:

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Leslie Bider

  	
  Warner Music Group Inc.

  
	
  3830 Hayvenhurst Drive

  	
  4000 Warner Boulevard

  
	
  Encino, CA 91436

  	
  Burbank, CA 91522

  
	
   

  	
  Attn: General Counsel

  



 


Either you or Company may
change the address to which notices are to be sent by giving written notice of
such change of address to the other in the manner herein provided for giving
notice.


 


15.                                 Miscellaneous:


 


(a)                                  You represent and warrant to Company that you
are free to enter into this Agreement and, as of the commencement of the Term
hereof, are not subject to any conflicting obligation or any disability which
will prevent you from or interfere with your executing and performing your
obligations hereunder.


 


(b)                                 You acknowledge that while you are employed
hereunder you will comply with Company’s conflict of interest policy and other
corporate policies, as in effect from time to time, of which you are made
aware. All payments made to you hereunder shall be subject to applicable
withholding and social security taxes and other ordinary and customary payroll
deductions.


 


(c)                                  You acknowledge that services to be rendered
by you under this Agreement are of a special, unique and intellectual character
which gives them peculiar value, and that a breach or threatened breach of any
provision of this Agreement (particularly, but not limited to, the provisions
of Paragraphs 4 and 12 hereof). will cause Company immediate irreparable injury
and damage which cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated in damages in
an action at law. Accordingly, without limiting any right or remedy which
Company may have in such event, you


 


6





















 


specifically
agree that Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief to enforce and
protect its rights under this Agreement. The provisions of this Paragraph 15(c)
shall not be construed as a waiver by Company of any rights which Company may
have to damages or any other remedy.


 


(d)                                 This
Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties
hereto, and supersedes and terminates any and all prior agreements,
arrangements and understandings, including, without limitation, the Prior
Agreement, except with respect to the provisions of Annex A of the Prior
Agreement and paragraph 5 of the letter agreement dated June 7, 1991, as
amended by the letter agreement dated March 26, 1998. No representation,
promise or inducement has been made by either party that is not embodied in
this Agreement, and neither party shall be bound by or liable for any alleged
representation, promise or inducement not herein set forth.


 


(e)                                  The provisions of this Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of the parties hereto, their heirs, legal representatives,
successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement, and your rights and
obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by you. Company may assign its
rights, together with its obligations, hereunder in connection with any sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or a substantial portion of the stock or assets of Company,
Warner Music Group or Time Warner Inc:


 


(f)                                    Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed to impose any obligation on
Company to renew this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended, modified,
superseded, canceled, renewed or extended, and the terms or covenants hereof
may be waived, only by a written instrument executed by both of the parties
hereto, or in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. Neither
the continuation of employment nor any other conduct shall be deemed to imply a
continuing obligation upon the expiration of this Agreement. The failure of
either party at any time or times to require performance of any provision
hereof shall in no manner affect the right at a later time to enforce the same.
No waiver by either party of the breach of any term or covenant contained in
this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances,
shall be deemed to be, or construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any
such breach, or a waiver of the breach of any other term or covenant contained
in this Agreement.


 


(g)                                 This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State
of California as applicable to agreements executed in and to be wholly
performed within such State.


 


7





















 


If the
foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please sign below and return
this agreement to Company.


 


 


	
   

  	
  Very truly yours,

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/
  [ILLEGIBLE]

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Accepted and
  Agreed:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  /s/ Leslie
  Bider

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Leslie Bider

  	
   

  
					



 


8





















 


Annex A

to the

Employment Agreement

between


 


WARNER MUSIC GROUP INC.

(the “Company”)

and

Leslie Bider

(the “Executive”)


 


Deferred Compensation Account


 


A.1                             Investments. Funds credited to
the Trust Account shall be actually invested and reinvested in an account in securities selected from time
to time by an investment advisor designated from time to time by the Company
(the “Investment Advisor”), substantially all of which securities shall be “eligible
securities”. The designation from time to time by the Company of an Investment
Advisor shall be subject to the Executive’s prior approval, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld. “Eligible securities” are common and preferred stocks,
warrants to purchase common or preferred stocks, put and call options, and
corporate or governmental bonds, notes and debentures, either listed on a
national securities exchange or for which price quotations are published in
newspapers of general circulation, including The Wall  Street Journal,
and certificates of deposit. Eligible securities shall not include the common
or preferred stock, any warrants, options or rights to purchase common or
preferred stock or the notes or debentures of the Company or Time Warner Inc.
or any corporation or other entity of which the Company or Time Warner Inc.
owns directly or indirectly 5% or more of any class of outstanding equity
securities. The Investment Advisor shall have the right, from time to time, to
designate eligible securities which shall be actually purchased and sold for
the Trust Account on the date
of reference. Such purchases may be made on margin; provided that the Company may, from time to time, by
written notice to the Executive, the Trustee and the Investment Advisor, limit
or prohibit margin purchases in any manner it deems prudent and, upon three business days written
notice to the Executive, the Trustee and the Investment Advisor, cause all
eligible securities theretofore purchased on margin to be sold. The Investment
Advisor shall send notification to the Executive and the Trustee in writing of
each transaction within five business days thereafter and shall render to the
Executive and the Trustee written quarterly reports as to the current status of
the Executive’s Trust Account. In the case of any purchase, the Trust Account
shall be charged with a dollar amount equal to the quantity and kind of
securities purchased multiplied by the fair market value of such securities on
the date of reference and shall be credited with the quantity and kind of
securities so purchased. In the case of any sale, the Trust Account shall be charged
with the quantity and kind of securities sold, and shall be credited with a dollar amount equal to the quantity
and kind of securities sold multiplied by the fair


 


9





















 


market value of such securities
on the date of reference. Such charges and credits to the Trust Account shall
take place immediately upon the consummation of the transactions to which they
relate. As used herein “fair market value” means either (i) if the security is
actually purchased or sold by the Rabbi Trust on the date of reference, the
actual purchase or sale price per security to the Rabbi Trust or (ii) if the
security is not purchased or sold on the date .of reference, in the case of a
listed security, the closing price per security on the date of reference, or if
there were no sales on such date, then the closing price per security on the
nearest preceding day on which there were such sales, and, in the case of an
unlisted security, the mean between the bid and asked prices per security on
the date of reference, or if no such prices are available for such date, then
the mean between the bid and asked prices per security on the nearest preceding
day for which such prices are available. If no bid or asked price information
is available with respect to a particular security, the price quoted to the
Trustee as the value of such security on the date of reference (or the nearest
preceding date for which such information is available) shall be used for
purposes of administering the Trust Account, including determining the fair
market value of such security. The Trust Account shall be charged currently
with all interest paid by the Trust Account with respect to any credit extended
to the Trust Account.  Such interest
shall be charged to the Trust Account, for margin purchases actually made, at
the rates and times actually paid by the Trust Account. The Company may, in the
Company’s sole discretion, from time to time serve as the lender with respect
to any margin transactions by notice to the then Investment Advisor and the
Trustee and in such case interest shall be charged at the rate and times then
charged by an investment banking firm designated by the Company with which the
Company or Time Warner Inc. does significant business. Brokerage fees shall be
charged to the Trust Account at the rates and times actually paid.


 


A.2                             Dividends and Interest. The Trust
Account shall be credited with dollar amounts equal to cash dividends paid from
time to time upon the stocks held therein. Dividends shall be credited as of
the payment date. The Trust Account shall similarly be credited with interest
payable on interest bearing securities held therein. Interest shall be credited
as of the payment date, except that in the case of purchases of
interest-bearing securities the Trust Account shall be charged with the dollar
amount of interest accrued to the date of purchase, and in the case of sales of
such interest-bearing securities the Trust Account shall be credited with the
dollar amount of interest accrued to the date of sale. All dollar amounts of
dividends or interest credited to the Trust Account pursuant to this Section
A.2 shall be charged with all taxes thereon deemed payable by the Company (as
and when determined pursuant to Section A.5). The Investment Advisor shall have
the same right with respect to the investment and reinvestment of the net
dividends and net interest as the Investment Advisor has with respect to the
balance of the Trust Account.


 


A.3                             Adjustments. The Trust Account shall be equitably adjusted to reflect
stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations,
reorganizations and. other changes affecting the securities held therein.


 


10





















 


A.4                             Obligations of the Company. Without in any way limiting the obligations
of the Company otherwise set forth in the Agreement or this Annex A, the
Company shall have the obligation to establish, maintain and enforce the Rabbi
Trust and to make payment to the Trustee for credit to the Trust Account in
accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, to use due care in selecting
the Trustee or any successor trustee and to in all respects work cooperatively
with the Trustee to fulfill the obligations of the Company and the Trustee to
the Executive. The Trust Account shall be charged with all taxes (including
stock transfer taxes), interest, brokerage fees and investment advisory fees,
if any, deemed payable by the Company and attributable to the purchase or
disposition of securities designated by the Investment Advisor (in all cases
net after any tax benefits that the Company would be deemed to derive from the
payment thereof, as and when determined pursuant to Section A.5) and only in
the event of a default by the Company of its obligation to pay such fees and
expenses, the fees and expenses of the Trustee in accordance with the terms of
the Trust Agreement, but no other costs of the Company. Subject to the terms of
the trust Agreement, the securities purchased for the Trust Account as designated
by the Investment Advisor shall
remain the sole property of the Company, subject to the claims of its general
creditors, as provided in the Trust Agreement. Neither the Executive nor his
legal representative or any
beneficiary designated by the Executive shall have any right, other than the
right of an unsecured general creditor, against the Company or the Rabbi Trust
in respect of any portion of the Trust Account.


 


A.5                             Taxes.
The Trust Account shall be charged with all federal, state and local taxes
deemed payable by the Company with respect to income recognized upon the
dividends and interest received by the Trust Account pursuant to Section A.2
and gains recognized upon. sales of any of the securities which are
sold pursuant to Section A.6 or A.7. The Trust Account shall be credited with
the amount of the tax benefit received by the Company as a result of any
payment of interest actually made pursuant to Section A.1 or A.2 and as a
result of any payment of brokerage fees and investment advisory fees made pursuant
to Section A.l. If any of the sales of the securities which are sold pursuant
to Section A.l, A.6 or A.7 results in a loss to the Trust Account, such net
loss shall be deemed to offset the income and gains referred to in the second preceding sentence (and
thus reduce the charge for taxes referred to therein) to the extent then
permitted under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, and under applicable state and local income and franchise tax laws
(collectively referred to as “Applicable Tax Law”); provided, however, that for
the purposes of this Section A.5 the Trust Account shall, except as provided in
the third following sentence, be deemed to be a separate corporate taxpayer and
the losses referred to above shall be deemed to offset only the income and
gains referred to in the second preceding sentence. Such losses shall be
carried back and carried forward within the Trust Account to the extent
permitted by Applicable Tax Law in order to minimize the taxes deemed payable on
such income and gains within the Trust Account. For the purposes of this
Section A.5, all charges and credits to the Trust Account for taxes shall be
deemed to be made as of the end of the Company’s taxable year during which the
transactions, from which the liabilities for such taxes are deemed to have
arisen, are deemed to have occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if and to
the extent that in any year there is a net loss in the Trust Account that
cannot be offset against income and gains in any prior year, then an amount equal


 


11





















 


to the tax benefit to the
Company of such net loss (after such net loss is reduced by the amount of any
net capital loss of the Trust Account for such year) shall be credited to the
Trust Account on the last day of such year. If and to the extent that any such
net loss of the Trust Account shall be utilized to determine a credit to the
Trust Account pursuant to the preceding sentence, it shall not thereafter be
carried forward under this Section A.5. For purposes of determining taxes
payable by the Company under any provision of this Annex A it shall be assumed
that the Company is a taxpayer and pays all taxes at the maximum marginal rate
of federal income taxes and state and local income and franchise taxes (net of
assumed federal income tax benefits) applicable to business corporations and
that all of such dividends, interest, gains and losses are allocable to its
corporate headquarters.


 


A.6                             One-Time Transfer to
Deferred Plan. So long as the Executive is an employee of the
Company, the Executive shall have the right to elect at any time, but only once
during the Executive’s lifetime, by written notice to the Company to transfer
to the Deferred Plan all or a portion of the Net Transferable Balance
(determined as provided in the next sentence) of the Trust Account. If the
Executive shall make such an election, the Net Transferable Balance shall be
determined as of the end of the calendar quarter following the date of such
election (unless such election is made during the ten calendar days following
the end of a calendar quarter, in which case such determination shall be made
as of the end of such preceding calendar quarter) by adjusting all of the
securities held in the Trust Account to their fair market value (net of the tax
adjustment that would be made thereon if sold, as estimated by the Company or
the Trustee) and by deducting from such value the amount of all outstanding
indebtedness and any other amounts payable by the Trust Account. Transfers to
the Deferred Plan shall be made in cash as promptly as reasonably practicable
after the net of such calendar quarter and the Investment Advisor (or the
Company or the Trustee if the Investment Advisor shall fail to act in a timely manner)
shall cause securities held in the Trust Account to be sold to provide cash
equal to the portion of the Net Transferable Balance of the Trust Account
selected to be transferred by the Executive. If the Executive elects to
transfer more than 75% of the Net Transferable Balance of the Trust Account to
the Deferred Plan, the Company or the Trustee shall be permitted to take such
action as they may deem reasonably appropriate, including but not limited to,
retaining a portion of such Net Transferable Balance in the Trust Account, to
ensure that the Trust Account will have sufficient assets to pay the Company
the amount of taxes payable on such sales of securities at the end of the year
in which such sales are made.


 


A.7                             Payments. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of
the Agreement, payments of deferred compensation from the Trust Account shall
be made as provided in this Section A.7. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in this Section A.7, unless the Executive makes the election referred
to the next succeeding sentence, deferred compensation shall be paid bi-weekly
for a period of ten years (the “Pay-Out Period”) commencing on the first
Company payroll date in the month of January 2004. The Executive may elect a
shorter pay-Out Period by delivering written notice to the Company or the
Trustee at least one-year prior to the commencement of the Pay-Out Period,
which notice shall specify the shorter Pay-Out Period. On each payment date,
the Trust Account shall be charged with the dollar amount of such


 


12





















 


payment. On each payment date, the amount of
cash held in the Trust Account shall be not less than the payment then due and
the Company or the Trustee may select the securities to be sold to provide such
cash if the Investment Advisor shall fail to do so on a timely basis. The
amount of any taxes payable with respect to any such sales shall be computed,
as provided in Section A.5 above, and deducted from the Trust Account, as of
the end of the taxable year of the Company during which such sales are deemed
to have occurred. Solely for the purpose of determining the amount of payments
during the Pay-Out Period, the Trust Account shall be valued on the fifth
trading day prior to the end of the month preceding the first payment of each
year of the Pay-Out Period, or more frequently at the Company’s or the Trustee’s
election (the “Valuation Date”), by adjusting all of the securities held in the
Trust Account to their fair market value (net of the tax adjustment that would
be made thereon if sold, as estimated by the Company or the Trustee) and by
deducting from the Trust Account the amount of all outstanding indebtedness.
The extent, if any, by which the Trust Account, valued as provided in the
immediately preceding sentence, plus any amounts that have been transferred to
the Deferred Plan pursuant to Section A.6 hereof and not theretofore
distributed or deemed distributed therefrom, exceeds the aggregate amount of
credits to the Trust Account pursuant to the Agreement as of each Valuation
Date and not theretofore distributed or deemed distributed pursuant to this
Section A.7 is herein called “Account Retained Income.” The amount of each
payment for the year, or such shorter period as may be determined by the Company
or the Trustee, of the Pay-Out Period immediately succeeding such Valuation
Date, including the payment then due, shall be determined by dividing the
aggregate value of the Trust Account, as valued and adjusted pursuant to the
second preceding sentence, by the number of payments remaining to be paid in
the Pay-Out Period, including the payment then due; provided that each payment
made shall be deemed made first out of Account Retained Income (to the extent
remaining after all prior distributions thereof since the last Valuation Date).
The balance of the Trust Account, after all the securities held therein have
been sold and all indebtedness liquidated, shall be paid to the Executive in
the final payment, which shall be decreased by deducting therefrom the amount
of all taxes attributable to the sale of any securities held in the Trust
Account since the end of the preceding taxable year of the Company, which taxes
shall be computed as of the date of such payment.


 


If the Agreement or the Term
of employment is terminated by the Company in breach of the Agreement, the
Trust Account shall be valued as of the date the Executive ceases to be an
employee of Company and leaves the payroll of Company and the balance of the
Trust Account, after all the securities held therein have been sold and all
indebtedness liquidated, shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable
and in any event within 30 days following the date Executive leaves the payroll
of the Company in a final lump sum payment, which shall be decreased by
deducting therefrom the amount of all taxes attributable to the sale of any
securities held in the Trust Account since the end of the preceding taxable
year of Company, which taxes shall be computed as of the date of such payment.
Payments made pursuant to this paragraph shall be deemed to be made first out
of Account Retained Income.


 


Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section A.7, if the Rabbi Trust shall terminate in
accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement, the Trust Account


 


13





















 


shall be valued as of the date of such
termination and the balance of the Trust Account shall be paid to the Executive
within 15 days of such termination in accordance with the provisions of the third
preceding paragraph.


 


If a transfer to the
Deferred Plan has been made pursuant to Section A.6 hereof, payments made to
the Executive from the Deferred Plan (a) shall be deemed made first from the
amounts transferred to the Deferred Plan pursuant to Section A.6 and (b) shall
be deemed made first out of Account Retained Income.


 


Within
90 days after the end of each taxable year of the Company in which payments are
made, directly or indirectly,
to the Executive from the Trust Account or from the Deferred Plan with respect
to amounts transferred to the Deferred Plan from the Trust Account pursuant to
Section A.6 and at the time of the final payment from the Trust Account, the
Company or the Trustee shall compute and the Company shall pay to the Trustee for
credit to the Trust Account, the amount of the tax benefit assumed to be
received by the Company from the payment to the Executive of all amounts of
Account Retained Income included in any such payment. No additional credits shall be made to the Trust Account
pursuant to the preceding sentence in respect of the amounts credited to the
Trust Account pursuant to the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding any provision
of this Section A.7, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive pursuant to
this Annex A (including any amounts that have been transferred the Deferred
Plan pursuant to Section A.6. hereof) an aggregate amount that shall exceed the
sum of (i) all credits made to the Trust Account pursuant to the Agreement,
(ii) the net cumulative amount (positive or negative) of all income, gains,
losses, interest and expenses charged or credited to the Trust Account pursuant
to this Annex A (excluding credits made pursuant to the second preceding
sentence), after all credits and charges to the Trust Account with respect to
the tax benefits or burdens thereof, and (iii) an amount equal to the tax
benefit to the Company from the payment of the amount (if positive) determined
under clause (ii) above; and the final payment(s) otherwise due may be adjusted
or eliminated accordingly. In determining the tax benefit to the Company under
clause (iii) above, the Company shall be deemed to have made the payments under
clause (ii) above with respect to the same taxable years and in the same
proportions as payments of Account Retained. Income were actually
made from the Trust Account. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph,
the computation of all taxes and tax benefits referred to in this Section A.7
shall be determined in accordance with Section A.5 above.


 


End of Annex A


 


14