exv10w1






Exhibit 10.1




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into on March 18, 2009, (the
“Agreement Date”) by and between ValueVision Media, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”),
and Keith R. Stewart, currently a resident of Minnesota (“Executive”).



     A. The Company is an integrated direct marketing company that markets its products directly to
consumers through television home shopping programming, internet sites, catalogues, and direct
mailings and email communications.



     B. Prior to January 26, 2009 (the “Commencement Date”), Executive was serving as the President
and Chief Operating Officer of the Company pursuant to that certain Employment Agreement between
the Company and Executive, entered into on August 27, 2008 (the “Prior Agreement”).



     C. On the Commencement Date, Executive was appointed to the position of President and Chief
Executive Officer, and Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company in that
position, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.



     D. As of the effective date of the Prior Agreement, the Company provided Executive with
valuable stock options and the opportunity for valuable severance benefits in return for
Executive’s promises to comply with reasonable restrictions on Executive’s competitive activities,
and the Company and Executive desire that such reasonable restrictions continue in effect, with
such compensation and benefits also to continue in effect along with the other compensation and
benefits provided for in this Agreement.



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the respective agreements of
the Company and Executive set forth below, the Company and Executive, intending to be legally
bound, agree as follows:



     1. Employment. Effective as of the Commencement Date, the Company shall employ
Executive as its President and Chief Executive Officer, and Executive shall accept such employment
and perform services for the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.



     2. Term of Employment. Unless terminated at an earlier date in accordance with Section
9 hereof, the term of Executive’s employment with the Company under this Agreement shall be for the
period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on January 31, 2010. Thereafter, unless
terminated at an earlier date in accordance with Section 9 hereof, the term of Executive’s
employment with the Company hereunder shall be automatically extended for successive one-year
periods, unless either party gives written notice to the other party at least 90 days prior to the
expiration of the initial term or any additional term that such party elects not to extend the term
of Executive’s employment under this Agreement.



 









 





     3. Position and Duties.



     (a) Employment with the Company. Commencing on the Commencement Date and continuing
for the duration of the term of Executive’s employment with the Company hereunder, Executive shall
be appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall have the
authority, duties and responsibilities commensurate and consistent with such position and title.
Executive’s employment hereunder shall be based at the Company’s corporate headquarters, currently
located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.



     (b) Board of Directors. Executive is currently a member of the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “Board”). While Executive is employed as an executive officer of the Company
hereunder, the Board shall include Executive in the slate of Directors each year nominated by the
Board for election at each annual shareholders meeting, and Executive shall continue serve on the
Board, without compensation other than that specified in this Agreement.



     (c) Performance of Duties and Responsibilities. Executive shall serve the Company
faithfully and to the best of his ability and shall devote his full working time, attention and
efforts to the business of the Company during his employment with the Company. During his
employment with the Company, Executive may participate in charitable activities and personal
investment activities to a reasonable extent, and he may serve as a director of business and civic
organizations as approved by the Board so long as such activities and directorships do not
interfere in a material manner with the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder or
conflict with the business of the Company.



     (d) No Conflicting Agreements. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that
(i) he is not currently subject to any non-compete or non-solicitation agreements or similar
agreements with any entity other than the Company, and (ii) he is under no other contractual or
legal commitments that would prevent him from fulfilling his duties and responsibilities as set
forth in this Agreement. If Executive is subject to any non-disclosure agreement or similar
agreement with any entity other than the Company, he agrees to comply fully with such other
agreement in connection with his activities with the Company. Executive acknowledges that the
Company is relying on the representations, warranties and agreement in this Section 3(d) in
connection with its employment of Executive pursuant to this Agreement.



     4. Compensation.



     (a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay to Executive a minimum annual base salary of
$650,000. Executive’s base salary shall be paid as follows:




	 	(i)	 	Under the terms of the Prior Agreement, Executive’s base salary
in the annualized amount of $500,000 was paid through August 27, 2009 through a
grant of 217,391 shares of restricted stock, which will be fully vested on
August 27, 2009.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Effective as of the Commencement Date and through August 27,
2009, (A) a portion of Executive’s base salary at an annualized level of
$500,000 shall continue to be paid through the prior grant of restricted stock,
and (B) the remainder of the base salary at an annualized level of $150,000




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	 	 	 	shall be paid in cash in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll
policies and procedures.






	 	(iii)	 	Commencing on August 28, 2009 and for the remainder of the
period of time Executive is employed by the Company hereunder, Executive’s base
salary shall be paid in cash in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll
policies and procedures.




During each fiscal year after fiscal year 2009 (i.e., the year ending January 31, 2010), the Board
of Directors (after receiving the recommendations of the Nominating and Governance Committee with
respect to the job performance of the Executive and the recommendations of the Human Resources &
Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) with respect to the compensation of the Executive) shall
conduct an annual performance review of Executive and thereafter establish Executive’s base salary
in an amount not less than the base salary in effect for the prior year.




     (b) Annual Incentive Bonus. For each fiscal year Executive is employed by the Company
hereunder, Executive shall be eligible for an annual incentive bonus for such fiscal year, based on
achievement of objectives established by the Board or the Committee in its discretion, provided
Executive remains employed by the Company on the last day of such fiscal year. Executive’s annual
incentive bonus if the Company achieves target objectives shall be 75% of Executive’s annual base
salary for such fiscal year, such amount to be prorated for fiscal year 2008; Executive may in fact
receive annual incentive payments of between zero percent up to 150 percent of Executive’s annual
base salary in any given fiscal year (or such other percentage of base salary as may be established
by the Committee for the annual incentive plan for officers for such fiscal year) based on
under-achievement or over-achievement of target objectives. Achievement of the objectives for each
fiscal year shall be determined in good faith by the Board or the Committee in its sole discretion
within 60 days after the end of the fiscal year; and the annual incentive bonus will be paid in a
lump sum promptly following such determination, but no later than 75 days after the fiscal year.
Executive’s annual incentive bonus for the Company’s 2008 fiscal year will be subject to the
following additional provision:




	 	(i)	 	Under the terms of the Prior Agreement, the Executive is
entitled to receive a guaranteed minimum incentive bonus of $250,000, with such
guaranteed bonus to apply as a credit against any earned bonus for fiscal year
2008 under such plan. The guaranteed minimum bonus was paid through a grant of
restricted stock valued as of August 27, 2008. The restricted stock grant
covered 108,696 shares of the Company’s common stock, to vest on April 1, 2009
or if earlier, the date (the “Vesting Date”) on which the Committee has
determined the annual incentive bonuses for executive officers of the Company
for fiscal year 2008.





     (c) Stock Options. Under the terms of the Prior Agreement, Executive was granted
non-qualified stock options (the “Stock Options”) to purchase 500,000 shares of the common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”), pursuant to the 2001 Omnibus Stock Plan.
References to the Prior Agreement in the Stock Options shall be deemed amended to refer to the
corresponding provisions of this Agreement. Executive will be entitled to



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receive stock options (the “Additional Stock Options”) during fiscal year 2009 to purchase an
additional 500,000 shares of Common Stock at the same time as stock options are granted to
executive officers of the Company generally. The exercise price of the Additional Stock Options
will be equal to the closing sale price of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The other terms
and conditions of the Additional Stock Options shall be as determined by the Committee, in its sole
discretion. Furthermore, Executive will be eligible to receive further stock option grants in
subsequent fiscal years during the term of this Agreement, at the sole discretion of the Committee.



     (d) Employee Benefits. While Executive is employed by the Company hereunder, Executive
shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans and programs of the Company,
including without limitation, retirement plans and medical, life, and disability insurance plans,
to the extent that Executive meets the eligibility requirements for each individual plan or program
as generally applicable to other executive officers of the Company; provided, however, that except
as herein otherwise provided the Company provides no assurance as to the adoption or continuance of
any particular employee benefit plan or program and Executive’s participation in any such plan or
program shall be subject to the provisions, rules and regulations applicable thereto consistent
with the provisions, rules and regulations generally applicable to other executive officers of the
Company.



     (e) Expenses. While Executive is employed by the Company hereunder, the Company shall
reimburse Executive for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, travel and
entertainment expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties and responsibilities
hereunder, subject to the Company’s normal policies and procedures for expense verification and
documentation.



     5. Confidential Information. During the term of Executive’s employment with the
Company and at all times thereafter, Executive shall not divulge, furnish or make accessible to
anyone or use in any way other than in the ordinary course of the business of the Company, any
confidential, proprietary or secret knowledge or information of the Company that Executive has
acquired or shall acquire during his employment with the Company, whether developed by himself or
by others, concerning (i) any trade secrets, (ii) any confidential, proprietary or secret designs,
processes, formulae, plans, devices or material (whether or not patented or patentable) directly or
indirectly useful in any aspect of the business of the Company, (iii) any customer or supplier
lists of the Company, (iv) any confidential, proprietary or secret development or research work of
the Company, (v) any strategic or other business, marketing or sales plans of the Company, (vi) any
financial data or plans respecting the Company, or (vii) any other confidential or proprietary
information or secret aspects of the business of the Company. Executive acknowledges that the
above-described knowledge and information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company
and represents a substantial investment of time and expense by the Company, and that any disclosure
or other use of such knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of the Company would
be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to the Company. During the term of Executive’s
employment with the Company, Executive shall refrain from any acts or omissions that would reduce
the value of such knowledge or information to the Company. The foregoing obligations of
confidentiality shall not apply to any knowledge or information that (i) is now or subsequently
becomes generally publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from the Company, other than
as a direct or



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indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Executive, (ii) is independently made
available to Executive in good faith by a third party who has not violated a confidential
relationship with the Company, or (iii) is required to be disclosed by law, provided Executive
provides adequate prior notice to the Company to seek a protective order.



     6. Ventures. If, during the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive
is engaged in or associated with the planning or implementing of any project, program or venture
involving the Company and a third party or parties, all rights in such project, program or venture
shall belong to the Company. Except as approved in writing by the Board, Executive shall not be
entitled to any interest in any such project, program or venture or to any commission, finder’s fee
or other compensation in connection therewith, other than the compensation to be paid to Executive
by the Company as provided herein. Executive shall have no interest, direct or indirect, in any
customer or supplier that conducts business with the Company, unless such interest has been
disclosed in writing to and approved by the Board before such customer or supplier seeks to do
business with the Company, provided that the Company hereby expressly acknowledges and approves
Executive’s continuing participation with and ownership stake in Orin Briant Inc., d/b/a The Stick
Jacket Company (“Orin”).



     7. Noncompetition Covenant. In consideration of the Company’s grant of the Stock
Options covering 500,000 shares of Common Stock on the commencement date of the Prior Agreement,
and the offer of the severance benefits and other compensation described in the Prior Agreement and
this Agreement, Executive agrees to the following reasonable restrictions on Executive’s
competitive activities, which are intended to carry forward the restrictions set forth in the Prior
Agreement. Executive acknowledges that these benefits pursuant to the Prior Agreement and this
Agreement, and each of them, have a value that is greater than anything to which Executive would
otherwise be entitled during Executive’s employment with the Company.



     (a) Agreement Not to Compete. During the term of Executive’s employment with the
Company and for 18 consecutive months following the date of termination of Executive’s employment,
whether such termination is with or without Cause (as defined below), or whether such termination
is at the instance of Executive or the Company (such 18-month period is referred to as the
“Restrictive Period”), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, in any country in which the
Company or any of its affiliates operates or contemplates operating during the 12 months prior to
the last day of Executive’s employment, own, manage, control, have any interest in, participate in,
lend his name to, act as consultant or advisor to or render services (alone or in association with
any other person, firm, corporation or other business organization) for:




	 	(i)	 	HSN, Inc., QVC, Inc., Jewelry Television Network and of their
subsidiaries, and any of their affiliates who are primarily engaged in the home
shopping business; or
	 
	 	(ii)	 	any other person or entity engaged in the television home
shopping business; or
	 
	 	(iii)	 	any infomercial business having as a primary focus the
marketing to consumers of products of a similar nature as the products being
offered on the Company’s television programming or websites; or




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	 	(iv)	 	the directly-related e-commerce operations of another home
shopping company or network, such as, for example, QVC.com or HSN.com.




Neither the ownership by Executive, as a passive investment, of less than 1% of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of any corporation listed on a national securities exchange or publicly
traded in the over-the-counter market nor the participation in the management and ownership of Orin
in a manner that does not materially interfere with Executive’s duties and obligations hereunder
shall constitute a breach of this Section 7(a).




     (b) Agreement Not to Hire. During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company
and for the Restrictive Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, hire, engage, accept
an application from, or solicit any person who is then an employee of the Company or who was an
employee of the Company at the time of Executive’s termination of employment, in any manner or
capacity, including without limitation as a proprietor, principal, agent, partner, officer,
director, stockholder, employee, member of any association, consultant or otherwise, to cease
employment with the Company. For purposes of this Section 7(b), the term “solicit” shall not
include general newspaper or similar advertisements for employment opportunities with Executive or
with any subsequent employer of Executive.



     (c) Agreement Not to Solicit. During the term of Executive’s employment with the
Company and for the Restrictive Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit,
request, advise or induce any current or potential customer, supplier or other business contact of
the Company to cancel, curtail or otherwise change its relationship with the Company, in any manner
or capacity, including without limitation as a proprietor, principal, agent, partner, officer,
director, stockholder, employee, member of any association, consultant or otherwise.



     (d) Blue Pencil Doctrine. If the duration of, the scope of or any business activity
covered by any provision of this Section 7 is in excess of what is valid and enforceable under
applicable law, such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, scope or activity
that is valid and enforceable. Executive hereby acknowledges that this Section 7 shall be given the
construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent, not
exceeding its express terms, possible under applicable law.



     8. Patents, Copyrights and Related Matters.



     (a) Disclosure and Assignment. Executive shall immediately disclose to the Company any
and all improvements and inventions that Executive may conceive and/or reduce to practice
individually or jointly or commonly with others while he is employed with the Company with respect
to (i) any methods, processes or apparatus concerned with the development, use or production of any
type of products, goods or services sold or used by the Company, and (ii) any type of products,
goods or services sold or used by the Company. Executive also shall immediately assign, transfer
and set over to the Company his entire right, title and interest in and to any and all of such
inventions as are specified in this Section 8(a), and in and to any and all applications for
letters patent that may be filed on such inventions, and in and to any and all letters patent that
may issue, or be issued, upon such applications. In connection therewith and for no additional
compensation therefor, but at no expense to Executive, Executive shall sign any and all instruments
deemed necessary by the Company for:



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	 	(i)	 	the filing and prosecution of any applications for letters
patent of the United States or of any foreign country that the Company may
desire to file upon such inventions as are specified in this Section 8(a);
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the filing and prosecution of any divisional, continuation,
continuation-in-part or reissue applications that the Company may desire to
file upon such applications for letters patent; and
	 
	 	(iii)	 	the reviving, re-examining or renewing of any of such
applications for letters patent.




Employee is hereby notified that this Section 8(a) shall not apply to any invention for which no
equipment, supplies, facilities, Confidential Information (defined in Section 5 above) or other
trade secret information of the Company was used and which was developed entirely on Executive’s
own time, unless (i) the invention relates (A) directly to the business of the Company, or (B) to
the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (ii) the invention
results from any work performed by Executive for the Company.




     (b) Copyrightable Material. All right, title and interest in all copyrightable
material that Executive shall conceive or originate individually or jointly or commonly with
others, and that arise during the term of his employment with the Company and out of the
performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, shall be the property of the
Company and are hereby assigned by Executive to the Company, along with ownership of any and all
copyrights in the copyrightable material. Upon request and without further compensation therefor,
but at no expense to Executive, Executive shall execute any and all papers and perform all other
acts necessary to assist the Company to obtain and register copyrights on such materials in any and
all countries. Where applicable, works of authorship created by Executive for the Company in
performing his duties and responsibilities hereunder shall be considered “works made for hire,” as
defined in the U.S. Copyright Act.



     (c) Know-How and Trade Secrets. All know-how and trade secret information conceived or
originated by Executive that arises during the term of his employment with the Company and out of
the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder or any related material or information
shall be the property of the Company, and all rights therein are hereby assigned by Executive to
the Company.



     (d) Exclusion. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that the terms of this
Section 8 shall not apply to any intellectual property rights now or hereafter owned or developed,
in whole or in part, by or on behalf of Orin and related to Orin’s current business and whether or
not conceived or reduced to practice by the Executive, either individually or in common with
others, provided that Executive is not in breach of his obligation under Section 5 of this
Agreement in connection therewith.



     9. Termination of Employment.



     (a) The Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate immediately upon:



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	 	(i)	 	Executive’s receipt of written notice from the Company of the
termination of his employment, other than notice that the Company elects not to
extend the term of this Agreement;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Executive’s abandonment of his employment or his resignation,
other than notice to the Company that he elects not to extend the term of this
Agreement;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Executive’s Disability (as defined below);
	 
	 	(iv)	 	Executive’s death; or
	 
	 	(v)	 	the expiration of the term of Executive’s employment with the
Company, following written notice by either party as specified in Section 2
hereof.





     (b) The date upon which Executive’s termination of employment with the Company occurs shall be
the “Termination Date.”



     10. Payments upon Termination of Employment.



     (a) If Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated:




	 	(i)	 	by the Company for any reason other than for Cause (as defined
below), including upon expiration of the term of this Agreement following
notice by the Company as specified in Section 2 hereof, or
	 
	 	(ii)	 	by Executive as a result of his resignation for Good Reason (as
defined below),




and such termination is not by reason of Executive’s death or Disability, then (notwithstanding and
in lieu of any executive severance policy of the Company now or then in existence), Executive shall
receive the following severance pay and benefits, subject to the requirements of Sections 10(g) and
10(h) below:





	 	(A)	 	The Company shall pay to Executive (1) his base
salary through the Termination Date, (2) one times annual base salary
at the highest rate in effect at any time in the one-year period
preceding the Termination Date, plus (3) if the Termination Date is on
or after August 27, 2009, one times the target annual incentive bonus
determined from such annual base salary pursuant to Section 4(b) of
this Agreement. Except as provided in subsection (B) of this Section
10(a), such severance pay shall be paid in accordance with the
Company’s customary payroll procedures.
	 
	 	(B)	 	If, as of the Termination Date, (1) the
Company’s common stock is “publicly traded” as determined under Section
409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), (2)
Employee is a “specified employee” as determined under Code Section
409A,




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	 	 	 	and (3) any portion of the severance pay due Employee under the
preceding subsection (A) would exceed the sum of the applicable
limited separation pay exclusions as determined pursuant to Code
Section 409A, then payment of the excess amount shall be delayed
until the first regular payroll date of the Company following the six
month anniversary of Executive’s Termination Date (or the date of his
death, if earlier than that anniversary), and shall include a lump
sum equal to the aggregate amounts that Executive would have received
had payment of this excess amount been made after the Termination
Date as provided in the preceding subsection (A). However, if
Executive continues to perform any services for the Company (as an
employee or otherwise) after the Termination Date, such six-month
period shall be measured from the date of Executive’s “separation
from service” as defined under Code Section 409A.






	 	(C)	 	Upon the termination of Executive’s employment,
provided that Executive elects continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA
or similar state laws and also timely completes and returns to the
Company the documents and payments required for that election, the
Company shall continue to provide to Executive and his dependents (as
applicable) for a period of twelve consecutive months after the
Termination Date, group health, dental and life insurance benefits to
the extent that such benefits were in effect for Executive and his
family as of the Termination Date, subject to Executive’s timely
payment of his share of the applicable premiums at the same rate (if
any) he was paying before the Termination Date. Benefit continuation
under this Section 10(a) shall be concurrent with any coverage under
the Company’s plans pursuant to COBRA or similar state laws.
	 
	 	(D)	 	The Company shall provide to Executive all
other applicable post-termination benefits under benefit plans and
programs then applicable to Executive in accordance with the terms of
such plans and programs.




Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (C) above, the Company shall be entitled to cease
paying its share of the cost for providing health, dental or life insurance benefits to Executive
after the Termination Date if Executive becomes eligible for comparable replacement group health,
dental or life insurance coverage (as applicable) from any other employer. For purposes of
mitigation and reduction of the Company’s financial obligations to Executive under this Section
10(a), Executive shall promptly and fully disclose to the Company in writing the fact that he has
become eligible for such comparable replacement group health, dental or life insurance coverage
from any other employer, and Executive shall be liable to repay any amounts to the Company that
should have been so mitigated or reduced but for Executive’s failure or unwillingness to make such
disclosure.




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     (b) If Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by reason of:




	 	(i)	 	Executive’s abandonment of his employment or Executive’s
resignation for any reason other than Good Reason (as defined below),
	 
	 	(ii)	 	termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause
(as defined below),
	 
	 	(iii)	 	termination of Executive’s employment by the Company by reason
of Executive’s death or Disability (as defined below), or
	 
	 	(iv)	 	the expiration of the term of Executive’s employment with the
Company following the delivery of written notice by Executive as specified in
Section 2 hereof,




then the Company shall pay to Executive or his beneficiary or his estate, as the case may be, his
base salary through the Termination Date, and the Company shall provide to Executive all applicable
post-termination benefits under benefit plans and programs then applicable to Executive in
accordance with the terms of such plans and programs.




     (c) “Cause” hereunder shall mean: (i) a material act of fraud which results in or is intended
to result in Executive’s personal enrichment at the expense of Company, including without
limitation, theft or embezzlement from Company; (ii) public conduct by Executive materially
detrimental to the reputation of Company, (iii) material violation by Executive of any written
Company policy, regulation or practice; (iv) Executive’s willful or grossly negligent failure to
adequately perform the duties of his position to the material detriment of the Company; (v)
commission of conduct constituting a felony; (vi) habitual intoxication, drug use or chemical
substance use by any intoxicating or chemical substance; (vii) a material breach by Executive of
any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, which breach remains uncured ten (10) days after
receipt by Executive of written notice of such breach; or (viii) Executive continues to materially
fail to perform his duties hereunder, or engages in excessive absenteeism unrelated to illness or
permitted vacation, ten (10) days after a written demand for performance is delivered to Executive
by the Board or its representative, which written demand specifically identifies the manner in
which the Board believes that Executive has not performed Executive’s duties.



     (d) “Good Reason” hereunder shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events:




	 	(i)	 	The Executive is impacted by a mandatory relocation of the
Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more than 50 miles from
Executive’s current office location;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	The Company, materially reduces the Executive’s total
compensation opportunity (excluding equity) (unless part of an across-the-board
compensation opportunity or benefit plan reduction applicable on a similar
basis to all other senior executive officers of the Company and, in that




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	 	 	 	event, provided that such reduction does not exceed 5% of Executive’s total
compensation opportunity);






	 	(iii)	 	The Company materially breaches its obligations to pay the
Executive, unless the failure to pay is a result of a good faith dispute
between the Company and the Executive; or
	 
	 	(iv)	 	The Company substantially diminishes the duties,
responsibilities or title of the Executive such that the position held is no
longer the President and Chief Executive Officer;




provided that such event shall constitute Good Reason only if Executive (A) continues to
satisfactorily perform job duties as assigned and continues in employment through the date
established by Executive as his last day of employment; (B) provides the Company written notice (in
the case of a Good Reason resignation), within one month after the initial existence of Good
Reason, that details the facts showing that Good Reason exists and includes a proposed last day of
employment within 60 days after the initial existence of Good Reason. The Company shall have thirty
(30) days following receipt of this notice to correct the occurrence; and only if the Company fails
to correct the occurrence does Good Reason exist; (C) returns to the Company, all Company property
in the Executive’s possession in accordance with Section 11 (Return of Records and Property) of
this Agreement; and (D) complies with the terms of any non-compete, confidentiality, invention or
other written agreements contained in this Agreement or otherwise applicable to Executive.



Good Reason shall not include any occurrence in this Section 10(d) of which Executive has consented
in writing stating specifically that such occurrence shall not constitute Good Reason for purposes
of this Section 10(d) or of which Executive had actual knowledge for at least two calendar months
and did not give a notice described above with respect to the occurrence.




     (e) “Disability” hereunder shall mean the inability of Executive to perform on a full-time
basis, even with reasonable accommodation(s) that do(es) not impose an undue hardship on the
Company’s business, the essential duties and responsibilities of his employment with the Company by
reason of his illness or other physical or mental impairment or condition, as determined by a
physician mutually acceptable to Executive and the Company, if such inability continues for an
uninterrupted period of 180 days or more during any 365-day period. A period of inability shall be
“uninterrupted” unless and until Executive returns to full-time work for a continuous period of at
least 30 days.



     (f) In the event of termination of Executive’s employment, the sole obligations of the Company
shall be its obligation to make the payments called for by Section 10(a) or 10(b) hereof, as the
case may be, and the Company shall have no other obligation to Executive or to his beneficiary or
his estate, except as otherwise provided, by law, under the terms of this Agreement or any other
applicable agreement between Executive and the Company, under the terms of any employee benefit
plans or programs then maintained by the Company in which Executive participates, or to provide
continued indemnification or advancement of expenses under the Company’s articles or by-laws,
applicable law, or any indemnification agreement with Executive.



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     (g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10, the Company shall not be
obligated to make any severance payments to Executive under Section 10(a) unless Executive shall
have signed a release of claims in favor of the Company substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit A (with such modifications or additional specifics as may be warranted by changes in
applicable law), all applicable consideration periods, revocation periods, and rescission periods
provided by law shall have expired, and Executive is in strict compliance with the terms of this
Agreement as of the dates of the payments.



     (h) The Company will only offer Executive the severance payments under Section 10(a) of this
Agreement if Executive agrees to the reasonable restrictions on Executive’s competitive activities
that are more fully set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. Accordingly, and notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 10, if Executive is in material breach of any covenant in
Sections 5, 7, or 8 of this Agreement, then, in addition to other available remedies provided in
this Agreement or under applicable law, Executive shall cease to be eligible for the severance
payments under Section 10(a) of this Agreement and, upon the Company’s written request, must
promptly repay to the Company any severance payments previously received under Section 10(a) of
this Agreement; provided further, that any amount to be repaid shall be on a gross basis in the
amount actually paid to Executive by the Company, without reduction for any taxes withheld. In
addition, if Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated before August 27, 2010 by the
Company for Cause, or by Executive as a result of his resignation for any reason other than Good
Reason, Executive shall promptly repay, upon the Company’s written request, the “unvested” portion
of all amounts paid to Executive pursuant to Section 4(f) of the Prior Agreement (the “Relocation
Amount”) and the “unvested” portion of the signing bonus paid to Executive pursuant to Section 4(g)
of the Prior Agreement (the “Signing Bonus”). For purposes of this Section, the Relocation Amount
and Signing Bonus shall be deemed to vest on a monthly basis over a one and two year period,
respectively, commencing on August 27, 2008.



     (i) Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive’s obligations in
Sections 5, 7, and 8 of this Agreement survive and remain in full force and effect.



     11. Return of Records and Property. Upon termination of his employment with the
Company, Executive shall promptly deliver to the Company any and all Company records and any and
all Company property in his possession or under his control, including without limitation manuals,
books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, printouts, computer
disks, computer tapes, source codes, data, tables or calculations and all copies thereof, documents
that in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or confidential, proprietary or other secret
information of the Company and all copies thereof, and keys, access cards, access codes, passwords,
credit cards, personal computers, telephones and other electronic equipment belonging to the
Company.



     12. Additional Remedies. Executive hereby acknowledges that the provisions of Sections
5, 7 and 8 are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Company and that
any violation of these Sections by Executive may cause substantial and irreparable harm to the
Company to such an extent that monetary damages alone would be an inadequate remedy therefor.
Therefore, in the event that Executive violates any provision of Sections 5, 7 or 8, the Company
shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief, in



12









 







addition to all the other remedies it may have without the necessity of proving actual
monetary damages. If the Company is required to begin an action to enforce this Agreement, it will
be entitled to recover from Executive its reasonable costs, disbursements, and attorney’s fees
incurred through counsel of its choice. The Company will further be entitled to any accounting from
Executive and any person or entity associated with Executive as to revenues wrongfully realized
because of a violation of this Agreement.



     13. Miscellaneous.



     (a) Tax Matters. Executive acknowledges that the Company shall deduct from any
compensation payable to Executive or payable on his behalf under this Agreement all applicable
federal, state, and local income and employment taxes and other taxes and withholdings required by
law.



     (b) Public Announcement. The Company shall give Executive a reasonable opportunity to
review and comment on any public announcement relating to this Agreement or the Company’s hiring of
Executive as its President and Chief Executive Officer.



     (c) Company Approvals. The Company represents and warrants to Executive that it (and
to the extent required, the Board, and the Committee) has taken all corporate action necessary to
authorize this Agreement.



     (d) No Mitigation. In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek other employment
or take any other action to mitigate the amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions
of this Agreement, nor shall the amount of any payment hereunder be reduced by any compensation
earned as a result of Executive’s employment by another employer, except that any continued welfare
benefits may be reduced as provided for by the last paragraph of Section 10(a).



     (e) Liability Insurance and Indemnification. The Company shall maintain directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance for Executive while employed and thereafter at a level equivalent to
the level provided for current officers or directors of the Company. The Company shall indemnify
Executive for any job-related liability to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Company
by-laws, and any other applicable indemnification agreements.



     (f) Enforcement. If the Company fails to pay any amount provided under this Agreement
when due, the Company shall pay interest on such amount at a rate equal to the rate of interest
charged from time to time by the Company’s principal revolving credit lender, or if there is no
principal revolving credit lender, the prime commercial lending rate announced by Wells Fargo Bank
(or its successor) as in effect from time to time; but in no event more than the highest legally
permissible interest rate permitted for this Agreement by applicable law. In the event of any
proceeding, arbitration or litigation for breach of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be
entitled to recover his or its reasonable costs and attorney’s fees.



     (g) Beneficiary. If Executive dies before receiving all of the amounts payable to him
in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, such amounts shall be paid to the
beneficiary (“Beneficiary”) designated by Executive in writing to the Company during his lifetime,
or if no such Beneficiary is designated, to Executive’s estate. Executive may change his



13









 







designation of Beneficiary or Beneficiaries at any time or from time to time without the
consent of any prior Beneficiary, by submitting to the Company in writing a new designation of
Beneficiary.



     (h) Governing Law. All matters relating to the interpretation, construction,
application, validity and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
of Minnesota without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule, whether of
the State of Minnesota or any other jurisdiction, that would cause the application of laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Minnesota.



     (i) Jurisdiction; Venue. Because (i) the Company is a Minnesota corporation based in
Hennepin County, Minnesota, (ii) its significant contracts are governed by Minnesota law, and (iii)
it is mutually agreed that it is in the best interests of Company customers, vendors, suppliers and
employees that a uniform body of law consistently interpreted be applied to the relationships that
the Company has with other such persons and entities, this Agreement is deemed entered into in the
State of Minnesota between the Company and Executive. The Hennepin County District Court or the
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota will have exclusive jurisdiction and
venue over any disputes between the Company and Executive in any action arising out of or related
to either your or the Company’s obligations in this Agreement. Executive and the Company consent
to jurisdiction of those courts and hereby waive any defense of lack of personal jurisdiction or
forum non conveniens.



     (j) Entire Agreement. Except as provided in the following sentence, this Agreement
contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter, including
the Prior Agreement, and the parties hereto have made no agreements, representations or warranties
relating to the subject matter of this Agreement that are not set forth herein. Executive and the
Company are parties to a Key Employee Agreement dated December 15, 2008 (the “Key Employee
Agreement”), providing for severance payments in certain circumstances. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 10(j), the Key Employee Agreement, and any successor agreement, will
continue to be effective.



     (k) Amendments. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be deemed
effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.



     (l) No Waiver. No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived, except by a statement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver
is sought. Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated,
shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.



     (m) Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in party, by
either party without the written consent of the other party, except that the Company may, without
the written consent of Executive, assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any
corporation or other business entity (i) with which the Company may merge or consolidate, or (ii)
to which the Company may sell or transfer all or substantially all of its assets or capital stock.



14









 




No such assignment without the written consent of Executive shall discharge the Company from
liability hereunder, and such assignee jointly and severally with the Company shall thereafter be
deemed to be the “Company” for purposes of all terms and conditions of this Agreement, including
this Section 13.




     (n) Separate Representation. Executive hereby acknowledges that he has sought and
received independent advice from counsel of Executive’s own selection in connection with this
Agreement and has not relied to any extent on any director, officer, or stockholder of, or counsel
to, the Company in deciding to enter into this Agreement. The Company shall promptly reimburse
Executive for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by Executive in obtaining legal advice
in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement, upon receipt by the Company of
appropriate documentation of such fees and costs.



     (o) Notices. Any notice hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if delivered by hand, sent by reliable next-day courier, or sent by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the party to receive such notice
addressed as follows:



          If to the Company:



ValueVision Media, Inc.

6740 Shady Oak Road

Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3433

Attention: General Counsel



and to:



ValueVision Media, Inc.

6740 Shady Oak Road

Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3433

Attention: Board of Directors




          If to Executive:



Keith R. Stewart

21470 Excelsior Boulevard

Excelsior, MN 55331



or addressed to such other address as may have been furnished to the sender by notice hereunder.
All notices shall be deemed given on the date on which delivered if delivered by hand or on the
date sent if sent by overnight courier or certified mail, except that notice of change of address
will be effective only upon receipt by the other party.




     (p) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and
such counterparts executed and delivered, each as an original, shall constitute but one and the
same instrument.



15









 





     (q) Severability. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, to the extent that any portion of
any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted
herefrom and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall
continue in full force and effect.



     (r) Captions and Headings. The captions and paragraph headings used in this Agreement
are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of
this Agreement or any of the provisions hereof.



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive and the Company have executed this Agreement as of the Agreement
Date.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	VALUEVISION MEDIA, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Its
	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	KEITH R. STEWART	 	 







16











 





EXHIBIT A




FORM OF RELEASE




GENERAL RELEASE




     This General Release (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between ValueVision Media,
Inc. (the “Company”) and Keith R. Stewart (the “Executive”).



BACKGROUND




     E. The Company and Executive are parties to an Employment Agreement that, among its terms,
provides that the Company will pay Executive certain individually tailored severance benefits (the
“Severance”) upon the termination of Executive’s employment under certain circumstances (the
“Employment Agreement”).



     F. Under the Employment Agreement, the Company is not obligated to pay the Severance unless
Executive has signed a release of claims in favor of the Company. The parties intend this
Agreement to be that release of claims.



     NOW, THEREFORE, based on the foregoing and the terms and conditions below, the Company and
Executive, desiring to amicably resolve any and all existing and potential disputes between them as
of the date each executes this Agreement, and in consideration of the obligations and undertakings
set forth below and intending to be legally bound, agree as follows.



     1. Company’s Obligations. In return for “Executive’s Obligations” (as defined in
Section 2 below), and provided that Executive signs this Agreement and does not exercise
Executive’s rights to revoke or rescind Executive’s waivers of certain discrimination claims (as
described in Section 5 below), the Company will pay to Executive the Severance.



     2. Executive’s Obligations. In return for the Company’s Obligations in section 1
above, Executive knowingly and voluntarily agrees to the following:



     (a) Executive hereby fully, finally and forever releases, waives, and discharges, to the
maximum extent that the law permits, any and all legal and equitable claims against the Company
that Executive has through the date on which Executive signs this Agreement. This full and final
release, waiver, and discharge extends to all and each of every legal and equitable claim(s) of any
kind or nature whatsoever including, without limitation, the following:




     (i) All claims that Executive has now, whether Executive now knows about or suspects
such claims;




     (ii) All claims for attorneys fees;




     (iii) All rights and claims of age discrimination and retaliation under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) as amended by the Older Workers Benefit



17









 






Protection Act of 1990 (“OWBPA”); and discrimination and retaliation claims of any kind
or nature whatsoever under federal, state, or local law, including, for example, claims of
discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the
Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA”), and the Minnesota Human Rights Act (“MHRA”);




     (iv) All claims arising out of Executive’s employment and Executive’s separation from
employment with the Company including, for example, any alleged breach of contract, breach
of implied contract, wrongful or illegal termination, defamation, invasion of privacy,
fraud, promissory estoppel, and infliction of emotional distress;




     (v) All claims for any other compensation, including vacation pay, other paid time off,
severance pay, other severance benefits, incentive opportunity pay, other grants of
incentive compensation, grants of stock, and stock options;




     (vi) All claims under the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”); and




     (vii) All claims for any other alleged unlawful employment practices arising out of or
relating to Executive’s employment or separation from employment with the Company.



     (b) Executive will not commence any civil actions against the Company except as necessary to
enforce its obligations under this Agreement. The Severance that Executive is receiving in this
Agreement has a value that is greater than anything to which Executive is entitled. Other than
what Executive is receiving in this Agreement, the Company owes Executive nothing else in return
for Executive’s Obligations.



     3. Certain Definitions. For purposes of Section 2, “Executive” means Keith R. Stewart
and any person or entity that has or obtains any legal rights or claims through Keith R. Stewart.
Further, the “Company” means ValueVision Media, Inc.; and any parent, subsidiary, and affiliated
organization or entity in the present or past related to ValueVision Media, Inc.; and past and
present officers, directors, members, governors, attorneys, employees, agents, insurers,
successors, and assigns of, and any person who acted on behalf of or instruction of ValueVision
Media, Inc.



     4. Other Provisions.



     (a) The Company has paid Executive in full for all reimbursable business expenses, earned
annualized salary, bonus pay, and any other earnings through the last day of Executive’s
employment.



     (b) This Agreement does not prohibit Executive from filing an administrative charge of
discrimination with, or cooperating or participating in an investigation or proceeding conducted
by, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other federal or state regulatory or law
enforcement agency.



18









 





     (c) Nothing in this Agreement affects Executive’s rights in any benefit plan or program in
which Executive was a participant while employed by the Company. The terms of such plans and
programs control Executive’s rights.



     (d) The Company will indemnify Executive as permitted by and pursuant to any agreement or
policy that the Company has adopted relating to indemnification of directors, officers, and
employees; and as permitted by and pursuant to any provision of the Company’s articles or by-laws
relating to such indemnification.



     (e) Executive will continue to be covered as permitted by and pursuant to any policy of
directors and/or officers liability insurance policy on the terms and conditions of the applicable
policy documents.



     5. Executive’s Rights to Counsel, Consider, Revoke and Rescind.



     (a) The Company hereby advises Executive to consult with an attorney prior to signing this
Agreement.



     (b) Executive further understands that Executive has 21 days to consider Executive’s release
of rights and claims of age discrimination under the ADEA and OWBPA, beginning the date on which
Executive receives this Agreement. If Executive signs this Agreement, Executive understands that
Executive is entitled to revoke Executive’s release of any rights or claims under the ADEA and
OWBPA within seven days after Executive has executed it, and Executive’s release of any rights or
claims under the ADEA and OWBPA will not become effective or enforceable until the seven-day period
has expired.



     (c) Executive understands that Executive may rescind Executive’s waiver of discrimination
claims under the MHRA within 15 calendar days after the date on which Executive signs this
Agreement. To rescind this waiver, Executive must put the rescission in writing and deliver it to
the Company by hand or mail within the 15-day period. If Executive delivers the rescission by mail
it must be: (i) Postmarked within 15 calendar days after the date on which Executive signs this
Agreement; (ii) addressed to the Company, c/o Nathan E. Fagre, 6740 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie,
MN Minneapolis, MN 55344-3433; and (iii) sent by certified mail return receipt requested.



     If Executive revokes or rescinds Executive’s waivers of discrimination claims as provided
above, this Agreement will be null and void.



     6. Non-Admission. The Company and Executive enter into this Agreement expressly
disavowing fault, liability and wrongdoing, liability at all times having been denied. Neither
this Agreement, nor anything contained in it, will be construed as an admission by either of them
of any liability, wrongdoing or unlawful conduct whatsoever. If this Agreement is not executed, no
term of this Agreement will be deemed an admission by either party of any right that he/it may have
with or against the other.



19









 





     7. No Oral Modification or Waiver. This Agreement may not be changed orally. No
breach of any provision hereof can be waived by either party unless in writing. Waiver of any one
breach by a party will not be deemed to be a waiver of any other breach of the same or any other
provision hereof.



     8. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by the substantive laws of the
State of Minnesota without regard to conflicts of law principles.



     9. Forum Selection-Jurisdiction and Venue. Any disputes arising out of or related to
this Agreement or any breach or alleged breach hereof shall be exclusively decided by the Hennepin
County District Court in Minnesota. Executive hereby irrevocably consents to the personal
jurisdiction of this court in connection with any dispute related to this Agreement, and he
expressly waives any defense of inconvenient forum. He further waives any bond, surety, or other
security that might be required of the Company with respect to any such dispute.



     10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and
each such counterpart will be deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts
together will constitute but one agreement.



     11. Blue Pencil Doctrine. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is
unenforceable under applicable law, the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions will
not be affected. To the extent any provision of this Agreement is judicially determined to be
unenforceable, a court of competent jurisdiction may reform any such provision to make it
enforceable. The provisions of this Agreement will, where possible, be interpreted so as to
sustain its legality and enforceability.



     12. Agreement Freely Entered Into. Executive and the Company have voluntarily and
free from coercion entered into this Agreement. Each has read this Agreement carefully and
understands all of its terms, and has had the opportunity to discuss this Agreement with his/its
own attorney prior to its execution. In agreeing to sign this Agreement, neither party has relied
on any statements or explanations made by the other party, their respective agents or attorneys
except as set forth in this Agreement. Both parties agree to abide by this Agreement.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Dated                     	 	Keith R. Stewart	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Dated                     	 	ValueVision Media, Inc.	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Its	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 







20