Document:

Exhibit
10.5

CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

THIS CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is entered into as of the     day of     
200  , by and between THQ INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and      , (the “Executive”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Executive currently serves as a key employee of the
Company and the Executive’s services and knowledge are valuable to the Company
in connection with the management of one or more of the Company’s principal
operating functions, departments, divisions or subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of
the Company and its stockholders to encourage the Executive’s continued
services and to ensure the Executive’s continued dedication and objectivity in
the event of any threat or occurrence of, or negotiation or other action that
could lead to, or create the possibility of, a Change in Control of the
Company, without concern as to whether the Executive might be hindered or
distracted by personal uncertainties and risks created by any such possible
Change in Control; and

WHEREAS, to encourage the Executive’s full attention and dedication to
the Company, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

1.        Definitions.

1.1.    “Board” means the Board of Directors of
the Company.

1.2.    “Cause” means (i) a material breach by
the Executive of those duties and responsibilities of the Executive which do not
differ in any material respect from the duties and responsibilities of the
Executive during the 90-day period immediately prior to a Change in Control
(other than as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness), which
breach is committed in bad faith or without reasonable belief that such breach
is in the best interests of the Company and is not remedied within 15 days
after receipt of written notice specifying such breach, or (ii) the conviction
of the Executive of, or plea of guilty, no contest or nolo contendere to, any felony (unless
arising as a result of vicarious liability or a traffic violation).

In
the event of a termination before, but in connection with, a Change in Control,
the date immediately prior to the Date of Termination shall be substituted for
the reference to a Change in Control in this definition of Cause.

1.3.     “Change in Control” means the
occurrence of any one of the following events:

(i)         During
any twenty-four (24) month period, individuals who, as of the beginning of such
period, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason
to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person
becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such period whose election
or nomination for election was 

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approved by a vote of at
least a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a
specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which
such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to
such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however,
that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company
as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to
directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of
proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to
be an Incumbent Director;

(ii)     Any
“person” (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act and as used in Sections
13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a “beneficial owner”
(as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power
of the Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election
of the Board (the “Company Voting Securities”); provided, however,
that the event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a
Change in Control by virtue of any of the following acquisitions:  (A) by the Company or any subsidiary, (B) by
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Company or any subsidiary, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (D) pursuant to a
Non-Qualifying Transaction, as defined in paragraph (iii), or (E) by any person
of Voting Securities from the Company, if a majority of the Incumbent Board
approves in advance the acquisition of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of Company
Voting Securities by such person;

(iii)    The
consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar
form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries
that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders, whether for such
transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following
such Business Combination:  (A) more than
60% of the total voting power of (x) the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination (the “Surviving Corporation”), or (y) if
applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has
beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect
directors of the Surviving Corporation (the “Parent Corporation”), is
represented by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately
prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares
into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such
Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in
substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting
Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business
Combination, (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent
Corporation), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities
eligible to elect directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no
Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) and (C) at least a majority of
the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there
is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) following the consummation
of the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board’s
approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business
Combination (any Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria
specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a “Non-Qualifying Transaction”);

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 (iv)     The stockholders
of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the
Company or the consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets; or

(v)       The
occurrence of any other event that the Board determines by a duly approved
resolution constitutes a Change in Control.

Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because
any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the Company Voting
Securities as a result of the acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the
Company which reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided,
that if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the
beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the
percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such
person, a Change in Control of the Company shall then occur.

1.4.     “Code” means the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended.

1.5.     “Date of Termination” means (i) the
effective date on which the Executive’s employment by the Company terminates as
specified in a prior written notice by the Company or the Executive, as the
case may be, to the other, or (ii) if the Executive’s employment by the Company
terminates by reason of death, the date of death of the Executive.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) in the
event that the Executive’s employment is terminated before, but in connection
with, a Change in Control, the date fifteen days after the date of a written
notice of the Executive’s employment termination (or, if earlier or such notice
is not provided, the actual date of termination) shall be the Executive’s “Date
of Termination,” and (y) in the event that a notice described in clause (i) of
the preceding sentence is provided by the Company to the Executive during the
Termination Period, at all events the Executive’s Date of Termination shall be
treated as if it occurred during the Termination Period.

1.6.     “Exchange Act” means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 1.7.    “Good
Reason” means, unless the Executive expressly consents in writing, the
occurrence of any of the following events after a Change in Control:

1.7.1.     the Company’s involuntary termination of
the Executive’s employment other than in compliance with the requirements of
this Agreement;

1.7.2.     a reduction by the Company in the
Executive’s rate of annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to such
Change in Control or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter,
or the Company’s failure to pay such salary, which reduction or failure is not
cured within 15 days after notice by the Executive to the Company thereof;

1.7.3.     any requirement by the Company that the
Executive’s primary work location be relocated more than 25 miles from his
primary work location and principal place of residence, both as in effect at
the time of the Change in Control.

1.7.4.     the failure of the Company, after a
Change in Control, to:

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1.7.4.1.    provide
the Executive with employee benefit plans, compensation plans, paid vacation,
expense reimbursement and other fringe benefits, on terms  that are in all material respects no less
favorable, in the aggregate, than those provided under plans, practices,
programs and policies of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the
Change in Control; or

1.7.4.2 .   provide
the Executive and the Executive’s dependents with welfare benefits (including,
without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary
continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident
insurance plans and programs), that are in all material respects no less
favorable, in the aggregate, than those provided under the plans, practices,
programs and policies of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the
Change in Control.

1.7.5.      the
failure of the Company to obtain the assumption agreement as contemplated by
Section 10.2 of the Agreement.

1.7.6.     a
material diminution of the Executive’s duties, authorities or reporting
responsibilities.

In
the event of a termination before, but in connection with, a Change in Control,
the date immediately prior to the Date of Termination shall be substituted for
references to a Change in Control (other than as pertains to Section 1.7.4) in
this definition of Good Reason.

1.8.      “Incumbent
Board” means (i) the individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the
Board, and (ii) any individual who becomes a director of the Company subsequent
to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s
stockholders, is approved by the vote of at least a majority of the directors
then comprising the Incumbent Board;
provided, however, that no individual who was initially elected as a
director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election
contest, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated
under the Exchange Act, or any other actual or threatened solicitation of
proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board, shall
be deemed to be a member of the Incumbent Board

 1.9.      “Nonqualifying
Termination” means a termination of the Executive’s employment (i) by the
Company for Cause, (ii) by the Executive for any reason other than a Good
Reason, (iii) as a result of the Executive’s death, or (iv) by the Company due
to the Executive’s absence from his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for at least 180 days in any 365-day period as a result of the Executive’s
incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

 1.10.     “Outstanding
Company Common Stock” means, as of any time, the shares of common stock of
the Company outstanding as of that time.

 11.        “Outstanding
Company Voting Securities” means, as of any time, the securities of the
Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors outstanding as
of that time.

 1.12.     “Payment
Trigger Date” generally means the Date of Termination; provided, however, that in the event of a
termination of the Executive’s employment before, but in connection with, a
Change in Control, it means the date of the Change in Control.

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 1.13.     “Plan”
means the Company’s 401(k) Plan or any successor plan.

 1.14.     “Person”
means any individual, entity or group, and includes any “person” within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.

 1.15.     “Qualifying
Termination” means any employment termination other than a Nonqualifying
Termination.

 1.16.     “Termination
Period” means the period of time beginning with a Change in Control, and
ending on the earlier to occur of (i) two years following such Change in Control,
and (ii) the Executive’s death; provided,
however, that any termination of the Executive’s employment by the
Company before, but in connection with, a Change in Control shall be deemed to
have occurred during the Termination Period.

2. Payments Upon Termination
of Employment.

2.1. Qualifying
Termination During Termination Period. 
If during the Termination Period the employment of the Executive shall
terminate by reason of a Qualifying Termination, the Executive (or the
Executive’s beneficiary or estate), shall be entitled to receive the following
payments and benefits:

2.1.1.      The
Company shall pay, within 30 days following the Payment Trigger Date, a cash
amount equal to the sum of (i) the Executive’s annual base salary from the
Company and its affiliated companies through the Date of Termination, to the
extent not theretofore paid, (ii) any compensation previously deferred by the
Executive (together with any interest and earnings thereon) and (iii) any
accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid; plus

2.1.2.      The
Company shall pay a cash amount equal to (i) one times the Executive’s annual
base salary from the Company and its affiliated companies in effect at the time
of the Date of Termination;  (ii) one
times the Executive’s target annual bonus then in effect; (iii) the product of
the amount described in clause (ii) and a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination
and the denominator of which is 365; and (iv) any accrued but unpaid bonus for
the fiscal year ended immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the Date of
Termination occurs.  Such aggregate
amount shall be payable in a lump sum (subject to any applicable payroll or
other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 4 hereof) within 30
days following the Payment Trigger Date. 
The amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.1.2 shall reduce,
dollar-for-dollar (but not below zero), any other amount of severance relating
to salary or bonus continuation otherwise payable to the Executive upon
termination of employment of the Executive under any employment agreement or
severance plan, policy or arrangement of the Company, and the Executive shall
not be entitled to post-employment benefits under any such plan, policy or
arrangement to the extent such benefits would be duplicative of, and of equal
or lesser value to, the post-employment benefits provided hereunder.  In the event of a termination before, but in
connection with, a Change in Control, the Executive shall receive whatever
amounts and benefits would be provided to him by the Company in the absence of
a Change in Control under the terms of any other agreement or program, with
such amounts offsetting the amounts or benefits otherwise due hereunder
(including under this Section 2) following the occurrence of the Change in
Control.  As 

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 used in this Agreement, a termination shall be
treated as occurring “before, but in connection with, a Change in Control”
(or words of like import) if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive
that such termination (x) is without Cause or for Good Reason and (y) was at
the request of a third party who was taking steps reasonably calculated to
effect a Change in Control or otherwise arose in connection with or in
anticipation of a Change in Control (which shall in all events be deemed
demonstrated if such termination is within 90 days before the Change in
Control).  In no event shall the
Executive be treated as having been terminated before, but in connection with,
a Change in Control if no Change in Control occurs.

2.1.3.     If
on the Date of Termination the Executive shall not be fully vested in the
employer contributions made on his behalf under the Plan, the Company shall pay
to the Executive, outside of the Plan and within 30 days following the Payment
Trigger Date, a lump sum cash amount equal to the value of the unvested portion
of such employer contributions (and the Executive shall forfeit any such
unvested employer contributions); provided,
however, that if any payment pursuant to this Section 2.1.3 may or
would result in such payment being deemed a transaction which is subject to
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act, the Company shall make such
payment so as to meet the conditions for an exemption from such Section 16(b)
as set forth in the rules (and interpretive and no-action letters relating
thereto) under Section 16.  The value of
any such unvested employer contributions shall be determined as of the Date of
Termination; provided that if the common stock of the Company is traded on
NASDAQ or any stock exchange on the Date of Termination, the value of a share
of common stock of the Company shall be the closing price on NASDAQ or such
stock exchange on the Date of Termination or, if such date is not a trading
day, on the immediately preceding trading day.

2.1.4.     For
a period of 12 months commencing on the Payment Trigger Date, the Company shall
provide medical, accident, disability and life insurance coverage that is no
less favorable, in the aggregate, with respect to the Executive and his
dependents (taking into consideration levels and terms of such coverage) than
the medical, accident, disability and life insurance coverage in effect
immediately prior to the Payment Trigger Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as provided generally with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies, and the Company and the Executive shall
share the costs of the continuation of such insurance coverage in the same
proportion as such costs were shared immediately prior to the Payment Trigger
Date.

2.1.5.     If
on the Date of Termination the Executive shall not be fully vested with respect
to any stock options and shares of restricted stock previously granted to the
Executive, on the Date of Termination all such stock options and shares of
restricted stock shall become immediately vested and exercisable
(notwithstanding any provision of the Company’s applicable equity plans to the
contrary).  Such options shall be
exercisable for such period following the Date of Termination as is provided in
the plan and/or agreement pursuant to which such options or shares of
restricted stock were granted.  In the
event of a termination of the Executive’s employment before, but in connection
with, a Change in Control, the Executive shall not forfeit or further vest in
any unvested options or shares of restricted stock between his Date of
Termination and the Change in Control but all such awards shall vest in full
upon the Change in Control.

2.2.     Nonqualifying Termination During
Termination Period.  If during the
Termination Period the employment of the Executive shall terminate by reason of
a Nonqualifying 

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Termination,
then the Company shall pay to the Executive within 30 days following the Date
of Termination, a cash amount equal to the sum of (i) the Executive’s annual
base salary from the Company and its affiliated companies through the Date of
Termination, to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) any compensation previously
deferred by the Executive (together with any interest and earnings thereon) and
any (iii) accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore
paid.

3.     Certain Additional Payments by the
Company.

3.1.   If the Executive is entitled to receive payments and
benefits under Section 2 hereof, anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or
distribution by the Company or its affiliated companies to or for the benefit
of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without
regard to any additional payments required under this Section 3) (a “Payment”)
would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any
interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise
tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Executive
shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an
amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any
interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without
limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with
respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the
Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax
imposed upon the Payments; provided, however, that no Gross-Up Payment shall be
paid to the Executive if the amount of the aggregate “parachute payments” (as
defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) payable to the Executive is not
greater than 110% of the maximum amount that may be paid or distributed to or
for the benefit of the Executive without resulting in the imposition of the
Excise Tax.

3.2.   Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3, all
determinations required to be made under this Section 3, including whether and
when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and
the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made
by the Company’s public accounting firm (the “Accounting Firm”) which shall
provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive
within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there
has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company.  In the event that the Accounting Firm is
serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting
the Change in Control, the Company shall appoint another nationally recognized
public accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which
accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm
hereunder).  All fees and expenses of the
Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company.  Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant
to this Section 3, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within five
days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm’s determination.  Any determination by the Accounting Firm
shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive.  As a result of the uncertainty in the
application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination
by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which
will not have been made by the Company should have been made (“Underpayment”),
consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder.  In the event that the Company exhausts its
remedies pursuant to Section 3.3 and the Executive thereafter is required to
make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the
amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be
promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.

3.3.   The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of
any claim by the Internal 

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Revenue
Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of the
Gross-Up Payment.  Such notification
shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than 10 business days after
the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the
Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is
requested to be paid.  The Executive
shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following
the date on which the Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such
shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to
such claim is due).  If the Company
notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that
it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall:

(1) give the Company any
information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim;

(2) take such action in
connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request
in writing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal
representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by
the Company;

(3) cooperate with the
Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim; and

(4) permit the Company to
participate in any proceedings relating to such claim;

provided, however, that the Company shall bear
and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and
penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and
hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or
income tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a
result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.  Without limitation on the foregoing
provisions of this Section 3.3, the Company shall control all proceedings taken
in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo
any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with
the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option,
either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund orcontest the claim in any permissible
manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination
before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in
one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided  further,
that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a
refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive
on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless,
on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or
penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with
respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and provided
further, that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to
payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which
such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested
amount.  Furthermore, the Company’s
control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a
Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled
to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the
Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.

3.4. If, after the receipt by the Executive of an
amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 3.3, the Executive becomes
entitled to receive, and receives, any refund with respect to such claim, the
Executive shall (subject to the Company’s complying with the requirements of
Section 

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3.3)
promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any
interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto).  If, after the receipt by the Executive of an
amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 3.3, a determination is made
that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such
claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to
contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to
be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof,
the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.

4.     Withholding Taxes.  The Company may withhold from all payments
due to the Executive (or his beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which,
by applicable federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to
withhold therefrom.

5.     Reimbursement of Expenses.  If any contest or dispute shall arise under
this Agreement involving termination of the Executive’s employment with the
Company or involving the failure or refusal of the Company to perform fully in
accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Executive, on
a current basis, for all legal fees and expenses, if any, reasonably incurred
by the Executive in connection with such contest or dispute, together with
interest in an amount equal to the prime or reference rate of the Company’s
principal bank from time to time in effect, but in no event higher than the
maximum legal rate permissible under applicable law, such interest to accrue
from the date 20 days after the Company receives the Executive’s statement for
such fees and expenses through the date of payment thereof; provided, however, that in the event the
resolution of any such contest or dispute includes a finding that the Executive’s
claims in such contest or dispute were frivolous or brought by the Executive
not in good faith, (i) the Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold
from any funds payable by the Company to the Executive the amount advanced or
otherwise paid to the Executive pursuant to this Section 5, and (ii) to the
extent not reimbursed to the Company in such manner, the Executive shall be
required to reimburse the Company, not later than in twelve equal monthly
installments commencing 30 days after such resolution, such amount.

6.     Directors and Officers
Insurance/Indemnification.  If during
the Termination Period the employment of the Executive shall terminate by
reason of a Qualifying Termination, the Executive will continue to be covered
under the Company’s directors and officers insurance policy for any period
during which the Executive served as an officer or director of the Company or
any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company. 
In addition, the Executive shall be indemnified by the Company against
liability as an officer or director of the Company or any subsidiary or
affiliate of the Company to the maximum extent permitted by applicable
law.  The Executive’s rights under this
Section 6 shall continue so long as he may be subject to such liability,
whether or not this Agreement may have terminated prior thereto.

7.     Operative Event.  Notwithstanding any provision herein to the
contrary, no amounts shall be payable or benefits provided hereunder unless and
until (i) there is a Change in Control at a time when the Executive is employed
by the Company or (ii) the Executive is terminated by the Company before, but
in connection with, a Change in Control.

8.     Termination of Agreement.

8.1.  This Agreement shall be effective on the date hereof and
shall continue until terminated by the Company as provided in Section 8.2
hereof; provided, however, that
this Agreement shall terminate in any event upon the termination of the
Executive’s employment with the Company prior 

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to
a Change in Control (unless such termination prior to a Change in Control is in
connection with a Change in Control).

8.2.     The Company shall have the right, prior to
a Change in Control, in its sole discretion, pursuant to action by the Board,
to approve and cause the termination of this Agreement on such date as is fixed
by the Board for such termination, which date shall be at least one year after
notice thereof is given by the Company to the Executive in accordance with
Section 11 hereof; provided, however,
that no such action shall be taken by the Board during any period of time when
the Board has knowledge that any Person has taken steps reasonably calculated
to effect a Change in Control until, in the opinion of the Board, such Person
has abandoned or terminated its efforts to effect a Change in Control; and provided further, that in no event shall
this Agreement be terminated in the event of a Change in Control.

9.      Scope of Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
entitle the Executive to continued employment with the Company or its
subsidiaries, and if the Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate
prior to a Change in Control, the Executive shall have no further rights under
this Agreement; provided, however,
that any termination of the Executive’s employment following a Change in
Control or before, but in connection with, a Change in Control shall be subject
to all of the provisions of this Agreement.

10.      Successors; Binding Agreement.

10.1.   This Agreement shall not be terminated by any
Business Combination involving the Company irrespective of whether the Company
is or is not the surviving or resulting corporation or as a result of any
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.  In the event of any such Business Combination
or transfer of assets, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon
the surviving or resulting corporation or the Person to which such assets are
transferred.

10.2.   The Company agrees that concurrently with any
Business Combination or transfer of assets referred to in Section 10.1 in which
either the Company is not the surviving Person or the surviving Person or
successor or transferee is not deemed to assume this Agreement by operation of
law, the Company will cause the surviving Person, successor or transferee
unconditionally to assume, by written instrument delivered to the Executive (or
his beneficiary or estate), all of the obligations of the Company
hereunder.  Failure of the Company to
obtain such assumption prior to the effectiveness of any such Business
Combination or transfer of assets shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall
entitle the Executive to compensation and other benefits from the Company in
the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive would be entitled
hereunder if the Executive’s employment were terminated following a Change in
Control by reason of a Qualifying Termination. 
For purposes of implementing the immediately preceding sentence, the
date on which any such Business Combination or transfer becomes effective shall
be deemed the Date of Termination.

10.3.   This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If the Executive shall die while any amounts
would be payable to the Executive hereunder had the Executive continued to
live, then, unless otherwise provided herein, all such amounts, shall be paid
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such Persons appointed in
writing by the Executive to receive such amounts or, if no Person is so appointed,
to the Executive’s estate.

 10
 

 

11.     Notices.

11.1.  For purposes of this Agreement, all notices and other
communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or five days after deposit in the
United States mail, certified and return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed (i) if to the Executive, to the residence address of the Executive
maintained from time to time by the Company; and if to the Company, to its
chief executive office, attention Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to the
Secretary of the Company; (ii) to such other address as either party may have
furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices
of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

11.2.   A written notice of the Executive’s Date of
Termination by the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, to the other,
shall (i) indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied
upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, set forth in reasonable detail the facts
and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s
employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) specify the termination
date (which date shall be not less than 15 days after the giving of such
notice).  The failure by the Executive or
the Company to provide such notice or to set forth in such notice any fact or
circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not
waive any right of the Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude the
Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing
the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

12.    Full Settlement; No Mitigation; Resolution of
Disputes.

12.1. Subject to Section 5, the Company’s obligation to make any
payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its
obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have
against the Executive or other Persons. 
In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or
take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the
Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and, such amounts shall
not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment.

12.2. If there shall be any dispute between the Company and the
Executive in the event of any termination of the Executive’s employment, then,
unless and until there is a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of
competent jurisdiction declaring that such termination was for Cause, that Good
Reason did not exist, or that the Company is not otherwise obligated to pay any
amount or provide any benefit to the Executive and his dependents or other
beneficiaries, as the case may be, hereunder, the Company shall pay all
amounts, and provide all benefits, to the Executive and his dependents or other
beneficiaries, as the case may be, that the Company would be required to pay or
provide hereunder as though such termination were by the Company without Cause
or by the Executive with Good Reason;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any
disputed amounts pursuant to this section except upon receipt of an undertaking
by or on behalf of the Executive to repay all such amounts to which the
Executive is ultimately adjudged by such court not to be entitled.

13.    Employment with Subsidiaries.  Employment with the Company for purposes of
this Agreement shall include employment with any corporation or other entity in
which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of
the total combined voting power of the then 

 11
 

 

outstanding
securities of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors.

14.     Governing Law; Validity.  The interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
the principle of conflicts of laws.  The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement,
which other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

15.     Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

16.     Miscellaneous.  No provision of this Agreement may be
modified or waived unless such modification or waiver is agreed to in writing
and signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time
of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition
or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be
deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same
or at any prior or subsequent time.  Failure by the Executive or the Company to
insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or to assert
any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without
limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason,
shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other
provision or right of this Agreement. 
The rights of, and benefits payable to, the Executive, his estate or his
beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement are in addition to any rights of, or
benefits payable to, the Executive, his estate or his beneficiaries under any
other employee benefit plan or compensation program of the Company.

17.     Delay of Payments.  In the event that any payment or distribution
to be made to the Executive hereunder is determined to constitute “deferred
compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, and the Executive is
determined to be a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A of the
Code), such payment or distribution shall not be made before the date which is
six months after the termination of the Executive’s employment (or, if earlier,
the date of the Executive’s death).

18.     Entire Agreement.  This Agreement represents the complete
understanding of the parties and supersedes any and all agreements,
understandings and discussions, whether written or oral, between the Executive
and the Company or any of its affiliated companies with respect to the subject
matter hereof, including, without limitation, the Severance Agreement entered
into as of             ,  by and between the Executive and the Company.

 12
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

	
   

  	
  THQ INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  EXECUTIVE:

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  

 

 13Exhibit
10.1

August 8, 2006

Kenneth Gilman

President and Chief Executive Officer

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

622 Third Avenue, 37th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Dear Ken:

The purpose of this letter is to describe the manner
in which you may elect to exercise the options (the “Options”) held by you to
acquire 737,500 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Asbury
Automotive Group, Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to the terms of an Equity
Option Grant dated as of December 3, 2001 (the “Grant”), delivered by the
Company to you.

The Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously
resolved to provide that notwithstanding any language in the Company’s 1999
Option Plan (the “Plan”) or the Grant to the contrary, you may elect in
connection with delivering notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with
the terms of the Grant (in lieu of exercising the Options through direct
payment of the exercise price thereof) to receive from the Company an amount
determined by multiplying (a) the difference obtained by subtracting the
exercise price per share of the Options from the Fair Market Value (as defined
in, and as determined pursuant to, the Plan) of a share of Common Stock on the
date of exercise of the Options by (b) the number of shares of Common Stock
with respect to which the Options will be exercised, subject to payment of
withholding taxes pursuant to the terms of the Grant and the Plan.  Payment of the amount determined as set forth
above shall be made in shares of Common Stock (based on the Fair Market Value
of such shares on the date of exercise of the Options).

Other than as set forth above, nothing herein is
intended to modify or change any provision of the Grant or the Plan, each of
which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

 

Please acknowledge your receipt of this letter by
signing below.

	
  

  	
  Very truly
  yours,

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  /s/ Michael J.
  Durham

  
	
   

  	
  Michael J.
  Durham

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Nonexecutive
  Chair

  

 

 

	
  Acknowledged and agreed to
  on this 8th day of August, 2006 by:

  	
   

  
	
   

  
	
   

  
	
   

  	
  /s/ Kenneth B. Gilman

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Kenneth B. Gilman

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