DIS » Topics » Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

This excerpt taken from the DIS DEF 14A filed Jan 22, 2010.

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

The Board of Directors has adopted a written policy for review of transactions involving more than $120,000 in any fiscal year in which the Company is a participant and in which any Director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our outstanding shares or any immediate family member of any of these persons has a direct or indirect material interest. Directors, 5% shareholders and executive officers are required to inform the Company of any such transaction promptly after they become aware of it, and the Company collects information from Directors and executive officers about their affiliations and affiliations of their family members so the Company can search its


 

10


Table of Contents

The Walt Disney Company Notice of 2010 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement

 

records for any such transactions. Transactions are presented to the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board (or to the Chairman of the Committee if the Committee delegates this responsibility) for approval before they are entered into or, if this is not possible, for ratification after the transaction has been entered into. The Committee approves or ratifies a transaction if it determines that the transaction is consistent with the best interests of the Company, including whether the transaction impairs independence of a Director. The policy does not require review of the following transactions:

 

 

Employment of executive officers approved by the Compensation Committee;

 

 

Compensation of Directors approved by the Board;

 

 

Transactions in which all shareholders receive benefits proportional to their shareholdings;

 

 

Ordinary banking transactions identified in the policy;

 

 

Any transaction contemplated by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or Board action where the interest of the Director, executive officer, 5% shareholder or family member is disclosed to the Board prior to such action;

 

 

Commercial transactions in the ordinary course of business with entities affiliated with Directors, executive officers, 5% shareholders or their family members if the aggregate amount involved during a fiscal year is less than the greater of (a) $1,000,000 and (b) 2% of the Company’s or other entity’s gross revenues and the related person’s interest in the transaction is based solely on his or her position with the entity;

 

 

Charitable contributions to entities where a Director is an executive officer of the entity if the amount is less than the lesser of $200,000 and 2% of the entity’s annual contributions; and

 

 

Transactions with entities where the Director, executive officer, 5% shareholder or immediate family member’s sole interest is as a non-executive officer employee of, volunteer with, or director or trustee of the entity.

 

Director John Bryson’s wife, Louise Bryson, served during the fiscal year as a consultant to Lifetime Entertainment Television, a cable television programming service in which the Company had an indirect 50% equity interest during most of the fiscal year (and which was merged with A&E Television Networks, a joint venture that is 42% owned by the Company, in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year). Ms. Bryson received an aggregate salary (including car allowance and payments of deferred compensation) of $668,546 for her services with Lifetime during fiscal 2009 and received a bonus of $433,031 in fiscal 2009 with respect to her services in fiscal 2008. Under her employment agreement and her separation agreement entered into in connection with her retirement from Lifetime, Ms. Bryson was entitled to continue receiving her base compensation and benefits through April 30, 2009, but is not entitled to receive any incentive compensation thereafter. This ongoing relationship was reviewed and approved by the Governance and Nominating Committee under the Related Person Transaction Approval Policy at the beginning of fiscal 2009. Ms. Bryson also received a lump sum payment of pension benefits in the amount of $1,441,536 and monthly annuity payments totaling $12,884 in fiscal 2009. In addition, as noted above, Lifetime acquired programming and purchased advertising time from, and sold advertising time to, Company subsidiaries, but the Company believes that neither Mr. Bryson nor Ms. Bryson had a material direct or indirect interest in those transactions.

During fiscal year 2009, Fidelity Management Trust Company (FMTC) served as trustee of the Company’s 401(k) plan and the Company paid FMTC approximately $400,266 in fees for this and ancillary services. Additionally, entities affiliated with FMTC benefit from fees incurred by plan participants on balances invested in mutual funds through the plan. FMTC and its affiliated entities are subsidiaries of FMR LLC, which was the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares at the end of the fiscal year. This relationship has been in place since before FMR LLC was the beneficial


 

11


Table of Contents

The Walt Disney Company Notice of 2010 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement

 

owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares, and the ongoing relationship was reviewed and approved by the Governance and Nominating Committee under the Related Person Transaction Approval Policy in December 2009.

This excerpt taken from the DIS DEF 14A filed Jan 16, 2009.

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

The Board of Directors has adopted a written policy for review of transactions involving more than $120,000 in any fiscal year in which the Company is a participant and in which any Director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our outstanding shares or any immediate family member of any of these persons has a direct or indirect material interest. Directors, 5% shareholders and executive officers are required to inform the Company of any such transaction promptly after they become aware of it, and the Company collects information from Directors and executive officers about their affiliations and affiliations of their family members so the Company can search its records for any such transactions. Transactions are presented to the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board (or to the Chairman of the Committee if the Committee delegates this responsibility) for approval before they are entered into or, if this is not possible, for ratification after the transaction has been entered into. The Committee approves or ratifies a transaction if it determines that the transaction is consistent with the best interests of the Company, including whether the transaction impairs independence of a Director. The policy does not require review of the following transactions:

• Employment of executive officers approved by the Compensation Committee;

• Compensation of Directors approved by the Board;


 

11


Table of Contents

The Walt Disney Company Notice of 2009 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement

 

 

Transactions in which all shareholders receive benefits proportional to their shareholdings;

 

 

Ordinary banking transactions identified in the policy;

 

 

Any transaction contemplated by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or Board action where the interest of the Director, executive officer, 5% shareholder or family member is disclosed to the Board prior to such action;

 

 

Commercial transactions in the ordinary course of business with entities affiliated with Directors, executive officers, 5% shareholders or their family members if the aggregate amount involved during a fiscal year is less than the greater of (a) $1,000,000 and (b) 2% of the Company’s or other entity’s gross revenues and the related person’s interest in the transaction is based solely on his or her position with the entity;

 

 

Charitable contributions to entities where a Director is an executive officer of the entity if the amount is less than the lesser of $200,000 and 2% of the entity’s annual contributions; and

 

 

Transactions with entities where the Director, executive officer, 5% shareholder or immediate family member’s sole interest is as a non-executive officer employee of, volunteer with, or director or trustee of the entity.

There was one transaction subject to review under this policy during fiscal 2008. Director John Bryson’s wife, Louise Bryson, served during the fiscal year as President—Distribution and Affiliate Business Development for (and continues to serve as a consultant to) Lifetime Entertainment Television, a cable television programming service in which the Company has an indirect 50% equity interest. Ms. Bryson received an aggregate salary (including car allowance and payments of deferred compensation) of $627,717 for her services with Lifetime during fiscal 2008 and received a bonus of $433,289 in fiscal 2008 with respect to her services in fiscal 2007. She is also eligible for an annual bonus for fiscal 2008, although as of December 31, 2008, no bonus determination for 2008 had been made by Lifetime with respect to

Ms. Bryson. Under her employment agreement and her separation agreement entered into in connection with her retirement from Lifetime, Ms. Bryson is entitled to continue receiving her base compensation and benefits through April 30, 2009, but is not entitled to receive any incentive compensation for 2009. In addition, as noted above, Lifetime acquired programming and purchased advertising time from, and sold advertising time to, Company subsidiaries, but the Company believes that neither Mr. Bryson nor Ms. Bryson had a material direct or indirect interest in those transactions.

During fiscal year 2008, Fidelity Management Trust Company (FMTC) served as trustee of the Company’s 401(k) plan and the Company paid FMTC approximately $201,000 in fees for this and ancillary services. Additionally, entities affiliated with FMTC benefit from fees incurred by plan participants on balances invested in mutual funds through the plan. FMTC and its affiliated entities are subsidiaries of FMR LLC, which was the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares during the year, but was not the owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares at the end of the fiscal year. The relationship with FMTC was not reviewed by the Governance and Nominating Committee under the review policy described above because the relationship was entered into when FMR LLC was not the beneficial owner of 5% of the Company’s shares.

This excerpt taken from the DIS DEF 14A filed Jan 11, 2008.

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

The Board of Directors has adopted a written policy for review of transactions involving more than $120,000 in any fiscal year in which the Company is a participant and in which any Director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our outstanding shares or any immediate family member of any of these persons has a direct or indirect material interest. Directors, 5% shareholders and executive officers are required to inform the Company of any such transaction promptly after they become aware of it, and the Company collects information from Directors and executive officers about their affiliations and affiliations of their family members so the Company can search its records for any such transactions. Transactions are presented to the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board (or to the Chairman of the Committee if the Committee delegates this responsibility) for approval before they are entered into or, if this is not


 

12


Table of Contents

The Walt Disney Company Notice of 2008 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement

 

possible, for ratification after the transaction has been entered into. The Committee approves or ratifies a transaction if it determines that the transaction is consistent with the best interests of the Company, including whether the transaction impairs independence of a Director. The policy does not require review of the following transactions:

 

 

Employment of executive officers approved by the Compensation Committee;

 

 

Compensation of Directors approved by the Board;

 

 

Transactions in which all shareholders receive benefits proportional to their shareholdings;

 

 

Ordinary banking transactions identified in the policy;

 

 

Any transaction contemplated by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or Board action where the interest of the Director, executive officer, 5% shareholder or family member is disclosed to the Board prior to such action;

 

 

Commercial transactions in the ordinary course of business with entities affiliated with Directors, executive officers, 5% shareholders or their family members if the aggregate amount involved during a fiscal year is less than the greater of (a) $1,000,000 and (b) 2% of the Company’s or other entity’s gross revenues and the related person’s interest in the transaction is based solely on his or her position with the entity;

 

 

Charitable contributions to entities where a director is an executive officer of the entity if the amount is less than the lesser of $200,000 and 2% of the entity’s annual contributions; and

 

 

Transactions with entities where the Director, executive officer, 5% shareholder or immediate family member’s sole interest is as a non-executive officer employee of, volunteer with, or director or trustee of the entity.

 

There were two transactions subject to review under this policy during fiscal 2007. Director John Bryson’s wife, Louise Bryson, serves as President—Distribution and Affiliate Business Development for Lifetime Entertainment Television, a cable television programming service in which the Company has an indirect 50% equity interest. Ms. Bryson received an aggregate salary (including car allowance and payments of deferred compensation) of $602,023 for her services with Lifetime during fiscal 2007 and received a bonus of $431,091 in fiscal 2007 with respect to her services in fiscal 2006. She is also eligible for an annual bonus for fiscal 2007, although as of December 31, 2007, no bonus determination for 2007 had been made by Lifetime with respect to Ms. Bryson. In addition, as noted above, Lifetime acquired programming and purchased advertising time from, and sold advertising time to, Company subsidiaries, but the Company believes that neither Mr. Bryson nor Ms. Bryson had a material direct or indirect interest in those transactions.

Company president and chief executive officer and Director Robert Iger’s father-in-law, Eugene Bay, is a principal of Eugene Bay Associates, Inc., a marketing company that has been retained by the Company’s subsidiary ESPN, Inc. since 1990 (prior to Mr. Iger’s marriage to Mr. Bay’s daughter) to provide sports marketing services. Mr. Bay’s company received a total of $126,997 in fiscal 2007, including $45,106 for services provided in the prior fiscal year.

During fiscal year 2007, Fidelity Management Trust Company (FMTC) served as trustee of the Company’s 401(k) plan and the Company paid FMTC approximately $87,000 in fees for this and ancillary services. Additionally, entities affiliated with FMTC benefit from fees incurred by plan participants on balances invested in mutual funds through the plan. FMTC and its affiliated entities are subsidiaries of FMR LLC, which became the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares during the year. The relationship with FMTC has not been reviewed by the Governance and Nominating Committee under the review policy


 

13


Table of Contents

The Walt Disney Company Notice of 2008 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement

 

described above because the relationship was entered into before FMR LLC became the beneficial owner of 5% of the Company’s shares.

This excerpt taken from the DIS DEF 14A filed Jan 12, 2007.

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

Director John Bryson’s wife, Louise Bryson, serves as President—Distribution and Affiliate Business Development for Lifetime Entertainment Television, a cable television programming service in which the Company has an indirect 50% equity interest. Ms. Bryson received an aggregate salary (including car allowance and payments of deferred compensation) of $585,243 for her services with Lifetime during fiscal 2006 and received a bonus of $647,328 in fiscal 2006 with respect to her services in fiscal 2005. She is also eligible for an annual bonus for fiscal 2006, although as of December 31, 2006, no bonus determination for 2006 had been made by Lifetime with respect to Ms. Bryson. By agreement among the Company, Lifetime and Lifetime’s other equity owner, The Hearst Corporation, neither the Company nor any of its employees or affiliates participates in any decision making at Lifetime with respect to Ms. Bryson’s performance or compensation. In addition, as noted above, Lifetime acquired programming and purchased advertising time from, and sold advertising time to, Company subsidiaries, but the Company believes that neither Mr. Bryson nor Ms. Bryson had a material direct or indirect interest in those transactions.

Company President and Chief Executive Officer and Director Robert Iger’s father-in-law, Eugene Bay, is a principal of Eugene Bay Associates, Inc., a marketing company that has been retained by the Company’s subsidiary ESPN, Inc. since 1990 (prior to Mr. Iger’s marriage to Mr. Bay’s daughter) to provide sports marketing services. Mr. Bay’s company received a total of $110,908 for services provided during fiscal 2006.

 

On May 5, 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of Pixar, of which Mr. Jobs was Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a holder of 50.6% of the outstanding shares, in exchange for the issuance of approximately 279 million shares of Company common stock and the conversion of previously issued equity awards into approximately 45 million Disney equity awards. As a shareholder of Pixar, Mr. Jobs received 138,000,004 shares of Company common stock, which was his pro rata portion of the shares issued in the transaction.

Prior to the acquisition of Pixar, the Company and Pixar were parties to a Co-Production Agreement entered into on February 24, 1997. Under the Co- Production Agreement, the Company and Pixar agreed to co-finance the production costs of the animated films covered by the Co-Production Agreement, co-own the films (with the Company having exclusive distribution and exploitation rights), co-brand the films and share equally in the profits of the films and any related merchandise and other ancillary products, after recovery of all marketing and distribution costs (which were financed by the Company), a distribution fee paid to the Company and any other fees or costs, including any third-party participations. The Co-Production Agreement generally provided that Pixar was responsible for the production of such films and that the Company was responsible for the marketing, promotion, publicity, advertising and distribution of such films. The Co-Production Agreement was due to terminate in 2006 but the Company and Pixar entered into a Distribution Letter Agreement on January 27, 2006 to extend the Co-Production Agreement to cover an additional film. The Co-Production Agreement and the Distribution Agreement have now been superseded as a result of

the Company’s acquisition of Pixar. Ancillary to the Co-Production Agreement, the Company also made payments to Pixar for licensing Pixar’s intellectual property and for creative assistance in connection with consumer product designs. As disclosed in Pixar’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, for Pixar’s fiscal years 2003, 2004, and


 

7


Table of Contents

The Walt Disney Company Notice of 2007 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement

 

2005, the Company accounted for approximately 94%, 90%, and 93% respectively

of Pixar’s total revenue of approximately $262.5 million, $273.5 million and $289.1 million, respectively.

Wikinvest © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Use of this site is subject to express Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer. By continuing past this page, you agree to abide by these terms. Any information provided by Wikinvest, including but not limited to company data, competitors, business analysis, market share, sales revenues and other operating metrics, earnings call analysis, conference call transcripts, industry information, or price targets should not be construed as research, trading tips or recommendations, or investment advice and is provided with no warrants as to its accuracy. Stock market data, including US and International equity symbols, stock quotes, share prices, earnings ratios, and other fundamental data is provided by data partners. Stock market quotes delayed at least 15 minutes for NASDAQ, 20 mins for NYSE and AMEX. Market data by Xignite. See data providers for more details. Company names, products, services and branding cited herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The use of trademarks or service marks of another is not a representation that the other is affiliated with, sponsors, is sponsored by, endorses, or is endorsed by Wikinvest.
Powered by MediaWiki