Confirmed: Bob Chapek Officially Fired “Without Cause”

November 22, 2022  ·
  Jonas J. Campbell

Burbank is paying a huge sum of money to former Disney CEO Bob Chapek. An SEC filing reveals the ex-leader of The House of Mouse was fired “without cause.”

Let’s put an end to one rumor. According to an SEC filing by the Walt Disney Company: Bob Chapek was terminated without cause and will resign from the board effective immediately, putting a damper on some of the theories that Chapek quit the company in frustration.
The 41 page filing includes other details we might dive into further, but the most interesting aspect is that for the next two years of work, Bob Iger will receive company-paid security services, a $1 million dollar salary, and a long-term incentive award targeted at $25 million.
Here’s the pertinent portion of the SEC disclosure:
On November 20, 2022, The Walt Disney Company (the “Company”) appointed Robert A. Iger as Chief Executive Officer for a term ending
December 31, 2024. The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) also appointed Mr. Iger to serve as a Director on the Board with a term expiring at the
2023 Annual Meeting. The Company exercised its right to terminate without cause the employment of Robert A. Chapek as Chief Executive Officer. Effective
as of the termination, Mr. Chapek also resigned from the Board pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement. In connection with his termination, Mr.
Chapek will receive the separation benefits payable in accordance with the terms of his previously disclosed employment agreement.
Mr. Iger, 71, served as Executive Chairman of the Company from February 2020 through December 2021. Previously, Mr. Iger served as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company from September 2005 to February 2020. Mr. Iger served on the Board from January 2000 through December 2021. In light
of the Company’s business and structure, Mr. Iger’s 27 years of experience in the entertainment industry and with the Company, including as the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, are expected to contribute to the Board and the Company.
Under his prior employment agreement, for the five-year period following his retirement at December 31, 2021, Mr. Iger is to provide consulting
services, and continue to receive certain security benefits provided to Mr. Iger as an officer of the Company, in each case for five years following his
termination. These post-employment arrangements will be tolled during his period of employment, with the parties commitments under these arrangements to
be fulfilled for the remaining term when his employment ends.
In connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Iger entered into an employment agreement with the Company (the “Employment
Agreement”) providing that Mr. Iger’s annual rate of base salary is $1 million. The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Iger is also eligible for an annual,
performance-based bonus under the Company’s applicable annual incentive plan (currently, the Company’s Management Incentive Bonus Program) with a
target equal to 100% of the annual base salary. The actual amount payable to Mr. Iger as an annual bonus will be dependent upon the achievement of
performance objectives, which will be substantially the same as the objectives established under the plan for other executive officers of the Company.
Depending on performance, the actual amount payable as an annual bonus to Mr. Iger may be less than, greater than or equal to the stated target bonus (and
could be zero).
The Employment Agreement also provides that Mr. Iger is entitled to participate in the Company’s equity-based long-term incentive plans and
programs generally made available to executive officers of the Company. For each fiscal year ended during the term of the Agreement, Mr. Iger will be granted
a long-term incentive award having a target value of $25 million. Sixty percent (60%) of this target award value will be provided in the form of performancebased restricted stock units and the remaining forty percent (40%) will be in the form of stock options. The other terms of these awards will be subject to
substantially the same terms and conditions (except for (i) two year vesting and performance conditions for the performance-based stock units and (ii) full
vesting of the stock option awards on December 31, 2024, if Mr. Iger remains in employment through such date), as will be established for other executive
officers of the Company in accordance with the Board’s policies for the grant of equity-based awards, as in effect at the time of the award, and do not guarantee
Mr. Iger any minimum amount of compensation. The actual amounts payable to Mr. Iger in respect of such opportunities will be determined based on the extent
to which any performance conditions and/or service conditions applicable to such awards are satisfied and on the value of the Company’s stock. Accordingly,
Mr. Iger may receive compensation in respect of any such award that is greater or less than the stated target value, depending on whether, and to what extent,
the applicable performance and other conditions are satisfied, and on the value of the Company’s stock.
Mr. Iger’s employment may be terminated by the Company for “cause,” which is defined to include a felony conviction, unauthorized disclosure of
confidential information, failure to substantially perform his duties, or any other significant policy violation that is significantly injurious to the Company.
Mr. Iger has the right to terminate his employment for “good reason,” which is defined as (i) a reduction in any of his base salary, annual target bonus
opportunity or annual target long-term incentive award opportunity; (ii) removal from the position of Chief Executive Officer; (iii) a material reduction in his
duties and responsibilities; (iv) the assignment to him of duties that are materially inconsistent with his position as Chief Executive Officer or duties
or that materially impair his ability to function as Chief Executive Officers or any other position in which he is then serving; (vi) relocation of his principal
office to a location that is more than 50 miles outside of the greater Los Angeles area; or (vii) a material breach of any material provision of the Agreement by
the Company. Following a change in control of the Company, as defined in the Company’s stock plans, good reason also includes any event that is a triggering
event as defined in the plans. A triggering event is defined to include a termination of employment by the Company other than for “cause” or a termination of
employment by the participant following a reduction in position, pay or other “constructive termination.”
In the event that Mr. Iger’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Iger for “good reason,” he will be entitled to
termination benefits, which include the following: (i) a lump sum payment of the base salary that would have been payable over the remaining term of the
Agreement; (ii) a pro-rated bonus for the year of termination (any prior-year bonus not yet paid at time of termination is also paid); and (iii) the outstanding
unvested stock options and outstanding unvested restricted stock unit awards that could vest in accordance with their scheduled vesting provisions if Mr. Iger’s
employment had continued through the remaining term of the Agreement will be eligible to vest at the same time and subject to the same performance
conditions as though he continued in the Company’s employ, and all stock options, whether vested on the date of termination or vesting thereafter as described
above, shall vest and remain exercisable to the same extent as if his employment had continued through the term of the Agreement.
To qualify for the above described cash severance benefit, pro-rated bonus (and prior-year bonus, if not already paid), opportunity to vest in unvested
equity awards available under each Agreement and extended exercisability of stock options following an involuntary termination by the Company without
cause, or a termination by Mr. Iger for good reason, he must execute a release in favor of the Company
Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Iger is entitled to participate in employee benefits and perquisites generally made available to executive
officers of the Company. The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Iger will enter into the Company’s standard officer indemnification agreement.
The foregoing descriptions are qualified by reference to the terms of the Employment Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is
incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the press release issued by the Company on November 20, 2022, is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
Stay tuned to That Park Place for more updates on this developing situation. Feel free to drop a comment down below — we really do read them!
Author: Jonas J. Campbell
Investigative reporter for That Park Place. Culture Noticer. More than a decade in Corporate Finance experience. SOCIAL MEDIA: X: http://x.com/JonasJCampbell YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatParkPlace EMAIL: Jcampbell@thatparkplace.com